Aldo Barrita

Student Affiliate, he/his/him

Aldo Barrita is a doctoral student affiliate from the Psychological and Brain Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research explores the psychological impact of racial, ethnic and sexual minority microaggression on marginalized individuals. Aldo enjoys traveling and going to the movies as his main hobbies. He believes collective healing means begin to heal both individually and with your community(ies) finding strength from our ancestors and empowering new generations to reclaim our herstory.

Manuel Teran

Student affiliate, he/his/him

Manny is a doctoral student affiliate from the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research interests are centered on the impacts of discrimination & stigma on psychosocial outcomes among Women and Queer/Trans People of Color. He believes collective healing means advocating and organizing for accessible models of mental healthcare while addressing social inequities and conditions that impact mental health. In his free time, Manny loves to visit new coffee shops and take photos of pretty sights.

Gabriella Escobar

Research Assistant, She/her/hers

Hello! My name is Gabriella Escobar, but most people know me as Gabby. My pronouns are she/her/hers, and I identify as a heterosexual Latina. I am a first-generation college student and graduated from the University of Florida in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Currently, I am a graduate student in the Master of Counseling Psychology program Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. Additionally, I am doing engaged in a year-long internship at UPMC Matilda Theiss Child Development Center, a Community and School-Based Mental Health program. My research interest lies in how collective healing can help individuals with mood disorders, specifically major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Personally, collective healing is about creating a support system for ourselves and others that encourages self-growth and resilience. When I am not engaged in research, I reading self-help books and playing Animal Crossing on the Nintendo Switch.

Tatiana Gorospe

research assistant, she/her/hers

Hello everyone! I’m Tati and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am a second-year graduate student on the Marriage and Family Counseling track. I joined ¡Chévere! Lab, because I would like to explore how different marginalized communities are affected daily by the intersectionality of their different identities. By learning about the experiences of others, I seek to spread understanding, empathy, and contribute to the collective healing of marginalized communities. To me, collective healing is about taking care of oneself to be able to utilize our own privileges and uplift others. 

Destiny Vincent

research assistant, she/her/hers

Hello! I am Destiny, pronouns she/her/hers, and I am a prospecting graduate student. I graduated from UF Spring 2022 with my B.S. in Psychology. I am currently taking a gap year in Atlanta and applying for Counseling Psychology graduate programs. My research interests include minority communities, adolescents/young adults, integrating arts such as music and visuals to aid in de-stigmatizing therapy, parents and overall psychological well-being. I believe therapy is for everyone and can be expanded to truly drive toward communities of color. Fun fact: My favorite color is purple, I have a cat named Lola and I own a jewelry business!