Research Team

Erin M. Rodríguez, PhD
Dr. Rodríguez studies family, linguistic, and sociocultural influences on children’s coping and adaptation to stress. The aim of her research is to reduce youth health disparities through culturally relevant family-based interventions for children and adolescents faced with medical illnesses and other chronic stressors. Her current research includes an intervention study with Latinx families of children with asthma, a study of family adjustment to pediatric cancer, and a longitudinal investigation of the development of coping and mental health in bilingual Latinx youth.

Dr. Rodríguez received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University and completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the St. David’s Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research, and the Society of Pediatric Psychology.

• erodriguez@austin.utexas.edu
• Faculty page

Mario Gomez
Hometown: Edinburg, TX
Degree Program: MA/SSP, School Psychology
Previous Degree: B.A. in Psychology Humanities from The University of Texas at Austin
Research Interests: Addressing mental health gaps in rural communities, and providing bilingual services to school students. 
Other Interests: Studying history, reading, exercising, video games, axe throwing, creative writing, and hiking.

Joselyn Macias
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Title: Research Associate I & Community Health Worker
Research Interests:
My interest in this study began with its focus on asthma. Growing up with a sibling who struggled to control her asthma gave me a personal understanding of the challenges families face. Although I did not have asthma myself, I was not always aware of how important education and proper support are in helping a loved one manage the condition. Being part of this research allows me to contribute to something deeply meaningful, not only for families like mine but for the broader community. This experience has reinforced how essential it is for children and families to have the knowledge and resources needed to effectively manage asthma.
Other Interests:
I enjoy spending quality time with my family, attending my children’s soccer games and activities, and participating in additional studies and research initiatives that support and improve community health.

Maria Hands Ruz
Hometown: Maracay, Venezuela
Degree Program: Ph.D., School/ Child Clinical Psychology at UT Austin
Previous Degree: M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University & B.A. in Psychology from Pacific University 
Research Interests: I am interested in the cultural factors that impact the well-being of ethnic minority youth and their families. As well as advancing care and interventions for the immigrant and Spanish-speaking populations. 
Other Interests: reading books, drawing mandalas, and watching reality tv!

Ana Garcia Villasana
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Degree Program: Ph.D., School/ Child Clinical Psychology at UT Austin.
Previous Degree: B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Statistics from The University of Central Florida
Research Interests: I am interested in risk and protective factors for minorities affected by medical conditions, parent-child relationships, and internalizing symptoms. I am also interested in the development of interventions focused on underserved communities. 
Other Interests: Being outside, reading, watching (mostly old) TV shows

Spencer Westcott
Hometown: Belmar, NJ
Degree Program: PhD program in School/Clinical Child Psychology
Previous Degrees: MA/SSP in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, B.A in Psychology from Clemson University
Research Interests: Acculturation in Latinx youth, Community Involvement, Neighborhood factors that impact child development
Other Interests: Playing soccer, running, and reading 

Rachel Poycattle
Hometown: Austin, TX
Degree Programs: B.S. in Public Health, Minor in French Studies, Pre-Health Professions Certificate
Research Interests: I am interested in how language and culture impact adolescent mental health and parent-child relationships. I am particularly interested in researching culturally competent and tailored interventions that promote emotional well-being and preventative care to help children and families cope with stress. 
Other Interests: Traveling, baking, and reading!

Abigail Ortiz 
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Degree Program: B.S. in Neuroscience, Certificate in Spanish for Medical Professionals 
Research Interests: I am interested in health literacy among parents of pediatric asthma patients in Hispanic/Latinx communities, particularly how language barriers and access to care influence disease management and health outcomes.
Other Interests: Crocheting, playing the guitar, and baking! 

Stephanie Sustaita
Hometown: Irving, TX
Degree Program: B.S. in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Certificate in Spanish for Medical Professionals 
Research Interests: Mental health care in Latinx/Hispanic communities, Cultural competence in healthcare, and Effects in Asthma and Allergy in Hispanic Communities. 
Other Interests: Volleyball, listening to music, and binge-watching shows!

Elizabeth Peña, PhD
Professor
School of Education
University of California, Irvine

Lauren Gulbas, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Social Work
The University of Texas at Austin

Sharon Horner, PhD
Associate Dean for Research and Dolores V. Sands Chair in Nursing Research
School of Nursing
The University of Texas at Austin

Emily Greenspan, PhD
Director of Neuropsychological Services at the Texas Child Study Center (TCSC)
Director of the TCSC’s Embedded Clinic in the Children’s Blood and Cancer Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin

Puja Patel, PhD
Director of Pediatric Psychology, Dell Children’s Medical Center
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin

Elizabeth Matsui, MD, MHS
Professor of Population Health and Pediatrics
Associate Dean for Faculty Academic Affairs
Director, the Center for Health and Environment: Education and Research
Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin

Tiffany Whittaker, PhD
Chair, Department of Educational Psychology
Professor, Quantitative Methods
The University of Texas at Austin

Graduate Students

• Juliana Alba-Suarez
• Cinthia Alvarado
• Joseph Barron
• Janie Contreras
• Catherine Esperanza
• Anneli Garcia
• Julia George-Jones
• Becca Hammonds
• Elsí Hernandez
• Hannah Hwang
• C Janeth Juarez
• Emily Lehning
• Annette Leija
• Roxana Mendoza
• Ashlee Mitchell
• Gabriela Echavarría Moats
• Alicia Nichols
• Sofia Ocegueda
• Ben Paly
• Claudia Reino
• Lauren Smith
• Kathy Stanton
• Danielle Thompson
• Veronica Wing

Research Staff

• Ignacio Blasini
• Jennifer Camacho 
• Samantha Garcia Cruz
• Ayda Giacoman
• Nicole Matute
• Eloise Nimocks
• Ariana Vera

Undergraduate Students

• Leo Angula
• Ashley Bautista
• Maria Paula Yavar Calderon
• Immy Clover-Brown
• Sebastian De La Torre
• Daniela Garcia
• Madison Gonzales
• Catherine Gonzales
• Natalia Johnson
• Karishma Khoja
• Emma Lopez
• Brandilyn Monene
• Andrea Morquecho
• Cassandra Najera
• Chabeli Navarro Calderon
• Alcess Nonot
• Sofia Olivares
• Courtney Priebe
• Dhruva Pathak
• Israel Rodriguez
• Roma Shah
• Karissa Simchick
• Maria Paula Yavar Calderon 
• Penelopi Yiantsou

Postdoctoral Fellow

• Jendayi Dillard