Mission Statement
We are a team of researchers and mental health providers from California State University, San Bernardino, University of Southern California, San Fernando Mental Health Center, and Olive View Hospital who want to better understand how to help individuals stay involved in mental health services.
Our Team
Maria Santos, PhD
Principal Investigator and Project Director
Director of the CSUSB PROMESA Lab
I was born in Los Angeles to Guatemalan-born parents. I was raised in the West Los Angeles and working-class West Adams neighborhoods. I attended Alexander Hamilton High School and subsequently earned a BA degree in Political Science from University of California, Los Angeles. As an undergraduate, I developed an interest in conducting research on mental illness, psychosocial treatment, and mental health services that considers the needs of underrepresented and underserved U.S. ethnic/racial minorities. I went on to complete graduate studies in clinical psychology at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). After earning my doctoral degree in 2016, I joined the Culture & Mental Health Lab in the Department of Psychology at University of Southern California (USC) as a postdoctoral scholar. I joined faculty in the Department of Psychology at CSUSB in 2018.
I enjoy spending time with my husband and our family and friends. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, eating delicious food, and listening to and learning from people’s stories.
Karla Lopez
Recruiter and Community Liasion
I graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a bachelor’s in psychology. Afterward, I worked in the social services field for several years, where I learned valuable skills relating to engaging culturally diverse individuals and navigating community resources. I had the honor of working with various populations; I have worked with first-time parents, children with an intellectual disability, dependent adults, and older adults. As a result, I have learned to provide a range of services to vulnerable people. Currently, I am a second-year student of the M.A. in Clinical Psychology program offered by California State University, Dominguez Hills. My goal is to one day become a clinician to help the Latinx population break down several barriers and stigmas that exist in this community surrounding mental health needs.
Program Coordinators
Clarissa Montalvo
I am currently a second year graduate student in the M.A Psychological Science program. My research interests include incorporating culture within the therapy session, destigmatizing mental health within the Latinx community, and exploring different aspects that impact women’s mental health. I hope to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology in the future and work with the populations listed above.
Melody Robinson
I am currently a second year graduate student in the M.A. Psychological Science program with plans to graduate Spring 2021 from CSUSB. My current goal is to seek acceptance to a Clinical Psychology PhD program with a focus in trauma exposure research. Currently, I am interested in intersectional trauma research, including historically marginalized groups’ access to preventative and treatment services for violence and assault, women’s experiences with sexual assault and their challenges coping, and examining variables like self-compassion, coping self-efficacy, and shame after sexual assault.
Maya Kratzer
I received a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and am currently a Lab Manager at Boston University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Before joining BU I worked with Dr. Santos in the Culture and Mental Health Lab at USC and have followed her work and research ever since. My interests include development and implementation of health interventions, and bridging psychological theory, research, and real-world practice to address disparities in healthcare and mental health services for underserved communities.
Collaborators
Steven Lopez, PhD
Steven R. Lopez, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology and Social Work at USC. He has a longstanding interest in improving mental health services in the US as well as in Mexico.
Alex Kopelowicz, MD
Alex Kopelowicz, M.D. is a Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences within UCLA’s School of Medicine. He is also Medical Director of San Fernando Mental Health Center and Chief of Psychiatry at the sister institution, Olive View Medical Center.
Dina Dutton, LCSW
Dina Dutton, LCSW is Head of Programming at the San Fernando Mental Health Center.
Joseph Ventura, PhD
Joseph Ventura, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Psychologist and faculty at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior in UCLA, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences. He also directs all training, quality assurance, development, standardization, and refinement of the Schizophrenia Treatment Research Center at UCLA.
