PhD CANDIDATE
Dissertation:Theclimbtowards equality:Examiningwomen’s empowermentinTrinidadandTobago throughamixedmethodsstudy
STATEMENT
AlishaCupidisaPhDcandidateintheSchoolofSocialWorkatRutgersUniversity SheearnedherBachelorof SocialWorkwithaminorinPsychologyin2011andMSWfromTulaneUniversityin2013 Alishaalsoearneda GraduateCertificateinInternationalSocialWorkwithanemphasisonwomen’spovertyinRwandafromTulane University DuringhertimeinRwanda,sheworkedwithWomenforWomenInternationaldoingindependent researchonwomenandchildcare AlishaisalicensedclinicalsocialworkerinthestateofLouisiana Upon completionofherdegrees,shediddirectpracticewithchildrenandfamilies,andpopulationsinvolvedwithor affectedbyfostercare,incarceration,homelessness,substanceabuse,andwithvictimsofcrimes
HerresearchinterestswereframedbythesedirectpracticeexperiencesandincludegenderedpovertyinSubSaharanAfricaandtheCaribbeanandwomen’sempowerment Alisha’sdissertationisentitledTheclimb towardequality:Examiningwomen’sempowermentinTrinidadandTobagothroughamixedmethodsstudy HerdissertationwaspartiallyfundedbytheAmericanAssociationofUniversityWomen(AAUW),American DissertationFellowshipfor$25,000.Herresearchisfocusedonhowwomen’spovertyisexperiencedandhow datacollectionandreductionpolicycanbeimprovedusingwomen’sempowermenttheory.Alishahas publishedseveralstatereportsfortheCenterforPreventionScienceatRutgersUniversityandsubstance abusepreventionpublications.ShehasalsotaughtSocialWorkPracticeI:PracticewithIndividualsandFamilies intheMSWprogramatRutgersUniversity.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Theintersectionalityof internationalwomen’spoverty andgenderdisparities
Women’sempowermenttheory guidedresearch
Genderedpovertyreduction policy
EDUCATION
MasterofSocialWork
TulaneUniversity
GraduateCertificatein
InternationalSocialWork TulaneUniversity
BachelorofSocialWork
NewYorkUniversity
ac1765@ssw.rutgers.edu
LORRAINE Y. HOWARD,
PhD, LCSW, LCADC
Dissertation:Thedevelopmentand validationofaninstrumentmeasuring clinicianculturalhumility
STATEMENT
LorraineYHoward,PhD,LCSW,LCADCearnedherdoctorateinSocialWorkfromRutgersUniversitySchoolof SocialWorkinMay2025,whereshealsocompletedherBachelorofArtsandMasterofSocialWorkdegreesShe bringsalmost30yearsofextensiveadministrativeandclinicalexperienceinsocialworkandaddictionsacross diversesettings,includingcommunitycorrections,hospitals,andbothinpatientandoutpatientsubstanceuse programs
Hercareerhasbeenshapedbyadeepinterestintheintersectionofpracticeandresearch,particularlyin understandinghowtraumaimpactsadolescentandyoungadultwell-being,substanceuse,andhow culturallyresponsivesocialworkpracticescanimproveoutcomesforminoritizedyouth.
Dr.Howard’sdissertationcenteredonthedevelopmentandvalidationofaclinician-centeredmeasureof culturalhumility,advancingresearchontherapeuticrelationships,culturalresponsiveness,andtreatment outcomesHerongoingresearchincludesexaminingthevalidityofthescaleacrossdiversepopulationsand contexts,aswellasstudyingracism-basedtraumaticstresssymptomsamongyouthShehascollaborated acrossdisciplines,includingherworkwiththeMentalHealthEquityLabatTheNewSchoolinNewYorkCity(now NewYorkUniversity),andservesasaFacultyAffiliatewiththeCenterforPreventionScienceatRutgersUniversity
Inadditiontoresearch,DrHowardhasmorethanadecadeofteachingexperienceatbothundergraduateand graduatelevels,instructinginfoundationalsocialwork,clinicalpractice,andaddictionsthroughtraditional, hybrid,intensiveweekend,andonline(synchronousandasynchronous)formats.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
EDUCATION
Lauren Manley MSW, MS PhD CANDIDATE
Dissertation:Amulti-methodsexploratory studyexaminingthelivedexperiencesof womenstudentveteranswithmilitarysexual trauma.
STATEMENT
LaurenManleyisaPhDcandidateattheRutgersSchoolofSocialWork LaurenservedintheTexasArmy NationalGuardandtheUS Army Hermilitaryservice,andparticularlyherworkasanArmysexualassault victimadvocate,motivatedhertopursueacareerinsocialwork Sheiscurrentlycompletingherdissertation,A multi-methodsexploratorystudyexaminingthelivedexperiencesofwomenstudentveteranswithmilitary sexualtrauma Thisstudyintegratesdatafromsurveyswithembeddedvalidatedscales,interviews,and salivarystressbiomarkerstoholisticallyexamineparticipants'livedexperiences,serviceneeds,stress,and coping
Inadditiontoherdissertationwork,Laurenconductsresearchonmaternalmorbidityandworkplace mistreatment.Sheservedastheleaddataanalystonaprojectthatusedmachinelearningtechniquesto predictmaternalmorbidityusingpre-pregnancymedicalclaimsandsocialdeterminantdata;thisprojectwon secondplaceintheNIHMaternalHealthChallengein2024.Herresearchhasbeenpublishedinjournals focusedonhealthcare,sociology,andviolence.LaurenhastaughtsociologycoursesattheNewJersey InstituteofTechnologyandintheBASWprogramatRutgersUniversity.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Theimpactsofsexualviolenceon stress,health,andcoping
Theimpactsofidentitytransitionson stress,health,andcoping
Workplacemistreatment
Maternalmorbidity
EDUCATION
MasterofSocialWork
RutgersUniversity
MSinMedicalMicrobiologyand CellScience UniversityofFlorida
BSinGenetics
TexasA&MUniversityGermanic Studies
Lena Moraa Obara, PhD, MS
Dissertation:ExploringCopingStrategiesand SupportSystemsForGender-BasedViolence AmongUrbanRefugeeWomeninNairobi, Kenya:InsightsAcrossThreeMigrationPhases
STATEMENT
LenaMoraaObaraearnedherPh.D.inSocialWorkfromRutgersUniversityin2025andiscurrentlyapostdoctoralassociateat ColumbiaUniversity Broadly,Lena’sresearchexplorestheintersectionsofgender-basedviolence(GBV),environmental stressors,andsocialvulnerabilitiesamongrefugeeandmarginalizedwomen Herdissertation,Exploringcopingstrategies andsupportsystemsforgender-basedviolenceamongurbanrefugeewomeninNairobi,Kenya:Insightsacrossthree migrationphases,incorporatesperspectivesfrombothsurvivorsofGBVandserviceproviderstohighlightstrategiesacross threecriticalstagesofmigration.
Lena’songoingresearchexploreshowenvironmentalstressors,especiallyextremeweatherevents,interactwithstructural inequalitiestoincreasetherisksofviolenceandadverselyimpactthehealthandwell-beingofrefugeewomeninurban informalsettlementsandrefugeecampsettings.Herlong-termgoalistocreateandassesscommunity-ledinterventions thatincorporateenvironmentalandstructuralfactorsintoGBVpreventionandmentalhealthservices Beyondherdissertation work,Lenahaspublishedontheconnectionsbetweeninterpersonalviolence,mentalhealth,well-being,andthe environment,mainlyfocusingonwomenininformalsettingsandvulnerableyouth.Herworkhasappearedinleadingjournals acrossviolencestudies,environmentalscience,health,andpsychology
Lenaisalsoanexperiencededucatorandmentor,dedicatedtointegratingresearch,teaching,andcommunityinvolvementto informevidence-basedpracticeandpolicy.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Gender-basedviolence(GBV)and survivor-centeredinterventions
Structuralandenvironmental determinantsofhealthandviolence riskininformalsettings
Forceddisplacementandresiliencein refugeeandinformalurbancontexts
Policyintegrationofclimatechange adaptationandGBVprevention
EDUCATION
MasterofSocialWork
RutgersUniversity
MasterofSociology
UniversityofNairobi
BSinIndustrialandOrganizational Psychology
MakerereUniversity
ADDAM REYNOLDS, PhD, MSW
Dissertation:Theroleofsocialcontexts inassociationsbetweenearlylife circumstancesandcognitiveaging:A worktowardsagingequity
AddamiscurrentlyapostdoctoralscholaroftheUniversityofSouthernCaliforniaLeonardDavisSchoolof Gerontology AddamgraduatedwithhisPhDinsocialworkfromRutgersUniversity Broadly,Addamisasocial gerontologistwhosescholarshipexaminestheroleofexposurestoinequalitiesthroughoutthelifecourse anditsimplicationstohealthinolderadulthood Morespecifically,Addam’sworkhasdemonstratedthat largersocialstructures,suchasracismandeconomicstratification,underlieassociationsbetweenearlylife circumstancesandcognitiveagingintheUnitedStates.Currently,Addamisworkingonprojectsthatinclude examininghowbiologicalagingisacceleratedamongthosethatreceivenursinghomeorhomehealthcare, ifadultchildren’seducationalattainmentisassociatedwithownbiologicalandepigeneticaging,andif sexualandgenderminoritieshaveelevatedriskfactorsforcognitiveimpairment.
Addam’sdissertationwasentitled,Theroleofsocialcontextsinassociationsbetweenearlylifecircumstances andcognitiveaging:Aworktowardsagingequity.Briefly,hisdissertationexploredtheroleofsocial stratificationinunderlyingassociationsbetweenrisk/protectivefactorsandcognitiveaging.Addam’s dissertationdemonstratedthattheroleofearlylifecontextsincognitiveagingisconditionalonmultiplesocial positions.InadditiontoAddam’sdissertationexperience,Addamhaspublishedatotalof13manuscripts,sixof whichhavebeenfirstauthored,andhaveappearedinhighimpactgerontologyjournalssuchasInnovationin AgingandtheJournalsofGerontologySeriesB:PsychologicalandSocialSciences Addamisapassionateand experiencededucator,havingtaughtthelaboratorysectionoftheadvancedstatisticssequenceinthePhD programandresearchmethodsintheMSWprogramatRutgersUniversity
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Yuhan Wei, MSW PhD CANDIDATE
Dissertation:DisparitiesinPostsecondary EducationEnrollmentamongRacial/Ethnic MinorityAdolescentsintheU.S
STATEMENT
YuhanWeiisaPhDcandidateintheRutgersSchoolofSocialWork.ShecompletedherBAinSocial WorkatJilinUniversity,China,andthenstudiedatPekingUniversityforherMSWdegree.Broadly, Yuhan’sscholarshipfocusesonadolescentdevelopment,withaspecialfocusonracially/ethnically diverseadolescents.Morespecifically,Yuhanfocusesonhowindividual-,family-,and community-levelcontextualcharacteristicsaffectadolescents’educationalattainment, behavioralhealth,andwell-being.Inherresearchshehasexploredhowsubstancemisuseaffects adolescents’highereducationgoals,andhowfactorsinadolescents’familiesandcommunitiescan offerprotection
Yuhan’sdissertationistitled,DisparitiesinPostsecondaryEducationEnrollmentamongRacial/Ethnic MinorityAdolescentsintheUS Inthisquantitativestudy,sheusesacomprehensiveframeworkto explorehowindividual-,family-,andschool-levelfactorsimpactadolescents’collegeenrollment choices.Yuhanhasalsopublishedresearchaboutthevalidationofscalesforracially/ethnically diverseadolescents,aswellasaboutinterventionsforadolescents’mentalhealth.Yuhanhas taughtProgramEvaluationintheRutgersMSWprogram.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Educationalattainment disparitiesamongracial/ethnic adolescents
Protectivefactorsforminority adolescents’behavioralhealth Measurementcreationand validationforminoritygroups
MELANIE YU, PhD, MSW
Dissertation:Refugeereciprocityasacritical apparatusforreimaginingresettlement work:Aqualitativeexaminationofrefugee reciprocityandsolidarity
STATEMENT
MelanieYureceivedherPhDfromRutgersUniversitySchoolofSocialWorkprograminOctober2025 Throughoutherdoctoral studies,sheservedasthefull-timedirectorofanintensivecasemanagementprogramforrefugees Herdirectservice experience,asbothacasemanageranddirectorforanintensivecasemanagementprogram,deeplyinformedherscholarly trajectoryandplayedacriticalroleinshapingthefocusanddevelopmentofherdissertationresearchandacademicportfolio Inthiscapacity,shealsosupervisedothersocialworkstudentscompletingtheirfieldworkrequirements
Utilizingartifactelicitationandinterviewswithrefugeesandrefugee-servingstaffmembers,Melemployedaconstructivist groundedtheoryapproachtoexploreandunderstandtheconceptofreciprocity(givingandreceivinghelp)withinarefugee community Herdissertation,entitledRefugeeReciprocityasaCriticalApparatusforReimaginingResettlementWork:A QualitativeExaminationofRefugeeReciprocityandSolidaritygeneratedaworkingmid-rangetheorythatillustrateshow reciprocityfunctionsandmanifestsindifferentrefugeecontexts Todate,shehaspublishedsevenpeer-reviewedarticles, includingoneasfirstauthor.Inadditiontoherresearch,sheservesasanadjunctinstructorintheRutgersUniversitySchoolof SocialWorkmaster’sprogramwhereshehastaughtDiversityandOppressionandSocialWorkwithRefugeesandImmigrants Shecontinuestoworkdirectlywithrefugeeandimmigrantcommunitiesthroughherongoingroleasdirectorandcase managerofanintensivecasemanagementprogramandbydevelopinghealtheducationprogrammingforrefugeeand immigrantcommunities.
RESEARCH INTERESTS EDUCATION
Refugeeandimmigrationpolicy
Reciprocity,socialsupport,and mutualaid
Refugeepeerservices
Qualitativeresearchmethods
MasterofSocialWork
RutgersUniversity
MasterofArts,Psychologyin Education
TeachersCollege,Columbia University
BA,Psychology
RutgersUniversity
