Claire Carrera, a first-generation Ecuadorian student, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Scranton in 2022 with support from her mentor, Dr. Christie Karpiak. She then pursued a Master's degree in school psychology at the University of Oregon. At Oregon, she supported Latine first-generation students, assisted in research, served as vice president of ASPS, and was a COE Quest scholar. Claire completed her practicum at Springfield Public Schools and will intern at Denver Public Schools, where she will also complete the STAY fellowship funded by SAMHSA. She is grateful for the support of her wonderful family, friends, Andrea Olson, Dr. Billie Jo, Dr. G, and COE professors! 

Cassidy Dillard is a first-year school of psychology PhD student within the College of Education. Previously, she obtained her Masters in the Art of Teaching from the University of Portland and worked as a 5th grade general education and 7th grade English Language arts teacher in Tampa, FL. Currently, Cassidy holds a Florida professional teaching license for grades K-12 with an ESOL and Reading endorsement. She aspires to become a licensed psychologist that specializes in neurodivergent affirming practices and mental health.

As a future licensed school psychologist, I aim to support students with disabilities to become happy, employable, and successful young adults. I’m an autistic self-advocate, and as such, I have served on committees where I have provided insight into my autistic experience. I have contributed to ASD research at the Thompson Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and am proud to be a Missouri LEND Fellow

My name is Serena (Shuang) Wu, an international student from Shanghai, China. As a first-generation college student in my family, I understand the importance of education and the transformative power it holds. This is what has driven my passion for empowering underrepresented communities throughout my academic journey. My research interest lies in exploring effective strategies and interventions to support children with behavioral and mental struggles, specifically those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. I would like to understand the intersectionality of culture, language, and mental health in order to develop culturally responsive and inclusive intervention approaches. Looking ahead, my future aspiration is to establish a connection between these children, their schools, and their families through creating an environment that fosters their growth and development.