Valerie Valencia Castillo valerie.valenciacastillo@email.ucr.edu
My overall goal is to advocate for marginalized and underrepresented communities through research and I aim to do so by pursuing a PhD to continue developing psychological research within either social or cognitive fields.
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Fernanda Guizar Contreras
fguiz002@ucr.edu
Hello! My name is Fernanda (she/her) is a fourth-year Psychology major currently working on a Law and Society minor.
Her research interest includes self-regulation, motivation, and clinical/ community psychology. In her free time, she enjoys doing creative makeup looks, cooking, and playing with her dogs.
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Abby Hinojales
abby.hinojales@email.ucr.edu
Hello! My name is Abby, I’m a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Global and Community Health. My research interests center on health equity—particularly within the field of psychology—and the connection between physical and mental well-being. I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical or Community Psychology, with the goal of empowering underserved populations through patient-centered therapy, self-reflection, and accessible knowledge.
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Carissa Johnson
carissa.johnson@email.ucr.edu
Hi! My name is Carissa, though I also go by CJ (she/her). I am a fourth-year B.S. Psychology student with research interests in how self-stigma and social stigma influence access to and quality of clinical mental health care across racial and ethnic groups. My long-term goal is to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, where I hope to advocate for marginalized communities by advancing mental health literacy and promoting culturally competent care.
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Analeah Mafnas
amafn001@ucr.edu
Hi! My name is Analeah, and I am a fourth-year psychology student. After graduating from UCR, I plan to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology to understand how psychopathology impacts marginalized communities. Beyond academic research, I enjoy finding cute cafes, going to the beach, and binge-watching movies/shows with friends and family.
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Brenda Perez
brenda.perez002@ucr.edu
Hi! My name is Brenda and I’m a 4th year pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Education and Chicano Studies. I plan to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work after graduating to serve underrepresented communities in schools. I enjoy helping my community out and giving back in any way I can!
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Amanda Tafoya
atafo010@ucr.edu
My name is Amanda Tafoya, and I go by She/They. I am studying Psychology, Education, Society, and Human Development, and I plan to pursue a Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology after graduating from UC Riverside. My hobbies consist of working out, reading, watching reality TV shows, listening to true crime podcasts, and hanging out with my friends, partner, and family.
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Hannah Teshome
htesh003@ucr.edu
Hi, my name is Hannah Teshome! I am a current third-year Psychology major, pursuing minors in Neuroscience. Outside of school, my hobbies are baking, going to pilates or the gym, riding horses, and being with family and friends. I am passionate about research that highlights resilience and promotes positive support of people in marginalized groups. In the future, it is my goal to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a research focus that supports early prevention for different mental illnesses and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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