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Maggi Price, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Dr. Maggi Price is a licensed Psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Boston College where she runs the Affirm Lab. She also serves as a Psychology Associate in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. Dr. Price is an applied health equity researcher who studies stigma as a critical driver of mental health inequities. She has two active complementary arms of research. The first explores how stigma, such as racism and sexism - across multiple levels, such as discrimination and laws/policies - create and sustain mental health inequities. Her second research arm focuses on developing and testing multilevel interventions to reduce stigma (e.g., in mental health care, schools). Dr. Price's contributions to research in stigma and diversity have been highlighted in awards from the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (JCCAP), the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Finally, Dr. Price is a passionate and dedicated teacher and mentor, qualities that have been recognized in her receipt of the Yale University Doctoral Internship in Clinical & Community Psychology Leadership Award and the Boston College Donald J. White Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Price earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College in 2018, her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Hawaii Hilo in 2012, and her B.S. in psychology and sociology from the University of Oregon in 2010. Dr. Price completed her clinical training at Yale University School of Medicine after finishing clinical practica as a Harvard Medical School fellow at Cambridge Health Alliance and Massachusetts General Hospital. Across these settings, she trained in culturally-responsive evidence-based practice for children, adolescents, and adults with a focus on trauma-related psychopathology. Dr. Price completed her postdoctoral research fellowship in clinical child psychology at the Laboratory for Youth Mental Health. Curriculum Vitae (CV) | BC Faculty Page | ResearchGate | Twitter | Google Scholar | Email |
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Kara Johansen, B.A. (she/her/hers)
Kara Johansen is the research coordinator for the GAPS project. Kara graduated from Boston College in 2022 with a major in Sociology and minors in Economics as well as Applied Psychology. Kara's undergraduate thesis is titled "Cleaning During COVID: Navigating Working Arrangements for House Cleaners and Their Employers in Boston and Dallas." She received the McCarthy prize which is awarded to the best undergraduate thesis in Boston College's Social Sciences, as determined by the dean's reviewers. She also received the Scholar of the College award and the Karp Award, which awarded to one particularly outstanding senior thesis in Sociology. Kara’s previous research experience includes working on Professer Charles Deber’s book Emergency Election and researching Texas policing policies for Meet the Momentum. Kara hopes to continue and pursue a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. |
Patrick Mulkern, LCSW (they/he)
Patrick is a first year doctoral student in the Boston College School of Social Work and a team member in the Affirm Lab leading the IMPACTS study. Patrick earned an MSW and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley in 2016. After graduating, Patrick worked with the San Francisco Unified School District coordinating a high school Wellness Center and later as a Central School Worker providing district wide crisis response and support to students and families experiencing homelessness. They also serve as the Past President of the California Association of School Social Workers and the Western Representative for the School Socia. Work Association of America. Patrick’s research interests are informed by the tension of schools as sites of oppression and potential sites for liberation. They are interested in utilizing Youth PArticipatory Action Research to create sustainable equitable school environments where queer students are connected, safe(r), and successful. |
余泊林 (Bolin Yu) "Ella" (she/her/hers)
Ella is an undergraduate research assistant in the Affirm Lab. She is currently studying Applied Psychology at Boston College. As an individual who has lived in three countries, Australia, the United States, and China growing up, she has developed a strong enthusiasm for learning about foreign cultures and investigating how diverse environments shape one's identity. She has previously conducted independent research in clinical psychology on developing a psychosocial intervention to reduce the risk of psychotic symptoms in migrants living in the United States. She founded the Global Citizen Project, a curriculum aimed to educate local Wuhan public primary school students on multicultural knowledge and encourage an international mindset through classes on global cultures. In the future, she aspires to continue endeavors on strengthening cross-cultural relationships, as well as supporting individuals with diverse identities. |
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August Wei B.S. (he/him/his)
August is a volunteer research assistant in the Affirm Lab. He graduated from UNC Chapel Hill (go heels!) in 2021 with a major in psychology. There, he completed a Karen M. Gil internship at a private practice in Durham, NC. While transcribing records and clinical interviews, he discovered his passion for increasing the accessibility and efficacy of mental health treatment for all youth. He recently completed a year as an Intramural Research Training Award fellow at the NIMH, where he studied the implementation of suicide risk screening programs in medical settings. In addition, August conducted an independent project on social support and suicide risk among cis-LGBQ and transgender youth, and shared these findings in an oral presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in April 2023. He is most interested in using community-based participatory research to develop and disseminate mental health interventions for BIPOC LGBTQ youth and their families. To this end, he hopes to pursue a PhD in public health or clinical psychology. Bonnie (she/her/hers)
Bonnie is a 4-year-old Texas-born pitbull and one of the longest-term lab family members. Though she often sleeps through lab meetings and events, she provides critical emotional support and affection. |
Affirm Lab Graduates
Tara Deonauth, B.A. (she/her/hers)
Tara is a chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and she wishes to subsequently pursue a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology. Email
Tara is a chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and she wishes to subsequently pursue a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology. Email
McKenzie E. Sheridan, M.A. (she/her/hers)
McKenzie began working on a Clinical Psychology Psy.D. with a concentration on children and families of adversity and resilience at William James College in August 2020. LinkedIn | Email
McKenzie began working on a Clinical Psychology Psy.D. with a concentration on children and families of adversity and resilience at William James College in August 2020. LinkedIn | Email
Hilary Skov, B.A. (she/her/hers)
Hilary has been working on her Ph.D. in School Psychology in the Child and Family Lab at Tulane University since August 2020. LinkedIn | Email
Hilary has been working on her Ph.D. in School Psychology in the Child and Family Lab at Tulane University since August 2020. LinkedIn | Email
Gabrielle Kaufman, M. A. (she/her/hers)
Gabi will is working on a PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Denver since September 2020. Email
Gabi will is working on a PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Denver since September 2020. Email
Emma Bokhour, B.A. (she/her, they/them)
Emma works for Cambridge Health Alliance as a Sexual and Reproductive Health Counselor and Educator for a school-based clinic in Everett, MA. Emma is planning to get a Masters in Social Work or Public Health or eventually pursue a Ph.D. LinkedIn | Email
Emma works for Cambridge Health Alliance as a Sexual and Reproductive Health Counselor and Educator for a school-based clinic in Everett, MA. Emma is planning to get a Masters in Social Work or Public Health or eventually pursue a Ph.D. LinkedIn | Email
Colleen Johnston, B.A., M.S.W. (she/her/hers)
Colleen graduated with her MSW in May 2021 and began her career in medical social work at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in June 2021. Email
Colleen graduated with her MSW in May 2021 and began her career in medical social work at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in June 2021. Email
Nathan L. Hollinsaid, B.S. (he/him/his)
Nathan is a graduate collaborator in the Affirm Lab and Clinical Science PhD student in the BEST Lab at Harvard. ResearchGate | Twitter | Email
Nathan is a graduate collaborator in the Affirm Lab and Clinical Science PhD student in the BEST Lab at Harvard. ResearchGate | Twitter | Email
Irene Mapfunde, B.A (she/her/hers)
Irene is currently a graduate student at the Boston College School of Social Work. Email | LinkedIn
Irene is currently a graduate student at the Boston College School of Social Work. Email | LinkedIn
Gabi Ortiz, B.A., M.A. (she/her/hers)
Gabi is a Ph.D. student in BCSSW.
Gabi is a Ph.D. student in BCSSW.
Erick DuShane, B.A., M.S.W. (he/him/his)
Erick graduated from BCSSW in spring 2022. He is moving to NYC and working with urban youths in a community based program. Email | LinkedIn
Erick graduated from BCSSW in spring 2022. He is moving to NYC and working with urban youths in a community based program. Email | LinkedIn
Halina Tittmann, B.A. (she/her/hers)
Halina graduated from Boston College in Spring 2022, majoring in Sociology and minoring in International Studies (Ethics and Social Justice). After graduation, she moved to LA to pursue her future career. Email | LinkedIn
Halina graduated from Boston College in Spring 2022, majoring in Sociology and minoring in International Studies (Ethics and Social Justice). After graduation, she moved to LA to pursue her future career. Email | LinkedIn
姜帅 (Shuai Jiang) "Eddy", B.A. (he/him/his)
Eddy graduated from Boston College in Spring 2022 with a double major in Applied Psychology and Theology.
Eddy graduated from Boston College in Spring 2022 with a double major in Applied Psychology and Theology.
Marina Rakhilin, B.S., M.S.W (they/them)
Marina graduated from BCSSW in Spring 2023 with a degree in Macro Social work. They are staying in Boston and looking for work designing psychosocial interventions. Email LinkedIn
Marina graduated from BCSSW in Spring 2023 with a degree in Macro Social work. They are staying in Boston and looking for work designing psychosocial interventions. Email LinkedIn
Marissa Allen, B.A. (she/her/hers)
Marissa graduated from Boston College's Mental Health Counseling program in Spring 2023 with a master's degree and plans to continue her education in pursuit of a Psy.D. degree. Marissa hopes to eventually have her own counseling practice and become a Psychology professor.
Marissa graduated from Boston College's Mental Health Counseling program in Spring 2023 with a master's degree and plans to continue her education in pursuit of a Psy.D. degree. Marissa hopes to eventually have her own counseling practice and become a Psychology professor.
Yang Fan, B.A. ( she/her/hers)
Yang graduated from Boston College’s Mental Health Counseling Program in Spring 2023 and aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She hopes to work on raising mental health awareness and de-stigmatizing mental illness for youth in China.
Yang graduated from Boston College’s Mental Health Counseling Program in Spring 2023 and aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She hopes to work on raising mental health awareness and de-stigmatizing mental illness for youth in China.
Moumina Khan (she/her/her)
Moumina graduated from Tufts University with a major in Clinical Psychology and minor in English in Spring 2023. She is particularly passionate about mental health and mental health care as it pertains to stigmatized and minority communities, particularly BIPOC communities. Email
Moumina graduated from Tufts University with a major in Clinical Psychology and minor in English in Spring 2023. She is particularly passionate about mental health and mental health care as it pertains to stigmatized and minority communities, particularly BIPOC communities. Email
Sarah Reilly (she/her/hers)
Sarah earned her M.S.W. from Boston University in 2022 and her B.A. in History of Art and Architecture with a secondary in economics from Harvard University in 2014. At Boston University, Sarah was a clinical track student and completed a Trauma and Violence Specialization. Sarah is passionate about expanding health equity and access to care for LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults.
Sarah earned her M.S.W. from Boston University in 2022 and her B.A. in History of Art and Architecture with a secondary in economics from Harvard University in 2014. At Boston University, Sarah was a clinical track student and completed a Trauma and Violence Specialization. Sarah is passionate about expanding health equity and access to care for LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults.
Dylan Reyes (he/they)
Dylan graduated from Boston College's mental health counseling master’s program in Spring 2023, and completed their practicum at the Counseling Center at Simmons University. They hope to pursue a PhD in the field of Community Psychology where they hope to use a participatory-action research model to collaborate and research the ongoing effects of trauma at the southern border.
Justine Lee, B.A. (she/her/hers)
Justine graduated from the University of Virginia in 2022 with a major in psychology. She is interested in the creation of scalable interventions for adolescent anxiety and related disorders, and she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Atlas Sanogo (he/they)
Atlas Sanogo is a junior at Harvard College from Ottawa, Canada. They are concentrating in Psychology and also pursuing a secondary in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. In the long term, Atlas would like to pursue a PhD in Social or Clinical Psychology. Beyond graduate school, they are committed to working directly on research and applications that concern LGBTQ+ youth in the education, sports, clinical, or nonprofit sector.
薛雯青 (Wenqing Xue) “Shelly” (she/her/hers)
Shelly is a current undergraduate at Boston College pursuing double majors in Applied Psychology and Philosophy. With a passion for liberal arts, Shelly embraces all kinds of academic and career possibilities through constant learning and managing to discover her path.
Dylan graduated from Boston College's mental health counseling master’s program in Spring 2023, and completed their practicum at the Counseling Center at Simmons University. They hope to pursue a PhD in the field of Community Psychology where they hope to use a participatory-action research model to collaborate and research the ongoing effects of trauma at the southern border.
Justine Lee, B.A. (she/her/hers)
Justine graduated from the University of Virginia in 2022 with a major in psychology. She is interested in the creation of scalable interventions for adolescent anxiety and related disorders, and she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Atlas Sanogo (he/they)
Atlas Sanogo is a junior at Harvard College from Ottawa, Canada. They are concentrating in Psychology and also pursuing a secondary in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. In the long term, Atlas would like to pursue a PhD in Social or Clinical Psychology. Beyond graduate school, they are committed to working directly on research and applications that concern LGBTQ+ youth in the education, sports, clinical, or nonprofit sector.
薛雯青 (Wenqing Xue) “Shelly” (she/her/hers)
Shelly is a current undergraduate at Boston College pursuing double majors in Applied Psychology and Philosophy. With a passion for liberal arts, Shelly embraces all kinds of academic and career possibilities through constant learning and managing to discover her path.