Four students given 2019-20 Ray E. Hosford Memorial Research Awards

Alissa A. Der Sarkissian, Adriana Sánchez, Ginnette Sims, and Ida Taghavi of the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School received 2019-20 Ray E. Hosford Memorial Research Awards. This memorial fund was established in memory of former Education Professor, Ray E. Hosford by his surviving wife, Phyllis Hosford, former students, and friends. The awards support qualified graduate students within GGSE’s Department of Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology, preferably going to those pursuing research in Social Learning Theory.

Der Sarkissian is a School Psychology doctoral student working with Dr. Jill Sharkey. She received her bachelor’s in Psychology from UCLA, where she gained experience in different labs that studied the effects of racial disparities, sexual violence, and early life stress. After graduating, she worked as the project coordinator for a longitudinal study at USC that assesses the neuropsychological effect of an intensive music training intervention for children from a low socioeconomic community. Her research interests include risk and resiliency factors that contribute to mental health issues and potential interventions within the foster system, juvenile justice programs, and schools.

Sánchez is a Counseling Psychology doctoral student working with Dr. Melissa L. Morgan-Consoli. She received both her bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Applied Psychology and her master’s in Counseling Psychology from UCSB. Her research interests include educational attainment and persistence, resilience, and thriving in underrepresented and under-served populations, with an emphasis in Latinx populations.

Sims is a 5th year doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology working with Dr. Maryam Kia-Keating. She completed her undergraduate degree in anthropology at Williams College and received her master’s in counseling psychology at UCSB. Her research interests examine the socio political and cultural influencers of trauma symptomology in marginalized populations. Her project funded by the Hosford Memorial Award examines the psychological impact of watching media containing police violence against African-Americans on African-Americans and other populations.

Taghavi is a doctoral student in clinical psychology working with Dr. Maryam Kia-Keating. Her research and clinical interests encompass trauma and resilience and the use of community-based participatory research. As a student and teacher of yoga, she is also particularly interested in the role of mindfulness in promoting resilience and well-being for vulnerable, trauma-exposed populations.