SPSP is thrilled to announce the newest volunteer members who are bringing their fresh perspectives and energy to the 2024-2025 Student Committee. The SPSP Student Committee team is committed to supporting all SPSP's student members. The SPSP Student Committee (SPSP SC) oversees annual programs, resources, and events for the SPSP student community. Ten members represent the 2024-2025 SPSP Student Committee—five are introduced below, and our other outstanding committee members will be highlighted in the July 2024 issue of SPSPotlight!
One of our three annual SPSP Student Committee goals is highlighting our individual voices and accomplishments through the SPSPotlight newsletter. This is the first part of a two-part series, in which each SPSP SC member will share different perspectives and accomplishments from their experience as graduate students this year, answering a wide range of questions so you can get to know each member better. All SPSP SC member answers below are represented in their own voices to further our SC annual goals. It is a pleasure to get to know the new and returning 2024-2025 SPSP SC team, their accomplishments, and insights!
Sherika Caliste - Present Chair
Links: Google Scholar
- Research Interests: I plan to use an intersectional lens to examine how socio-historical factors influence the stress, coping, and behavioral processes of people from underrepresented groups.
- Lab: Social Psychophysiology Lab (SPP Lab)
- Fun Fact: I once zip-lined above the mountains of Puerto Rico!
- Favorite Karaoke Song: I have two songs: "From This Moment On" (Shania Twain) and "Buy You a Drink" (T-Pain).
- Inspiration to Join SPSP SC: I always look for opportunities to become more involved in the communities I inhabit. After learning about the various committees housed by SPSP, I was excited to join a group of brilliant and ambitious students interested in the field of social psychology.
Introduction and Bio: “Hi there! My name is Sherika Caliste, and I'm a proud Grenadian-American from Harlem (NYC). Currently, I'm an incoming third-year doctoral student studying social psychology at the University at Buffalo. Before arriving at UB, I received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Howard University and a master's degree in social work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. In addition to serving as the chair of the student committee at SPSP, on UB's campus, I serve as the treasurer for the Graduate Students of Color and as a co-facilitator of the writing group for graduate students of color (A Seat at the Table). During my downtime, I enjoy going for long walks, dancing/movement, creating, and learning new things.”
Inspiration to Enter the Social Psychology Industry: “As a former social work practitioner, my goal was to focus on meeting the needs of individuals, families, and communities within vulnerable populations. After working in the field of social work as a licensed psychotherapist, I realized that I wanted to find alternate ways to support the mental well-being of others. In my pursuit of change, I learned more about the field of social psychology and became inspired by the opportunity to enact change through research that seeks to understand how social factors influence the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals.”
Accomplishments Not Listed on CV: “I am really proud of the creative ways I have learned to style my hair. For the past 14 years, my hair has been natural, which means I have not had a chemical relaxer in my hair that serves the purpose of altering its natural texture. In making that decision to go natural, I knew that I needed to learn what it meant to take care of and style my natural hair since that was not taught to young Black women in my community. Since going natural, I have learned to cut, trim, color, style, and maintain my hair in various ways that maintain the connection to my culture and heritage. Recently, I've installed waist-length faux locs that took five business days to finish! It's a labor of love to which I happily dedicate my time and energy.”
Academic & Research Milestones: “A research milestone that I met happened when I ran my first study! As a former research assistant, I've supported several research initiatives, but I hadn't created a project independently, from developing a research question to data collection. I finally had the opportunity to create my own research project while in my doctoral program, and I am a real researcher now!”
SPSP Annual Convention: “I've been to the 2023 and 2024 SPSP Annual Conventions. During both years, I have really enjoyed learning about various topics within social and personality psychology. In addition, some of my favorite moments have been when I attended the BlaSPR dinners and this year when I had the opportunity to meet the Student Committee members in person.”
Dream Research Project: “I would love the opportunity to study topics related to interpersonal relationships, social identity, and collective effervescence with samples of people across the Caribbean.”
Hobbies: “I enjoy volunteer work; whenever I have the time, I like to give back to the communities that I inhabit. I also really enjoy movement in many forms. In my youth, I took ballet, jazz, and modern dance classes for several years. While I am no longer dancing in a structured manner, dance is an integral part of my culture and I make sure to always incorporate music and movement in my daily life. In addition, I am currently credentialed as a CYT-200-hour yoga instructor and have become heavily involved in teaching and practice since entering my graduate program. I hope to travel to Ghana one year for Detty December, which is a festive period when thousands of people from across the Diaspora travel to African cities to indulge in the arts, music, food, and culture. So far, my favorite vacation spot is on a beach. But more specifically, my favorite place to be is back home in Grenada.”
Handling Pressure as a Graduate Student: “When I feel inundated by the effort needed to sustain my graduate career, I remember my "why." For me, losing sight of what's ahead has been a consequence of dealing with immediate stressors. As a first-generation college graduate and the first in my immediate family to pursue graduate education, I recognize the significance of my educational pursuits and their ability to impact my family's trajectory positively. Remembering my why allows me to remain grounded, focused, and grateful for even the smallest accomplishment. I give myself grace and remind myself that I'm still a student. I'm not meant to know everything always; that's why I take classes and receive mentorship.”
Positive Outlooks on Graduate Journey: “I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I compare the current version of myself to myself three years ago, I can easily find moments where I've pushed past some challenging moments or overcome a barrier. So, even though it is inevitable that I will face challenges, I remind myself that I've done it before, and I can do it again.”
Things Most People Don’t Know About Me: “This is random, but I sometimes think in song lyrics. For example, if I were talking to someone about a self-inflicted challenge I'm facing, I'd casually say something like, "It's me. Hi. I'm the problem. It's me." If I had the chance to have dinner with anyone in history, I would choose all four of my grandparents to have dinner with. I've only had the honor of meeting my paternal grandmother, who passed away when I was twelve. In this fictional scenario, I would love the opportunity to meet with all of my grandparents to ask them about who they are, their life experiences, and their familial history.”
Publications
- Jemal, A., & Caliste, S. (2022) Work-in-progress: Focus groups evaluate and inform revisions of a socio-behavioral health intervention. Evaluation and Program Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102079
- Bussey, S.R., Jemal, A., & Caliste, S. (2021). “Transforming social work’s potential in the field: A radical framework.” Social Work Education, 40(1), 140 - 154.
- Jemal, A., Urmey, L. S., & Caliste, S. (2020): “From sculpting an intervention to healing in action.” Social Work with Groups, 1-18.
Garam Lee - Past Chair
Links: LinkedIn | X/Twitter | Google Scholar
Research Interests: I explore various ways to help people develop life goals, find purpose, and maintain healthy motivation. My research focuses on the interplay between people's most valued identities (such as career and ethnicity), their goals and purposes, and their motivation to achieve those goals. I investigate how these elements shape and are shaped by each other. For example, I examine how students from different backgrounds have unique experiences, such as stereotype threat or exposure to certain learning orientations, in educational environments. I study how these experiences influence their goals and motivation in learning. Inspiration to Join SPSP SC: I am aware of the many enthusiastic student members at SPSP and was eager to help create more opportunities for us to learn from each other and work together to foster a healthier, more meaningful, and productive future society. Achieving higher engagement and participation among SPSP student members is undoubtedly complex and challenging. However, I remain hopeful that our small contributions as a student committee will eventually lead to significant positive impacts on society and student members' individual careers and lives.
Introduction and Bio: “I identify myself as a social and educational psychologist, entrepreneur, and data scientist. Across diverse situations and roles within various organizations, my primary focus lies in devising psychologically efficient, timely, and financially feasible approaches to aid individuals in understanding themselves better—embodying aspects such as their identities, values, and goals.
I try to seamlessly integrate theories and practices from diverse domains like psychology, education, and business to unravel the factors that facilitate individuals' self-discovery and goal alignment. Through this understanding, I also study what excites and motivates people to pursue aspirations that resonate with their identities and values.
My exploration extends to the realm of technology, where I delve into how advancements like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and real-time analytics can amplify these processes, particularly in crafting personalized developmental pathways for each individual.
My overarching objective is to elevate people's well-being, empowering them to lead lives brimming with purpose, meaning, and satisfaction. Through these efforts, I envision positively impacting numerous lives, nurturing personal growth, and guiding them towards more fulfilling journeys."
Inspiration to Enter the Social Psychology Industry: "I began my journey in social psychology and broader psychological research after taking an intercultural communication course during my undergraduate studies. This course fascinated me, as it revealed how different cultural backgrounds influence social and psychological experiences, shaping one's identity, attitudes, and life decisions.
Driven by my enthusiasm for understanding people's self-discovery journeys and my passion for helping others live more personally, meaningfully, and prosocially, I developed a keen interest in the intersection of social identity, (prosocial) goals, and motivation. This led me to focus on developing psychological interventions that leverage this intersection to promote well-being and personal growth."
Accomplishments Not Listed on CV: “The fact that I experienced significantly more failures for various reasons and made many mistakes (including making poor decisions in hindsight) during my PhD years taught me an important lesson: sometimes, you may face one low after another, even for multiple years, not reflecting your efforts to break free from this downward spiral. However, that's okay—it's not the end of the world. Your life isn't ruined by these setbacks. Instead, each challenge provides a clearer direction for future efforts, ultimately enriching your understanding and expertise in your field. This experience has underscored the value of resilience and the importance of maintaining perspective in the face of difficulties.”
SPSP Annual Convention: “My first SPSP convention was during my senior year of undergraduate studies. I was thrilled to discover so many people worldwide who shared my enthusiasm for the topics I am passionate about. It immediately felt like the community I wanted to be a part of for the rest of my career. I attended every session during that conference, including the breakfast, lunch, and dinner social and mentoring gatherings, with great excitement. I even got really sick on the last day after the convention from overexertion, so the experience was even more unforgettable. Haha! Whenever I feel lost in my career journey, I revisit the feelings I had during those three days to remind myself of the genuine passion I had when I decided to become a social and personality psychologist.”
Hobbies: “I have a passion for gardening. I take pride in my sunflower and daisy field, as well as my collection of hydrangeas and flowering native plants. Many of my plants are often considered weeds in traditional lawns, but they are beneficial to the native ecosystem. This approach not only beautifies my garden but also supports local biodiversity.”
Things Most People Don’t Know About Me: “I enjoy wearing dresses inspired by the Baroque and Victorian eras, adorned with elaborate laces, frills, and puffy skirts. Recently, I realized that I hadn't worn these fun dresses in over five years; during my PhD, I had convinced myself that I shouldn't indulge in such pleasures. I'm not sure why I thought that, but I've begun reintroducing these dresses into my wardrobe while working from home. Haha!
During my senior year of college, I was homeless for a few months, and later during my master's, I could only afford to rent a small walk-in closet. Despite these challenging housing and financial circumstances, those two to three years turned out to be the most productive and energetic years of my career so far.”
Pets:
Publications:
- Zambrano, J., Lee, G. A., Leal, C. C., & Thoman, D. B. (2020). Highlighting prosocial affordances of science in textbooks to promote science interest. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 19(3), ar24.
- Totonchi, D. A., Tibbetts, Y., Williams, C. L., Francis, M. K., DeCoster, J., Lee, G. A., ... & Hulleman, C. S. (2023). The cost of being first: Belonging uncertainty predicts math motivation and achievement for first-generation, but not continuing-generation, students. Learning and Individual Differences, 107, 102365.
Tiffany Shao - Vice Chair
Links: LinkedIn | Google Scholar
Research Interests: Cognitive Biases, Stereotypes and Prejudice, Decision-Making
Lab: Social Cognition Lab & Computational Justice Lab
Introduction and Bio:"I am excited to serve as the Vice Chair of the Student Committee for the 2024-2025 academic year. In this role, I look forward to advocating for SPSP's student members by creating valuable content, organizing events for the annual convention, and engaging in various initiatives to support our student community.
A little bit about me: I received a B.A. degree in Psychology with a minor in Biology from the University of Dallas and an M.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Psychology from Claremont Graduate University (CGU). Currently, I am a PhD student in Social Psychology at CGU. My research primarily examines how cognitive biases influence decisions made within the criminal legal system, such as police use of force decisions. Over my research career, I have collaborated with colleagues at Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA) on projects aimed at reducing detention in pretrial judgments and evaluating California’s felony incompetent-to-stand trial continuum of care efforts.
I am excited about the opportunity to engage with fellow students, foster a supportive community, and contribute to initiatives that enhance our academic and professional development."
Inspiration to Enter the Social Psychology Industry: “My inspiration to focus on the criminal legal system stems from a desire to understand and mitigate the biases that perpetuate injustice. During my undergraduate studies in psychology, I became deeply interested in how cognitive processes influence behavior. This interest was further fueled by my role as a database coordinator at the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. My experiences here were pivotal in shaping my research interests. At Claremont Graduate University (CGU), my expertise in both cognitive psychology and social psychology has enabled me to explore how cognitive biases affect the use of force decisions within the criminal legal system. Collaborating with Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA) on projects aimed at reducing detention and improving care for individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial has reinforced my commitment to applying research for social good. Witnessing the impact of research on policy and practice has been incredibly motivating. I am driven by the potential to develop evidence-based solutions that address disparities and improve justice outcomes.”
Accomplishments Not Listed on CV: “I am committed to mentoring students who are first-generation or lack resources to apply for graduate school. For the past two years, I have been actively involved in providing guidance, support, and resources to these students, helping them navigate the complex process of applying to graduate programs, especially during application season. Seeing the impact of my mentorship on these students' lives and witnessing their journey to academic success has been incredibly rewarding.”
Hobbies: “Outside of academia, I am passionate about several hobbies and extracurricular activities that provide balance to my research-intensive life. I cherish spending quality time with my dog (Duke) and my family, whether it's going for long walks in the park or simply enjoying each other's company at home. I also enjoy golfing as a way to stay active and connect with nature. Spending time on the golf course provides an escape from the demands of academia, allowing me to recharge and appreciate the outdoors.”
Milena Braga - SPSPotlight Newsletter Co-Editor, International Committee Student Representative
Links: LinkedIn | SPSPotlight
Research Interests: The promotion of belonging in higher education, especially for underserved populations.
Lab: REPAIR Lab and Mental Health Systems Lab
Favorite Karaoke Song: "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood
Inspiration to Join SPSP SC: It's so wonderful to talk to other people in the field from all over the country and all over the world! There's so much to be gained in collaboration.
Introduction and Bio:“Hello, everyone! I'm a 3rd-year Counseling Psychology Ph.D. student at Northeastern University studying the dynamics of belonging and loneliness and how those show up for underserved students in higher education.”
Academic & Research Milestones: “I recently passed my last comprehensive exam and officially became a Ph.D. candidate. That put a lot of the hard work of the previous two years into perspective for me and really left me feeling like, "You know what? I really can do this."
Accomplishments Not Listed on CV: “I once helped start a curriculum for women in difficult life settings and had the privilege of running a pilot group at a local homeless shelter for women. The curriculum focused on self-esteem and empowerment in addition to the practical services they were receiving to help them get back on track. It was so lovely getting to know all those women and their beautiful testimonies of resilience.”
Inspiration to Enter the Social Psychology Industry: “I'm a first-generation immigrant student myself and I'm very passionate about using my seat at the table to clear space for others, as well. Belonging is a basic human necessity, and when we feel like we belong, we live fuller lives.”
Hobbies: “I love reading and writing. I'm a huge fantasy nerd (literally anything Middle Earth or adjacent), and it helps me balance out the seriousness of school.”
Handling Pressure as a Graduate Student: “Rest is not optional! I'm really mindful about setting boundaries with myself and others, making time for the people I love, and making time to travel when possible.”
Positive Outlooks on Graduate Journey: “I have a lot of faith in a greater plan. I believe that God opened doors for me and will give me the strength and resilience to walk through those doors and meet whatever is on the other side with excellence.”
Things Most People Don’t Know About Me: “My family is Brazilian and that cultural piece is so important to me. I think that coming from a collectivist culture has really informed how important I feel that it is to have community because so much healing and growth can happen in that context.”
Lourdes Mestre - SPSPotlight Newsletter Co-Editor, Applied Psychology Committee Student Representative
Links: LinkedIn | X/Twitter | Forbes | SPSPotlight
Research Interests: Ethical generative artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, creative expressive arts therapies, mindfulness, social cognitive theories, advocacy for social justice issues in underrepresented minority groups, Adlerian industrial/organizational social theories and frameworks, clinical research organization & management, ethical research practices.
Fun Fact: I’ve been a visual artist and musician since my youth, and I’m a professional member of the International Expressive Art Therapy Association. This fall, I’ll start completing my certification requirements from Adler Graduate School to become a registered expressive arts therapist, utilizing the Adlerian principles of community and social justice combined with professional artistic skills, alongside my doctoral I/O psychology coursework at Adler University.
Favorite Karaoke Song: "Quimbara" by Celia Cruz
Inspiration to Join SPSP SC: As an undergraduate student at Penn State, a faculty member recommended to use spsp.org as a resource. I subscribed to all the emails, and I particularly engaged with the SPSPotlight graduate student newsletter. Reading SPSPotlight and all SPSP newsletters always uplifted me and I knew I wanted to be a part of the SPSP SC team to help and volunteer by giving back to the academic community.
Introduction and Bio: “Hello SPSP friends! I’m Lourdes and if you follow the SPSP Student Committee newsletters and feeds, you’ve probably read one of the SPSPotlight features I’ve authored over the past year. I just walked commencement ceremonies for my MS in Clinical Research Organization and Management degree from Drexel University College of Medicine, completing my coursework this August. At the end of August, I will be an incoming first-year doctoral student at Adler University in the Industrial Organizational Psychology PhD program and will start planning my social justice project. In 2022, I earned a BA in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University, and in 2020 an AA in Psychology from Miami Dade College. It has been a rollercoaster ride earning a degree every two years - both thrilling and challenging in many ways. I’ve been an official member of the Forbes Coaches Council since 2016 writing for their expert Q&A panels and as a member leader, a business coach, and an IT/cloud consultant for the last decade prior to pivoting to obtaining advanced degrees in psychology.
I’m thrilled to be a part of the SPSP SC since 2023 and grateful to have joined the SPSP Applied Psych Committee this year as the Student Representative. In the past year, I’ve learned so much from the entire SPSP SC team on collaboration, participation, and a sense of belonging. It is truly an honor and an incredible learning experience being amongst the bright minds of the entire SPSP SC team.”
Academic & Research Milestones: “I’ve had major academic milestones this year as a first-generation graduate student. Gaining an MS in Clinical Research Organization and Management from Drexel University College of Medicine and gaining acceptance into Adler University’s Industrial and Organizational Psychology PhD program this Fall are firsts for my family lineage. I currently have a narrative review manuscript in progress on significant neuroimaging and physiological findings in creative expressive arts applied interventions that delve into over a dozen clinical trials focusing on art and music therapy, animal-assisted interventions, forest bathing or shinrin yoku, and mindfulness. I’m also working on an entrepreneurial research endeavor involving an ethical generative artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare, research, and academia.”
SPSP Annual Convention: “I’m looking forward to experiencing SPSP 2025 next February in person with my daughter who is also an undergraduate psychology major. I’ve attended the SPSP Annual Conventions virtually both this year and last, presenting via the Whova platform. I really loved the engagement within the virtual app platform and can’t wait to experience SPSP 2025 in person. Last year, we attended the APA convention in Washington, D.C., and it was an amazing immersive experience!”
Inspiration to Enter the Social Psychology Industry: “I was first inspired by positive and I/O psychology in 2015-2016 that led me to change many aspects of my life for the better. I fell in love with all things psychology, and was drawn to the social psychology and cognitive frameworks that help us attempt to understand human behavior. I felt a very positive change in my life and I decided to make a career pivot. After many years, I returned to college as a first-generation adult learner, earning my AA in Psychology in 2020 and a BA in Psychology in 2022. In my undergraduate work, I was exposed to applied social psychology by a faculty mentor and became fascinated by the social advocacy and social justice aspects of the science through applied interventions. During my MS studies about health inequities and disparities in clinical research, I learned that the Hispanic/Latine population was approximately 3.5% of total mental health care workers, including the spectrum of psychology PhD’s, while the United States Census Bureau reports that Hispanic/Latine were approximately 19.1% of the population in 2023, “making it the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority.” This is one of my “whys” in pursuing an advanced doctoral degree in psychology, to increase social representation of our cultural background and to reduce the social stigmas of mental health care in the Hispanic/Latine communities.”
Accomplishments Not Listed on CV: “I’m a twentieth-century individual with a twenty-first-century education. I’m a mom, a painter, a sculptor, and at times I write poetry or lyrics. I believe my life experiences have only enriched my academic journey, and creativity and innovation run deep in my core DNA. I’m a first-generation Puerto Rican American born to immigrant Cuban parents, and I owe my resilience, determination, and creativity to my grandmother who raised me.”
Dream Research Project: “My summer project is a dream research project that is coming to life. I’m developing a GPT-based natural language processing (NLP) model to help clinical researchers, academicians, and students with built-in ethical AI standards. During my MS in clinical research coursework, I learned of Jeffrey Bussgang’s ChatLTV class AI tutor for one of his courses at Harvard Business School and I was inspired to repurpose his idea for other applications. For example, a GPT to help PIs with clinical research trials regulatory requirements. I’m still developing the idea further and learning from AI on how to build this GPT application, and the research and development process is very inspiring.”
Hobbies: “One of my hobbies that significantly increases my happiness meter is organic gardening. Last year we started a suburban mini-farm in our family home’s backyard. We yielded over 200 pounds of organic heirloom tomatoes that we shared with our neighbors along with small bouquets of flowers from the garden. This year, we’ve increased our garden beds and have planted more organic herbs, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to deer-resistant perennial wildflowers, mammoth sunflowers, dahlias, roses, and flowering vines. My daughter and I are very focused on increasing suburban food forests and we plan to help our community and local food banks through these efforts. We also have a mini-Rex female bunny in our backyard named Peachy who helps out with composting.
Getting your hands in the dirt, planting, priming, and harvesting definitely helps achieve a fulfilling level of flow that helps melt stress away. I’m also a visual artist and sculptor, and I’ve started creating canvas art sculptures with beautiful leaves or flowers from the garden or from my photography. We live in the hills, and when the weather is nice, hiking is another favorite hobby.”
Handling Pressure as a Graduate Student: “I’d say that handling pressure as a graduate or undergraduate student truly depends on your “why” as it can help create a tunnel-vision trajectory of where you want to be in the future. It is important to have individuals in your life as pillars that support your goals who can also be accountability partners when you’re feeling down. Finding the gratitude in your “why” also helps manage the pressure, and being grateful for the privilege of a graduate student life can make a transformational difference in your perspective. Use it as a mantra, I am grateful for this journey!”
Positive Outlooks on Graduate Journey: “As a first-generation American and student, I feel blessed to have the opportunity to continuously improve and learn in my graduate journey. Even during difficult academic times, I hold on to my dreams and goals that inspired the journey to pursue doctoral studies. The journey matters because it is through this academic journey that personal transformation occurs. Being a graduate student places you in a position where you can use your experiences and voice to help uplift others. Personally, it is a lifelong love of learning that promotes and elevates the goals I wish to achieve. With every academic degree earned, you’ll find a resolute strength in yourself because you overcame obstacles to achieve it. An advanced education is the best investment you can make in yourself and for your future.”
Things Most People Don’t Know About Me: “I love art museums and being able to appreciate art. Here in Pittsburgh, we have the incomparable Andy Warhol Museum and the fantastic Carnegie Museum of Art. I’m looking forward to visiting Penn State’s newly renovated museum, the Palmer Museum of Art this summer. I find so much inspiration and creativity from appreciating art exhibits and this helps invigorate my academic research and graduate studies. Hiking in the Pennsylvania forests and state lands also connects me in finding mindful balance through forest bathing or shinrin yoku, a practice I recommend for all graduate students! Volunteerism is also very important to me, and I’m involved in many different types of volunteer efforts.”
Pets:
A HUGE thank you to all the SPSP Student Committee members for sharing their inspirational stories and unique identities with the greater SPSP student community! Stay tuned for Part Two in July, in which you will get to know the other extraordinary members of the Student Committee!
Introducing the New 2024-2025 Student Committee – Part 2
SPSP 2025 Annual Convention: Important Updates and Submission Guidelines
