UMD-PRC: People

Richard Q. Shin is an associate professor in the Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education department in the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the coordinator of the School Counseling program and holds affiliate appointments in Counseling Psychology, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Asian American Studies. Dr. Shin is also a Core Research Scientist in the University of Maryland Prevention Research Center. His scholarly interests are primarily focused on how systemic, institutionalized forms of discrimination like racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, and cissexism are perpetuated by mental health professionals in subtle and overt ways. Dr. Shin is a leading social justice scholar in the counseling and psychology fields. His article, “Is Allison more likely than Lakisha to get a call back from counseling professionals: A racism audit study” was the first study using audit methodology to be published in counseling psychology. Dr. Shin has also recently published the first content analysis in psychology on the intersectionality framework, as well as developed a comprehensive measure of critical consciousness. Dr. Shin’s teaching, research and consulting are guided by a commitment to creating a more just and equitable society for devalued and marginalized groups.

Natasha Williams is a third-year Family Science doctoral student, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and LGBTQ mental health researcher.  She demonstrates her passion for LGBTQ+ mental health equity in various UMD-PRC projects, including as a PI for the Mental Health Professional Association LGBTQ+ Policies and Guidelines Analysis project. 

David Hawthorne is a graduate research student and professional with years of experience in health, research, and community engagement work. He is passionate about addressing health disparities in low-income communities, especially related to adolescent health. He aims to research and implement evidence-based interventions to reduce the burden of health disparities in marginalized and underserved communities. 

Jordan K. Aquino is a PhD student in Behavioral & Community Health. He earned his BS and MPH from the California State University, Fullerton where he is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Public Health and served as Center Director of the Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Center. He was a Visiting Scholar at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and the Chronic Pain & Fatigue Research Center at University of Michigan Medical School. His current research focuses on LGBTQ health and the impact substance use, stigma, and minority status have on mental and sexual health including HIV/AIDS, and developing evidence-based interventions to reduce health inequities among this population.

Madeline Pheasant graduated from the University of Maryland in 2017, and later earned an MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice at UMD in 2019. She is interested in criminological theory, specifically concerning the influence of peers and decision-making processes, as well as quantitative methodology and criminal justice policy. Additionally, they are interested in the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity with the legal system. Her work reaches across disciplines, primarily drawing from social and cognitive psychology, and sociology. She currently works as a research assistant for Dr. Sarah Tahamont. Some of their current projects include: (1) evaluating the Second Chance Pell pilot program, (2) using trajectory models to understand trends in corrections as well as the impact of modeling choices, and (3) working as a teaching assistant for the graduate introductory statistics course. She is under the advisement of Dr. Jean McGloin conducting research on the influence of peers.

Regi Corbie is a first-year Couple and Family Therapy Masters candidate from Baltimore, MD. He graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor’s in Electronic Media & Film. After completing his undergraduate degree, Regi worked as a business development director for an architecture firm. Ardent for a greater purpose, Regi began to think about the ways in which he wanted to impact his community. Motivated by the lack of diverse mental health resources in the area, he co-founded the Pride Center of Maryland’s Coming Out Support Group in Baltimore City— a free, monthly resource for LGBTQIA+ individuals, providing support to those navigating the coming out process. He is also a repeat panelist invited to speak and answer questions, from Graduate students and faculty of the School of Social Work, regarding experiences and areas of improvement for mental healthcare in the LGBTQIA+ community. Regi’s experience running the support group inspired him to become a therapist so he can continue to serve and advocate for individuals and families in underrepresented communities. In his spare time, Regi enjoys cooking, watching films with his wife, and traveling.

M Pease is a doctoral student in counseling psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. They received their Bachelor of Science at UMD in psychology with high honors and with minors in Asian American studies and public leadership. Working with the PRC since 2019, they are the graduate assistant for research and scientific communcations. Their research interests broadly involve finding ways to apply psychological science to the pursuit of social justice and equity. They particularly focus on race, gender, and LGBTQ+ topics in mental health and how systems of oppression create and perpetuate mental health disparities.

James McGraw is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). In general, his research revolves around suicide prevention, LGBTQ+ mental health, and psychological treatments. He is particularly interested in how meaning-making systems (e.g., religiousness/spirituality) and sexual/gender stigma impacts the presenting problems of sexual and gender minorities and their experiences with mental health treatment. 

Shachar Gazit-Rosenthal is a current undergraduate senior working towards her Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health Science, as well as a minor in Public Leadership. She is also a first year Master of Public Health student in the accelerated BS/MPH program, with a concentration in Behavioral and Community Health. Shachar is the current Environmental Health Committee Chair for Students Engaged in Public Health Club (or SEIPH), as well as on the board for the School of Public Health’s Student Advisory Committee. At the PRC, she is a research assistant for the Sexual and Gender Diversity Learning Community training program, as well as an overall program intern. 

M. 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’s current NIH-funded research agenda examines developmental differences in identity formation, minority stress, and health among youth, with special attention to variability at distinct intersections 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.  

Samantha Moran is a first year doctoral student in the family science department with a background in mental health as a licensed master social worker (LMSW). Her research interests include the experience of LGBTQ+ youth in the context of the education system, and the importance of creating safer school climates, inclusive curricula, and supportive measures that empower teachers and staff to affirm students. 

Pond is a first year Doctoral student in the Family Sciences department located in the School of public health. Their research focuses on transgender parenting. Specifically, they wish to explore how trans* parents navigate parenting roles after birth, in what contexts does gender dysphoria/euphoria manifest in transmasculine parenthood, and what socialization messages are transgender parents sending to their children about gender norms.They currently work as a research assistant for Dr. Jessica Fish on projects that analyze the socialization messages sent between heterosexual parents and sexual minority youth.

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 from the University of Benin, Nigeria, and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Suffolk, England. Following the completion of her undergraduate studies, Lauryn supported Health Systems Strengthening, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Infectious Disease, and Outbreak & Emergency Response programs in West Africa. 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 Advisory 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 health services delivery, access barriers, and 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. 

Barbara Curbow is a social/health psychologist who received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz. From 1987-2005 she was on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health where she held appointments in the Departments of Health Policy and Management, Environmental Health Sciences, and Health, Behavior and Society. From 2006-2014 she was professor and chair of the Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions. Until her retirement at the end of 2020, Dr. Curbow was professor and chair of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health in the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland.  Dr. Curbow’s research interests fall within these general areas: cancer prevention and control, medical treatment decision making, health disparities, and health communication.  Over the course of her career she trained over 30 doctoral advisees.

John Salerno is a Provost’s Postdoctoral Research Scientist and Lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Dr. Salerno obtained his PhD in Behavioral & Community Health and Graduate Certificate in Measurement, Statistics, and Evaluation at the University of Maryland, and Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Miami. Dr. Salerno’s work focuses on addressing mental health disparities and inequities among marginalized Latinx youth communities, including undocumented immigrants, immigrants from the Northern Triangle (i.e., El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras), and LGBTQ+ youth. He was an active researcher with the UMD-PRC as a graduate student and founded the LGBTQ+ Students and Allies in Public Health student group. 

Chloe Mañus is a postbaccalaureate student at the University of Maryland. Their research interests broadly include the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Asian American identity, especially for gender expansive communities. They graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor's in Public Health Science and currently work at the PRC as a Communications Assistant.