Meet the Undergraduate Students
Alyssa Van Tine
Research assistant, She/her/hers
My name is Alyssa Van Tine, and I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and Theatre. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, visiting local coffee shops, cooking, and finding new ways to make art. I am interested in exploring parenting styles within marginalized communities to explore how the interaction of multiple identities affects family dynamics. I am passionate about contributing to research that highlights marginalized populations to increase our understanding of underrepresented cultures and communities. I strongly believe in the importance of inclusivity within psychology to create opportunities for equitable mental health resources. I am excited to be a part of a collective that focuses on intersectionality to uplift and advocate for LGBTQ and POCI individuals.
Dejah Staton
research assistant, She/Her/Hers
Hi! My name is Dejah and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am in my senior year of undergrad at the University of Florida, majoring in Psychology and Sociology. I’m a first-generation McNair Scholar, and after this year I plan to attend a graduate Ph.D program in Counseling Psychology. The collective nature of this lab is something I am honored to be a part of; I feel it is important to uplift one another through understanding and healing, and that is exactly what Chévere represents. My research interests revolve around LGBTQ+ social psychology, particularly how queer relationships (romantic and otherwise) are structured and maintained. I hope to help contribute to the support systems and meaningful interactions that foster collective well-being in my community. When I’m not doing research, I’m usually playing video games, cooking with my partner, or engaging in LGBTQ+ outreach.
Ifeoma Akwue
research assistant, she/her/hers
Hello! My name is Ifeoma Akwue, I am a senior majoring in Psychology with an emphasis on Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience. My minors are in English and Family, Youth, & Community Sciences. I am Nigerian-American, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. My goal in the future is to go to graduate school and eventually obtain a Ph. D in Clinical Psychology. For fun, I love to read novels, journal, communicate with friends, and exercise in the sun. I am excited to be a part of the Chévere lab because I am interested with working with and uplifting underrepresented people in any capacity that I am able to. I hope to use my experience to foster healing in people’s lives. To me, collective healing means creating an environment that does not shy away from difficult subjects. This also involves supporting and embracing the members of the community as they are, while addressing and tackling issues that can lead the group towards a better future.
Sabrina Agic
research assistant, She/Her/Hers
Hi! My name is Sabrina Agic and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am a senior at the University of Florida. I am studying psychology, specifically Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience on the Pre-PA track. I am honored to be part of Chévere lab and become involved in the community. My interest in social justice is being involved in research and activism. I am interested in spreading awareness and helping others. When I hear collective healing, I hear people coming together and building peace. Reducing injustice and increasing care for others. Collective healing is pulling people out of difficult situations and healing them with beneficial resources, like providing a support system.
Dante Chinney
research assistant, he/him/his
Hi! My name is Dante Chinnery, I am a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Dance. My pronouns are he/him. I love to dance, listen to music, play my flute, watch anime, and just hang out with friends. My goal is to go to graduate school and get a Ph.D in Counseling Psychology. I'm very excited to be a part of the Chévere lab because I love to learn about people and their experiences. It doesn't matter what community they are part of, I just want to get know them as their true and authentic self and get to see them feel safe while doing so. To me, collective healing means that people from different communities work together to work through trauma, build each other up, and support each other in times of need.
Isabelle Gouverner
Research Assistant, she/her/hers
I am a Psychology and Business Administration dual degree major about to graduate in Spring 2023. I have a passion for psychology and research, and am currently completing my Senior Thesis before graduation, and am applying to Psychology PhD Programs in the fall. My hobbies include dancing, cooking, going to the beach, and traveling.
Ashley Johnson
research assistant, She/Her/Hers
Hello! My name is Ashley and I’m a third-year student at UF studying Psychology on the Behavior Analysis track and Sociology. I’m also a student analyst who conducts ABA therapy with children with ASD. I’m passionate about mental health and wellness in marginalized communities, and I’m particularly interested in uplifting LGBTQ+, Autistic, and racial/ethnic minority populations. I hope to study and advocate for therapeutic interventions that are intersectional, identity-affirming, strengths-based, and person-centered. I also enjoy reading fantasy books, painting, watching movies, and spending time with my partner, Max, and my friends and family. I’m so excited to join the ¡Chévere! Lab Collective and help promote joy and healing in marginalized communities. Collective healing, to me, means empowering one another in a community and fostering a safe, accepting space for overcoming challenges and celebrating identities.
Reema Patel
research assistant, she/her/hers
Hi everyone! My name is Reema and I am a third year student majoring in Psychology and Family, Youth and Community Sciences. My pronouns are they/them/theirs or she/her hers. In my free time, I absolutely love to cook and try new recipes, read, go birdwatching, or explore Gainesville’s coffee shops. My research interests include the benefits of trauma-informed care, as well as the relationships between social inequity and mental well-being in queer communities of color. To me, collective healing means creating supportive, self-reliant communities where everyone is cared for and has access to the resources they need. I am hoping to pursue higher education in Counseling Psychology and work to implement methods of healing from trauma. I am excited to be a part of the ¡Chevere! Lab because I hope to see the cycles of intergenerational trauma that is prevalent in many marginalized communities ended.
Jared Craig
Research Assistant, He/Him/His
Hello! My name is Jared Craig (He/Him/His). I identify as a gay cisgender male. I am a sophomore majoring in public health with an emphasis on health disparities and medical anthropology. My interest in social determinants of health and health inequalities stems from political activism and research interest in the field of health interventions, especially of those aiming to help LGBTQ+ youth. I plan to pursue a medical degree and a master’s in public health after obtaining my bachelor's degree. In my free time, I enjoy reading memoirs, hiking, and reading the news. I am looking forward to being a part of the Chévere Lab to promote meaningful research in understanding and helping marginalized communities. To me, collective healing is bridging the gap between what is right and what is hard, thinking outside the box to solve society and community issues with the help of community participants, researchers, government officials, and stakeholders alike.