Dissertation Topic: Determinants of Efficacy Expectations in Educational and Occupational Attainment Among Low-Income Adolescents
Research Areas: Trauma, Mental Health Disparities, Culture, Cross-Cultural Methods
I received a Bachelors Degree in Human Biology from Stanford University and a Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hawaii. Between the Masters and the Doctorate, I also studied Community Psychology at New York University, which continues to be an abiding passion of mine.
After completing the doctoral degree, I received a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at UCLA, in which I conducted research on the biobehavioral aspects of HIV/AIDS, working Dr. Gail Wyatt and Dr. Hector Myers. During the fellowship, I had the opportunity to do research with Dr. James Pennebaker and Dr. Margaret Kemeny on the effects of trauma as well as expressive writing as an intervention for traumatic experiences, an area in which I continue to do research.
As part of my clinical training, I worked as an intern at the USC/LA County Hospital with child and adult patients in the Inpatient, Outpatient, and Psychiatric E.R. Departments, conducting neuropsychological, intelligence, and personality assessments and doing psychotherapy using various modalities. During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, I worked with children in Koreatown as part of a trauma team headed by Dr. Spencer Eth of UCLA.
Prior to SMC, I taught various courses at Stanford and the University of Hawaii, including Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Human Biology. At SMC, I teach Introduction to Psychology, Personality Psychology, and "The Psychology of Social Change and Reflection," a course inspired by the psychiatrist Dr. Robert Coles' course "The Literature of Social Change" at Harvard University. I love to teach psychology; working with students inspires and renews me.
Aside from academic pursuits, my passions are my twin boys, writing, poetry, live music, beach volleyball, and a good beer.
Relevant Publications I authored/co-authored