The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Health (SOGI Health) Research Group

Jessica Fish (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor, Family Science
Core Research Scientist, University of Maryland Prevention Research Center

Dr. Jessica Fish is a human development and family science scholar whose research focuses on the health and well-being of sexual and gender minority (i.e., lesbian/gay, bisexual, and transgender) people and their families. Broadly, Dr. Fish studies the socio-cultural and interpersonal factors that shape the development and health of sexual and gender minority youth and adults. Her overarching goal is to identify modifiable factors that contribute to sexual and gender minority health disparities in order to inform developmentally-sensitive policies, programs, and prevention strategies that promote the health of sexual and gender minority people across the life course.

Post Docs

Meg Bishop (they/them)

Meg D. Bishop, PhD, is a postdoctoral research fellow in the department of Family Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. Their research leverages approaches at the nexus of developmental science, public health, and demography to understand the health and wellbeing of sexual and gender minority people across the life course. Dr. Bishop is interested in the developmental and intersectional contexts that shape relations between identity development, minority stress, and health among sexual and gender minority youth. Dr. Bishop’s current NIH-funded research examines developmental differences in alcohol use and misuse among youth at the intersection of gender, sexuality, and race/ethnicity. The goal of Dr. Bishop’s research is to inform programs and policies aimed at eliminating inequities experienced by sexual and gender minority people. Dr. Bishop holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Texas at Austin.  

Graduate Students

Natasha Williams, MS, LMFT (she/her/hers)

Natasha Williams is a Chicago-based doctoral candidate in Family Science whose research focuses on the mental health of LGBTQ+ people. Specifically, she explores the mental health experiences of Black queer folx as well as factors that influence access to affirming mental health care. Natasha holds a license to practice marriage and family therapy and works part-time doing program evaluation for progressive, mission-driven organizations. She has been the TA or instructor of record for courses in statistics; family inequality; human sexuality; and behavior disorders. She holds an M.S. from Purdue University Northwest and a B.S. from Florida State University. In her free time, Natasha enjoys spending time outdoors, experimenting with global cuisines, reading fiction, and watching football. 

Zack Berman (he/him/his)

Zachary Berman is a second-year Couple and Family Therapy Masters student from Gaithersburg, Maryland. He earned a B.A. in Psychology and Criminology with a minor in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland in 2013. As an undergraduate, Zack worked as an intern investigator for the Washington, D.C. Public Defender Service, a research assistant in the Stereotyping Prejudice and Intergroup Relations Laboratory (SPIRL), and a senior staff writer for UMD’s student-run newspaper The Diamondback. After graduation, Zack worked for five years as a rehabilitation counselor for Cornerstone Montgomery, Inc. He was eventually promoted to Site Administrator of the Foundations Day Program, where he worked daily with clients suffering from a broad range of severe mental illnesses. He also taught the agency’s “Secondary Trauma and Self-Care” training to new employees. Zack’s research and clinical interests include sexuality, meta-communication, adolescence, and the influence of the criminal justice system on families. Outside of work and school, Zack is a musician and an author. He regularly performs in venues around the D.C. area and recently had his first novelette published in Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. In June of 2018, Zack helped to raise around $6000 for Planned Parenthood by performing as one of the core musicians in a special benefit show. Unfortunately, his dog Misty will not be attending school this year.

Kaitlin Grant McGirr (she/they)

Kaitlin is a first-year student on the Couple and Family Therapy Master’s program at UMD from Austin, Texas. As an undergraduate, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Supporting Teachers And Ready Students (STARS) Lab. She also had the opportunity to work on and present a systematic review student poster about recent family therapy techniques for families with sexual minority youth. She now works as a Graduate Research Assistant for the SOGI Health Lab. Her research interests broadly include LGBTQIA+ issues, social class disparities, gender identity, multi-ethnic families, and non-traditional family structures. Some of her hobbies outside of school include collecting vinyl records, visiting art exhibits, trying local food and coffee places, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her cat. 

Samantha Moran, LMSW (she/her/hers) 

Samantha is a Family Science doctoral student from Long Island, NY. She holds a B.S. in Family Science and Sociology from Towson University and an M.S.W. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. During her M.S.W program, Samantha was a clinical behavioral health intern at Chase Brexton's Center for LGBTQ Health Equity. Currently, she is a Project Manager in the Psychology Department at UMBC where her research team develops and conducts trainings on various maternal and child health topics including substance use, mental health, parenting, and substance-exposed newborns. Samantha's research interests include the experience of sexual and gender minority youth in the context of the school system, and the importance of creating safer environments, inclusive curricula, and supportive measures that empower teachers and staff to affirm students. In her free time, she enjoys live music, long walks, reading thrillers, and visiting new coffee shops. 

Pond (they/them/theirs)

Pond is a first year Family Science PhD student from Austin, Texas. They earned their B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences at Texas State University. During their Masters program, Pond worked as the lead Research Assistant for Supporting Teachers And Ready Students (STARS) Lab and Learning in Context (LinC) Lab to gain experience in multiple aspects of early childhood development research. Additionally, they virtually interned at Action Research, a research organization located in New York, as a qualitative analysis intern and evaluated programs implemented to support foster youth
transitioning into adulthood. Pond is currently working on two projects in the SOGI lab. The first project is examining socialization messages exchanged between heterosexual parents and sexual minority youth. The second project aims to understand how fathers communicate to sexual minority youth about their identity. Pond’s research interests include how transgender parents, specifically seahorse dads, navigate parenting roles after birth; in what contexts does gender dysphoria show up in parenthood; and what socialization messages are transgender parents sending to their children about gender.

Lauryn Dunkwu

Lauryn Dunkwu is a first-year Health Policy and Management MPH and Global Health post-baccalaureate student at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has an undergraduate degree in Medical Biochemistry form the University of Benin, Nigeria, and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Suffolk in England. Following completion of her undergraduate studies, Lauryn has worked as a Research/Programs Assistant supporting infections disease programs and research in West Africa and as a Program Coordinator in a Family Planning program that successfully improved contraceptive uptake for youth and teenage first-time mothers in 20 low-income communities in Nigeria by 55%. More recently, Lauryn worked as a Delivery Analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where she contributed problem-solving and analytical skills to the organization's Government Advising work. She is currently a Strategic Partnerships Intern with Families USA and Volunteer Researcher with the SOGI Health Lab. Lauryn's research interests cut across policy evaluation and impact, healthcare access barriers, their intersections with racial/ethnic minority LGBTQ+ populations, and the resulting impact on health outcomes. Outside of work and academia, Lauryn enjoys playing video games, supporting her favorite soccer team, and having a relaxed weekend by a campfire. 

Undergraduate Students

Carter (any pronouns) 

Carter is a Junior undergraduate student at the University of Maryland. They are a dual degree in Public Health Science and Family Science and recently received their honors citation upon completing the two-year program with ILS. They have been a research assistant on a project to code forty life interviews of incarcerated fathers, and they volunteer with OneTentHealth to conduct free HIV testing for vulnerable wards of DC. In their free time, they enjoy cooking foods from their diverse background and spending time with their small, black cat, Fig. 

Leah Young (she/her)

Leah is a junior at the University of Maryland who is pursuing a dual degree in Community Health and Psychology. During her time at Maryland she has volunteered for health equity advocacy organizations such as Free The Vaccine. Leah has also interned at a public health
nonprofit organization where she led a survey development project and did independent research about HIV disparities in Washington DC. Her research interests include studying the emotional well-being of those in ethically non monogamous relationships, their sexual health behaviors, and how psychology of interpersonal relationships theories can be applied to them. In addition, she is also interested in what the implications are for child development when growing up with non monogamous parents. In her free time, Leah likes to see old foreign films, visit art museums, and take naps with her cat, Oscar.

Ella Sinciline (she/her)

Ella is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Maryland studying Sociology. Outside of the lab, she assists in educating others on the pervasiveness of heterosexism, racism, and intersections of marginalized identities through her undergraduate teaching assistantship for the course PSYC354: Multicultural Psychology. Her research interests include the psychological impact of anti-fat bias on queer communities, understanding and treating systemic oppression as trauma, and exploring the ways academic institutions uphold white supremacist values. In her free time, Ella can be found practicing yoga, reading memoirs, and taking care of her fiddle leaf fig tree, Figgy. 

Tsion Ayele (she/her)

Tsion is a public health science student at the University of Maryland. In her previous roles, she has created drug prevention curriculums and led summer workshops for adolescent youth in D.C, wards 1 and 2. She has also been involved in other research projects on campus, such as CEEJH, an environmental justice center aimed at providing education and reliable data for local communities. Currently, she is working as an undergraduate research assistant at the SOGI Health lab. Tsion’s research interests include increasing mental health resources for vulnerable youth and working to decrease the prevalence of substance abuse amongst young people. In her free time, she likes to go on hikes, learn new yoga poses, try new recipes, and spend time with friends. 

Student Research Opportunities

I welcome the opportunity to work with graduate and undergraduate students interested in the intersection between sexual orientation, gender identity, and health. Volunteer and credit-based research assistantship positions are available in my research lab. If you are interested in joining the research lab, please fill out this form. 

If you are a prospective graduate student interested in working with me, please contact me at jnfish@umd.edu. 

Pollitt, A. M., Fish, J. N., & Watson, R. J. (2023). Measurement equivalence of family acceptance/rejection among sexual and gender minority youth by disclosure status. Journal of Family Psychology, 37(2),195-202. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001056.

Strang, J. F., Wallace, G. L., Michaelson, J. J., Fischbach, A. L., Thomas, T. R., Jack, A., Shen, J., Chen, D., Freeman, A., Knauss, M., Corbett, B. A., Kenworthy, L., Tishelman, A. C., Willing, L., McQuaid, G. A., Nelson, E. E., Toomey, R. B., McGuire, J. K., Fish, J. N., ... Yang, J. S. (in press). The gender self-report: a multidimensional gender characterization tool for gender-diverse and cisgender youth and adults. American Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001056.

Williams. N. D., Winer, B., Aparicio, E. M., Smith-Bynum, M. A., Boekeloo, B. O., #Fish, J. N. (in press). Professional expectations of provider LGBTQ competence: where we are and where we need to go. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/19359705.2022.2146825.

Fish, J. N. & Russell, S. T. (in press). The paradox of progress for sexual and gender diverse youth. Current Opinions in Psychology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101498.

Fish, J. N., †Kapostasy, S., & Russell, S. T. (in press). Be You! Collaborative community research efforts to empower LGBTQ+ youth in school settings. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2022.2148036.

Fish, J. N., King-Marshall, E. C., +Williams, N. D., Aparicio, E. M., Tralka, H. M., & Boekeloo, B. O. (2022). What motivates community mental and behavioral health organizations to participate in LGBTQ+ cultural competency trainings? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 92(6), 647-656. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000641.

Mereish, E. H., Fish, J. N., & Watson, R. J. (2022). Intersectional minority stress and alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among youth of color: Moderating role of family support. LGBT Health. 10(1). 18-25. https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2021.0430. 

Fish, J. N., +Williams, N. D., McInroy, L. B., Paceley, M. S., ‡Edsall, R. N., ‡Devadas, J., †Birnel Henderson, S., & †Levine, D. S. (2022).  Q Chat Space: Assessing feasibility and acceptability of an internet-based community support program for LGBTQ youth. Prevention Science, 23, 130-141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-021-01291-y. PMCID: PMC8420963 

Fish, J. N., +Bishop. M. D., Russell, S. T. (2021). Developmental differences in sexual orientation and gender identity-related substance use disparities: Findings from population-based data. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68 (6), 1162-1169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.10.023. PMCID: PMC8154626 

+Williams, N. D., & #Fish, J. N. (2020). The availability of LGBT-specific mental health and substance abuse treatment in the United States: Findings from two national surveys. Health Services Research, 55(6), 932-943. http://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13559. PMCID: PMC7704474 

Fish, J. N., McInroy, L. B., Paceley, M. P. +Williams, N. D., †Henderson, S., †Levine, D. S., & ‡Edsall, R. N. (2020). “I'm kinda stuck at home with unsupportive parents right now”: LGBTQ youths' experiences with COVID-19 and the importance of online support. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(3), 450-452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.002. PMCID: PMC7309741. 

Fish, J. N., & Exten, C. E. (2020). Sexual orientation differences in alcohol use disorder across the adult life course. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 59(3), 428-436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2020.04.012. PMCID: PMC7483372. 

Fish, J. N., & Russell, S. T. (2020). Sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts are unethical and harmful. American Journal of Public Health, 110(8), 1113-1114. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305765. PMCID: PMC7349462. 

Fish, J. N., +Moody, R. Grossman, A. H., & Russell, S. T. (2019). LGBTQ youth-serving community-based organizations: Who participates and what difference does it make? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(12), 2418-2431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01129-5. PMID: 31606828. 

University of Maryland New Directions Seed Grants Support New Research

The University of Maryland has announced seven New Directions awards to support research across the College Park campus. The projects span a broad range of disciplines and topics, ranging from the documentation of community heritage to the discovery of atomic catalysts.

UMD study says gender-affirming policies benefit student mental health

Gender-affirming policies can improve students’ mental health, according to a report co-led by Jessica Fish, a University of Maryland assistant professor in the family science department. “The science is quite clear: youth who are able to access gender-affirming treatments, and youth who are able to participate in sports that align with their gender identity … tend to fare better in their mental health and overall well-being,” said Fish, co-lead and deputy director for research and evaluation at the University of Maryland Prevention Research Center.

UMD Prevention Research Center hosts lecture on LGBTQ+ safety in schools

The University of Maryland Prevention Research Center hosted a webinar to share the work of the Stories and Numbers Project, a collaboration that promotes the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth in schools.

Family Science Assistant Professor, Jessica Fish, Publishes Three Papers, and Receives Several Grants and Awards for LGBTQ+ Mental Health Research

Dr. Jessica Fish, an assistant professor in the Department of Family Science, has been busy. In recent months, she has published a slew of articles on LGBTQ+ mental health and substance abuse and has received multiple research grants from institutions like the National Institutes of Health.

Editorial: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts are Unethical and Harmful

Two experts in LGBTQ and young adult mental health, Dr. Jessica Fish (UMD SPH) and Dr. Stephen T. Russel (UT, Austin) describe the serious harms that LGBTQ youth experience from so-called “conversion therapy” efforts in a new editorial published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Don Milton and Jessica Fish Receive Seed Grants for COVID-19 Research

Don Milton, professor of environmental health, and Jessica Fish, assistant professor of family science, each received seed grants from the UMD Division of Research for COVID-19-related research. 

UMD Prevention Research Center Appoints New Executive Leaders

To advance its mission to support LGBTQ+ mental health, the University of Maryland Prevention Research Center (UMD-PRC) has appointed Dr. Elizabeth Aparicio, assistant professor of behavioral and community health as the Deputy Director of Clinical Training and Intervention and Dr. Jessica Fish, assistant professor of family science as Deputy Director for Research and Evaluation. 

Family Science Assistant Professor, Jessica Fish, Publishes Three Papers, and Receives Several Grants and Awards for LGBTQ+ Mental Health Research

In the past few months, Dr. Jessica Fish, an assistant professor in the Department of Family Science has published a slew of articles on LGBTQ+ mental health and substance abuse and has received multiple research grants from institutions like the National Institutes of Health.

UMD Prevention Research Center to Focus on LGBTQ Mental Health with new $3.75M from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The University of Maryland Prevention Research Center (UMD-PRC) is working to improve mental health and health care for LGBTQ+ people with new funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).