Current Research Assistants
Allyson Klinko
Hello! My name is Allyson Klinko (she/her). I am a sophomore majoring in Interdisciplinary Psychology.
In the future I plan to attend graduate school to eventually get a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus in forensics to eventually work as a Forensic Psychologist.
My research interests include psychopathology and the criminal justice system. Specifically, the impact the criminal justice system has on mental health especially in underrepresented populations.
In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball, watching movies, and traveling!
Emily Gnatenco
Hello! My name is Emily Gnatenco (she/her). I am a Freshman majoring in Intradisciplinary Psychology, and I hope to double major in Neuroscience as well. I wish to pursue child/adolescent Psychiatry in the future. My research interests include global health disparities, psychopathology, behavioral neuroscience, and the intersection of biological and environmental factors in influencing youth mental health outcomes.
Outside of HEAL, I work as a medical receptionist during summers and plan to get my certification as a Medical Assistant. Here at school, I am also involved in the Undergraduate Psychological Association, Partners in Health Engage, and the Newsletter team for Brain Matters.
Outside of school, I love training my dogs, eating good food, and watching TV!
Ella Bowker
Hi! My name is Ella Bowker (she/her). I am a sophomore studying Intradisciplinary Psychology & Spanish. Eventually, my goal is to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology. My main research interests center on child and family psychology, with a particular focus on supporting immigrant and Latinx populations.
In addition to HEAL, I volunteer in bilingual classrooms at Yankee Ridge Elementary, run escape rooms in the Attachments & Close Relationships Lab, and serve as Business Manager for my a cappella group, the Illinois Rip Chords.
In my free time, you can find me singing and dancing around my kitchen, puzzling, trying out new coffee shops, and crafting the ultimate romcom list!
Isabella Mason
Hello! My name is Isabella Mason (she/her). I am a sophomore double majoring in Clinical/Community Psychology and Sociology with minors in Human Development & Family Studies as well as Criminology, Law & Society.
I hope to attend graduate school and potentially pursue a PhD in the future! My current research interests include, generally speaking, child development, psychopathology, trauma, and bridging the mental health gap between underserved and underrepresented populations.
Outside the HEAL lab, I am the Secretary for the National Alliance on Mental Illness on Campus and work at the Crisis Nursery, where we provide an island of safety for families experiencing crises ranging from housing insecurity, mental health, or general childcare needs. I am also a research assistant for the CATS (Conformity, Attitudes, Threats, and Stereotypes) Lab and am an I-Connect Peer Educator!
In my free time, I love to spend time with family and friends, go to pilates, play volleyball, and spend hours on Candy Crush!
Jess Chen
Hi, I’m Jess! I’m a senior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying clinical/community psychology. My research centers on ethnic-racial socialization, minority family systems, and youth mental health. I’m especially drawn to mixed and computational methods as ways of honoring the complexity of culturally minoritized families’ experiences.
Outside of research, I’m deeply committed to community. I co-founded Gateway for Research in Mind and Matter to bring psychology and neuroscience workshops to the middle school curriculum, and I serve as a McNair Scholar Ambassador, connecting first-generation and underrepresented students to doctoral pathways.
In my free time, you can find me on the hunt for a great matcha, experimenting in the kitchen, or tending to my Stardew Valley farm.
Makenzie Chisley
Hello! My name is Makenzie Chisley (she/her), and I am a sophomore studying Psychology. After graduating, I plan to attend medical school and work in psychiatry or emergency medicine. My main research interests are related to the disparities faced by black women in health care, specifically related to misdiagnoses and the overlooking of symptoms. I’m also interested in the stigmatization of mental health in communities of color and how that is present in older generations compared to younger ones.
Outside of the lab, I am a part of several clubs. I am the Public Relations chair for the American Medical Women’s Association, as well as a member of Women in Psychology and the Pre-Health Psychology Association. In addition to RSOs, I am a LAS James Scholar Peer Mentor during the fall semester.
In my free time, I like to watch tennis and bake. I also have never been outside of the country, but I love learning about different cultures, and would love to get the chance to travel abroad someday!
Naty Parra
Hello! My name is Naty Parra (she/her). I am a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience with plans to minor in Psychology. After I graduate, I plan to go on to medical school and hopefully pursue a career in psychiatry or pediatrics. My primary research interests center on youth mental health, with a particular focus on understanding how structural, cultural, and psychosocial factors shape mental health outcomes for underrepresented populations, especially within the Latinx community.
Outside of the lab, I am involved in several health focused organizations, including Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-health fraternity, and the Illini Medical Screening Society, which provides free health screenings to individuals in the Champaign-Urbana County. I also serve as a Spanish interpreter at Avicenna Community Health Center, assisting in delivering accessible, patient centered care to uninsured and underinsured community members. Additionally, I volunteer as a hospital ambassador at Carle Foundation Hospital where I support patients by assisting with transportation and helping improve their overall hospital experience.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, painting, and watching the Chicago Bears!
Soovin Lee
Hello! My name is Soovin Lee, and I am a second-year Psychology major on the pre-med track, with minors in Chemistry and Integrative Biology.
Growing up, I experienced firsthand how inaccessible and inequitable behavioral health care can be for youth from marginalized communities. Those experiences shaped my desire to understand not just individual mental health outcomes, but the systemic causes. Since then, I’ve pursued research and policy work to examine behavioral health systems at their foundation, with the goal of reimagining accessible, equitable care.
In addition to my work with HEAL, I volunteer at Avicenna Community Health Center, a shelter medicine clinic serving uninsured and underinsured populations, and at Carle Hospital. I also serve as a Crisis Text Line volunteer, supporting individuals in moments of acute emotional distress. Beyond healthcare settings, I act as the fundraising chair for the Asian-interest sorority alpha Kappa Delta Phi, and you can usually find me at Boneyard Boulders, working on my newest climbing project!
Ysabella (Izzy) Dionisio
Hi! I’m Ysabella (Izzy) Dionisio (she/her). I’m a freshman majoring in Intradisciplinary Psychology and minoring in Music. I also hope to pursue a double major in Communications. My research interests are pretty broad, but I’m interested in mental health perceptions and psychopathological characteristics, as well as how they develop over time across sociocultural contexts. I’m also interested in further understanding the efficacy of various mental health services and the reliability of classification systems such as the DSM-5. After my senior year, I hope to pursue graduate studies in clinical and/or counseling psychology. One of my ultimate goals is to be able to provide psychological services to underserved people and populations, as there is almost nothing more fulfilling than being able to support my peers.
Outside of the lab, I work as a part-time lifeguard and swim instructor and volunteer as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. I’m also a part of Women in Psychology and I sing in the Women’s Glee Club. Some of my favorite activities include spending time with my friends, attending concerts, and spontaneous thrift shopping!
Lab Alumni
Aadarsh Nair
Hello! My name is Aadarsh Nair and I study Clinical Psychology and Spanish.
After graduation, I hope to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and work with minoritized youth. My research interests include LGBTQIA+ research focusing on the factors that contribute to psychopathology.
Outside of school my interests include running and baking, and on campus, you can find me at the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center or the Counseling Center!
Arianna Guerra
Hi! My name is Arianna Guerra and I am a junior majoring in Integrative Biology with a minor in Psychology. I am currently on the pre-med track and hope to work with underserved populations to combat health inequalities. As such, I joined HEAL because it aligned with my desire to investigate health inequalities within underrepresented groups and create actionable steps to address any barriers.
In addition to HEAL, I am the Professional Development Chair in the American Medical Women’s Association and the President of LAS Leaders, where we volunteer at events hosted by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and in the Champaign-Urbana community. I also work at the Illinois Leadership Center as a Leadership Certificate Specialist, assisting participants in completing the Leadership Certificate Program and I work as a Patient Care Tech at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center.
On the weekends, I volunteer at Avicenna Community Health Center, which is a free clinic for the uninsured, where I serve as a Spanish interpreter and as a receptionist. Some ways I love to unwind include cooking new recipes, reading, and spending time with my family and bunny, Luna!
Ashley Yang
Hello! My name is Ashley Yang (she/they) and I am a junior majoring in Clinical/Community Psychology with a minor in Adult Development. I hope to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to serve minoritized communities, including immigrant and LGBTQIA+ populations. Overall, I am interested in multiculturalism, identity formation, and mental health disorders.
In addition to HEAL, I volunteer as a Harm Reduction Peer at the Counseling Center, where I advocate for safer substance use and harm reduction strategies among students. I also work at the Office of Diversity and Social Justice Education Department as an I-Connect Peer Educator, where I plan and facilitate 2 hour workshop discussions on diversity and social identity for first year and transfer students. I am also a part of the Undergraduate Psychology Association as the Public Relations Chair.
In my free time I love to journal, watch movies, and add music to my hundreds of playlists.
Flor Quiroz
Hi! I am Flor Quiroz, a senior double majoring in clinical-community psychology and Spanish. I am currently applying to graduate school and hope to pursue my PhD in clinical psychology to work with underrepresented communities to better therapeutic practices and understand the role of language barriers and intersectionality in clinical practice. My goal is to orient my work to address health equity.
In addition to HEAL, I am a TRIO McNair Scholar working on individual research projects with staff mentorship. I am part of the Campus Honors Program and am the mentorship program co-chair, helping first-year students receive support in their transition to college. I am also part of the Physical Activity and Neurocognitive Health Lab (PNC) in the kinesiology department, studying the effects of physical activity on cognitive function.
Outside of academics, I love exploring culture through dance and am the president and director La Fuerza Flamenca, a flamenco fusion dance company. I also volunteer as an interpreter for The Immigration Project and try to volunteer my weekends to work at the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen.
Miranda Gessert
My name is Miranda Gessert (she/they). I am a senior double majoring in Clinical/Community Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Criminology, Law, & Society. My post-graduate goal is to gain experience in social services before ultimately pursuing a master’s in social work and becoming a school social worker. My academic interests are mental health disparities among underrepresented populations, especially LGBTQ+ youth, and the different structural/policy implications these disparities have.
On campus, you can often find me working at the Illini Union Bookstore. I am also a James Scholar, and the Communications & Community Outreach Chair of UIUC’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, an international honor society of sociology.
Outside of school, I have a passion for music and have sung in various choirs and musicals over the past 15 years. I also enjoy reading and playing video games!
Laith Smeir
My name is Laith Smeir and I am a senior majoring in Clinical-Community Psychology and minoring in Business. After graduating, I hope to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology and eventually become and independent researcher. Generally speaking, my research interests include how negative affective states contribute to the development of substance use disorders and identifying the contextual and personal factors that moderate this relationship. I am also interested in the role that sleep quality plays between substance use and mental health outcomes.
Outside of the HEAL Lab, I am also involved in the Counseling Center Paraprofessional Program, where I work as a peer educator. You can also find me in the Alcohol Research Lab, which I have been a part of as a research assistant since Fall 2023.
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, weightlifting, fishing, watching MMA, and bothering my roommate’s cats.
Reach Out
My current email is vjrodrig@illinois.edu. If you do reach out about joining my lab, please include your CV.
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