Dr. Joshua Parmenter (they/them) is an assistant professor at University of Missouri and the director of the Equity Lab. Their program of research uses an intersectional framework to quantitatively and qualitatively examine how experiences of inequity and protective factors influence mental health outcomes among those with multiple marginalized intersecting identities, such as LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Their research not only seeks to inform psychotherapy, but also ways psychologists can transform oppressive social structures and racist policies that perpetuate health disparities among LGBTQ+ people of color. Dr. Parmenter strongly believes in self-care and practices it by playing volleyball, swimming, traveling, socializing with ”chosen family”, and spending time with their dog (beware… she is sassier than Dr. Parmenter).

Alec (he/him) is a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Mizzou. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College and received his master’s in mental health counseling at the University of Georgia. Alec’s research interests pertain to the intersectional experiences of Black/African American LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly how they can heal from traumatic experiences. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, going to the gym, and watching TV shows.

Duy (he/him) is a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Mizzou. Duy received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Truman State University. His research interests center on the intersectionality between spirituality, religion, systems of oppression, and QT-BIPOC populations. In his free time, Duy enjoys watching TV shows, reading books, being outdoors, and hanging out with his friends!

A native woman of Cherokee and Irish descent, Tessi Ynada Muskrat (she/her) is a Counseling Psychology PhD student and researcher at the University of Missouri. Co-founder of the international Purity Culture Research Collective (PCRC), Tessi’s research centers the voices of those who have experienced sexual and gender-based trauma in religious contexts. Her upcoming projects will examine the impact of purity culture's gender binary on trans and nonbinary persons, and the ways in which post-purity culture adults achieve empowerment through healing from oppressive systems in religious spaces. When she's not studying or researching, Tessi enjoys snuggling her cats, watching trees dance in the wind, and playing complex tabletop board games with friends.

Dejah (she/her) is a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Mizzou. Her research interests center on the intersection of queer, positive, and social psychologies. Specifically, she is interested in studying LGBTQ+ relationships and resilience. In her downtime, she loves to play video games, find new spots downtown and have game nights where Dejah and her wife cook for their friends!

Kymbriona Taylor (she/her) is originally from Chicago and is a 4th year doctoral candidate. She completed her bachelor’s in psychology ​ ​and master’s in education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign​, where she also competed for the varsity track and field team. Her populations of interests in research include student-athletes, BIPOC emerging adults, and Black Deaf and hard of hearing folks. Her clinical interests include race-related stress, multicultural counseling, and neurodevelopment assessments. She enjoys hot yoga, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

Tiara (she/her) is originally from Mississippi and is currently a doctoral candidate in the counseling psychology program at Mizzou. Tiara is passionate about examining and improving clinical training to promote more affirming, culturally relevant clinical services to marginalized populations, with emphasis on those experiencing racial trauma and other intersectional forms of oppression. Her additional research interests include sociocultural determinants of mental health and perpetuates of mental health disparities for Black Americans. Some of Tiara’s hobbies include reading, traveling, singing, and eating delicious meals.

Jamie (she/her) is a Master's student in counseling psychology at Mizzou and received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Kansas State University. Her research interests include the study of identities as well as the telling of life narratives. In her free time, Jamie enjoys cuddling with her dog, laying out in her hammock, and exploring different coffee shops! One way she practice self-care is by being intentional about doing something enjoyable for herself each week, no matter what that looks like. Whether it's reading empowering poetry or meeting a good friend for dinner, Jamie makes time to show up for herself as much as she shows up for everyone else.

Roberto L. Abreu (he/him/él) is an Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology and the director of the Collective Healing and Empowering VoicEs through Research and Engagement (¡Chévere!) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida (UF). Roberto’s externally funded research agenda explores ways in which marginalized communities resist systemic oppression and promote collective well-being. Specifically, Roberto's work has made significant contributions in the areas of: (1) relational experiences and mental health outcomes among Latinx LGBTQ youth and their families and communities, (2) relational experiences and mental health outcomes among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth and their families and communities, and (3) LGBTQ adults’ experiences of discrimination, oppression, violence, support, and joy.

Aldo Barrita (he/his/él) is a queer Latinx scholar who earned his doctorate in Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He was born in Mexico and immigrated to the US when he was 16. His research focus includes how different forms of discrimination, primarily microaggressions, psychologically impact individuals from marginalized communities. Specifically, he has a special interest in Latinx and/or LGBTQ+ experiences with microaggressions as well as psychometrics. Aldo Barrita currently serves as the past student representative for the National Latinx Psychology Association (NLPA) and student Chair for APAGS. Aldo likes playing video games and traveling with his partner as his main grounding activities.

Paz Galupo (they/she) is the Audre Lorde Distinguished Professor in Sexual Health & Education at the Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining the Brown School, Paz served as Professor of Psychology at Towson University. Paz’s research interests reside at the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identity, with a particular focus on understanding nonbinary expressions of bisexual and trans experience. Paz’s long-standing research program centers those most marginalized in the LGBTQ+ community (i.e., transgender, bisexual, and LGBTQ+ BIPOC. Paz directs the Queer/Trans Collective for Research on Equity & Wellness (QT-CREW).

Dr. Lesther Papa (he/him) is an assistant professor at San Jose State University in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. He is a Filipnx-American from Hawaii and his research focuses on the experiences of racial and ethnic microaggressions (REMAs) in higher education. Alongside this research, has developed the BIPOC and Minoritized People's Mental Health Lab (BIPOC MPMH Lab), which now includes research on the use of pronouns for trans and nonbinary folks and colorism in Filipinx communities. In addition, Dr. Papa also teaches classes for undergraduate and graduate students and supports student and university organizations.

Lee Pradell (they/them) is a graduate student in the USU Clinical/Counseling Psychology program, researching questions about non-binary and transgender people's mental health broadly. Lee’s current line of research concern sexual objectification experiences of non-binary people. For the rest of the hours in the day, Lee enjoys hiking, knitting, gabbing on the phone, and hanging out with their dog. After a stressful day, they enjoy a long walk while listening to Sibling Rivalry, a podcast with Bob The Drag Queen and Monét Exchange.

Elizabeth Grace Wong (she/her) is a fifth year PhD student in Utah State University's Combined Clinical/Counselling Psychology Program, supervised by Dr. Renee Galliher. She is interested in identity development and multicultural psychology, particularly, how spiritual/religious LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals experience a positive sense of self in the everyday. She is currently investigating food practices as a site of healing, pedagogy, and community building. She pursued her HBSc in Psychology and MA in Women & Gender Studies at the University of Toronto. She is 1.5 generation Chinese-Canadian, and lived in Vancouver, Hong Kong, Basel, and Toronto, before coming to Logan. She likes to pole dance, netflix, and try new recipes.

Renee Galliher (she/her) is a professor of Psychology at Utah State University. Her research is focused on identity development processes, emphasizing intersections of domains of identity within relational and cultural contexts. Using observational, self-report, and qualitative methodologies, she assesses ethnic identity, sexual identity, religious identity, professional identity, and other forms of identity across developmental transitions. Her work examines patterns of risk and resilience related to important family and peer relationships, as well as cultural influences and the impact of prejudice and discrimination. In addition to her professional roles, Renee is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend who enjoys adventure sports and travel with the people she loves.