I am on sabbatical for the 2023-2024 academic year and not embarking on new projects at this time. 

Hello, I prefer to go by Sara and I use she/her pronouns. I joined the faculty of the Clinical-Community Psychology PhD Program at the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2017. I am a Licensed Psychologist committed to bridging clinical, community, and cultural psychology. I serve as Community Psychology's Representative to the American Psychological Association [APA] on its Council of Representatives and as the Early Career Psychologist on APA's Council Leadership Team. My program of research centers on how communities and systems shape acculturation. I examine how people navigate acculturation in context and its impacts on their multidimensional wellbeing. My work is largely with international migrants, and it also extends to groups whose cultures have been suppressed through systemic efforts, such as colonization. I aim to identify and support the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs that support inclusion of multicultural community members, as opposed to tolerance or mere integration. I collaborate across disciplines and partner with communities to develop research projects. I use diverse, applied, community-engaged qualitative and mixed methods to answer these questions. I believe that research must be given away for the common good and used for action. My research informs my applied work. I care about intervention at multiple, interconnected levels - including national and local policy, community development, group prevention/promotion programming, and individual psychotherapy. I work not only as a researcher, but as an educator, advocate, and therapist. Above all, I believe in collaboration, and I strive to ask questions of concern to communities and to answer the questions in partnership with them. I have the privilege of working with an incredible team to do this work. I hope you enjoy getting to know them!  

Hello, I am a senior student and began the program in 2015. I feel lucky to have Dr. Sara Buckingham as my faculty mentor and advisor, and I am excited to be a member of the Crossroads Research Collective. My research interests are broad. My dissertation explores humans’ connections with the natural world and how these relationships promote well-being and healing. Topics regarding the impacts of internalized oppression and historical trauma in ethnic minority populations also interest me, and I have conducted research in this area as well. In addition, I am developing literacy in Black feminism and critical race theory, and I look forward to expanding my scholarship around both in the future. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, cooking, and hanging out with my partner and close friends. I believe that elephants are the best animals to ever tread upon Earth, and red is my favorite color.  

Hello hello hello! I was born and raised in downtown Chicago, IL and received my undergraduate degree in Trauma Psychology from The College of William and Mary in Virginia. My coursework included classes from a  variety of disciplines to not only understand the effects of trauma but how traumatic instances can occur in society. Additionally, during my undergraduate years I studied abroad in Jerusalem, Israel which is where I became interested in understanding the sociopolitical and cultural dynamics that influence longterm oppression and trauma. Being Jewish, my family and I have a strong connection to historical trauma and oppression, yet what I saw happening in Israel did not make sense to me internally or within the fundamental international bases of human rights. My undergraduate interests and life experiences led me to recognize that trauma and how individuals and communities experience trauma varies based on context, yet many of the programs and treatment modalities we presently have offer only Western-based methods and diagnoses. I am interested in developing a framework for cross-culturally-appropriate community-based trauma interventions that incorporate protocols for recognizing and valuing the various contexts that these interventions may take place. I hope to one day work for an international organization where I can work with researchers and clinicians to implement this framework, test its efficacy, continue revising it, and ultimately lobby for its use to governments and intergovernmental organizations. Outside of academia, I enjoy traveling (I have been to 31 countries!), acroyoga, country dancing/dancing in general, singing karaoke, hiking, and spending physical/virtual time with my family, friends, and pets.  

Dissertation: Supporting Holistic Refugee Well-Being: A Comparative Analysis of Existing Refugee Resettlement Agency Programming in the United States

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Research Project: Examining the Impact of Immigration Status and Immigration-related Policy on Latinx Immigrants’ Psychological Sense of Community with their Receiving Communities     

Inuuruŋalu savaktuŋalu kammaŋalu Tinaaġmiut nunaŋanni.

Iñupiaq, translated by Iñupiat Elder Richard Atuk from Wales
I live and work on and show respect for the land of Dena’ina peoples.

Uafa atibiiga Ipiaqruk Iñupiaqtun, Rebecca Naluabmiutun, Kax ax’ doo oo Lingitun. Ilaiyaatka Kawerakgurut, Cubagurut, Yakutatgurut, aglirufa Tinaabmiut. Uguak afayubaabiitka, Monalu & Eduardolu. My name Iñupiaq name is Ipiaqruk, my English name is Rebecca and my Lingit name is Kax ax’ doo oo. My ancestors are from the Kawereak region of Alaska, and Cuba. I am adopted by the Galyax Kaagwaantaan clan, the Eagle Beaver-Wolf clan of Yakutat, AK. My mother is Mona Eben, my father is Eduardo Prieto. I live on the land of the Dene’ina.

I am a mother, partner, and before returning to school, I served the Alaska Native community as a licensed professional counselor for seven years. I joined the clinical-community Ph.D. program at University of Alaska Anchorage in 2019. I am in a serviceship to the Alaska Native Community Advancement into Psychology program, and recently completed the Alaska Area Health Education Centers scholar program. In the fall of 2021, I became a member of the 10th cohort of the Native Children’s Research Exchange program. I am currently a research assistant on a Sustainable Development Working Group project for the Arctic Council, collaborating with Tribal communities in Southwest Alaska to understand perspectives on the local responses to regional, state, and federal COVID-19 related policies. I am excited to begin the dissertation journey, I seek to work with interpersonal violence advocates who work with Alaska Native women to understand effective prevention and intervention efforts within the Indigenist stress-coping model.

I am a protector of cultural sovereignty and believe decolonization can awaken healing traditions and restore balance for the interest of all beings, seen and unseen. Quyaruq (I am grateful) for Silam Inua (Creator), my ancestors, the gifts from the land, the support of my family, and moments visiting with Elders.

Waqaa! Wiinga atqa Tiera Uqiilaq Schroeder. Yupiugua kassaugua-llu. Aanaka Mary Barnes, aatairutka Baze Schroeder. Maurluugka Meg Schroeder, Daisy Barnes-llu. Apa’urluugka Hudy Schroeder, Harry Barnes Sr-llu. Anglillruunga Curyugmi, elitua Yugtun.

Hi! I am Tiera Uqiilaq Schroeder. I am Yup’k and White. My mom is Mary Barnes and my late dad is Baze Schroeder. My grandmothers are Meg Schroeder and Daisy Barnes. My grandfathers are Hudy Schroeder and Harry Barnes Sr. I grew up in Curyung (Dillingham), and I'm learning Yugtun.

Upon graduating from high school all I knew was that I wanted to do something with my life that would allow me to give back to my community in Bristol Bay and Alaska Native people. My love for psychology and the hope that I would be able contribute in a meaningful way flourished during undergrad – ultimately, I felt compelled to continue my education by pursuing this PhD as I felt that it would better prepare me to be a competent, culturally sensitive provider and collaborator. My research interests broadly pertain to prevention and intervention of substance misuse and suicidality in Alaska Native populations. I am also interested in community-based participatory methods from an Indigenous perspective. Outside of academic pursuits I enjoy being home in Dillingham spending time with family, friends, and nature, subsisting, traveling, eating (not necessarily cooking), and practicing my Native language, Yugtun.

Sharnel Vale-Jones, Yaagál, is Lingít (Alaska Native) from Yakutat, belonging to Kwaashk’IKwáan (Raven, Humpy Salmon) and Dis hítdaxáyáxat (Moon house). She is also the daughter of Teikweidí (Eagle, Brown Bear) and granddaughter of the Kaagwaantaan (Eagle, Beaver). She holds an M.S. in Clinical Psychology and recently completed the fourth year of her Clinical-Community Psychology Ph.D. program. Sharnel has dedicated nine years of her career to serving Alaska Native people in various capacities at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, including networking, improvement science, rural energy efficiency, and tobacco prevention. Since Fall 2020, she has provided community mental health services to adults, children, and families through telehealth and in-person sessions.

Navigating Western worldviews as a Lingít/European American individual, Sharnel is passionate about merging the two perspectives and weaving Indigenous knowledge into Western research practice. She firmly believes engaging in culturally responsive research is crucial for decolonizing knowledge production, which in turn will foster a more profound understanding of Indigenous perspectives and experiences. By embracing both Indigenous and Western research methods, she seeks to promote a more inclusive and equitable path toward the well-being and resilience of Indigenous peoples.

Sharnel's research interests lie in intergenerational trauma and resiliency strategies for Alaska Native (AN) and Indigenous people. Throughout her career, she aims to collaborate with Alaska tribal health organizations on research projects identifying culturally relevant resiliency strategies for AN individuals, ultimately breaking the cycles of trauma for families.

Outside of her professional life, Sharnel treasures her time with her family in Anchorage, enjoying activities like traveling, playing outdoors, or simply relaxing at home. She is also an avid basketball player and seizes every opportunity to hit the court.

Hello! I am from rural, northwestern Illinois. Growing up in a rural community gave me an intimate look at the mental health disparities and a passion for clinical psychology in rural areas. I received my B.S. in Developmental Psychology with a minor in Theatre Arts from Liberty University in the fall of 2018. My research interests are primarily related to rural psychology and how research can be turned into evidence-based practices for rural communities. I am also extremely interested in mood and anxiety disorders, particularly risk, protective, and resiliency factors in a rural context. Lastly, supplementary techniques of therapy such as expressive and arts therapies are another area of interest to me. Currently, I am working on my second year research project, which is using Constructivist Grounded Theory to examine and compare the experiences of rural mental health clinicians in Alaska and Illinois and glean their perspectives on what constitutes efficacious rural mental health care. I also worked with RAIS (Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services) over the summer to complete a program needs assessment for them. This consisted of interviewing current staff, volunteers, community partners, and the clients themselves. Both projects have been extremely rewarding thus far. Outside of school, I enjoy anything artistic: theatre, painting, music, makeup, and photo/videography. I also love reading, and my dream is to one day have a dedicated library room in my home. Playing with my dog, Arya, is also a consistent and wonderful form of self-care.

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Research Project: The Experiences of Rural Mental Health Clinicians: Insights from Alaska and Illinois

Hello, my name is Riley August Russell, and my pronouns are they/them. I am pleased to be joining the Crossroads Research Collective as a first year PhD student. My research interests are in behavioral therapy adaptations for underserved populations, the impact of culture, and utilizing community resources. My Master's thesis was an adaptation of Interpersonal Group therapy for LGBTQIA+ young adults in emerging adulthood with role transition or interpersonal dispute problem areas. Previously, I have worked as a Research Assistant at the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress at the University of Washington, the Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle, the Loss, Trauma and Emotion lab at Teachers College, Columbia University, and as a Research Coordinator at Tufts Medical Center. Since my family growing up was military, I've lived a nomadic lifestyle and enjoy traveling. 

Hello! My name is Sofia, and I use she/her pronouns. I was born and raised in Metro Detroit and received my undergraduate degree in psychology from DePaul University in Chicago. I worked as a research coordinator at DePaul where we examined the efficacy, dissemination, and sustainability of a cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression implemented in Chicago Public Schools. This research allowed me to see first-hand how community-based and culturally sensitive interventions are vital for individuals in historically underserved communities to gain access to mental health resources. These experiences then shaped my continued interest in developing and implementing community-based interventions for individuals who face systemic oppression. Additionally, I have worked on sexual health research at various institutions in Chicago, and I am passionate about promoting inclusive and positive sexual education programming. I am currently working on a research project to better understand how teenagers in Alaska conceptualize their sexual health. I also serve on the bargaining committee for University of Alaska graduate student workers, representing graduate student workers at University of Alaska Anchorage and working to improve conditions for graduate student workers across the University of Alaska system. Throughout my career, I strive to be involved in research, clinical practice, teaching, mentorship, organizing, and advocacy. In my free time, I like to dance, cook, hike, and spend time with my friends and two cats, Moon and Gemini

Hello! My name is Anamika and I use she/her pronouns. I grew up in Gainesville, Florida but moved to Washington State during high school. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Law, Diversity and Justice at Western Washington University. As an undergraduate, I participated in research examining university student mental health during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the accessibility and effectiveness of campus mental health resources. I also had the opportunity to work as a student text-counselor: I provided Listening Visit counseling sessions to pregnant/post-partum women as part of a study to assess the adequacy of this type of intervention for improving mental health. Moving forward, I am interested in working to identify interventions that promote well-being in communities of nondominant cultural background and lower socioeconomic status. In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, swimming, dancing, hiking, and anything food related!