ALEX PIETERSE, PH.D.

he/him

Dr. Pieterse joined the Counseling Psychology faculty at Boston College in Spring 2022. 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 interests lay at the intersection of racial trauma and community violence.

JASMINE MUELLER-HSIA

she/her

Jasmine is a master’s student in the Mental Health Counseling program at Boston College, where she is also the 2023-24 Coordinator for the Institute for the Study of Race and Culture. She graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies and a concentration in Queer Studies in 2018. As a Chinese and white, queer, cisgender, able-bodied woman, Jasmine walks in many worlds. Liberation is the heart of her lifework: her research interests center on the lived experiences of queer and trans people of color, particularly regarding relationships and disability, and how we can build worlds where everyone is free.

KRYSTAL CUNNINGHAM

she/her

Krystal is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Boston College. She graduated from University of North Texas with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Gender Studies and holds an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College. In 2023, she joined the RESIST Lab as a graduate research assistant. She has engaged in clinical work with trauma survivors and populations with substance use disorders. Additionally, her experience includes curriculum development and facilitation of multicultural competence staff training for clinicians. Her research interests include anti-racism, racial trauma, multicultural competence training, and identity development among LGBTQ+ people of color, particularly those who are Black. She is also interested in culturally relevant psychotherapeutic interventions to promote healing from distress related to identity-based discrimination. She is passionate about the healing of historically marginalized groups, the pursuit of justice, and the responsibility of the field of psychology to facilitate both.

ALLISON WITHERSPOON

she/her

Allison Witherspoon graduated summa cum laude from Hardin-Simmons University in 2023 where she earned a BS in psychology. As an undergraduate, she was a member of Dr. John Eric Swenson’s research team investigating the relationship between physical and spiritual aspects of the body as it relates to health behaviors. She completed her senior capstone project on the social marginalization of mental illness stigma. Her research interests include African American mental health, race related stress, mental illness stigma, and the treatment of anxiety disorders. Allison plans to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology.

RASHEED ADEYEMO

he/him

Rasheed is a second-year PhD student in Counseling Psychology at Auburn University. Originally from Nigeria, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Guidance and Counseling from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. He is a member of the Immigrant Racial, Identity and Socialization Experiences (I-RISE) Lab, as well as the RESIST Lab. His research focuses on the experiences of African immigrants in the U.S., particularly regarding their mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviors. Recently, he has been exploring the relationships between African immigrants and African Americans. Rasheed is enthusiastic about collaborating across labs and programs.

SPARK LIM

he/him

Spark is a second-year student in the M.A. Mental Health Counseling program at Boston College. He attended the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse for his B.A. in Psychology. As a Teochew descendant raised in Malaysia, he speaks fluent English, Malay, and Mandarin. He is interested in topics related to multicultural issues such as racial identities, interracial solidarity, gender, sexualities, and the Asian diasporic experience. He is passionate about learning and capturing people’s unique stories, identities, and narratives through research, with the aim of challenging dehumanizing beliefs and practices from a place of compassion, empathy and twinship.

LUCY XIE

Lucy Xie is a third-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology student at Boston College, and joined the RESIST Lab and Institute for the Study of Race and Culture as a graduate research assistant in 2025. She graduated from York University in Toronto with a BA in Psychology, and holds an MA in Women's Studies from the University of Florida. Lucy's research interests include the psychological impacts of race, immigration, gender, class, and sexuality experienced by the East Asian diaspora.