Health Equity Across the Lifespan

Principal Investigator

Afroze N. Shaikh

Afroze N. Shaikh (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology programs. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from Boston University and her doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Practice from Georgia State University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-GA) and has provided counseling services in various community and hospital settings to individuals and families impacted by community violence and trauma.

Her research and advocacy efforts broadly aim to identify approaches to prevent suicide, enhance culturally sensitive training, and expand mental healthcare access by examining factors that influence health service use. She has presented on this work both regionally and nationally and is published in various counseling journals. 

Afroze is dedicated to the mentorship of emerging professional counselors and is actively involved in multiple professional counseling organizations, including the Texas Counseling Association (TCA), the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC), and the National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation (NBCCF).

Research Team

Jackie Yang

Jackie Yang (he/him) is a third year counseling psychology doctoral student at UT Austin. He is a first-generation student and has earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UT Austin. Currently, he is providing counseling services at the UT Austin College Mental Health Center to the larger student body at UT Austin.

His research broadly aims to elucidate distal and proximal factors that impact mental and behavioral health of marginalized people. More specifically his research focuses on the Asian American population. He has published his work in various academic journals.

He is a Ronald E. McNair scholar at UT and has provided mentorship to other underserved students who aim to pursue graduate careers. He is an integrated behavioral health scholar at UT and is currently training to develop skills in integrated care and interprofessional practice. 

Katie Hurley

Katie Hurley (she/her) is a first year counseling psychology doctoral student at UT Austin. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Global Health at Duke University. Currently, she works as a Graduate Student Assistant for the Longhorn Wellness Center’s mindful UT program and for the Healthyhorns Strategic Initiatives program. 

As an Army Veteran and current Army Reservist, Katie’s main research interests include Soldier and Veteran suicidality, help-seeking, and mental health. More broadly, she is interested in the social determinants of U.S. health disparities and suicidality. 

Abigail Varghese

Abigail Varghese (she/her) is a first year Counseling Psychology doctoral student at UT Austin. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University. She is working as the facilitator for the BASICS/CASICS program at the Longhorn Wellness Center and as a Graduate Student Assistant within Healthyhorns. Based on her past experiences as a university crisis line operator, her broad research interests include suicide intervention, help-seeking behaviors, crisis lines, & minority mental health.

John Bruton

John Bruton is an aspiring physical therapist and mental health advocate pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. His passion for suicide prevention and supporting marginalized communities drives his work in both physical and mental health. As a Physical Therapy Technician, John has helped patients recover from injuries while fostering resilience and emphasizing the connection between physical recovery and emotional well-being. His experience as a certified Personal Trainer includes designing inclusive exercise programs that empower clients to overcome challenges and build confidence. Bilingual in Spanish, John is committed to bridging language barriers and creating accessible, holistic care for underserved populations.

Hannah Martinson

Hannah Martinson is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern in the state of Florida, and currently works at a private practice. She earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Counseling from Arizona State University. Her clinical interests include working with couples, adults, and teens experiencing relationship concerns and/or a breakup, as well as those affected by anxiety and grief.

Hannah is interested in expanding the literature surrounding mental health help-seeking behaviors and the utilization of mental health services, particularly in underserved and at-risk populations. She hopes that her research will increase access to mental health services and their utilization.

Research Collaborators