Our Team

Joanna Kim, Ph.D.

Dr. Joanna Kim is an Assistant Professor at the REACH Institute at Arizona State University. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2019. She completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship at the University of California, San Diego and T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship at Arizona State University. She is currently the recipient of a NIDA-funded K01 mentored career development award. Broadly, Dr. Kim’s research aims to reduce disparities in behavioral health risk, identification, and service utilization for low-income, immigrant, and ethnoracial minority youth. She is particularly interested in strategies to increase caregiver use of evidence-based skills outside of intervention sessions. In her clinical work, Dr. Kim’s passions are in parent management training, exposure response prevention, and evidence-based assessment.

Fun Recommendation: Almost There Rescue in Phoenix, AZ

Graduate Students

Lindsey Rosenthal, A.B.

Lindsey is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Arizona State University. Prior to attending ASU, she earned an AB in Neuroscience from Smith College and completed a post-baccalaureate fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center. Broadly, Lindsey is interested in mental health disparities and how family dynamics influence psychopathology. Lindsey is particularly interested in understanding how culture and daily experiences impact intervention utilization and efficacy in ethnoracial minority youth. Lindsey's clinical interests involve families in high-stress populations and/or circumstances. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys going to farmers markets, painting, and hiking.

Fun Recommendation: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix 

Kobe Huynh, B.A.

Kobe is a first-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program at Arizona State University. He received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Diego and was a post-baccalaureate research assistant at McLean Hospital. Broadly, Kobe’s research interests include investigating mechanisms of change in evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for youth and caregivers. He is also interested in how technology can be used to increase engagement with interventions. In his free time, Kobe enjoys going to spin class, finding new restaurants, and staying up to date with pop culture!

Fun Recommendation: Power+Flow Indoor Cycling in Scottsdale, AZ! 

Mary Kuckertz, M.A.

Mary is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Arizona State University. She graduated from the University of San Diego with her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish. Mary is interested in using implementation science to improve access to and overall intervention experience with evidence-based mental health services. She is particularly interested in understanding parent and adolescent intervention engagement for families with minoritized racial/ethnic identities. While she is not working, Mary enjoys cheering on her favorite soccer team and following her favorite corgis on social media.

Fun recommendation: Proof Bread in Downtown Mesa

Lab Management

Vijaya Nandiwada-Hofer, B.S.


Project Coordinator

Vijaya graduated spring 2023 from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Psychology. During her time at ASU, she gained research experience in two developmental psychology labs and wanted to continue growing her skills and research interests. She hopes to continue her education with a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Some of her current research interests are looking at how to help build parent-child relationships to prevent mental health problems and support healthy child development. During her free time, Vijaya likes to bake/cook, rewatch her favorite shows, and spend time with her friends and family. 

Fun Recommendation: Making browned butter chocolate chip cookies

Isabella Andrade, B.S.


Lab Manager

Isabella is a graduate of Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University with degrees in Psychology (Psychological Science) (B.S.) and Family and Human Development (B.S.). Her current research interests include how to improve accessibility to preventative parenting interventions among minoritized populations, particularly parents of children with complex medical conditions such as neuromuscular disorders. She is also interested in how interventions could be tailored or adapted to fit the unique experiences of these families. More broadly, she is interested in continuing to advance research at the intersection of public health, family systems, and disability to support parent and child well-being. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, trying out local coffee shops, and hanging out with her dog, Blaine.

Fun Recommendation: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream

Research Assistants

Dana Cadena

Dana is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University studying Global Studies (B.A.). She will be graduating in Spring of 2027, and hopes to pursue a master’s from there. Her research interests include immigration policy, developmental psychology, and exploring how various social disparities can influence adolescent development. She also intends to apply and further develop her language skills to become a translator. In her free time, you can probably find her working out, perfecting a matcha recipe, or hanging out with her friends.

Fun recommendation: Everything Everywhere All At Once. Any A24 movie rocks.

Jane Li

Jane is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University studying Psychology. Jane is passionate about research centered around families and community-related influences on adolescents/teens. She loves to explore different facets within psychology, and has multiple interests in hormonal changes as a response to emotional wellbeing as well as impacts of food on developmental and psychological changes in adolescents. In the future, Jane plans to continue psychological research and earn a doctoral degree while narrowing her scope of interest within the field. In her free time, she enjoys working out, watching new tv shows, and trying out new cafes around the city.

Fun recommendation: Food Roulette with friends and late-night movie runs.

Luisa Garcia Duran

Luisa is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University studying Psychology (B.S) with a minor in Family and Human Development. Luisa will be graduating in the Fall of 2026 with hopes of pursuing a Master's Degree after. She is interested in researching the correlation between socioeconomic status and adolescent development. Luisa enjoys long walks with friends, crafting, and building LEGOs.

Fun Recommendation: Aftersun

Maleah Manansala

Maleah is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Psychology and Spanish. She is passionate about research related to the reciprocal influences between children/adolescents and their environment, and strategies that foster positive mental health and development in the face of adverse factors such as socioeconomic status or familial conflicts. She will be graduating in the Spring of 2027, and plans to pursue a master’s degree. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Fun recommendation: Korean BBQ with friends

Megan Torres Dafolgueira

Megan is a second-year undergraduate student at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, studying Medical Microbiology (B.S.). Megan will be graduating in the Spring of 2029; however, she hopes to further her education and obtain an M.D.-Ph.D. Some of Megan's current research interests include exploring how certain stressors and social disparities can influence adolescent development and self-esteem. She hopes to gain an understanding of the experiences of diverse populations, such as foster children and children from various socio-economic backgrounds and cultures. In her free time, Megan enjoys trying new restaurants and cafes, crafting, and spending time with friends and family.

Fun recommendation: As You Wish Pottery Painting

Fernando Olivo Tapia

Fernando is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and Sociology while minoring in Spanish. His research interests focus primarily on how family dynamics affect how families and their members cope with hardships. This is especially the case when culture is brought up in everyday interactions, which make up one's reality (and thus family interactions), and are never the same. Fernando will graduate in Spring 2028 and plans to pursue a Master's degree in Social Work, School Psychology, or Counseling. In his free time, he likes to work out, play video games, try out new food, and hang out with friends/family! 

Fun Recommendation: "Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko" in Tempe!

Ira Manek

Ira is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University majoring in Psychology & Neuroscience with a minor in Family & Human Development. Ira is passionate about research exploring hormonal imbalances in adolescents and how these changes may influence their social lives and relationships. She is also interested in exploring different areas within psychology and hopes to continue her research in graduate school. In the future, Ira plans to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, continue conducting research, and become a therapist. In her free time, she enjoys baking, embroidery, writing fiction, and watching movies with her best friend.

Fun recommendation: DIY embroidery kits and peach cobbler!

Lab Alumni

  • Melissa Uribe, M.A.

    Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Student

  • Sydni Basha, M.A.

    Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Candidate

  • Carlie Sloan, Ph.D.

    Post-Doctoral Student
    Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina

  • Laney Karpel, B.S.

    ASU Class of 2026
    Research Assistant

  • Arbella Kasim, B.S.

    Research Assistant

  • Jadee Do, B.A.

    Research Assistant

  • Hannah Honda, B.A.

    Research Assistant

  • Zara Farooqui

    BASIS Chandler Student

  • Sarah Nesbit

    Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Sun-Kyung Lee, Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral Scholar

  • Maya Swift, B.S.

    ASU Class of 2024
    Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Nalani A. Thomas, M.S.

    Graduate Student

  • Madison Wolff

    Undergraduate Media Specialist

  • Ana Maria Meléndez Guevara

    T32 Postdoctoral Scholar

  • Vanessa Herrera, B.S.

    ASU Class of 2023
    Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Brooke Johnson, B.S.

    Project Coordinator | Evaluator
    ASU Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics