Children Adapting to Stress and Adversity (CASA) Lab

Research Team

NaLA ALBourI



​Yvita Bustos

SABREET DHATT


​​Roxanna Flores 

Sarah Jolie

Elizabeth Marquez

Susana Sosa


​PALOMA UNDA CHARVEL

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  • Hometown: Saihat, Saudi Arabia.
  • Education: Sophomore in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Undergraduate on the Pre-Medical track, Loyola University Chicago
  • Research Interests: I am mainly interested in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychopathology. Especially the neurological manifestations of psychiatric disorders.
  • Hobbies: Cooking and baking are some of my favorite things to do. I enjoy being introduced to various cultural dishes. Moving to Chicago has been a great opportunity to do so, with the many exciting restaurants available. I also like to sing and paint when I am alone in my apartment. Volunteering has always been on top of my list as well; I am always involved in it throughout the year whether it’s more community or health based. I’m fond of reading Arabic poems, and sometimes writing too. You’ll probably always catch me watching Forensic Files or something like true crime documentaries.
  • Goals: I intend on becoming a Psychiatrist and a Neurologist! I would like to contribute to diminishing the stigma around mental health and expand much-needed mental wellness and crisis support services especially in my community back in Saudi. I would also like to work on finding a way to make choosing the most effective medications for each individual on case-by-case basis less hectic and agonizing for said patients as I realize that trial and error can be extremely disappointing before an adequate treatment plan is reached.

  • Hometown: Chicago, IL 
  • Education: B.A. in Psychology, Human Services Concentration from DePaul University (2016) M.A. from Loyola University Chicago (2019)
  • Status: Internship year at Lurie's Children's Hospital; 6th year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Loyola University Chicago
  • Research Interests: I am interested in underserved populations, particularly low-income Latino youth and families. I am interested in community-based and school based interventions for children with anxiety and depression who have a history of trauma exposure. My interests also include risk, resilience, stress, coping, cultural factors and community-based participatory research. 
  • Hobbies: Reading, painting, going to concerts, volunteering 
  • Goals: In the future, I would like to work as both a clinician and researcher in a university or community-based mental health clinic developing and evaluating culturally relevant interventions for underserved populations, specifically urban, low-income, Latino youth. 

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  • Hometown: Crete, Illinois 
  • ​Education: Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2021)
  • Status: Post-Baccalaureate Research Assistant, Peer Support Facilitator at Step Up For Mental Health
  • Research Interests: I am passionate about researching the effects of adverse experiences, unique to one’s diverse identity, as well as their role in the etiology of mental health disorders — especially in communities of color. Additionally, I am interested in how this purposeful research can improve evidence-based support programs and healing within these communities. 
  • Goals: I aspire to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. At the doctoral level, I strive to research human susceptibility to harmful thought patterns and adverse experiences that contribute to the development of high prevalence mental health disorders. With the hopes of equipping and empowering communities with the tools to lead healthier lives, I look forward to building a career that allows me to perform research and serve as a clinician in diverse communities. 
  • Hobbies: I find happiness in spending time in nature, baking with my loved ones, and capturing memories.  







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  • Hometown: Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
  • Education: B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Biology from Florida International University (2017); M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University (2019)
  • Status: 3rd year graduate student in the Child Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Loyola University Chicago
  • Research Interests: I am interested in the effects of early life adverse events/trauma and resilience in underserved populations, particularly low-income Latino and BIPOC families, immigrants, and refugees. I also have a strong interest in enhancing and developing culturally relevant interventions for children and families.  
  • Hobbies: Dance fitness, traveling, singing, going to brunch
  • Goals: I'd like to go on to a career that includes clinical work with children and families and community/participatory research at an academic medical center, specifically working with BIPOC. I hope to get involved in policy work.
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  • Hometown: Oak Park, IL
  • Education: B.A in Psychology, concentration in Human Development, minor in Public Health from DePaul University (November 2017)
  • Status: 4th year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Loyola University Chicago 
  • Research Interests: The effects of child trauma on development, maladaptive behavior, and coping mechanisms in Latino children. I am also interested in using this research to develop culturally appropriate trauma intervention programs for children and their families.
  • Hobbies: I enjoy traveling back to Bolivia, reading, and spending time with family.
  • Goals: I would like to continue research on culturally-informed interventions and provide clinical services to immigrant communities that promote resilience and coping.

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  • Hometown: North Riverside, IL 
  • Education: B.S in Behavioral Neuroscience and French at Loyola University Chicago (2024) 
  • Status: Sophomore Undergraduate Research Assistant 
  • Research Interests: I am interested in how  immigrant children’s family life and environment affect their physical and mental well-being. My goal is to provide better resources for the minority community. 
  • Hobbies: In my spare time I enjoy learning more about cosmetology and offering makeup services! 
  • Goals: My goal is to become a pediatrician with a focus in neurology. I would also like to perform my own research in Mexico regarding children’s mental health




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  • Hometown: Chicago, IL
  • Education: B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, Minor in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2018); M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2022)
  • Status: 3rd year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Loyola University Chicago
  • Research Interests: I am primarily interested in researching stress and coping experiences among Latino/x youth and families. Beyond this, I am also interested in researching and disseminating culturally- and trauma-informed interventions for underserved families.
  • Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, yoga, dancing, listening to music
  • Goals: I'd like to develop a career that includes applied research and clinical work at a university or an academic medical center, specifically working with underserved communities.

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  • Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico  
  • Education: BS in Psychology, BA Women Studies, and Gender Studies  
  • Research interest: I’m interested in working with immigrants and marginalized people to understand how oppression can create trauma in the mind and body and learn how oppression in America can lead to mental health problems. I would like to be able to provide useful research to these groups so that they can be aware of what is happening and how they might be able to deal with it.  
  • Hobbies: I love traveling and planning trips, I love watching docuseries/documentaries, learning, reading, cooking, and yoga.  
  • Goals: In the future, I will like to earn a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology and use it to unstigmatized mental health and develop scientific research that will advocate for social injustices.  


​ELANI WILLIAMS


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  • Hometown: Harvey, IL
  • Education: B.S. in Psychology at Loyola University Chicago (2023)
  • Status: Junior Undergraduate Research Assistant
  • Research Interests: I am interested in research focusing on improving the mental health in BIPOC communities, especially the black community.
  • Hobbies: I love to try different recipes and visit new restaurants. I also enjoy playing video games on my Nintendo switch and reading.
  • Goals: I want to aid in destigmatizing mental health and make mental wellness resources more accessible in the black community.

Hadia Zarzour

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  • Hometown: Damascus, Syria
  • Education: MA in Community Counseling From Loyola University Chicago (2011) 
  • Status: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Trauma Specialist 
  • Research Interests: The impact of community and school interventions on families struggling with trauma.
  • Hobbies: I enjoy traveling, acting and cooking.
  • Goals: To conduct research on my trauma work and pursue my Phd in Clinical Psychology. 

Former Graduate Students: Where are they now?

​STEPHANIE BREWER

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  • Current position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School Mental Health Assessment, Research, and Training (SMART) Center, University of Washington
  • Recipient of NIMH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F32): Integrating implementation science and cultural adaptation to understand intervention modifications within school-based mental health 
  • Ph.D. (2018) and M.A. (2014) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis (2010) 

LAURA DISTEL

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  • Current position: Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow, Boston Children's Hospital
  • M.A. from Loyola University Chicago (2018),  Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, child subspecialty at Loyola University Chicago (2021)
  • B.A. in Psychology and Latin American and Caribbean Studies from the University of Michigan (2013)

​ANNE FULLER

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  • Current Position: Assistant Professor, School of Psychology, Xavier University
  • Ph.D. (2017) and M.A. (2013) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • B.S. in Psychology from Brown University (2011)

​JACLYN LENNON PAPADAKIS

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  • Current position: Pediatric Psychologist, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
  • Ph.D. (2018) and M.A. (2014) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • B.S. in Psychology and Human Services from Loyola University (2010)

ANNA ROS

  • ​Current position: Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow at Children's Health Council of Palo Alto, CA
  • Ph.D. (2020) and M.A. (2017) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • B.S. in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2012)

​STEPHANIE TORRES

  • Current Position:  Bridge to Faculty Research Associate, Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC). 
  • Ph.D. (2019) and M.A. (2016) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Latin American and Latino Studies from DePaul University (2013)

CASA LAB ALUMNI


  • Laura Acevedo, B.A. in Psychology, minor in Spanish from Illinois State University (2013)
  • Maria Afanador Ardila, B.S in Psychology, Minor in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago (2020)
  • Enas Aldakkak, B.S. in Psychology, Loyola University Chicago (2021)
  • Stephanie Arriaga, B.S in Psychology, Minor in Asian Studies from Loyola University Chicago (2020)
  • Carolyn Bates, B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame (2013)
  • Suzel Bautista, B.S.  in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2015)
  • Karyna Bravo, B.A. in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2017)
  • Stephanie Brewer, Ph.D. (2018) and M.A. (2014) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • Molly Carmody, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Philosophy from Loyola University Chicago (2014)
  • Tania Carmona Pastrana,  B.S. in Neuroscience from Loyola University Chicago (2019)
  • Autumn Crowe, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Psychology of Crime and Justice, Women's Studies and Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago (2016)
  • Mikaela DeLemos, B.A. in Psychology and Hispanic Studies from Oberlin College (2021)
  • Diana Diaconu, B.S. in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (Dec 2015)
  • Kathleen Dillon, B.S. in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2015)
  • Saadia Elahi, B.A. in Neuroscience from Northwestern University
  • Nerissa Fernandes, B.S. in Psychology, Pre-Health from Loyola University Chicago (2016)
  • Donna Flores, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago (2012)
  • Anne Fuller, Ph.D. (2017) and M.A. (2013) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • ​Kimberly Galvez, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2018)
  • Lindsey Gardiner, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Spanish from Indiana University (2015)
  • Lauren Gestes, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Photography from Loyola University Chicago (2015)
  • ​Karen Glownia, B.S. in Psychology, minors in Anthropology, Sociology, Women's Studies and Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago (2018) 
  • Fernando Gonzalez III, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Bioethics from Loyola University Chicago (2014)
  • Ana Guzman, B.S. in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2015)
  • Dima Hantuli, B.S. in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2022)
  • Farah Harb, B.S in Psychology, B.A. in Spanish Literature, minor in Neuroscience at Loyola University Chicago 
  • Berenice Huerta, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Sociology, Psychology of Crime and Justice from Loyola University Chicago (2015)
  • Amatul Husna, B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Psychology of Crime and Justice from Loyola University Chicago (2021)
  • Ramiro Jimenez, B.S. in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago (2019)
  • Rebecca Kaiser, B.S. in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2016)
  • Megumi Kimura, B.S. in Psychology, Studio Art: Drawing & Painting, minor in Psychology of Crime and Justice from Loyola University Chicago (2017)
  • Victoria Kolbuck, M.S.W. from Loyola University Chicago (2013), B.S. in Criminal Justice from Loyola University Chicago (2011)
  • Alex Leon, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Statistics from Loyola University Chicago (2018)
  • Adrian Medina, B.S. in Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, B.S. in Psychology, Minors in Arabic Language and Culture & Biology from Loyola University Chicago (2021)
  • Dorothy McLeod,​ B.A. in Psychology, minor in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard University (2012)
  • Emily Miller, B.S. in Psychology and Criminal Justice & Criminology from Loyola University Chicago 
  • Kimberly Mis, B.S. in Biology, Minor in Bioethics from Loyola University Chicago (2022)
  • Jaclyn Lennon Papadakis, Ph.D. (2018) and M.A. (2014) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • Jennifer Ramasami, B.S. in Psychology, minors in Spanish and Business Management from Loyola University Chicago (2014)
  • Sonia Ramirez, B.S. in Biology, minor in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2016)
  • Andrea Realpe, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Studio Art from Loyola University Chicago (2015)
  • Anna Ros, Ph.D. (2020) and M.A. (2017) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • Hesam Camilo Sadeghian, senior undergraduate, major in Psychology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Cali, Colombia
  • Charlene Santos, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Anthropology from Loyola University Chicago (2014)
  • Madeline Stonis, B.S. in Biology, B.A. in Spanish from Loyola University Chicago (2017)
  • Gabriela Suarez-Cano, PhD, B.A. in Applied Psychology, minor in Spanish from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2014); PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Cincinnati (2021)
  • Lauren Tan, B.S. in Psychology, B.A. in Anthropology, Minors in Spanish and Art History (2020)
  • Stephanie Torres, Ph.D. (2019) and M.A. (2016) in Child Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
  • Jefferson Uriarte, M.A. (2019) in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies, B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in International Studies from Loyola University Chicago (2014)
  • Christine Weingarten, B.A. in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology and Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis (2012)
  • Yesenia Zetino,  B.S. in Psychology, minor in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago (2018)