ALEX PIETERSE, PH.D.

he/him

Dr. Pieterse joined the Counseling Psychology faculty at the University at Albany in Fall 2008. He is a Licensed Psychologist and earned a Ph.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University. His areas of research focus include: Health related outcomes associated with racial identity and experiences of racism; antiracism advocacy; race-related aspects of counseling psychology training; and the impact of self-awareness on the psychotherapy process.

EUN JEONG (EJ) YANG

she/her

Eun Jeong (EJ) Yang is a fourth-year doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Boston College. As a first-generation Korean immigrant, EJ’s worldview is profoundly influenced by her bicultural and bilingual background. She holds an Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, along with an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College. Prior to embarking on her doctoral journey, EJ worked extensively with survivors of complex trauma as an individual outpatient therapist. EJ’s current research focuses on various aspects of Asian/Asian American mental health, particularly in relation to their experiences of racism and xenophobia. Her scholarly interests also encompass culturally informed assessment and intervention strategies, as well as the exploration of racial trauma. Furthermore, EJ is passionate about advancing integrative methodologies for treating complex PTSD.

SHARI GORDON

she/her

Shari Gordon is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Boston College. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and African American Studies from Northwestern University, and went on to complete her M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine at Boston University. She is currently a research assistant and member of the RESIST Lab and Institute for the Study of Race and Culture. Her research interests are at the intersection of racial trauma, racial identity, and Black Hair studies.

MADELYN HARRIS

she/her

Madelyn is a doctoral student in counseling psychology at the Boston College Lynch School of Education. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Psychology with High Honors and joined the RESIST lab and Institute for the Study of Race and Culture in 2022 as a graduate research assistant. Madelyn aims to use her research program to promote social justice from a strengths-based perspective by centering the wisdom of historically excluded communities in psychology, specifically Black and LGBTQIA+ Americans. Her current research foci include racial identity, racial trauma, anti-racism, and community healing.

Lawrence Stevenson

he/him

Lawrence Stevenson has worked in trauma response, racial equity, and violence prevention for the last decade. He holds a BS in Psychology and Public Services from the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Currently, he is a Doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at the Boston College Lynch School of Education. He is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Institute for the Study of Race and Culture and the RESIST lab. His research interest lay at the intersection of racial trauma and community violence.

Kimberly M. Wesley

she/her

Kimberly is in her final year of the Mental Health Counseling program at Boston College. She identifies as a Black woman and first-generation college student. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Creative Writing. Kimberly is currently interning at Lasell University’s College Counseling Center, where she helps students with an array of mental health issues from anxiety, depression, to adjusting to college. She is also a research assistant in the RESIST lab and the Institute for the Study of Race and Culture at Boston College. Kimberly hopes to pursue her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology after completing her master’s degree. Kimberly is interested in topics of racial trauma, Black identity, and how racism impacts the mind, body, spirit, and relationships.