Samira Amirazizi, Emily Edelman, María Jiménez Muñoz, and Amaranta Ramirez of the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology (CCSP) are the 2023-24 recipients of the Ray E. Hosford Memorial Research Fellowship. Established in memory of former Professor of Education Ray E. Hosford by his surviving wife, Phyllis Hosford, and former students and friends, this merit-based fund supports CCSP doctoral students, preferably those whose research relates to Social Learning Theory.
Samira Amirazizi is a doctoral candidate in School Psychology working with Dr. Erin Dowdy. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Chapman University. Before coming to UCSB, Samira worked for the Children's Bureau’s school readiness program, where she conducted positive parenting interventions, developmental screenings, and case management services. Her research interests broadly focus on early identification of mental health struggles through screenings, as well as intervention, and prevention services for youth and families. Samira has specific interests in the intergenerational mechanisms of trauma from caregivers to children and mitigating their adverse effects. Her work centers on early childhood mental health, culturally informed parent interventions, and trauma-informed school practices.
Emily Edelman is a doctoral student in School Psychology working under Dr. Matthew Quirk. Emily received her B.A. in Psychology with a Health and Development emphasis and an Education minor from Stanford University in 2017. During college, she worked on early math learning interventions with preschool and kindergarten students. After graduating, Emily helped children with behavioral and emotional regulation difficulties at a therapeutic day school re-engage in learning and develop the positive behaviors necessary to transition back to a more traditional school setting. Her research interests include evidence-based prevention and early intervention practices to positively impact children’s developmental trajectories. She is especially interested in the ways in which school-based interventions can support students’ academic and social-emotional development as well as parents’ engagement in their children’s learning.
María Jiménez Muñoz is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology working with Dr. Ty Vernon. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Miami in 2016 and a M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Miami in 2017. Her research interests include the design and dissemination of early parent training interventions for families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She is also interested in understanding how to improve treatment access, engagement and outcomes for culturally diverse and under-served families of children with ASD.
Amaranta Ramirez is a doctoral student in the Counseling emphasis of CCSP working with Dr. Alison Cerezo. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California Dominguez Hills and obtained her Masters in Counseling during her second year in CCSP. Presently, Amaranta is a APA Minority Fellow. Her research interests center on social media use among LGBTQ teens and young adults and focus on improving mental health through virtual connectedness and community. She also conducts research on the impacts of alcohol on sexual minority women.
