Fall 2021 – Spring 2022

Selah Mokatish (Date of service: 08/2021 – 08/2022 Research Assistant) is a fourth-year student at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) majoring in psychology and will be graduating in Spring 2022. Selah is a new research assistant at Dr. Kimberly Kelly’s Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) Lab through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). She has always been fascinated by how children process and navigate their environments and is especially interested in the impacts of early parent-child interactions on cognitive development. She is interested in engaging in various parts of the research process such as analyzing literature articles and data analyses. Selah also aims to build her time-management, communication, and organization skills through both collaborative and individual work. Outside of CLIaM Lab, Selah serves as the Student Advisory Board for a start-up digital mental health company, Neolth, that aims to provide affordable and accessible mental health care to students. She is also a certified QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper, certified Mental Health Advocate at CSULB, and volunteers for the Crisis Text Line. Upon graduation, she aims to immerse herself into various positions within the psychology field to apply her skills and knowledge to continue serving her community. Selah’s involvement in CLIaM Lab and passion for mental health advocacy makes her a great candidate to support underserved populations as a future pediatric neuropsychologist and researcher. During her free time, she enjoys reading Psychology Today articles and self-improvement books, playing basketball, and taking spontaneous road trips.

Christina Morales (Date of service: 08/2020 – 08/2022 Lab Coordinator, Research Assistant) is a third-year student at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She is studying English Literature and Political Science and plans to graduate in Spring 2022. This is her second year in Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) research lab and her first year as a lab coordinator. She learned about the position after taking Human Development 180 with Dr. Kimberly Kelly during the Fall 2019 semester. Christina’s interest in CLIaM lab stems from her fascination with language and how its smallest details have large impacts. Through her experience with CLIaM, she has increased her understanding of how to help students thrive in their learning environments both during their childhood and in higher education. She also gained skills in coding transcripts, working with software such as Microsoft Excel and SPSS, as well as both quantitative and qualitative data analysis. During the 2020-2021 academic year, Christina was a member of the first student Data Fellows research team and co-presented at the 2021 Data Fellows symposium. She also attended the 2021 Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) virtual conference. Last spring, she headed a research team tasked with creating a report for the College of Liberal Arts at CSULB and this year she hopes to continue to expand her leadership experience as a lab coordinator. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and become a civil rights attorney. She enjoys court-watching and studying the ways history and politics affect literary movements. In her free time, Christina enjoys reading, listening to music, and trying new coffee shops with her friends.  

Queena Hoang (Date of service: 09/2020 – 12/2021 Research Assistant) is a third-year student studying pre-nursing studies at the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). This is her second year serving as a research assistant in Dr. Kelly’s Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) Lab and her third year serving in CSULB’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) on campus. As an undergraduate research assistant, she has been analyzing articles and/or abstracts, transcribing verbal data, and collaborating with lab mates on various tasks at-hand such as populating data into charts on Excel, Word, and SPSS, parsing transcripts, and reading literature reviews. Queena’s interest in the child development field, specifically language development and parent-child interactions, stems from her four younger siblings: Prince, Lizzy, Will, and Alex whom she enjoys connecting with through their daily experiences and social environments. In addition to her role at CLIaM Lab, Queena has served as a member of the first-ever Student Data Fellows Team at CSULB where she co-presented a poster with her lab mates and faculty mentor for the 2021 Data Fellows Symposium. She has also co-authored and co-presented at the 2021 UROP Research Symposium with her UROP partner and lab mate as well as attended research conferences for journals like the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). In doing so, she has been able to achieve a level of undergraduate research and knowledge that has expanded her perspective on high-impact practices (HIPs), informal learning environments (ILEs), and child development. Going forward in CLIaM Lab, she would like to continue to engage in all aspects of the research process as well as gain leadership and communication skills. Upon graduating with her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN), she hopes to earn her Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) to become a pediatric nurse practitioner at a pediatric-focused hospital in the future. With this type of career, she hopes to utilize her specific skills and knowledge as well as share her unique experiences gained from CLIaM lab such as research, critical thinking, and data analysis to advocate for children and their families in a holistic, patient-centered, and evidence-based manner. When Queena is not working in CLIaM Lab, she enjoys listening to music, watching movies, television shows, K-dramas, or C-dramas on Netflix, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Grace Ocular (Date of service: 08/2015 – 12/2021 Lab Coordinator, Research Assistant) is lab coordinator and graduate research assistant at Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) research lab. Grace is a Sally Casanova PreDoctoral Scholar and a Graduate Research Fellowship recipient. She is in her second year of graduate studies in the Dual Language Development program at the College of Education at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Grace has been the longest serving research assistant at CLIaM lab, starting in Fall 2015. Throughout her assistantship, Grace has conducted and contributed to 13 research projects and four publications. One of these published works was an international collaboration with Dr. Carmiol and colleagues from Costa Rica. Grace is most interested in research that investigate the parent-child language and behavioral interaction within informal learning environment. For her master’s thesis, she will focus on investigating how multilingual families interact with informal science environment and the role of using more than one language to the science language content and meaning making processes between parent and child. Through her scholarship and fellowship, Grace will continue to work under Dr. Kelly’s mentorship to pursue projects on informal learning interactions, which will be presented at the Student Research Competition on campus in Spring 2021 and conferences. Grace serves as a planning team member of Data Fellows and a fellow in two High-Impact Practices team, one of which is through CLIaM lab. In these roles, she contributes to institutional research on campus that aims to positively impact student success within the university. After attaining her master’s degree, Grace plans to pursue a PhD in Developmental Psychology or Education where she hopes to continue collaborating with other scholars in the field of informal learning environment. When she has free time, Grace likes to visit the Los Angeles Arboretum, cook breakfast food, and take her cat, Kimchi, on walks.

Michelle Ybarra (Date of service: 08/2021 – 12/2021 Intern) is a fourth-year student studying Human Development at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). This is her first year as a research assistant in Dr. Kimberly Kelly’s Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) research lab. After taking Human Development 180 with Dr. Erylene Piper-Mandy, she got inspired by her professor’s lecture and wanted to learn more about child development. She is fascinated by this interdisciplinary field that touches on health, sociology, psychology, and language. Her interest in CLIaM research began after attending Dr.Kelly’s Zoom orientation about this internship opportunity. She knows by taking this internship she will be making a difference in children’s research because there are a lot of unanswered questions. She wants to expand her knowledge of statistical analyses and data management skills by working with software such as Microsoft Excel and SPSS. She anticipates to further develop her research skills as well as gain a better understanding of
language development and parent-child interactions. After graduation, she
plans to attend graduate school to obtain her master’s degree in Psychology.
Michelle has previous experience in leadership as a team lead working for a
retail company for two years. She was also Varsity Team Captain in Cross
Country during her junior through senior year of high school. These
experiences have given her well-oriented professional knowledge in which
she consistently strives to strengthen and refine professional effectiveness.
Most of Michelle’s free time consists of listening to music on the way to her
local boxing gym. Her main goal is to travel the world and continue to
explore, seek and find meaning in her everyday life by experiencing many
perspectives through her travels.

Fall 2020 – Spring 2021

Jasmine Canlas (Date of service: 01/2021 – 5/2021 Intern) is a fourth-year college student majoring in Human Development and minoring in Psychology at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB); she will be graduating in Fall 2021. She is currently a research intern for Dr. Kim Kelly’s Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) Lab. Jasmine learned about the CLIaM lab through an email sent by her Human Development advisor. Jasmine was interested in the CLIaM lab because she saw it as an opportunity to learn more about child development and further her research experience as a research intern. She hopes to refine her teamwork and collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills as well as learn more about the research process, such as learning how to code transcripts and read literature articles. Jasmine currently works as a Behavioral Technician (BT) at a mental health clinic that is geared towards providing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy to kids with autism and related disorders. In her role as a BT, Jasmine applies ABA therapy treatment to her clients so they could gain valuable skills such as play and social skills. Jasmine hopes that her experience as a research intern and as a BT will make her more knowledgeable about child development and help her work with children as an occupational therapist in the future. Jasmine loves working with children and hopes that the experiences and skills that she gains as a research intern and as a BT will make her a good candidate to apply to graduate school, and eventually work with children as an occupational therapist in the future. Jasmine enjoys cooking, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family in her spare time.

Stephanie Pantoja (Date of service: 8/2020 – 5/2021 Intern, Research Assistant) is a first-generation, fourth-year college student majoring in Human Development and Psychology at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Stephanie applied to be a research assistant at the Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) research lab with Dr. Kimberly Kelly, an opportunity presented to her through her internship course. CLIaM lab interests Stephanie because of the opportunity to apply and expand her research knowledge in a real-world setting. She will be working on improving her skills in data entry, coding, and developing research questions. She plans to use her time in the lab to practice effective communication and leadership skills. Stephanie will be using her experience in the CLIaM lab to help decide her graduate future. She is fascinated with learning how environmental factors influence a person’s development, and what can be done to better their well-being. Stephanie hopes to work with schools and non-profits contribute to adolescent wellness. Ultimately, she wants to help youth benefit, have access to, and advocate for the resources they need. CLIaM lab helps her achieve this through its own investigation of quality of informal learning environments. Stephanie is eager to utilize her knowledge of research methods to approach and solve problems in the lab. In her free time, Stephanie loves trying out new recipes and spending time at the beach with friends.

Lizbeth Millan (Date of service: 8/2018 – 5/2021 Research Assistant) is a first-generation college junior majoring in Social Work and Child Development at California State University, Long Beach. She is a third-year research assistant in the Child Language Interaction and Memory Lab (CLIaM) with Dr. Kimberly Kelly. According to the Myer’s-Brigg’s Personal Test, Lizbeth is an idealist and a perfectionist. She’s fascinated by child development research because she wants to learn more about child brain development and hopes to one day conduct her own research on social behaviors in graduate school. Lizbeth has gained practical research skills such as data collecting, transcribing and coding; as well as hone her communication and leadership skills. Indeed, working in CLIaM lab hasn’t just helped her academic personnel but also has helped her understand her youngest brother’s narrative development and speech disability. Lizbeth completed a full study with colleagues and presented their poster at the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program symposium at CSULB. She was also awarded the highly competitive and prestigious 2020 CSULB Student Summer Research Award and has gained co-authorship in various articles submitted to research conferences. Her research experience in the CLIaM lab will sharpen her critical thinking skills and communication skills; all of which are essential to her career field in Social Work and Child Development. In her spare time, she likes to bake, clean her house, travel, and watch history conspiracy theories.

Fall 2019 – Spring 2020

Atazshii Austin (Date of service: 8/2018 – 5/2020 Research Assistant) is a first-year, Pre-Business student at California State University Long Beach, who plans to major in Human Resources. She is a research assistant in the Child Language Interactions and Memory Lab (CLIaM) with Dr. Kimberly Kelly through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program ( UROP). Atazshii was interested in CLIaM lab because she saw it as an opportunity to further her knowledge of a parent’s influence on a child’s habits, behavior, and practices valued within their culture and early stages of childhood. She has always wondered about differences in how other parents teach, guide, and influence their children. Her main goals within the CLIaM Lab include learning how to transcribe, code, and conduct research. Atazshii is currently in the Beach Pledge Program at California State University Long Beach, which provides an opportunity for first-time students to complete their baccalaureate degrees in four years. She is currently taking public speaking and philosophy, in which she hopes to utilize her knowledge of communication and ethical theories within the CLIaM lab. Specifically, by applying her knowledge to the research, as well as assisting in interviews and data samples. She has also had experience with children by helping her mom raise her two younger brothers. In her free time, she loves to listen to music, dance and workout.

Cindy Vu (Date of service: 1/2019 – 5/2020 Research Assistant) is currently a freshman at California State University, Long Beach working towards her major in Molecular Biology. Through her past high school experience, she has withheld executive leadership positions that have developed into a love for collaborative work.  Cindy has found an interest in research as she became a part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Event Management Team. She plans to pursue a career in Oncology where she can further incorporate herself into bioscience research fields as well as medical practices. Cindy is also a research assistant in the Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) Lab with Dr. Kimberly Kelly through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at Long Beach State. Through her experience in CLIaM lab, Cindy gains direct experience in professional research. She has contributed to projects in the lab by learning and training in transcribing as well as coding language.

Fall 2018- Spring 2019

Heidi​ ​Alvarado​ ​(Date of service: 8/2017 – 5/2019 Research Assistant) is​ ​a​ ​third-year​ ​student​ ​at​ ​California​ ​State​ ​University​ ​Long Beach​ majoring​ ​in​ creative writing​ ​and​ ​minoring​ ​in​ ​computer science.​ Heidi was a part of the Undergraduate​ ​Research​ ​Opportunity Program​ ​(UROP) last year; when she joined the​ ​Child​ ​Language​ ​Interactions​ ​and​ ​Memory​ ​Lab​ ​(CLIaM) with​ ​Dr. ​Kimberly​ ​Kelly. Now, Heidi is no longer a part of UROP and is a volunteering research assistant; she is also becoming lab coordinator in the spring. ​ Through this lab, she has gained training in qualitative analysis and learned about different software such as NVivo; transcribing and coding numerous transcripts. She has learned to clean, and organize transcripts. Heidi conducted a research study with colleagues, which looked at mother-child co-narrations and emotion words between those with siblings and those without. Heidi’s study is entitled, “The Impact of Siblings on Socio-emotional Understanding in Child Narratives.” Heidi has learned a specific coding scheme (Pinto et al. 2017) for her study and transferred that into NVivo. During the summer Heidi contributed to the pilot data, which examines the use of smartphones in a science learning environment observing the language and interactions between a parent and child. This year she is contributing to this project by transcribing audio data that were collected over the summer. Now in the present, she is looking to attend a conference in Toronto, Canada or Washington. Her goal is to present her conducted study of last year into the western psychological association (WPA) in Pasadena. Heidi is​ a part of this lab because she desires to undertake different​ ​experiences​ ​and ​help​ ​open up​ ​the​ ​pool​ ​of​ ​diversity​ ​within​ ​her​ ​own​ ​views. ​Other​ ​than research,​ ​she​ ​also​ ​writes​ ​poetry​ ​in​ ​her​ ​spare​ ​time.

Jo Brunton (Date of service: 8/2018 – 5/2019 Research Assistant) is a research assistant in the Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) Lab with Dr. Kimberly Kelly through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at California State University, Long Beach. Jo is a second-year honors Psychology student and is interested in American Sign Language and Deaf Cultures. Post-graduation, they are hoping to attend graduate school in pursuit of a doctoral degree in psychology (Psy. D). Jo wants to be a clinical psychologist, specializing in treating children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Working in the CLIaM lab will afford them the opportunity to learn more about child language development, which they can implement later when they are working to identify ASD in children and support the development of communication and language skills in their clients. Jo hopes their experience working in the CLIaM Lab will assist them in learning the intricacies of transcribing, coding, and utilizing data to answer research questions, working collaboratively with fellow research assistants, and presenting research. In their free time, Jo likes to hike, rock climb, sing, and spend time with their cat, Milo.

Spring 2019- Spring 2019

Jackie Juarez (Date of service: 1/2019 – 5/2019 Research Assistant) is a research assistant in the Child Language Interactions and Memory Lab (CLIaM). She is majoring in Human Development and Psychology and will be graduating Spring 2019. Jackie was interested in CLIaM lab because she saw it as an opportunity to further her research experience, especially pertaining to children’s early development in communication and parent interactions. She is very interested in learning more about parent-child conversations and how it can be used to apply to her own research in the future. Jackie is also currently a part of Dr. Correa’s Culture, Learning, and Development research lab, where she contributes to research pertaining to cultural factors that shape learning and development among Latino children. She is currently in the process of interviewing for graduate schools in Clinical Psychology. Upon graduating from CSULB this Spring 2019 semester, she will continue her graduate education to ultimately obtain a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with a child and adolescent concentration. Jackie is currently active on campus through being part of organizations. As of Fall 2018, she is Chapter President for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) where she has strengthened her communication and leadership skills. She is also part of other organizations and clubs such as Active Minds, Sigma Alpha Pi, Human Development Student Association, Psychology Student Association, and Psi Chi which has helped her to stay connected to her academic interests. Jackie has recently been awarded Outstanding Graduate through the Human Development department and Presidents List from the College of Liberal Arts for the Fall 2018. On her free time, Jackie likes to take her dog on a walk and go on Pinterest to try out new cooking/baking recipes.

Fall 2018- Spring 2019

Shaun Schilder (Date of service: 7/2018 – 12/2018 Research Assistant) is an intern and a research assistant at Dr. Kimberly Kelly’s Child Language Interaction and Memory (CLIaM) research lab, where Shaun transcribes, cross-references, and contributes to the development of research within the scope of child-parent dyad narrative construction. While currently enrolled in Human Development Seminar and Practicum, which provides additional resources in order to create more learning experiences from the internship; Shaun utilizes skills developed from previously leading and conducting research in Research Methods and Statistics. In addition to sharpening known skills, Shaun is familiarizing himself with a large quantity of research, building a foundation for academic ethics, improving professionalism, diction, and vernacular in accordance with academic culture. Shaun is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and is looking to gain valuable experience that can be used to further aspirations toward graduate school. Previously Shaun worked with California State University of Long Beach Pre-Baccalaureate Student Services as a Student Advisor, which prepared him for the professional handling of sensitive information which is critical to ensure academic integrity. Currently, Shaun is looking to further his academic career while contributing to the institution and community that supported his endeavors.  If not on campus, Shaun can be found staying active at the beach where he works and enjoys various aquatic activities.

Fall 2017- Spring 2018

Eva Drexler (Date of service: 8/2015 – 8/2018 Research Assistant) is currently in her fourth year at California State University Long Beach pursuing her bachelors in Human Development, with a minor in Sociology. Eva has always been interested in research which is why she is excited to be part of Dr. Kelly’s Children Language Interactions and Memory (CLlaM) Lab as a research assistant. In addition, she is Dr. Kelly’s teaching assistant for HDEV 180 course. In this research lab, Eva hopes to gain a better and general understanding of the research process as a whole, as well as potentially present a research project of her own at CSULB’s Psych Day in the Spring of 2018. Eva’s mother did research in child attachment so she grew up hearing about this kind of research and always felt intrigued and inspired by it. In the past, Eva has worked with children and adolescents and would love a career where she can work with children in some way. When she was in high school, she worked at a pre-school in Berkeley, CA where she assisted the teachers with reading to children, and helped facilitate various activities for the children. Additionally, for three consecutive summers, Eva worked at Alameda County Health Department where she taught teenagers about ways to have safe and healthy relationships. This past summer, Eva studied abroad in South Africa where she visited various schools and provided support to the teachers during their afterschool programs. Eva currently works as a Legal Intern for an estate planning law firm. Other than that, she loves spending time with her family, reading, and most of all cooking. She is originally from the Bay Area and hopes to get back home after graduating college. She is interested in attending graduate school and furthering her education. One of Eva’s dreams is to teach children about healthy eating habits and have a food blog with healthy and tasty recipes.

Mireya Cabral (Date of service: 8/2015 – 5/2018 Research Assistant, Volunteer) is a research assistant in the Child Language Interactions and Memory lab (CLIaM) with Dr. Kimberly Kelly. She is currently a fourth-year psychology student at California State University, Long Beach. She is working towards her B.A. degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. Additionally, Mireya is also a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society in the psychology department. Mireya became interested in the CLIaM lab because it focuses on children and more importantly investigates the developing narrative ability of children and how culture influences the development of this skill. Her interactions with her younger siblings and cousins sparked her interest in investigating development. Mireya intends to attend graduate school and obtain her Master’s degree in the area of School Psychology. Aside from her academic pursuits, she currently volunteers at her local Parks and Recreation after school program with young children, where she interacts with children by helping with homework, facilitating creative and fun activities, and fostering leadership skills. Mireya hopes to pursue a career working with children with autism by aiding in Applied Behavioral Analysis. Her involvement in the CLIaM lab will help her explore research as a future career, get hands-on research experience, and generate research ideas of her own. Mireya also enjoys spending time with family and friends, visiting museums, and walks on the beach.

Jennifer Zamudio (Date of service: 8/2015 – 5/2018 Research Assistant, UROP) is a 2nd year research assistant in the Child Language Interactions and Memory lab and a 2^nd year pre-psychology student at California State University, Long Beach. Her current focus with Dr. Kelly’s research appertains to the influence of maternal autonomy support and cross cultural language on narrative discourse. Jen’s contributions to the lab include coding large amounts of narratives after establishing reliability, translating and transcribing recorded narratives and conducting literature searches. Her interests regarding child development sparked In high school when she wrote a research paper titled “The efficacy of a child’s testimony in abuse cases,” which described how a child’s memory about a traumatic event can be distorted if not approached correctly.  Jen plans to execute her own research project by the end of the year on the development and distortion of children’s memory and how it is reflected through narratives.  She has presented her interpretation of Dr. Kelly’s data with a co-author in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Research Symposium. After getting her Bachelor’s degree, she intends on pursuing a career in clinical psychology where she hopes to discover behavioral patterns among the population of criminals. Additionally, she has been on the Dean’s Honor List for two semesters in a row and aims to continue this streak through the rest of her Undergraduate career. Aside from this, she is a full-time mother that loves spending time with her small family, binge-watching Law & Order SVU and volunteering at local foundations such as the Girl Scouts and The Long Beach Animal Shelter.

Jessica Garcia (Date of service: 8/2017 – 12/2017 Research Assistant, Internship) is a senior at California State University, Long Beach with high hopes for her future. She is a Human Development major and a Linguistics minor. She is now a research assistant for CLIaM lab. Her love of language and children sparked her interest in the CLIaM lab. She works well in teams and has completed two research methods courses in her academic career, one in psychology and the other in human development. Therefore she is well versed in the language that is research. Although she has classroom experience in research, this is her first time working in a research lab. In high school she graduated in the Dean’s honor list with a 3.8 GPA. During her time in college she was a part of the Human Development Student Association for about a year. Growing up she has experience working with a variety of age groups. She has lead classroom activities, played and taught children simple math and science.  She has worked as a volunteer at Saturn Street elementary school and as a babysitter. These opportunities helped her gain valuable experience working with children specifically how to communicate with a child. In the future she hopes to work in a child setting and learn as much as she can in order to apply for graduate school. She is looking forward to using her organizational skills to keep her on track for the tasks at hand. As well as using her adaptability skills to be able to accommodate for last minute changes. By the end of her experience in the CLIaM lab she hopes to hone her leadership skills.

Yuritza Orozco (Date of service: 8/2015 – 5/2018 Research Assistant, UROP) is a first year student at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) and is the first in her family to attend college. She is a research lab assistant in Dr. Kelly’s Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) research lab. Yuritza has joined the CLIaM lab as an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program fellow. She’s interested in the CLIaM lab’s projects because it involves learning about children’s language development, memory, narrative storytelling, and parental interactions. During Yuritza’s high school years, she was in the USC Upward Bound program where she took college courses along with enrichment classes. In this program, she took a psychology class which intrigued her interest in learning more about child development. Yuritza really enjoyed the class and learned that early childhood experiences become a major impact in their future lives and behavior. Therefore, she hopes to gain a better understanding of research and literature in child development, as well as develop professional communication skills, learn about coding schemes and coding data in the lab. Although she’s currently undeclared for her major, Yuritza knows that she wants to pursue a career that involves working and helping others. Yuritza plans to further her education in graduate school at USC after she graduates with her bachelor’s degree at CSULB. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and friends along with learning new things.

Fall 2016- Spring 2017

Jesus Plascencia (Date of service: 8/2015 – 5/2016 Research Assistant, Internship; 8/2016-5/2017 , Lab Coordinator, Volunteer) with honors from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in Fall 2015 with a degree in human development, where he received the department’s Alice Hurst “Visionary” Award for his academic achievement, community engagement and research experience. Jesus is currently a research assistant and lab coordinator for the Child Language Interaction and Memory (CLIaM) lab. As a researcher assistant, Jesus has conducted literature search, transcribed and coded dozens of narratives, translated narratives from Spanish to English, created Excel and SPSS data sheets, assisted with some statistical analyses, and assisted in editing and writing articles for publication. Jesus has previously worked as a research assistant for faculty in the Health Science and Health Care Administration departments, where he assisted with research relating to minority populations and mental health. He was also a research assistant for the Social Work department, where he was involved in the Parents Taking Action program, which aims to educate Latino parents of children with autism on how to effectively care for their children and how to access community resources. Furthermore, Jesus has presented his research on Latinos and mental health at CSULB’s Latino Health Equity Conference, and has co-presented original research at CSULB’s Psychology Day and the Western Psychological Association Convention. Jesus has also worked as a mentor with children in low-income, minority communities, as an ABA therapist with children with autism, and is currently working as a teaching assistant and behavioral interventionist at Neurological and Physical Abilitation center, an early intervention institute for children with developmental disabilities or delays. Moreover, Jesus plans to attain a masters and PhD in social work and work with Latinos with mental illnesses. In his spare time, Jesus enjoys leisure activities such as hiking, going to the beach, listening to music, and doing Jiu Jitsu.

Juan Barragan (Date of service: 8/2016 – 5/2017 Research Assistant, Internship) is a senior at California State University, Long Beach. He is a double major in Chicano/a & Latino/a Studies and Human Development. Juan has joined the Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) lab because he is interested in exploring how parent-child interactions and attachment influence a child’s own wording in retelling a story. He also became interested in CLIaM lab’s research because he had a linguistic development difficulty as a child. His goal as a research assistant is to conduct his own study about memory influencing a child’s narrative skill or Spanish-speaking parent-child narratives. Juan is passionate about working with children and has worked with several after school programs like Avid, Youth Policy Institute (YPI), Boys and Girls Club of America and Success Through Academics Recreation (STAR). After graduating, Juan plans to pursue a graduate degree in occupational therapy. As an occupational therapist, he hopes to create community programs for at risk youth that develop life skills through health and exercise. In his spare time, he likes to watch movies, go horseback riding, and play volleyball and basketball.

Kateri Guadalupe Avila (Date of service: 8/2016 – 5/2017 Research Assistant, Internship) is a senior studying Human Development and who is also pursuing a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Science Education at California State University, Long Beach. Kateri is a research assistant in Dr. Kimberly Kelly’s Children Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) Lab, and is excited to learn more about research. Her past experience includes a research internship with LA BioMed at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where she contributed to a Through this internship. Kateri discovered a passion for people which she carried over into her current job as a college aide at Long Beach Polytechnic High School where she helps to serve the English Language Learners in the student population. By participating in the CLIaM Lab, Kateri will explore research as a potential career, and will expand her understanding of research methods in action. Although uncertain of a specific career path, Kateri enjoys exploring the elements in interpersonal relationships, especially those between parents and their children. She hopes to better understand how the parent’s relationship with their child affects the child’s social relationships later on in life. After graduation and finishing up her credential, Kateri wants to travel and pursue a graduate school career. She is also a proud member of the Phi Kappa chapter of Delta Delta Delta on campus. In her free time, Kateri enjoys Stand-up Paddle Boarding, volunteering with her young adult group, and going to night markets with friends.

Jocelyn Borrego (Date of service: 9/2016 – 5/2017 Research Assistant, UROP) a research assistant in the Child Language Interactions and Memory lab(CLIaM) through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program(UROP). She is currently a second-year pre-psychology student at California State University, Long Beach. She is also looking to minor in computer science. Jocelyn became interested in the CLIaM research lab because it focuses on children and how different aspects in their lives, such as culture and the people they are surrounded by, can affect them on a daily basis. Jocelyn had a sparked interest in child development when her cousins first got into the foster care system, and her interest in child development just increased from that point. Jocelyn intends to pursue a career in clinical psychology after getting her Bachelor’s degree. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree, she wants to develop a game that will help people with different mental disorders, as well as help people learn about the resources around them to help them through the difficulties they might be going through. Jocelyn hopes to study mental disorders, and the effects they have on people, along with how people deal with them. In addition, Jocelyn is an advocate for animal rights, and is in a student organization, Cease Animal Torture(CAT), that aims to educate others on animal cruelty, health issues, and environmental damage.

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Fall 2015-Spring 2016

 Heather Valenova Dayag  (Date of service: 8/2013 – 5/2014 Research Assistant; 8/2014-5/2016 Graduate Research Assistant, Lab Coordinator) Heather Valenova Dayag is laboratory coordinator and graduate research assistant for the Child Language Interactions and Memory Research Lab. Heather is a master’s degree candidate and California Pre-doctoral Scholar, who has been under the mentorship of Dr. Kimberly Reynolds Kelly since 2013.  Throughout university, she has combined her passions for the sciences and humanities by being involved with various research projects. Heather has presented studies in conferences with Dr. Kelly, including the Western Psychological Association and serving as a reviewer for the Society for Research in Human Development. Heather has extensive clinical research in biomedical sciences and translational medicine at the University of California, Irvine. In addition, she gained teaching and educational administrative leadership field experience from California State University, Fullerton, California State University, Long Beach, and University of California, Irvine. She is executive board member for multiple non-profit organizations in Orange County and Los Angeles County. Heather is a recipient of highly competitive merit scholarships from the California State University (CSU) system for superior academic performance, outstanding community service, and significant personal achievements. She is acknowledged as the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, Hampton Scholar; California Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar; Phi Delta Gamma; CSULB Associated Student Incorporated; Community Engagement Awards, and Exemplary Leadership Awards. As a pre-doctoral scholar, she is granted the opportunity to present, travel, and work with faculty from doctoral-granting institutions across the nation. Her current studies with Dr. Kelly touches upon dyadic and triadic conversational analysis, memory,  reciprocity, resilience, personality, attachment, and lifespan development. Heather specializes in applied research for medical practices– geared towards clinical innovations for cross-generational and multidisciplinary collaboration in medicine.

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Jesenia Berumen (Date of service: 8/2014 – 5/2015 Research Assistant, Internship; 8/2015-5/2016 Lab Coordinator, Volunteer) Jesenia Berumen  graduated with honors from California State University, Long Beach on May 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in human development and anthropology. She is a lab coordinator and research assistant in Dr. Kelly’s Child Language Interactions and Memory (CLIaM) lab. She believes that by studying both human development and anthropology she gained a better understanding of how human beings are shaped by a myriad of factors such as language and culture. How their differences shape the way they act and the different tools they need in order to be successful members of distinct communities. Jesenia was part of the Leadership Academy of CSULB, an organization that aims to bring out the leadership skills in participants as well as create leaders who will positively impact their community. She is excited to see what being a lab coordinator and research assistant will teach her and to apply the knowledge to other settings. In her spare time, she enjoys taking long walks and playing with her dogs.

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Jasmine Vang  (Date of Service: 9/2015-5/2016 Research Assistant, UROP) Jasmine Vang is a Freshman at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She is a research assistant as a part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at CSULB. Currently she is studying Theatre Arts but is also considering a double major in Human Development or Sociology. She believes that involvement in Dr. Kelly’s Children Language Interactions and Memory Lab will allow her to gain experience with research and believes it can become an open door towards a field she is increasingly interested about. Being Hmong and coming from Fresno, a town where there is a large population of Hmong people– in the future she would like to advocate towards the Hmong community with family services and health literacy. In Jasmine’s spare time, she enjoys listening to music, reading about science and current events, creating memories with her friends, and binge watching television shows on Netflix.

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Fall 2014-Spring 2015

Holly Hernandez (Date of service: 8/2014 – 12/2014 Research Assistant, Internship; 1/2014-5/2015 Lab Coordinator, Volunteer). Holly Hernandez is an alumna of Long Beach State University, where she graduated May 2014 with honors in her major, human development, and a minor in biology. Holly is also a CSULB Alpha Phi alumna who enjoyed her philanthropic work for women’s cardiac care. While in college, Holly volunteered with Human Services Association at Houghton Park Senior Center and also part in multiple beach clean-ups around the area. She is thrilled to once again be assisting Dr. Kelly this year conducting research in the Child Language Interactions and Memory Lab. Holly would love to continue her education to pursue a career in Marriage and Family Therapy. When she isn’t busy tackling her CLIaM lab responsibilities, Holly enjoys reading, singing, playing beach volleyball, and snowboarding.

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Kelly Caulfield (Date of Service: 8/2014-5/2015 – Research Assistant) Kelly Caulfield is a senior at California State University, Long Beach, where she majors in human development and minors in psychology. In the past, Kelly has interned and volunteered at the NAMI-OC’s Warmline mental health hotline, a psychiatrist’s office, and an Alzheimer’s care facility. These experiences played a part in further developing Kelly’s interest in the field of mental health and working directly with others to offer them support and other resources. She is excited to start working in the Child Language Interactions and Memory lab with the research team this year. After graduating, Kelly plans on attending graduate school for clinical psychology in order to pursue a career offering therapy to adults with anxiety-related disorders. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys running, hiking, traveling, and watching television with her numerous pets.

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Famela Phal (Date of Service: 8/2014-5/2015 – Research Assistant) Famela Phal is a senior at California State University, Long Beach. In order to familiarize herself with the Research Field, she decided to work as a Research Assistant in Dr. Kimberly Reynolds Kelly’s Child Language Interactions and Memory lab as a Research Assistant. She believes that through this experience, she will have a better understanding of the various ways interaction (through both parents and child) plays a significant role in children. Famela volunteers with the Childlife Program at Miller’s Children Hospital located in Long Beach, CA where she interacts with the patients and their families. After graduating, she plans to use both her knowledge and experiences to further her education in the research field and perhaps conduct a research study herself. During her spare time, she enjoys watching documentaries, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

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Spring 2014

Lena Zumbrunn (Date of Service: 11/2013-12/2013 Research Assistant, Volunteer; 1/2014-5/2014 Research Assistant & Lab Coordinator, Volunteer) Lena Zumbrunn is a senior at California State University, Long Beach. She moved to the area from San Bernardino County, CA in 2012 in order to pursue a bachelor’s degree in human development. During her time as an undergraduate student, Lena has been actively involved as a lab coordinator and research assistant for the Child Language Interaction and Memory Research Lab at CSULB. Lena also works as an activities department intern at the Intercommunity Care Center, a long-term care facility for mentally ill individuals in North Long Beach. In her spare time, Lena enjoys going to the beach, photography, and spending time with her family, friends, and dogs. After graduating, Lena hopes to use her multidisciplinary knowledge and experiences to join the AmeriCorps, a national and community-based volunteer program that serves those in need through nonprofit organizations and public agencies around the nation.

Geneva Austin (Date of Service: 2/2014-5/2014 Research Assistant, UROP) Geneva Austin is a sophomore at California State University, Long Beach. She is majoring in human development, so she may become a counselor for kindergarten through high school aged students. She believes human development will give her a better understanding on how humans develop physically, mentally and socially in order to help counsel students in the future. Geneva would love to help students on the right path so they may prosper into something great. She has many goals to accomplish so she can be a successful counselor and she pushes herself everyday do so. In Geneva’s spare time she likes to go to church, sing, dance, and hang out with friends and family.

Samantha Brekke (Date of Service: 1/2014-5/2014 Research Assistant, Internship)Samantha Brekke is a senior at California State University, Long Beach. She will complete her undergraduate degree in human development in May 2014. Samantha is currently a research assistant for Dr. Kelly’s Child Language Interaction and Memory Lab. She enjoys learning about the various aspects that go into research and is particularly interested in attachment theory. She feels her experience as a research assistant will help her reach her goal of attending graduate school and becoming a marriage and family therapist. She has volunteered with the Human Services Association at the Houghton Park Senior Program, as well as Ace of Hearts dog rescue. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking to waterfalls and taking her dog to the beach.