STAR Lab Members
About B. Michelle Beekman:
Michelle is a full-time graduate student and mother of four biological and two step-children. She earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology at the University of South Florida in 2016 and in 2017 was accepted to the University of Florida’s Behavioral and Community Sciences PhD Program. She is also an instructor of record at USF, teaching the course Behavioral Health and The Family.
Michelle’s current research areas of interest revolve around the reduction of various forms of stigma that surround individuals with mental illness(es) through contact-based strategies. More specifically, This Is My Brave (thisismybrave.org) is a powerful contact-based stigma reduction program that works to reduce various forms of stigma through storytelling by individuals with lived experience. Through her research, she hopes to contribute to a shift in the current adverse culture that surrounds mental illness to become a more accepting and empathetic culture where those with mental illness(es) feel welcomed rather than ostracized or discriminated against. Michelle also hopes that her work will positively influence the stigma that surrounds behavioral, emotional, and physical disabilities.
Current Projects:
Michelle is a full-time graduate student and mother of four biological and two step-children. She earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology at the University of South Florida in 2016 and in 2017 was accepted to the University of Florida’s Behavioral and Community Sciences PhD Program. She is also an instructor of record at USF, teaching the course Behavioral Health and The Family.
Michelle’s current research areas of interest revolve around the reduction of various forms of stigma that surround individuals with mental illness(es) through contact-based strategies. More specifically, This Is My Brave (thisismybrave.org) is a powerful contact-based stigma reduction program that works to reduce various forms of stigma through storytelling by individuals with lived experience. Through her research, she hopes to contribute to a shift in the current adverse culture that surrounds mental illness to become a more accepting and empathetic culture where those with mental illness(es) feel welcomed rather than ostracized or discriminated against. Michelle also hopes that her work will positively influence the stigma that surrounds behavioral, emotional, and physical disabilities.
Current Projects:
- Examining the impact of This Is My Brave performances on self-stigma, empowerment, recovery, and treatment-seeking on college-aged cast members who tell their stories.
- Examining the impact of watching a live This Is My Brave performance on various forms of stigma in audience members which include multiple populations (college, adult, parent/caregiver, adolescent).
- A random controlled trial examining the impact of watching a This Is My Brave Documentary on stigma among service provider employees.
- A quasi-experimental study examining the impact of watching a live This Is My Brave performance on stigma, empowerment, recovery and help-seeking behaviors in high school audience members and high school-aged cast members who tell their stories.
B. Michelle Beekman CV | |
File Size: | 77 kb |
File Type: | docx |
About Jenny Vojtech:
Jenny earned her Bachelor’s in Neuroscience and Psychology at Smith College in 2009 and then received a Master’s in Community Agency Counseling at George Mason University in 2018. Through her experiences and education within the counseling field, she developed a passion for social justice and a pursuit for policy change. Jenny had a desire to continue her education and make a difference as an advocate and leader within the mental health field. Jenny was accepted into the doctoral program of Mental Health Law and Policy at the University of South Florida in 2019. Jenny is a full-time graduate student and a Graduate Student Success fellow.
Jenny’s current research interests include stigma (stigma resistance and self-stigma) within the LGBTQ+ community. Through her research, she hopes to contribute to policy changes and combat stigma affecting marginalized individuals and communities as well as empower those individuals and communities to advocate for themselves as well.
Jenny earned her Bachelor’s in Neuroscience and Psychology at Smith College in 2009 and then received a Master’s in Community Agency Counseling at George Mason University in 2018. Through her experiences and education within the counseling field, she developed a passion for social justice and a pursuit for policy change. Jenny had a desire to continue her education and make a difference as an advocate and leader within the mental health field. Jenny was accepted into the doctoral program of Mental Health Law and Policy at the University of South Florida in 2019. Jenny is a full-time graduate student and a Graduate Student Success fellow.
Jenny’s current research interests include stigma (stigma resistance and self-stigma) within the LGBTQ+ community. Through her research, she hopes to contribute to policy changes and combat stigma affecting marginalized individuals and communities as well as empower those individuals and communities to advocate for themselves as well.
Jenny Vojtech CV | |
File Size: | 126 kb |
File Type: |
About Kathryn Rose:
Kathryn in an undergraduate student at the University of South Florida studying Biomedical Sciences. Through her undergraduate experience as a premedical student, she recognized the unique mental health challenges facing premedical students as well as healthcare professionals in general. Kathryn is in her final semester of undergraduate education and plans on pursuing an MD/PhD with a research focus on stigma and mental illness in medical professionals. She hopes to one day help create and facilitate programs that focus on mental health and wellbeing in medical students.
Kathryn’s current project surrounds premedical student mental health. Her project focuses on elucidating the differences between the premedical and non-premedical student’s experience of depression, anxiety, academic stress, and stigma. Through this manuscript, she hopes to spread awareness on the stressors faced by premedical students. Her future research goals are centered on interventions for premedical and medical students that focus on suicide prevention and stigma reduction.
Kathryn in an undergraduate student at the University of South Florida studying Biomedical Sciences. Through her undergraduate experience as a premedical student, she recognized the unique mental health challenges facing premedical students as well as healthcare professionals in general. Kathryn is in her final semester of undergraduate education and plans on pursuing an MD/PhD with a research focus on stigma and mental illness in medical professionals. She hopes to one day help create and facilitate programs that focus on mental health and wellbeing in medical students.
Kathryn’s current project surrounds premedical student mental health. Her project focuses on elucidating the differences between the premedical and non-premedical student’s experience of depression, anxiety, academic stress, and stigma. Through this manuscript, she hopes to spread awareness on the stressors faced by premedical students. Her future research goals are centered on interventions for premedical and medical students that focus on suicide prevention and stigma reduction.
kathryn_rose_cv_research.pdf | |
File Size: | 147 kb |
File Type: |
Past Students
About Sofia Ortiz:
Sofia was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She is an Undergraduate student at the University of South Florida studying Behavioral Healthcare with a concentration in children’s mental health. Growing up in Florida she realized that the resources, funding, and education in mental health were, unfortunately, not as abundant as they should. This fueled her interest in pursuing a career in the behavioral health field. As she began her undergraduate studies she learned the importance of early intervention and this blossomed into a passion of working with children and adolescents.
Sofia has volunteered at a local high school dedicated to working with students with mental and learning disabilities. This experience only further solidified her love for working with children and teens. She plans to dedicate her future career to making sure this population receives the proper care needed in order to ensure them a happy and healthy lifestyle. She believes by implementing the appropriate education and resources in our state’s school system we can help prevent stigma and other behavioral health challenges that may arise in the future.
Sofia is looking forward to working alongside other research lab members and under the mentorship of Dr. Kristin Kosyluk in an effort to attempt to erase the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Sofia was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She is an Undergraduate student at the University of South Florida studying Behavioral Healthcare with a concentration in children’s mental health. Growing up in Florida she realized that the resources, funding, and education in mental health were, unfortunately, not as abundant as they should. This fueled her interest in pursuing a career in the behavioral health field. As she began her undergraduate studies she learned the importance of early intervention and this blossomed into a passion of working with children and adolescents.
Sofia has volunteered at a local high school dedicated to working with students with mental and learning disabilities. This experience only further solidified her love for working with children and teens. She plans to dedicate her future career to making sure this population receives the proper care needed in order to ensure them a happy and healthy lifestyle. She believes by implementing the appropriate education and resources in our state’s school system we can help prevent stigma and other behavioral health challenges that may arise in the future.
Sofia is looking forward to working alongside other research lab members and under the mentorship of Dr. Kristin Kosyluk in an effort to attempt to erase the stigma surrounding mental illness.
About Austen Park:
Austen recently graduated from USF with a B.A in Psychology and plans to pursue a career as a mental health professional. Austen wants to work with transition age youth populations within academic environments and focus on developing a prevention program for schools to utilize in the classroom. Austen passionate about establishing prevention and intervention methods inside school systems in an effort to reduce mental health problems for this age group. He believes that providing young individuals with psychoeducation will bring a better awareness about behavioral health conditions and the stigma for seeking help for mental illness in schools will be drastically reduced.
Austen recently graduated from USF with a B.A in Psychology and plans to pursue a career as a mental health professional. Austen wants to work with transition age youth populations within academic environments and focus on developing a prevention program for schools to utilize in the classroom. Austen passionate about establishing prevention and intervention methods inside school systems in an effort to reduce mental health problems for this age group. He believes that providing young individuals with psychoeducation will bring a better awareness about behavioral health conditions and the stigma for seeking help for mental illness in schools will be drastically reduced.
About Donald (Don) Andrus:
I am a Retired Army Veteran with 26 years of faithful and honorable service. I am currently a Graduate Student and Research Assistant at the University of Texas at El Paso, in the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program.
What brought me to the field of rehabilitation counseling was the opportunity to work with disabled veterans as a Veterans Affairs (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Moreover, to help Veterans with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, job seeking skills coaching, and independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment.
My current research areas of interest include: Psychiatric, stigma (self / public); treatment engagement, reduction & intervention; advocacy. Again, I want to help people with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities live independently and to help clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment.
I hope that the experience I gain from working in Dr. Kosyluk’s research lab, combined with my academic training, practicum, internship and community service initiatives will help prepare me for my future as a rehabilitation counselor, educator and researcher.
Projects:
1. A Randomized Controlled Trial of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Peer-to-Peer Program on the U.S.-Mexico Border
2. Honest Open Proud to Reduce the Self-Stigma of Mental Illness in the College Population
I am a Retired Army Veteran with 26 years of faithful and honorable service. I am currently a Graduate Student and Research Assistant at the University of Texas at El Paso, in the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program.
What brought me to the field of rehabilitation counseling was the opportunity to work with disabled veterans as a Veterans Affairs (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Moreover, to help Veterans with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, job seeking skills coaching, and independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment.
My current research areas of interest include: Psychiatric, stigma (self / public); treatment engagement, reduction & intervention; advocacy. Again, I want to help people with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities live independently and to help clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment.
I hope that the experience I gain from working in Dr. Kosyluk’s research lab, combined with my academic training, practicum, internship and community service initiatives will help prepare me for my future as a rehabilitation counselor, educator and researcher.
Projects:
1. A Randomized Controlled Trial of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Peer-to-Peer Program on the U.S.-Mexico Border
2. Honest Open Proud to Reduce the Self-Stigma of Mental Illness in the College Population
About Diana Rivera Macias:
The main reason why I wanted to be part the Rehabilitation Counseling program is because I want to change peoples’ lives. I believe in opportunity and second chances. For this reason, I want to give individuals with disabilities the possibility to achieve their life goals. After going through a difficult episode of my life gave me the passion to help others and be sensitive. I believe that we all need a little push sometimes, and that we all have different abilities. For this reason, I would like to well prepare myself in the field of Rehabilitation Counseling, to be able to serve my community in all I am capable of.
Some of the ongoing projects that I have taken the lead on in Dr. Kosyluk’s Research lab are:
-A Randomized Controlled Trial of This Is My Brave, a theatrical contact-based anti-stigma program.
-A Pilot Study of Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy with a Hispanic/Latino Population
-A project examining the problem of Assistive Technology Access in the Paso del Norte Region using Positive Deviance and Human Centered Design methodologies.
-A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Honest Open Proud to Eliminate the Stigma of Mental Illness Among College Students
I can say that I learn something different each day working with my lab colleagues, which makes me really glad I can be part of this research team. Most of the projects we are working on in Dr. Kosyluk’s research lab are related to stigma and mental illness. Nowadays stigma plays a huge role when it comes to individuals asking for help. My goal is to overcome this obstacle and provide my services as a Rehabilitation Counselor in the future. Finally, part of my plans is to pursue my Ph.D. in the future, and I feel I couldn’t be in a better place, learning from all of the work that we are doing in Dr. Kosyluk’s research lab.
The main reason why I wanted to be part the Rehabilitation Counseling program is because I want to change peoples’ lives. I believe in opportunity and second chances. For this reason, I want to give individuals with disabilities the possibility to achieve their life goals. After going through a difficult episode of my life gave me the passion to help others and be sensitive. I believe that we all need a little push sometimes, and that we all have different abilities. For this reason, I would like to well prepare myself in the field of Rehabilitation Counseling, to be able to serve my community in all I am capable of.
Some of the ongoing projects that I have taken the lead on in Dr. Kosyluk’s Research lab are:
-A Randomized Controlled Trial of This Is My Brave, a theatrical contact-based anti-stigma program.
-A Pilot Study of Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy with a Hispanic/Latino Population
-A project examining the problem of Assistive Technology Access in the Paso del Norte Region using Positive Deviance and Human Centered Design methodologies.
-A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Honest Open Proud to Eliminate the Stigma of Mental Illness Among College Students
I can say that I learn something different each day working with my lab colleagues, which makes me really glad I can be part of this research team. Most of the projects we are working on in Dr. Kosyluk’s research lab are related to stigma and mental illness. Nowadays stigma plays a huge role when it comes to individuals asking for help. My goal is to overcome this obstacle and provide my services as a Rehabilitation Counselor in the future. Finally, part of my plans is to pursue my Ph.D. in the future, and I feel I couldn’t be in a better place, learning from all of the work that we are doing in Dr. Kosyluk’s research lab.
About Nathaniel (Nate) Chaney:
I am a proud member of the El Paso Del Norte Community. Although I was born and raised in the great state of Connecticut, after 11 years in the US Army I decided to make El Paso my home. I consider myself the product of rehabilitation; I spent over 10 years in denial regarding my own mental health conditions. Thanks to the commitment of vocational rehabilitation counselors and mental health counselors I have been able to live above the internal self-stigma, that plagued my life for years. I decided to apply to the Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling Program because I felt it would give me the knowledge, experience, support, and the competence to be a professional to help Veterans/Active Duty Service Members in need of the same services that helped me.
My areas of interest are vocational rehabilitation, reduction of stigma related to mental illness, positive deviance, advocacy for children and veterans with disabilities, and assisting homeless citizens to recover from their largest “disability”- Homelessness.
I grew up in one of the poorest communities as a child. With that came the violence, fear, trauma (witnessing metal and physical abuse), and the lack of access to resources that could build a vision of a better tomorrow. I’m humbled to be part of a research team committed to research aimed to remove the internal, and social barriers people face that stand in the way of their life goals.
I look forward to the learning experiences with Dr. Kosyluk’s and my lab partners. I know they, along with practicum, internship, community involvement, and academic training will prepare me to become a professional equipped to provide needed rehabilitation services. It is my goal to continue research with the Rehabilitation Counseling Program as a professional upon graduation.
Being a part of the Dr. Kosyluk’s lab first as a volunteer, now as a Research Assistant has opened my eyes to the work that goes into developing therapy aimed to help our citizens in the El Paso Del Norte community.
I am a proud member of the El Paso Del Norte Community. Although I was born and raised in the great state of Connecticut, after 11 years in the US Army I decided to make El Paso my home. I consider myself the product of rehabilitation; I spent over 10 years in denial regarding my own mental health conditions. Thanks to the commitment of vocational rehabilitation counselors and mental health counselors I have been able to live above the internal self-stigma, that plagued my life for years. I decided to apply to the Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling Program because I felt it would give me the knowledge, experience, support, and the competence to be a professional to help Veterans/Active Duty Service Members in need of the same services that helped me.
My areas of interest are vocational rehabilitation, reduction of stigma related to mental illness, positive deviance, advocacy for children and veterans with disabilities, and assisting homeless citizens to recover from their largest “disability”- Homelessness.
I grew up in one of the poorest communities as a child. With that came the violence, fear, trauma (witnessing metal and physical abuse), and the lack of access to resources that could build a vision of a better tomorrow. I’m humbled to be part of a research team committed to research aimed to remove the internal, and social barriers people face that stand in the way of their life goals.
I look forward to the learning experiences with Dr. Kosyluk’s and my lab partners. I know they, along with practicum, internship, community involvement, and academic training will prepare me to become a professional equipped to provide needed rehabilitation services. It is my goal to continue research with the Rehabilitation Counseling Program as a professional upon graduation.
Being a part of the Dr. Kosyluk’s lab first as a volunteer, now as a Research Assistant has opened my eyes to the work that goes into developing therapy aimed to help our citizens in the El Paso Del Norte community.
I am originally from Denver, CO. and have now lived in El Paso, TX since 2008. I am an Undergraduate student from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. The reason I am pursuing Social Work is due to my interests in bettering the lives of others, all while making an impact and change to their well-being. My main interest focuses on mental health and I hope to pursue a Master's Degree from UTEP, as well in furthering in my education to obtain a License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW).
In the past I have been engaged and dedicated in activities throughout the El Paso community in presenting hope and finding help for those who struggle with addiction and self-injury as a member of the organization 'To Write Love On Her Arms’. More so, I have focused on the goal of aiding active recovery individuals while reducing stigma associated with these individuals throughout the El Paso community by the means of the ‘Student Recovery Organization’. I have as well been engaged in promoting social change, empowerment, and well-being to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and the El Paso community through the membership in the Student Association of Social Work (SASW).
In addition, I will be undertaking Undergraduate Research as part of my scholarship through BUILDing SCHOLARS, under the mentorship of Dr. Kosyluk Ph.D., CRC and Diana Rivera Macias, Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Student, for the remaining two years of my Undergrad.
You can read more about BUILDing SCHOLARS here: http://buildingscholars.utep.edu/web
In the past I have been engaged and dedicated in activities throughout the El Paso community in presenting hope and finding help for those who struggle with addiction and self-injury as a member of the organization 'To Write Love On Her Arms’. More so, I have focused on the goal of aiding active recovery individuals while reducing stigma associated with these individuals throughout the El Paso community by the means of the ‘Student Recovery Organization’. I have as well been engaged in promoting social change, empowerment, and well-being to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and the El Paso community through the membership in the Student Association of Social Work (SASW).
In addition, I will be undertaking Undergraduate Research as part of my scholarship through BUILDing SCHOLARS, under the mentorship of Dr. Kosyluk Ph.D., CRC and Diana Rivera Macias, Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Student, for the remaining two years of my Undergrad.
You can read more about BUILDing SCHOLARS here: http://buildingscholars.utep.edu/web