About

I am a clinical psychologist, educator, consultant researcher, and speaker whose work centers on trauma, family violence prevention, and strengthening caregivers to foster healthy child development and youth flourishing. I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University and my B.A. in Psychology from Georgia State University. Across my research, consultancy, and clinical practice, I integrate developmental science, cultural context, and faith-based partnerships to advance holistic wellbeing for children and families.

 

As a child- and community-oriented psychologist and trauma specialist, my work is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and often community-participatory. My research and consultancy work have long focused on vulnerable children and families navigating adversity in the United States, El Salvador, and Colombia, with particular attention to the effects of forced migration, immigration enforcement, and community violence among immigrant and displaced populations. In recent years, my work has expanded across Africa—Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe—where I partner with caregivers and communities to equip parents with tools that promote child flourishing and prevent family violence.
 

I value deeply collaborative processes with caregivers—parents, teachers, and faith leaders—who play a central role in supporting children impacted by poverty, violence, and trauma.  As a Latina immigrant to the United States, I believe that communities of faith can be powerful catalysts for healing, justice, and social change, particularly in the Global South where faith is a profound cultural resource. I also recognize the ways faith communities can perpetuate harm. Yet I remain an optimist, committed to the ethics of faith-driven service and the potential of participatory research to mobilize communities on behalf of vulnerable children and families.

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In recent years, I have partnered with World Vision, the world’s largest international development NGO, to promote holistic wellbeing among vulnerable communities across Africa. I currently serve as the principal investigator of a cluster randomized controlled trial in Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, conducted in partnership with World Vision and local faith-based communities. This study rigorously evaluates a faith-driven parenting curriculum delivered by trained faith actors to reduce child maltreatment, strengthen positive family relationships, and enhance flourishing among children ages 7–17. I hope the insights from this work will inform community practice and public policy supporting children’s holistic development across sub-Saharan Africa.

 

In 2024, I received the prestigious C. Davis Weyerhaeuser Award for Faculty Excellence, in recognition of my contributions to scholarship, teaching, and academic leadership. I am an active member of the Society for Prevention Research (SPR), Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health.

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As a bilingual and bicultural psychologist, I also maintain a small clinical practice specializing in psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and families. Above all, I am a proud mother of two bright, opinionated, and deeply loved daughters.