My research interests include topics in Clinical Psychology, Women's Studies, and issues related to Ethnopolitical Conflict. I studied coping and PTSD symptomatology in Sri Lankan children in response to both the ethnic conflict and natural disaster. I investigate intragroup and intergroup ethnic identity and prejudice among majority and minority ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. I study sociostructural aspects of college student experiences in terms of culture, race, class, and gender. Focal areas include depression, anxiety, stress, well-being, college adjustment, mindfulness, perfectionism, procrastination, eating pathology, test anxiety, coping, social support, psychological aspects of climate change, racial identity, and prejudice. In addition, I study aspects of pedagogy in teaching disciplinary writing, diversity issues, and psychological aspects of climate change.
chev-leftCreated with Sketch. chev-rightCreated with Sketch.
chev-leftCreated with Sketch. chev-rightCreated with Sketch. chev-leftCreated with Sketch. chev-rightCreated with Sketch.
chev-downCreated with Sketch. chev-upCreated with Sketch.
Haiti 2010 Earthquake: Issues & Interventions in Massachusetts.
Over the past 10+ years, I have studied teaching in relation to a variety of topics, including: disciplinary writing; sensitive topics; diversity; mindfulness; psychological aspects of climate change; psychological aspects of pro-environmental behavior; and research methods in mental health. In addition, I evaluate research methodology in mentoring undergraduates as well as numerous aspects of teaching first-generation vs. continuing generation college students (see attachment).
I studied posttraumatic stress symptom severity in response to war and natural disaster in Sri Lanka. Regarding the impact of war, I examined PTSD severity in children and their mothers, as well as coping and social support as predictors of PTSD severity in children. I identified cultural aspects of PTSD symptomatology in the context of both war and tsunami responses in Sri Lankan children (see attachment).
I study the beneficial effects of mindfulness in relation to mental distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) as well as well-being in college students. I also study the benefits of teaching mindfulness to undergraduates in both public and private colleges, and in first and continuing generation students.
A capstone course dealing with recent and emerging topics, issues, and methods in mental health.
Etiology, dynamics, and treatment of psychopathology and their relation to normal personality are considered from traditional and contemporary perspectives.
A survey of major theories of personality. Why people behave as they do is explored through the different theories.
Introduction to the history of psychology, scientific method, brain/nervous system, development, learning, motivation, sensation/perception, personality, psychopathology, psychotherapy, cognitive processes, and social behavior.
This course introduces students to representations of mental disorders in the movies. The focus here is to examine systematized structures of race, class, gender, and sexuality in the construction of those representations. The analytical perspective is one that criticizes oppression while problematizing group privilege in dominant groups.