RESEARCH TEAM

Jennifer Bedele

KAI MANGINO

Kai is a third-year GIPP student. She has experience as a research assistant studying cognitive development in infants, LGBTQ+ student experiences on undergraduate campuses, as well as the impact of exercise on emotions in undergraduate students. She also has experience as a lab manager studying the effects of racial microaggressions on bystanders. Currently, her research interests are centered on ways to increase multicultural competency in psychology doctoral programs in a way that portrays social justice attitudes and beliefs rather than strictly competency.

TAMI TIBURTINO

Tami is a fourth year GIPP student. Her research interests include multicultural and diversity related areas of developmental psychology. She has recently become involved with the development of a biracial socialization scale. The focus of this project is to create a valid and reliable research tool that can measure the amount of racial socialization biracial individuals received as children from their parents.

FRANCES CHILIQUINGA

Frances Chiliquinga is a fifth-year clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Hartford’s Graduate Institution of Professional Psychology. Frances’ research focus lies on undocumented immigrant mental health, psychosocial and contextual influences on the psychological wellbeing of immigrant and Latinx populations, mental health disparities among marginalized and underserved populations, and trauma among children and adolescents. Her research experience includes literature reviews, preparing interview questions and surveys for qualitative focus groups, and preparing linguistically accessible materials for primarily Spanish-speaking participants.

ALEXANDRA STEEL

Alexandra Steel is a third-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology and is a Behavioral Technician and intern for the Center for Children with Special Needs. With interests in bilingual psychology and applied behavior analysis, Alexandra provides services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Her research pertains to mental health care disparities in minority populations, eco-therapeutic interventions for persons with ASD, cellphone addiction, and multicultural competency and diversity training.

Alexandra earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University with a minor in Spanish and her master’s degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from Universidad Alcala de Henares in Madrid, Spain. She is scheduled to receive her PsyD in Clinical Psychology through the University of Hartford in 2024. Before attending the Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology, Alexandra worked with the Spanish government in Madrid to improve the English as a Second Language (ESL) program in the bilingual school setting for children with special needs.

DANIEL TSO

Daniel Tso is a third year student in GIPP who is working with Dr. Gale on the relationships between campus student mental health, racial injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic. Daniel’s research interests include schizophrenia, neuropsychology, and serious mental illness.

HEATHER WIMMER

Heather is a fourth-year GIPP student currently completing her post-doctoral internship. She has an eclectic history of research experience including organizational psychology, self-esteem, racial climate, and truancy. Her current research interests include applying a systems theory approach to behavioral issues experienced by children and adolescents, particularly the impacts of policy on the services children and adolescents can receive.

HAILEY DIAS

Hailey is a second-year GIPP student. She has experience as a research coordinator studying parenting interventions for mothers in treatment for opioid addiction, the impacts of human-animal interactions on stress and anxiety, and aggression in college students. Broadly, her research interests include gender-responsive addiction treatment and increasing access to culturally sensitive mental health treatment for marginalized groups.

KRIS SHEA

Kris Shea is currently a third-year GIPP student. He has clinical experience working in community-based outpatient settings providing individual psychotherapy to clients with comorbid diagnoses. With regards to research, Kris is working collaboratively with other GIPP students under the supervision of Dr. Michael Gale, PhD to conduct research related to multicultural competency and social justice action within graduate psychology training programs. As a recipient of the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), Kris will be serving in the United States Navy as an active-duty Clinical Psychologist upon graduation. He hopes to work closely with military and veteran populations in the future.