Pronouns:  she/her

Education:  B.S., Psychology, Spring 2026

Status:  Junior at Oberlin College majoring in psychology with an Africana studies minor and a concentration in global health.

Research/Clinical Interests: Working at the ACCTION Lab has greatly impacted my research interests. I have appreciated being able to broaden my developmental psychology knowledge and learn about how disparities in mental health diagnostic processes affect Black and/or Latine youth. I am also interested in trauma-informed and community/culturally responsive care practices, which I've learned much about while working on project CRAFT. Overall, this lab has modeled how to pursue research from a values and impact-driven standpoint, which will guide me as I continue on my academic and professional path.

What I do for fun: I love experiencing art and music with friends, spending time in nature, and sharing meals with loved ones.

Goals: I plan to attend graduate school and potentially pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. I am excited to have this opportunity at the ACCTION Lab to advance my research experience and learn from Dr. Z and my fellow lab members about navigating the psychology field. 

Pronouns: She/her

Education: B.S Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience (2025) 

Status: Senior

Research/Clinical Interests: I am interested in understanding the effects of developmental trauma specifically in African American girls. My personal interest also involves advocating for victims of sexual assault and learning different treatments for survivors. 

What I do for fun: I enjoy bike riding along the lake and spending time by the lake. 

Goals: I am still figuring out my specific goals. I do have an interest in medicine and would like to learn more about MD/PhD routes. My life goal is to use science to help resolve some social justice issues affecting Black and Brown people. 

Pronouns: they/them
Education: B.S in Psychology in 2026   
Status: Junior
Research/Clinical Interests: I am interested in a lot of things, but I am most interested about the impact trauma has in a child's development and how that could affect their life into adulthood.
What I do for fun: I spend most of my time reading or writing, but I also love taking long walks around Chicago—as a Southerner, there's nothing quite like a nice walk through the city.

Goals: Currently my goal is to make it through college and go to graduate school to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. My overall goal is to work in therapy and provide one-on-one help to people!

Pronouns: She/her

Education: Rising Junior at Loyola University Chicago

Major: BS Psychology

Minor: Business Administration

Research/Clinical Interests: The CAS USRE fellowship for ACCTION Lab is the first opportunity I’ve received to do hands-on research, so I’m grateful and excited to see what will follow. I have aspirations of becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as I enjoy helping and forming relationships with others, and have always found love and relationships so interesting. I also am interested in Clinical and I-Organizational Psychology.

What I do for fun: I love to try new things! For example, I love to check out new cuisines, shops, and events in Chicago. When I go back for the summer to my hometown near Milwaukee, WI, I enjoy outdoor activities such as visiting the beach, biking, hiking, and attending music festivals such as Summerfest.

Goals: The primary goal I am focused on as of now is to graduate a semester early, so my last semester at Loyola will be Fall 2024. Then, I hope to get a few years of work experience and start a master’s or doctorate program in psychology by the time I am 25/in 2028. I also aspire to pursue the business side of my degree. I have always felt called to be a part of the world of fashion business, so I am also considering pursuing a career in Fashion Buying or starting my own Fashion business one day. Otherwise, I hope to use my entrepreneurial skills to start my own private therapy practice once I am licensed.

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Education: Loyola University Chicago, B.S., Biology 2026

Major: Biology

Minor: Neuroscience and Chemistry

Research/Clinical Interests: My personal research interests include exploring the relationship between eating disorders and ADHD, specifically in adolescents and young adults. My clinical interests include the diagnostic testing of ADHD and its treatment regimens.

Goals: I plan on attending medical school and becoming a practicing Psychiatrist.

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Education: B.S. Psychology major & African diaspora studies minor (2025)

Status: Junior

Research/Clinical Interests: PTSD and childhood trauma, prevalence of ADHD & Autism and other behavioral disorders in racial minority groups, self-esteem in young black girls in the context of beauty standards, role of American education in developing internalized racism in children.

Goals: My current goals include to graduate in a timely manner, study generational trauma in BIPOC communities, go to grad school for developmental psychology and eventually become a Child & Adolescent Psychologist.

What I do for fun: I enjoy getting boba, hanging out with friends, attending concerts, and exploring the Chicagoland area.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Major: Psychology

Research/Clinical Interests: My focus in mental health illness is directly regarding marginalized populations, including Black/Latino individuals. Distribution of resources and access to healthcare for psychiatric disorders is disproportionately distributed, especially neglecting communities of people of color. Without proper education or facilities, there is an incredible lack of awareness within these communities. My biggest goal is to reduce this disparity and promote equal access to resources that marginalized communities are unable to receive.

What I like to do for fun: I love reading books, listening to music, and spending time with people I love!

Goals: I aim to attend medical school after my undergraduate studies and practice medicine as a psychiatrist.  

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Education: B.S Behavioral Cognitive Neuroscience 

Status: Junior

Research/Clinical Interests: I am fascinated by how and why people think the way they do, but more specifically with individuals impacted by neurodivergent and memory disorders. 

What I do for fun: When I’m not studying or in class, I love listening to music, playing video games, or dying mine or my friends' hair!

Goals: My goal is to go to grad school and help benefit research in either neurodivergent or memory disorders, and one day create a safe space for those impacted. Additionally, I want to understand these disorders in groups that haven't been researched, like women, so they can be diagnosed at an earlier age.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Education: Loyola University Chicago, B.S. Psychology 2026

Status: Junior

Research/Clinical Interests: My research and clinical interests revolve around mental health, social justice, and community leadership, focusing on marginalized populations, youth, and adolescents. I am particularly curious about how adverse childhood experiences and early familial conflict impact mental health, especially their role in predicting ADHD onset. I am fascinated by how early life trauma shapes the brain's structure and am dedicated to dismantling healthcare disparities. I aim to create culturally responsive interventions and combat mental health stigma to ensure equitable access to resources for all individuals.

What I do for fun: I enjoy cooking, baking, running, discovering new coffee spots, and exploring different neighborhoods around Chicago!

Goals: Post-graduation, I hope to pursue dentistry, merging my interests in social justice, community leadership, and healthcare. My focus is on tackling oral health disparities, advocating for equal access to dental care and resources, and ensuring compassionate and comprehensive oral healthcare for all, fostering inclusivity and dignity in the dental field.

Pronouns:  she/they

Education:  Bachelor’s (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Status:  post-baccalaureate

Research/Clinical Interests: trauma and violence studies

What I do for fun:  cooking, baking, video and photo editing

Goals:  get into a clinical psych program and aid community with mental health services and    education 

Name: Saloni Trivedi

Pronouns: She/Her

Education: Loyola University Chicago, B.S., Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, B.A., Spanish 2027

Status: Sophomore

Research/Clinical Interests: My personal research interests include better understanding the intersection of ADHD and trauma and exploring the importance of trauma-informed treatment, specifically in preventing re-traumatization. 

What I do for fun: In my free time, I love to read, dance, and crochet!  

Goals: My goals include obtaining my medical interpreting license and working as a medical interpreter before attending medical school!  

Pronouns: she/her

Education: Loyola University Chicago

Major: Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience 

Research Interests: I am interested in psychopathology and forensic neuropsychology, particularly in understanding the development and behavior impact of mental disorders on marginalized groups . I’m also interested in how music affects mental and emotional regulation.

Goals: One of my goals is to go to grad school to study what I am passionate about in hopes of later gaining the tools to use what I’ve learned to help others.

Pronouns: she/her/hers 

Education: Undergraduate student at Loyola 

Major: Psychology 

Research/Clinical Interests: I am very passionate about the systematic oppression faced by the Black community. Black people face many injustices in both education and healthcare which can become detrimental to the wellbeing and future of African American children. Therefore, I want to focus my research on the overlap between improperly treated mental illness among Black youth and the school to prison pipeline and find ways for Black children with mental health struggles to succeed as much as possible.

Goals: I want to get a PhD in school psychology and use my degree to work in underfunded schools in Black communities. :)

Pronouns:  She/Her

Education:  Lake Forest College

Major:  B.A., Psychology and African American Studies

Minor:  Philosophy

Research/Clinical Interests:  In Philosophy I did research on grief and the aesthetics of old movies. My other clinical interests include the effectiveness of different de-escalation techniques, trends of suicidality as it relates to the intersectionality of occupation and other previous mental health diagnoses, and moral obligations and their effects on our sense of self.

Goals:  Ultimately I would like to get my PhD in Clinical Psychology and be a life long advocate for increasing mental health awareness in the African American community.

What I do for fun: I train judo, take walks, listen to music, and read.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Education: Loyola University Chicago, B.S., Psychology 2024

Minor: Spanish

Status: Senior

Research/Clinical Interests: I am interested in exploring how adverse childhood experiences can affect the development of Latine youth, how the systemic approach can yield positive results in Latine families who are experiencing conflict (both internal and external stressors), how life transitions impact mental health, and the creation of culturally responsive interventions for youth and young adults.

What I do for fun: I enjoy running my art Instagram account about the importance of art therapy, reading Spanish short stories, taking walks out in nature, and learning Italian online.

Goals: I am currently open to exploring multiple career options in psychology. However, I do have a particular interest in clinical psychology. I hope to gain more research experience as a research assistant in different laboratories before committing to a master's or Ph.D. program that is right for me.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Education: B.S. Psychology, Minor in Neuroscience, August 2023

Research/Clinical Interest: I am interested in researching cognitive and clinical psychology in topics such as language, trauma, and social media, and I'm interested in working with adolescents and young adults. 

What I do for fun: In my free time, I like to read and crochet. I also love to bake and hang out with friends!

Goals: I wish to purse a doctorate in clinical or cognitive psychology. I'd like to pursue a career in research, teaching, and/or clinical work with adolescents and young adults.

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Education: B.S., Psychology 2023

Status: Senior

Research/Clinical Interests: I have a passion for building strong future generations, ACCTION Lab has provided me an opportunity to practice and develop my skills with children and adolescents. There are currently many disparities, inequities, inequalities, and burdens in the system that we live in today that deter individuals from reaching their full potential. ACCTION Lab aligns with my own ambitions as it provides a community-centered approach towards healing and liberation in Chicago for Black, and Latina/o/e youth with ADHD and SCT that I can later extrapolate into other populations to remove those systemic barriers. I follow wherever my curiosity leads me, and it has led me to provide help to the amazing, smart, and creative people with ADHD and SCT.

What I do for fun: In my free time, when the weather is nice, you can catch me spending my time outdoors, either running miles or playing tennis. When the weather is not so nice, I am indoors either listening to music or playing the piano. 

Goals: I plan to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology.

Pronouns: She/Her

Education: B.S. in Psychology expected Fall 2022

Status: Fourth Year!

Research/clinical interest: Being a part of ACCTION Lab will be both rewarding and important work in which we spread resources to systemically oppressed populations and help advocate for their voices! I couldn't be more excited and proud to join this team!

What I do for fun: I enjoy diving into a good fiction book, taking care of my plants and garden, and spending time with my dog :)

Goals: I have plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with current work being completed in rape crisis counseling. My goals for this lab include diversifying my research interests and advocating for whosever voice I possible can!

Pronouns: she/her
Education: Loyola University Chicago, B.S., Psychology 2023
Status: Junior, Psychology major and Music minor
Research/Clinical Interests: I am so excited to be a part of the ACCTION lab because I think the work that it is accomplishing is extremely important and will help so many people, especially our youth. I am also excited that ACCTION lab recognizes the effects of systematic oppression and works to gain a better understanding of how this affects youth with ADHD. As someone with ADHD I am so excited to be a part of something that is working toward the betterment of lives of children and adolescents with ADHD today through research and therapy methods.
What I do for fun: I love playing guitar, singing, and hiking!
Goals: I am still figuring out what my specific goals for the future are but I really hope to have a career that is focused on understanding and bettering our society, whether that be with the environment, the use of technology, or mental illness (or all of the above).

Pronouns:  She/her/hers

Education:  B.S. Psychology and B.S. Cellular/Molecular Neuroscience 

Status: Senior 

Research/Clinical Interests: I am really interested in understanding the molecular pathways in the brain and the ways in which they are affected and change through our experiences. I am really passionate about creating accessible, equitable mental and physical health care and that is something I am able to help cultivate everyday by working with ACCTION Lab. 

What I do for fun:  I love to hike, run, camp and be outside in general! When I have free time, I also enjoy reading and going to local farmer’s markets or second-hand shops. 

Goals:  Eventually, medical school! However, I am hoping to take a couple gap years after undergrad in order to let my mind rest, gain more professional experience and travel/spend more time outside. 

Pronouns: She/her

Education: B.S. Psychology, B.A. Spanish, Expected graduation May 2023

Status: Senior, honors student

Research/Clinical Interest: I am thrilled to begin volunteering with all the talented members of the ACCTION Lab! I appreciate the importance of the research performed by this lab in advocating for children with ADHD who face systemic injustice. I am honored to be a part of the mission to support these youth. 

What I do for fun: Self-care in the form of playing piano, crocheting, and watching movies!

Goals: I intend to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology. I would love to focus my efforts on bettering treatments for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault. In the ACCTION Lab, I look forward to building relationships and practicing productivity with my fellow team members :)

Pronouns: she/her
Education: B.S., Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience and Minor of Psychology, 2023
Status: Senior
Research/Clinical Interests: I want to work towards minimizing the misdiagnosis of neurodivergent youths within underrepresented communities. Within ACCTION Lab, I hope to help adolescents know they aren’t alone and have the support of the community and their families by providing information and resources on mental health.
What I do for fun: I spend most of my time baking for my friends and reading books by the lake. When I’m not studying, I love exploring local restaurants with my friends.

Goals: Currently, my goal is to obtain a PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology in hopes to curate treatments and interventions based on my research. Along with my peers, I want to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and make treatments more accessible to the community.

Pronouns: They/them

Major: Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience

Minor: Biology

Status: Junior

Research/Clinical Interests: I am interested in understanding the visual implications in neurodivergencies. Additionally, I am fascinated by the molecular mechanisms regarding the brain’s capacity for neuroplasticity following a traumatic event, and what this means regarding how our body stores trauma.

What I do for fun: I like to go thrifting, collect Eyewitness books, get tattooed and cook with my roommates!  

Goals: My vision is to go to optometry school and practice as a behavioral optometrist. Behavioral optometry is a relatively new field, and I aspire to be able to contribute to the growing body of scientific evidence to support the pillars of the practice. Lastly, I hope to make behavioral optometry a more accessible form of therapy, as treatment is often very expensive and not covered under most insurance policies.