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 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.
Current Members of SCCAERAB
Lin Tran
Lin Tran is pursuing a Master of Arts in Psychological Research in the psychology department at Texas State University. Her interests in psychological research centers on the ways acculturation, intergenerational conflict, and other sociocultural factors contribute to mental health outcomes. Her work at SCCAERAB also incorporates health risk behaviors as outcomes of interest. A major component of her long-term career goals include improving access to excellent mental health resources for members of racial and ethnic minority groups.
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William Murley
William Murley is a second-year graduate student in the Master of Arts in Psychological Research program at Texas State University. William’s research interests focus primarily on disordered eating, substance use, and suicide. He is firmly committed to serving underrepresented populations and is particularly interested in conducting research that benefits sexual and gender minorities. William plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical or Health Psychology to continue his research on disordered eating. He previously graduated summa cum laude through the Honors College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy at Texas State University.
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Sarah Wondra
Sarah Wondra is an undergraduate student at Texas State University pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Diversity. Her interests in psychology are focused on understanding the interplay between sociodemographic identities (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity) and cognitive processes, and how these factors work together to provoke behavioral outcomes. At SCCAERAB, Sarah aims to better understand the challenges that coincide with acculturation and contribute to the cognitive and social processes that drive people to engage in substance misuse. Ultimately, Sarah hopes her undergraduate degree and research training will position her to help improve communication and understanding across socioeconomically disparate communities, in an effort to increase accessibility to opportunities for individuals from historically underserved and marginalized groups.
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Past Members of SCCAERAB
Daniela Romero
Daniela Romero is a Master’s student in the MAPR Program at Texas State. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Universidad de los Andes in Colombia. Her research interests are in Social Psychology and Cognitive Disabilities. At SCCAERAB she is working hard to understand the correlates of risk behaviors such as alcohol use among Hispanic/Latina women at the population level. Her interests outside of SCCAERAB are focused on conducting research with individuals with Down’s Syndrome and Autism through a social psychological lens, and she hopes to immerse herself further into that work following her M.A. graduation.
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Neha Shrestha
Neha Shrestha is pursuing a Masters in Psychological Research at Texas State University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Southern Arkansas University. Her primary research interests are in Industrial/Organizational, Social, and Cognitive Psychology. She is particularly interested in conducting research that serves racial and ethnic minority populations. While working with the SCCAERAB team, Shrestha aims to explore the link between traditional gender norms and work-related stress among employed college students.
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Megan Ximenes
Megan Ximenes is an undergraduate student at Texas State University. She is majoring in Psychology with a minor in philosophy. At SCAERRAB she is interested in making addictions-focused connections across social, health, clinical, and cognitive psychology. Specific topics Megan aims to investigate include alcohol and substance use, acculturation processes, gender and ethnic minority disparities, and stress reactions. Following graduation, Megan aims to pursue a graduate degree in Psychology.