Research Assistants
Gladys Martinez, M.Ed, LPC, NCC
Program Coordinator
Gladys is a third-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology PsyD. Program at William Paterson University. She received her B.A. in Psychology and M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology with a cert. in School Counseling from Rutgers State University. In addition, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a certified N.J. Disaster Response Crisis Counselor.
Gladys worked as an Intensive In-community Counselor, and Outpatient therapist providing therapy to youths in crisis situations and therapeutic services to adult minorities. She also worked as a School Counselor for public schools in Union and Middlesex Counties. Currently, she externs at High Focus Centers servicing children and adolescents struggling with addiction or mental health disorders. Her research interests include working with the Latinx population, immigration, children & adolescents, personality disorders, and trauma.
Abigail Sanchez, M.A.
Assitant Team Coordinator
Abigail is a first-year PsyD student in the Clinical Psychology Program at William Paterson University. She graduated from Sacred Heart University with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in Sociology. She also graduated with an M.A. in Psychology from Pace University. She works as a Registered Behavior Technician providing therapy to children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum. She also volunteered as a researcher for Pace University, looking into issues with Children and their reading comprehension with parent/guardian.
She is the Assistant team Coordinator for the Culture and Resilience team. She has research interests in the Latinx community, children & adolescents, Acculturation, and intersectional identities.
Nuu Grenier, M. Ed, MA
They / Them
Nuu Grenier is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Psy.D program at William Paterson University. Nuu graduated with a M.Ed. in School Counseling at Frostburg State University, and they are a recent graduate (2022) of the M.A. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology program at William Paterson University. They are a current Graduate Assistant Researcher for the Culture and Resilience Team as well as the Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Psychotherapy Lab, and a Research Assistant in the Cognition and Emotion Lab. Additionally, Nuu is completing their 3rd year externship at Purchase College Counseling Center and conducting outreach with the campus' queer population.
As a part of their studies, Nuu is currently researching resiliency within the LGBTQIA+ community and their dissertation is investigating the impact of Tabletop Roleplaying games (TTRPGs) on Gender Dysphoria in Trans and Non-Binary folx. Nuu's additional research interests include LGBTQIA+ health, sexual and gender identity development, and sexual assault and suicide prevention strategies for LGBTQIA+
individuals.
Avianne Smith-Cordice, M.A.
Avianne is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Psy.D program at William Paterson University. She graduated from the University of the West Indies with a B.A in Psychology and a minor in Linguistics. She also graduated with a M.A in Forensic Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a M.A in General Psychology from The New School. Her clinical work focuses on the treatment and assessment of both adolescents and adults diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI), specifically in the criminal justice system.
Her research interests include cultural influences on personality and psychopathology, the societal stigma surrounding sexual offenders and clinicians willingness or lack thereof to work with individuals who commit such acts, as well as the differences in individuals susceptibility to the adverse outcomes of child abuse and neglect.
Brittany Juncosa, M.A.
Brittany is a fourth-year student in the William Paterson University PsyD program. While previously attending John Jay College, she worked as a research assistant on the Investigative Psychology Research Unit (IPRU) Sex Offender Profiling (SOP) Project. After graduating with a MA in Forensic Psychology, she worked as a Crisis Response Worker for Care Plus NJ, conducting crisis risk assessment for youth and families throughout Bergen County. Brittany's research interests include risk factors associated with violence including trauma, cognitive functioning, and personality.
Nicole Guevara, M.A.
Nicole is a second-year doctoral student in the PsyD program. In 2017, she graduated with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in biology from Rutgers University. She received her M.A. in clinical psychology, with a forensic concentration, from Montclair State University. While attending Montclair State University, she was a research assistant on projects focused on forensic psychology, correctional psychology, police and public safety psychology, and mental health law. Before pursuing graduate studies, Nicole worked as a behavioral group specialist and intake coordinator for six years at a Partial Hospitalization Program.
Last year, she facilitated the Spanish Cultural Adjustment group for recently arrived High school Latinx youth in Paterson, NJ. Currently, she is an extern at the Youth Development Clinic (YDC), servicing children and adolescents at an outpatient level of care. Her research interests include forensic and health psychology.
She enjoys drinking cafecito, roller skating, horror films, and reading dystopian novels.
Deanna Enunwa
Deanna is a second-year student in the PsyD program at William Paterson University. She completed her master's in counseling psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is a licensed mental health counselor. Deanna has worked in a variety of clinical settings including community mental health clinics and private practice, primarily serving women of color.
Deanna's research interests include working with new mothers, veterans, military children, and bicultural parents, and exploring trauma, maternal mental health, and intersectional identities.
Joe Wrobleski, M.A.
Joe is a second-year student in the Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program at William Paterson University. He received a BA in Psychology at Hofstra University and a MA in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University.
While pursuing his Masters degree, he worked as a research assistant at the Teachers College Resilience Center for Veterans and Families, as well as the James J. Peters VA Medical Center. Joe's clinical and research interests include issues of identity and transition stress associated with major life events, namely in populations navigating recent separation from the military or immigration to the United States.
Brayan Ospina
Brayan Ospina is a second-year student for the Master's in Clinical and Counseling Program. He recently graduated from New Jersey City University with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Brayan is from Colombia where mental health is not paid attention to. Instead a religious approach is taken, where a schizophrenic episode can be seen as someone being possessed.
Brayan has conducted Research at NJCU throughout the summer of 2021 which focused on Health Disparities Among Minority College Students. Brayan is a participant in the All of US Research Program and is a current Graduate Assistant at the office of sponsor programs. Brayan hopes to become a Clinical Psychologist and work for the CIA, FBI, or a Clinic and hopes to expand his research expertise with the current team.
Sydney Cheron
Sydney Cheron is a second year Masters student in the Clinical and Counseling program. Sydney spent her undergraduate years at William Paterson University. While she was there she dedicated her last two years as the public relations officer for the psychology club and was a part of the Cross-cultural research group.
Some of Sydney's clinical interests include working with minority people of color and organizational counseling. Sydney grew up in Paterson, NJ, where mental health often gets put on the back burner. Coming from a low-middle class city, the people she was surrounded by were primarily focused on working to survive. Sydney wants to help those in the business field deal with work stressors and conflicts to create a better environment for them and better their mental health.
Christine Varghese
Christine Varghese is a second-year student in the Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology program here at William Paterson University. She recently moved from her hometown of Chicago, IL to pursue her graduate studies in New Jersey in hopes of providing mental health services to youth and young adults from minority, specifically immigrant, communities in America.
Christine’s research experience has included working with the Chicago Asian American Psychology Lab where they focused on partnering with the Rohingya refugee community in Chicago's diverse Rogers Park neighborhood to better understand the needs of this community from a social psychology lens. Christine is looking forward to working with the Culture and Resiliency Team and hopes to explore New Jersey during her time here.
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Caelan Jimenez
Caelan is a second-year student in the Clinical and Counseling Psychology Master's program at William Paterson University. They graduated from William Paterson University with bachelor's degrees in History and Political Science and a minor in Public Policy & Administration.
Caelan's research interests include the LGBTQIA+ community and the different mechanisms that account for the mental health disparities within the community. Their interests also lie in borderline personality disorder and the developmental precursors that are attributed to the disorder.
Gabriella Juarez
Gabriella Juarez is a second-year student in the MA for Clinical & Counseling Psychology program and the GA for the Center of Diversity & Inclusion. She supports Gender and Sexuality resources and programs in this role. Two projects she leads include the LGBTQIA+ Student Support Group and the LGBTea+ Mentorship Program.
Gabriella graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from Rutgers University in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Gabriella's major was psychology, with a minor in Women & Gender Studies. She intends to pursue a PsyD in clinical and counseling psychology when she finishes her Masters degree.
Gabriella is passionate about supporting and bringing awareness of early childhood mental health disparities to diverse communities. This is due to her personal experience coming from a Latino background where mental health and invisible disabilities were not part of household discussions. Gabriella wants to work with the Latino population to create early detection and intervention to advocate for invisible disabilities like depression and anxiety that may be due to generational trauma.
Daniela Palmieri
Doug Vossen
Doug Vossen is in the PsyD program and comes to us after spending time in the US Army as an infantry officer and in the commercial construction industry as a project manager. His clinical and research interests surround the veteran population. His education includes a BS in systems engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an MBA from Marist College, and a MA in psychology from Columbia University.
Andrea M. Ortiz, B.A.
Andrea is a first-year Masters student in the Clinical and Counseling program at William Paterson University. She graduated with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from Montclair State University in 2022. Andrea moved to the U.S. a few years ago from the Dominican Republic where she was born and raised. As an immigrant, she is committed to serving and working with minority populations, particularly the Latinx community. She's also a Crisis Text Line volunteer counselor, which has increased her passion for helping people in need, and decreasing the stigma around mental health. Her research interests include the impact of immigration on mental health and how gender roles vary across cultures.
Agnes Benny
Eduardo Hernandez
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Bayron Ovalle
Bayron is a first-year master’s student in the Clinical and Counseling program at William Paterson University. He Graduated with a BA in Psychology and double minor in Health Studies and Biology from William Paterson University. He worked with the Counseling Health and Wellness Center on Campus as a Peer Health Advocate (PHA) providing initial crisis intervention, health education, and other supportive services to William Paterson University students for two years.
Bayron’s research interest and goals as a future clinician are tied to the improvement and care of LGBTQ+ and racial/ethnic minorities to better understand and respond to their specific needs.
Mishel Calle Urgiles
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Sarah Saad, B.A.
Sarah is a first-year master’s student in the Clinical and Counseling Psychology program at William Paterson University. She graduated from Kean University, summa cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. During her time in undergrad, she was the co-president of Active Minds, a club on campus with the goal of reducing the stigma around mental health. In the future she hopes to obtain a PsyD and become a clinical psychologist, focusing on research and testing.
Sarah’s research interests are tied to cognitive and behavior development, neuroscience, personality disorders, and schizophrenia in various populations.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys being by the beach, traveling, drinking coffee, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog.
Amy German
Sama Jaber, B.A.
Sama Jaber is a fourth year undergraduate student in the psychology program here at William Paterson University. With an interest in clinical and counseling psychology, Sama is looking forward to continuing education at the graduate level.
Sama's initial interest in psychology relates to understanding the socio-cultural experiences in America of first-generation children of immigrant caregivers. Participating in the Culture and Resilience team will allow her to assist in gathering information on factors of resilience and understanding more about adverse childhood experiences. She is also interested in understanding the possible correlation between the frequency of adverse childhood experiences and the likelihood of developing chronic physical conditions or other persistent conditions as a result.
Outside of classes, Sama volunteers for the Crisis Text line supporting those who reach out by implementing skills to de-escalate and creates a comfortable environment. She also participates in on-campus clubs and activities of the like.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching films, and exercising.
