People

Dr. Jessica Perrotte

Dr. Perrotte is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Texas State University and the director of SCCAERAB. She received both an M.S. and Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research examines sociocultural processes underlying risky behaviors, particularly among Hispanic and Latina/o/x populations. There is overwhelming evidence that Latinas/os and other racial and ethnic minoritized group members in the U.S. experience adverse consequences related to health risk behaviors disproportionately more than non-Latina/o Whites. As such, Dr. Perrotte aims to contribute to a growing body of scientific knowledge on the modifiable factors related to health risk behaviors in an effort to ultimately reduce such health disparities. To date, this program of research has been supported by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Society for Health Psychology (Division 38 of the APA).

A list of Dr. Perrotte’s publications and presentations can be found on her CV: Perrotte CV, Fall 2025

Current Members of SCCAERAB

Adelina Jaramillo

Adelina received a B.A in Psychology from Texas State University. As an undergrade, she worked in the suicide prevention lab where she co-authored a poster examining the relationship between drinking and suicide. She is currently a graduate student in the Psychological Research program in Texas State and a member of the SCCAERAB lab. Her research focuses on gender roles, risky drinking and recovery in young adult Latinx communities. She is particularly interested in how cultural and social factors influence patterns of drinking and resilience within these populations.  After completing her Master’s degree, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. with a goal of furthering research on drinking and recovery in Latinx populations.

Gabriela Naime

Gabriela received a B.S. in Neuroscience with a concentration in Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso. During her stint at UTEP, she co-authored two publications exploring opioid sensitivity in rodent models, as well as co-authored a publication identifying behavioral patterns of decision-making in rodents. She was also first author on her poster presentation highlighting early childhood teacher stress and experiences of Hispanic women along the U.S.-Mexico border and project coordinator for an at-home bilingual language study investigating impacts of stressors unique to underserved communities on parent-child interactions. Gabriela is currently a graduate student in the M.A. of Psychological Research program at Texas State University, continuing her research efforts through SCCAERAB Lab, where her work involves assessing the role of sociocultural factors in risky behaviors associated with alcohol use among young adult Latinx populations. After graduate school, she plans to pursue addiction recovery research to aide in the improvement of treatment efficacy and intervention accessibility within under-resourced communities most impacted by the opioid crisis. 

Kylah Wilson

Kylah Wilson is currently pursuing an M.A. in Psychological Research at Texas State University. As part of SCCAERAB Kylah investigates how social and cultural factors influence health behaviors, particularly within underrepresented and marginalized groups. Her research is deeply rooted in addressing health disparities, with a specific focus on the lived experiences of communities of color. Outside of her academic work, Kylah is passionate about exploring how Black communities perceive and engage with preventive health measures and interventions. She is committed to understanding the barriers that exist within these communities to improve health outcomes and promote equitable access to care. Kylah’s work aims to contribute to a more inclusive approach to health research, ensuring that the voices and needs of underrepresented populations are heard and addressed in both academic and clinical settings.

CJ Schemidt

CJ Schemidt is a junior at Texas State University and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in Art. Through SCCAERAB, they aim to expand their knowledge on both universal and specified intervention programs to reduce health risk behaviors among at-risk populations. Professionally, CJ intends to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology ending in licensure. Their research interests focus on specified treatment and development of preventative measures for populations who are at increased risk of developing restrictive eating disorders using a public health framework. Outside of their professional interests, CJ is an award-winning multimedia artist, with their current interest lying in ceramics and photomontage.  

Rebeca Moreno

Rebeca Moreno is an undergraduate junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology minoring in Pre–Medical Studies at Texas State. While working with SCCAERAB, Rebeca looks forward to gaining experience researching high risk behaviors among high-risk communities in order to understand behavioral risks. Rebeca is interested in pursuing a career in research examining psychological and physiological factors underlying addictive behaviors and behavioral disorders. Rebeca aims to pursue a graduate degree in psychology in a research-oriented program, such as an M. A. in Psychological Research at Texas State University or an M.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences at UT Health Houston. Outside of furthering her academic studies, Rebeca is passionate about working in research labs and programs that concentrate on behavioral disorders, risks, addictions and how those domains relate back to biological and physiological factors in people.  

Valerie Gavilanes

 Valerie Gavilanes is a senior at Texas State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in pre-medicine. By joining SCCAAERAB, she aims to seek a deeper connection to her Mexican American community and gain experience in cognitive research that focuses on high-risk communities and their sociocultural contexts. Valerie is interested in pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology and later a specialization in Neuropsychology, as she aims to aid those who have been affected by neurological disorders and diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Outside of her research responsibilities, Valerie enjoys staying at home and curling up with a good book or crocheting her next set of mittens for those chilly winter months in Texas.  

Past Members, and their SCCAERAB Research Portfolio 


Lin Tran, M.A.

Perrotte, J. K., Martinez, P., Castro, Y., Pinedo, M., Field, C., Tran, L., & Schepis, T. S. (2025). Trends in alcohol use disorder severity among U.S. adults disaggregated by sex, race, and age. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-025-02910-7

Tran, L., Meca, A., & Perrotte, J.K. (2025). Exploring the impact of bicultural identity integration on alcohol use through familism. Substance Use & Misuse. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2508739

Tran, L., & Perrotte, J. K. (2025, April). Helicopter parenting moderates relations between cultural values and alcohol use in Asian Americans. In S. Y. Chou (organizer), Parenting and substance use in culturally diverse samples of adolescents and emerging adults. Symposium accepted for presentation at the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction annual meeting of the Society for Addiction Psychology, Providence, RI.

Perrotte, J. K., Tran, L., Castro, Y., Pinedo, M., Martinez, P., Field, C. A., & Schepis, T. S. (2024, October). Disaggregated trends in alcohol use and AUD severity among Hispanic, Black, and White U.S. adults. Presentation at the annual meeting of the National Hispanic Science Network, New Orleans, LA.

Tran, L., & Perrotte, J. K. (2024, March). Exploring the impact of bicultural identity integration on alcohol use through familism. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio, TX.

Tran, L., Perrotte, J. K., Mendez, R. V., & *Lofthus, S. (2024, April). Helicopter parenting moderating intergenerational conflict with depressive symptoms and alcohol use. Poster presented at the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction 12th Annual Convention, Denver, CO.

Tran, L., Perrotte, J. K., & Meca, A. (2023, September). Intergenerational conflict and stress in Hispanic/Latino/a adults: The moderating roles of binge drinking and immigration generation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Hispanic Science Network, Washington D. C.

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Megan Garcia, B. A.

Garcia, M. A., Gonzalez, E., Murley, W., Castro, Y., Martinez, P., Pinedo, M., & Perrotte, J. K. (2024, October). Latina/Hispanic women’s perception of drinking in the US: A qualitative analysis. Presentation at the annual meeting of the National Hispanic Science Network, New Orleans, LA.

William Murley, M.A.

Murley, W. D., Oberle, C. D., Howard, K. J., & aPerrotte, J. K. (2024). Anxiety connects social media use to food and alcohol disturbance and disordered eating when social support is low. Eating Behaviors. Online Ahead of Print. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2024.101879

Garcia, M. A., *Gonzalez, E., *Murley, W., Castro, Y., Martinez, P., Pinedo, M., & Perrotte, J. K. (2024, October). Latina/Hispanic women’s perception of drinking in the US: A qualitative analysis. Presentation at the annual meeting of the National Hispanic Science Network, New Orleans, LA.

Murley, W. D., Perrotte, J. K., Oberle, C. D., & Howard, K. J. (2024, April). Beyond the screen: Understanding social media, anxiety, and FAD. Poster presented at the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction 12th Annual Convention, Denver, CO.

Murley, W., Howard, K. J., & Perrotte, J. K. (2023, April). Factors of food and alcohol disturbance. Poster presented at Psychology Day, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.

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Sarah Wondra, B.A.

Perrotte, J. K., Schepis, T. S., Wondra, S., Martinez, P., Castro, Y., Pinedo, M., & Field, C. (2023, June). Alcohol-related trends among Hispanic, Black, and White adolescent females and males from 2002-2019. Poster presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol. Bellevue, WA.

Romero, D., García, A. N., Shrestha, N. R., Wondra, S., Howard, K. J., Ceballos, N. A., Graham, R., & Perrotte, J. K. (2023, March). Connecting alcohol to linguistic acculturation in the social digital environment. Poster presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction. Albuquerque, NM.

Wondra, S., Perrotte, J. K., Boucher, T., Romero Fajardo, D., García, A. N., Schepis, T. S., Pinedo, M., Martinez, P., Castro, Y., Field, C. F., & Ceballos, N. A. (2023, March). Alcohol use among U.S. Latinas: A protocol for a scoping review of top-tier alcohol-focused journals. Poster presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction. Albuquerque, NM.

Daniela Romero, M.A.

Shrestha, N. R., Vrotsos, K., Romero, D., Baumann, M. R., Howard, K. J., & Perrotte, J. K. (2023). Pathways between adverse change in employment and alcohol use among U.S. women during a global pandemic: The moderating role of conforming to masculine norms. Substance Use & Misuse, 58(10), 1177-1186. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2212059

Perrotte, J. K., Romero, D. N, Ceballos, N. A., Howard, K. J., & Graham, R. (2024). Contextualizing linguistic acculturation and alcohol use among Hispanic college students in the social digital environment. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Online ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000712

Romero, D., García, A. N., Shrestha, N. R., Wondra, S., Howard, K. J., Ceballos, N. A., Graham, R., & Perrotte, J. K. (2023, March). Connecting alcohol to linguistic acculturation in the social digital environment. Poster presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction. Albuquerque, NM.

Wondra, S., Perrotte, J. K., Boucher, T., Romero Fajardo, D., García, A. N., Schepis, T. S., Pinedo, M., Martinez, P., Castro, Y., Field, C. F., & Ceballos, N. A. (2023, March). Alcohol use among U.S. Latinas: A protocol for a scoping review of top-tier alcohol-focused journals. Poster presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction. Albuquerque, NM.

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Neha Shrestha, M.A.

Shrestha, N. R., Vrotsos, K., Romero, D., Baumann, M. R., Howard, K. J., & Perrotte, J. K. (2023). Pathways between adverse change in employment and alcohol use among U.S. women during a global pandemic: The moderating role of conforming to masculine norms. Substance Use & Misuse, 58(10), 1177-1186. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2212059

Perrotte, J. K., Shrestha, N. R., MacPhail, D. C. G., Ximenes, M. C., Ali, Y. R., & Baumann, M. R. (2024). Thinking about drinking: Acculturation and alcohol-related cognitions among college-bound Latinas. Journal of American College Health, 72(8), 2597-2604. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2119858

Shrestha, N. R., Perrotte, J. K., Ximenes, M., & Baumann, M. R. (2021, August). COVID-19 employment loss, alcohol use, and the moderating effect of masculine identities among women. Symposium presentation shared at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Division 14 (Society for the Industrial/Organizational Psychology).

Romero, D., García, A. N., Shrestha, N. R., Wondra, S., Howard, K. J., Ceballos, N. A., Graham, R., & Perrotte, J. K. (2023, March). Connecting alcohol to linguistic acculturation in the social digital environment. Poster presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction. Albuquerque, NM.

Shrestha, N. R., & Perrotte, J. K. (2022, April). Remote work and its impact on health risk behavior and cognition. Poster presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association Annual Convention. Baton Rouge, LA.

Perrotte, J. K., Ali, Y., Ximenes, M., Shrestha, N., & Baumann, M. R. (2021, June). The pathways between alcohol intentions and drinking are conditional upon acculturation orientations: A temporal study of Latina young adults. Poster presented virtually at the 2021 annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Ximenes, M., Perrotte, J.K. Shrestha, N., (2021, August) Pandemic stressors and alcohol problems in U.S. women: Coping and intolerance of uncertainty. Poster presented virtually at the American Psychological Association 2021 conference (Society for Addiction Psychology).

Perrotte, J. K., Shrestha, N., & Ximenes, M. (2021, August). “Masculinity”and increases in drinking among U.S. women in a global pandemic: The role of age. Poster presented virtually at the 2021 annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Division 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women).

Shrestha, N. R., Perrotte, J. K., Baumann, M. R (2021, April). Work Stress, Alcohol Expectancies and Alcohol Use among Latinx College Students. Poster presented virtually at the Southwestern Psychological Association annual conference. San Antonio, TX.

Ali, Y., Perrotte, J. K., Ximenes, M., Contreras, A., & Shrestha, N. R. (2021, April). Feminine norms and risk perception in alcohol use among U.S. women. Poster presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association annual conference. San Antonio, TX.

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Megan Ximenes, B.A.

Perrotte, J. K., Shrestha, N. R., MacPhail, D. C. G., Ximenes, M. C., Ali, Y. R., & Baumann, M. R. (2024). Thinking about drinking: Acculturation and alcohol-related cognitions among college-bound Latinas. Journal of American College Health, 72(8), 2597-2604. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2119858

Shrestha, N. R., Perrotte, J. K., Ximenes, M., & Baumann, M. R. (2021, August). COVID-19 employment loss, alcohol use, and the moderating effect of masculine identities among women. Symposium presentation shared at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Division 14 (Society for the Industrial/Organizational Psychology).

Perrotte, J. K., Ali, Y., Ximenes, M., Shrestha, N., & Baumann, M. R. (2021, June). The pathways between alcohol intentions and drinking are conditional upon acculturation orientations: A temporal study of Latina young adults. Poster presented virtually at the 2021 annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Ximenes, M., Perrotte, J.K. Shrestha, N., (2021, August) Pandemic stressors and alcohol problems in U.S. women: Coping and intolerance of uncertainty. Poster presented virtually at the American Psychological Association 2021 conference (Society for Addiction Psychology).

Perrotte, J. K., Shrestha, N., & Ximenes, M. (2021, August). “Masculinity” and increases in drinking among U.S. women in a global pandemic: The role of age. Poster presented virtually at the 2021 annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Division 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women).

Ali, Y., Perrotte, J. K., Ximenes, M., Contreras, A., & Shrestha, N. R. (2021, April). Feminine norms and risk perception in alcohol use among U.S. women. Poster presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association annual conference. San Antonio, TX.