{"id":9,"date":"2026-05-27T08:58:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T13:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/?page_id=9"},"modified":"2026-07-09T01:01:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:01:39","slug":"our-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/our-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Dr. Jennifer Mootz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principal Investigator<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Jennifer Mootz is a licensed psychologist and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Growing up in the Midwest and later with her clinical work with the Indian Health Service, she observed differences in economic and health burdens between American Indian\/Alaska Native (AI\/AN) and White populations. In her work in the US and international low-income settings, she has likewise observed differences in access to mental health care among and within nations. These experiences stimulated her interest in systems of mental health care in low-resourced settings that consider the intersection of mental illness and social determinants, such as exposure to violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her NIMH-funded research has focused on improving access to care in low-income and humanitarian settings internationally and in the US through digitized innovations and consideration of social determinants. She has partnered with community and government agencies to conduct research on the implementation of comprehensive mental health care service scale-up. One of her favorite places is a small town on the Western side of Sicily. Sitting by the clear, turquoise water, watching the young kids play, wrestle, and perform creative acrobatics to ride the waves brings her soul great joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

Gene Edgerton <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consultant and Podcast Host<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Gene Edgerton grew up in the Deep South and eventually embarked on a life journey to discover the world. After earning degrees in North Dakota, North Carolina, and Tennessee in the fields of advertising, pedagogy and storytelling, he\u2019s spent most of his adult life as an academic and corporate instructor. And as a traveling storyteller. He\u2019s lived in the USA, Norway, Germany, Ukraine, South Korea, Thailand, Afghanistan, and the Sultanate of Oman. A dual citizen of the USA and Norway, he resides in Oslo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s interested in the Healing Stories Collection because he recognizes that healing begins when we share our traumas and our emotions with each other. By doing so, we put the you in me, and the me in you, and through this shared experience, we can shine a light on our wounds. He knows this to be true in his own life, and from this understanding, he wants to help others do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His soul spot is any serene seafront shoreline where he can sprawl out on the sand and take in oceanic sonatas. It\u2019s here that he recognizes that the wave and the ocean are the same\u2014that we are all one. He took this photo one early morning in Porto Santo, a remote island out in the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Melissa Gonzalez<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consultant <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Melissa Gonzalez is a domestic abuse survivor who is passionate about creating spaces for honest conversation, awareness, and healing. Her personal experiences have given her a deeper understanding of the importance of empathy, support, and advocacy for those facing difficult situations. She hopes to bring attention to important social issues, share meaningful stories, and encourage deeper understanding within the community. Melissa believes in the power of connection, education, and open dialogue to create positive change while helping others feel seen, heard, and supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The picture Melissa chose reflects one of her favorite activities: hiking. It was taken when she and her eldest son hiked Pikes Peak in Colorado to celebrate his 20th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Graduate Researchers <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

Maria Fernanda Silva<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctoral Researcher<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Maria graduated from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in French and Francophone Studies. She went on to complete a Master of Science in Clinical Research Methods at Fordham University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her interest in global mental health stems from her experiences living abroad and connecting with people from different cultural backgrounds. Through these experiences, Maria became interested in both the similarities and differences in how mental health is understood across countries, the role culture plays in shaping mental health experiences, and the importance of learning from different cultural perspectives and approaches to mental health care around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a first generation American, born in Miami and raised in Brazil, Maria speaks Portuguese, English, and has intermediate levels of Spanish, and French. Maria also enjoys spending time in nature, snorkeling, trying new pilates and matcha spots, and spending time with her siblings. Maria’s soul place is Brazil, where she feels the most connected to her identity, community, and sense of belonging. Brazil continues to shape the way she understands joy and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

Jesse Szymanski<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctoral Researcher<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jesse earned a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Pre-Law, with minors in Child Development and Ethnic Studies, from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She later completed a Master of Science (MSc) in Research Methods at Durham University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A global perspective has always been important to Jesse, which was one of the reasons she chose to do her master’s degree at Durham University in the United Kingdom (as she was born and raised in California!). Jesse notes that she was super lucky to be mentored by a researcher whose work focused on health equity, which furthered her interest in understanding how social and environmental contexts influence mental health, help-seeking, and access to care. In turn, Jesse is interested in learning more about how we grow in our ability to identify and diagnose mental health concerns, and how we can build treatment systems that are scalable, sustainable, and culturally responsive globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesse’s hobbies include dog walking, Pilates, weightlifting, and playing volleyball! Outside of the university, the beach is Jesse’s favorite place to be. Some of her favorite memories are playing beach volleyball with her mom and playing Division I beach volleyball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Lisa Morgan Wallace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate Researcher<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Lisa Morgan Wallace has a master\u2019s degree in healthcare policy from The University of Texas at Austin, where her research focused on healthcare access, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, substance abuse, gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and intimate partner violence. She recently graduated from the King\u2019s College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience Applied Neuroscience Master\u2019s program in 2025 and is currently enrolled in the Counselor Education Program, working toward her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) qualification to serve as a psychotherapist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa is a systems-oriented thinker whose passion is centered on people, social belonging, and well-being. Her lifelong learning and professional journey has focused on building systems, organization, and knowledge that promote mental and social health equity. Her hobbies include running, beekeeping, gardening, book collecting, reading, and spending time with friends. One of her favorite places is the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, which she describes as a beautiful place for introverts where people are few but deeply kind and animals abound. It feels like an ancient home she is remembering, even though she has never lived there.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Post-Baccalaureate Research Assistants <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

Bonnie Robbins<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Post-Baccalaureate Research Assistant<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bonnie Robbins recently graduated as a double major in Psychology and Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She is passionate about global mental health because examining mental health across cultures reveals perspectives and challenges that are often overlooked through a more homogenous lens. She believes mental health is shaped by a wide range of cultural, social, and environmental factors, and that understanding these differences is essential to creating more inclusive and effective systems of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonnie is especially interested in supporting vulnerable and underserved communities that face barriers to accessing mental health resources and services. She recognizes that shortages of mental health professionals, geographic limitations, and cultural norms can all impact whether individuals are able to receive support. At the same time, she values the ways communities across the world cultivate their own forms of care, connection, and resilience outside of formal mental health systems. She believes mental health care is a human right and hopes to contribute to efforts that expand access to compassionate and culturally informed care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonnie is Jewish, and outside of academics she enjoys camping and hiking, weight lifting, dancing, cooking meals, and spending time laughing with friends. Her favorite place is her grandmother\u2019s home in San Antonio. Although geographically simple, it has been a meaningful place of comfort and connection for her family for more than 30 years. To Bonnie, the home represents warmth, community, and love. The carefully curated artwork and furniture tell a layered family story, while the large trees outside the windows remind her to appreciate stillness and the beauty found in everyday moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

Akanksha Velath <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-Baccalaureate Research Assistant<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Akanksha Velath is recent graduate of Davidson College, she majored Psychology with a minor in Public Health. Raised in India, she is deeply committed to advancing mental health awareness and dismantling stigma, both in her community and across other low- and middle-income countries. With a strong focus on cultural sensitivity, Akanksha aspires to develop community-based interventions and adapt existing mental health tools to better serve underserved populations. Akanksha is committed to driving change at both systemic and interpersonal levels, combining policy advocacy with compassionate person-centered care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akanksha interned with the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer J. Mootz and is excited to continue working with her at the iGMH Lab. She contributed to a research project assessing the feasibility of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Couples (IPT-C) to treat common mental disorders among women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) in Mozambique. Akanksha is deeply drawn to the iGMH Lab’s focus on implementation science and community-based participatory research. She enjoys working collaboratively with every member of the team – from the research team in Mozambique to all the passionate lab members across the US!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Undergraduate Research Assistants <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Lindsey Abellera <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undergraduate Research Assistant <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Lindsey Abellera is a Senior Psychology major with a minor in Educational Psychology. She is interested in global mental health because it emphasizes how culture, context, and systemic factors shape people\u2019s experiences with mental health. Lindsey is especially interested in applying this perspective to complex issues such as trauma and intimate partner violence, where understanding these influences is essential for support and treatment.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming from a Filipino and Hispanic background has shaped her perspective on mental health, culture, and help-seeking behaviors. As a practicing Catholic with a passion for theology, Lindsey is also interested in the relationship between religion and mental health, particularly how faith can influence coping, resilience, and community connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her hobbies include running, playing piano, DJ’ing, paddleboarding, and spending time with her family. Lindsey\u2019s favorite place is Haleakal\u0101 National Park because she finds watching the sunset there incredibly beautiful and peaceful. She is fascinated by how the view of the sunset changes depending on elevation and how that idea can be applied to different perspectives in life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n

Andrea Chavez<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undergraduate Research Assistant <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Andrea Chavez is a Senior Psychology major with a minor in Educational Psychology. She is interested in gaining experience and learning more about how mental health treatments can be delivered across countries, especially how they can be made more accessible to Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). She is a first-generation Mexican American and speaks both Spanish and English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her hobbies include reading, creative writing, listening to music, and creating digital art. Her favorite place is the rooftop of Time Out Market New York in New York City. Visiting New York is the highlight of her year, and going to the market fills her with joy. It provides her with a sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar city and reminds her of many fond and happy memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Daniela Morales<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undergraduate Research Assistant <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Daniela is a Senior Psychology major with a minor in Educational Psychology and a certificate in Forensic Science. Daniela is interested in Global Mental Health because she is passionate about reducing disparities in access to mental health resources and services. She is especially interested in how cultural awareness can shape mental health interventions and believes that culturally informed approaches can improve both accessibility and quality of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is of Costa Rican descent and is fluent in both Spanish and English. In her free time Daniela enjoys reading, going to concerts, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite place is Coco Beach in Costa Rica. Her grandmother has a beach house there, and Daniela has fond memories of playing in the sand with her cousin, eating sandy sandwiches by the beach, and laughing with her family until the sun went down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Rafaela Pond Olivato <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undergraduate Research Assistant <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Rafaela is a Sophomore Psychology major with a minor in Educational Psychology and a Certificate in Spanish for Mental Health and Medical Professions. She is interested in global mental health because Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) often face significant gaps in mental health resources compared to High-Income Countries, and global mental health efforts seek to expand access to care within these communities. As someone who comes from an LMIC, Rafaela hopes to contribute to bridging the mental health gap in underserved populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rafaela was born in Brazil and moved to the United States at six years old. She is fluent in Portuguese and has intermediate proficiency in Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys watching TV shows and exploring new places with friends. Her favorite place is in Brazil, where she recently took a boat tour along the coast of her hometown, Salvador. Seeing the city from a tourist\u2019s perspective allowed her to appreciate the beauty of her country in a new way, making it a meaningful core memory. She took this picture to capture that moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Sarah Velez-Osorio<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Jennifer Mootz Principal Investigator Dr. Jennifer Mootz is a licensed psychologist and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Growing up in the Midwest and later with her clinical work with the Indian Health Service, she observed differences in economic and health burdens between American Indian\/Alaska Native (AI\/AN) and White […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":225,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/225"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9"}],"version-history":[{"count":91,"href":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":192,"href":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions\/192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.edb.utexas.edu\/igmh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}