Innovative Research from Faculty, Students and Alumni Showcased at American Psychological Association Convention

The College of Human Development, Culture, and Media recognizes the accomplishments of the students, faculty and alumni from the Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy (PPFT) who showcased their exciting projects at the national American Psychological Association (APA)’s 2024 Convention.

With over 900 sessions and events, this annual interactive event was held by APA, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, and took place in-person and virtually in Seattle, Washington in August. Sixteen current students, faculty and alumni from Seton Hall presented their research posters, staged skill building sessions, hosted symposium presentations, and gave presidential addresses, highlighting the innovative research and collaborations taking place at the University.

Researchers and scholars from multiple PPFT programs participated, including students and graduates from the M.A. in Psychological Studies and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology programs. Projects were informative and diverse, with topics ranging from collaborative presentations on “Radical Care and Community Wellness” (Chelsea Chen, B.S., Ngoc T. Tran, M.S., and Rui Du, M.A.) to “Formal Help-Seeking by Survivors of Sexual Violence: An Application of Minority Stress Theory” (Katherine R. Finkelstein, Ph.D.). Some projects involved collaboration between faculty and students and highlighted important research on multicultural populations, such as “Bicultural South Asian American Women’s Gendered Cultural Identities: Experiences and Navigation” (Tejasvini Mantripragada, B.S., B.A.; Minsun Lee, Ph.D.; and Mamona Butt, M.A.) and “Advancing Opportunity: Learning With High-Achieving Low-SES Youth of Color” (Peggy Brady-Amoon, Ph.D.; Gianna Scimemi, B.A.; and Analisa Tafro, M.A.). Chelsea Chen, a second-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program reflects on the experience, “it was really heartwarming to see professionals in our field invested in learning how to revision self-care outside of a capitalistic context.”

Other highlights from the conventions include M. Cristina Cruza-Guet, Ph.D., assistant professor in the PPFT Department and Division 36: Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality Executive Committee President, who delivered the Division 36 Presidential Address. Additionally, Tejasvini Mantripragada, a third-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program and current Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP) Leadership Collaborative (LC) Fellow, delivered her SCP LC Fellows Address on the theme of “Leading with Justice & Joy.” The SCP Leadership Collaborative is a prestigious program aimed to inspire and train practice-focused emerging leaders in the field of psychology with an emphasis on social justice and multicultural leadership. Professor Peggy Brady-Amoon, Ph.D. of the PPFT Department raves, “[Tejasvini’s] selection as a SCP Leadership Collaborative Fellow is an honor for Tejasvini and us!”

Students, faculty and alumni projects included:

• Advancing Opportunity: Learning With High-Achieving Low-SES Youth of Color: Peggy Brady-Amoon, Ph.D.; Gianna Scimemi, B.A.; Analisa Tafro, M.A.
• Bicultural South Asian American Women’s Gendered Cultural Identities: Experiences and Navigation: Tejasvini Mantripragada, B.S., B.A.; Minsun Lee, Ph.D.; Mamona Butt, M.A.
• Conflict navigation for Confucian-influenced Asian American women in White supremacist contexts: Minsun Lee, Ph.D.
• Division 36-Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality Presidential Address; Maria Cristina Cruza-Guet, Ph.D.
• Factors in Electing to Seek Mental Health Services Among First- and Second-Generation Immigrants: Nicole Elyukin, B.A.; Jason D. Reynolds, Ph.D.
• Formal Help-Seeking by Survivors of Sexual Violence: An Application of Minority Stress Theory: Katherine R. Finkelstein, Ph.D.
• Part Two: Revision and Validation of the Muslim Identity Socialization Scale: Mamona Butt, M.A.; Jason D. Reynolds, Ph.D.
• Psychedelic Assisted Couple Therapy: Alan M. Groveman, Ph.D.
• Radical Care and Community Wellness: Affects of Neoliberalism: Chelsea Chen, B.S.
• Radical Care and Community Wellness: Alternative and Inclusive Definitions of Wellness: Ngoc T. Tran, M.S.
• Radical Care and Community Wellness: Clinical Implications: Rui Du, M.A.
• Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP) Leadership Collaborative Fellows Address: Tejasvini Mantripragada, B.S., B.A.
• Updates & next steps for counseling psychology master's programs, students, and alumni: Peggy Brady-Amoon, Ph.D.; Kathleen Keefe-Cooperman, Psy.D.; Rui Du, M.A.; Heidi Hutman Ph.D.; Arpana Inman Ph.D.; Jim Lichtenberg, Ph.D.
• Unraveling the knot of gendered racism and masculinity on Asian American men’s attitudes towards IPV: Rui Du, M.A.; Minsun Lee, Ph.D.
• What’s out there? A review of South Asian American psychological literature in the past decade.: Manisha Janjikhel, M.A.; Serina Victor; Zubin Devitre, Ph.D.; Alberta M. Gloria Ph.D.

Categories: Education