The Team

Tiffany Yip, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Tiffany Yip, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Fordham University. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Cornell University, earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology at NYU, and completed a NIMH and NSF-funded postdoctoral fellowship in the Psychology Department at the University of Michigan. Her research on ethnic identity, discrimination, and sleep among minority adolescents and young adults has been published in American Psychologist, Child Development, Developmental Psychology, and Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Dr. Yip currently serves as an Associate Editor for Child Development and the Asian American Journal of Psychology. Dr. Yip is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division 7 (Developmental Psychology) and Division 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race) and her research has been funded by NICHD, NIMHD, NIMH, and NSF.

Heining Cham, Ph.D.

Co-Investigator

Heining Cham, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at Fordham University. He received his B.S. degree in Psychology at Peking University and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Quantitative Research Methods (Quantitative Psychology) at Arizona State University. His research on quantitative methodologies, including latent variable interactions, propensity score analysis, and missing data analysis, has been published in Psychological Methods, Psychological Assessment, Multivariate Behavioral Research, and Educational and Psychological Measurement. Heining currently serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Psychology - Quantitative Psychology and Measurement and on the Editorial Board of Multivariate Behavioral Research and Psychological Assessment. Heining is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division 5 (Quantitative and Qualitative Methods), the recipient of the Anne Anastasi Distinguished Early Career Contributions Award of the American Psychological Association, Division 5, and the recipient of the Rising Star designation of Association for Psychological Science. He serves as a co-investigator in research funded by NCI, NIA, NIMHD, NIMH, IES, and other agencies.

Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, Ph.D.

NIH Diversity Supplement Recipient (R01MD015715)

Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She received her undergraduate degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Psychology and Sociology, earned her MA from New York University (NYU) in Human Development and Social Intervention, and her PhD from Stanford University in Developmental and Psychological Sciences.
Her research seeks to develop a nuanced understanding of what it means to "belong" and how this sense of belonging impacts life outcomes such as academic performance and mental health. Together with her research team, she focuses on exploring these concepts among culturally diverse populations, and examining how sense of belonging is associated with various social identities (gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.). Her research is published in American Psychologist, Emerging Adulthood, and Teachers College Record and has been funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and National Institute of Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD).

Angela Zhao, M.A.

Lab Manager/Project Director

Angela Zhao received her M.A. in Human Development Research and Policy and her B.S. in Applied Psychology at New York University. As an undergraduate, she worked with Drs. Sumie Okazaki and Doris Chang on issues of identity, belonging, and individual & community well-being among Asian Americans at the CARA/ABRA Project. As a graduate student, she also coordinated a machine-learning project to classify hate speech on social media at the CARA/ABRA Project and an independent survey research project on interpersonal curiosity and stereotyping with Dr. Niobe Way. Her research interests include how discrimination and inequality shape people’s experiences, relationships, and identity. She plans to pursue her Ph.D. in Social Psychology.

Enrique Dimagiba, M.S.,  M.D.

Data Manager

Enrique Dimagiba received his M.S. in Biostatistics at New York University, and he earned his diplomate in Internal Medicine, his Doctor of Medicine at St. Luke's Medical Center College of Medicine, and his B.S. in Health Sciences at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. His research interests include healthcare disparities, clinical epidemiology, time-to-event analysis, and patient-centered outcome research.

Zhenqiang Zhao, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Zhenqiang Zhao is a postdoctoral fellow in the Psychology Department at Fordham University. He received his doctoral degree in Family Studies and Human Development at University of Arizona. His research broadly focuses on the positive development of sexual orientation and gender diversity among youth. He is particularly interested in 1) sexual orientation and gender identity disclosure and concealment procedures in diverse social contexts (e.g., family, school), and 2) intersectionality of multiple minority identities (e.g., race/ethnicity) as well as its impact on sexual and gender minority youth’s developmental adjustment.

Jinjin Yan, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Jinjin Yan received her doctoral degree in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research interests broadly center on understanding ethnic minority families’ positive adaptation through the lens of culture. In one line of research, she investigates how acculturation and enculturation experiences influence positive psychosocial adjustment among ethnic minority families. Her second research line is to identify risk factors (e.g., cultural stressors and parental stressors) and resilience factors (e.g., heritage cultural values and orientation) in ethnic minority youth’s positive adaptation.

Kyle Lorenzo, Ph.D.

Graduate Research Assistant

Kyle Lorenzo is currently a 5th-year graduate student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program at Fordham University. He received his BAs in Psychology and Biological Sciences with minors in Cognitive Sciences and International Studies at North Carolina State University. Kyle’s research interests include interdisciplinary approaches to exploring health disparities and identity development among racial/ethnic minority youth.

Jiawei (Ada) Wu

Graduate Research Assistant

Jiawei (Ada) Wu is a 1st-year graduate student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program at Fordham University. She is especially interested in mental health problems and related physical conditions among minority groups in society. She hopes to learn more about the research process and gain a better understanding of health concerns in minorities. Ada hopes to become a professor to educate future generations about the importance of mental well-being in the future.

Iida Linkka

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Iida Linkka is a fourth year student double majoring in Psychology and History on the Pre-Health track. As a member of the Latinx community herself, she hopes her work in this lab can contribute to revealing more about the disparities in mental health care which minorities face. Her research interests broadly include developmental psychology and cross cultural psychology. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or psychiatry. Outside of the lab, she is president of Fordham’s Psychology Club and Vice President of Fordham’s chapter of the nonprofit organization A Moment of Magic, which provides creative programing to children with medical vulnerabilities.

Douglas Gelman

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Douglas Gelman is a fourth-year undergraduate and first-year accelerated master’s student at Rose Hill. He is pursuing a BS in psychology with a minor in bioethics and an MS in Applied Psychological Methods. His research interests include maladaptive self-perception and identity formation, focusing more specifically on perfectionist trait development in late adolescent and adult populations.

Yamelis Valarezo

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Yamelis Valarezo is a senior at Fordham Lincoln Center pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies. She is excited to be part of the YDDC lab and further broaden her experience in the field of psychology. She hopes to pursue a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology and focus on mental health disparities amongst Latinx communities as well as other BIPOC groups.

Emma Eitmann

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Emma Eitmann is a junior at Fordham University Rose Hill campus, majoring in psychology. Emma is passionate about psychopathology, the social-emotional development of children and adolescents, emotional regulation, as well as the general development of minority groups. After graduation, Emma is planning on pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Rucha Kulkarni

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Rucha Kulkarni is a sophomore at Fordham University Rose Hill campus majoring in psychology on the Pre-Health track. Rucha's research interests include exploring healthcare disparities in minorities and racial/ethnic differences in the symptomatology of certain disorders. She recently presented a literature review of cultural variability regarding contamination OCD symptoms at the FCRH undergraduate research symposium. Outside of the lab, she is the co-leader of SIC Happy Hopes and event coordinator for Hindu Students Council.

Cindy Liu 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Cindy Liu (she/her) is a junior at Fordham University Rose Hill, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Mandarin Chinese and Computer Science. Her research interests include: psychopathology, social psychology, social determinants of Asian-American mental health, discrimination, and child/adolescent development. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a PsyD in Clinical Psychology and working with Asian-American youth from historically underserved communities.

Saniya Jasani

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Saniya Jasani is a junior at Fordham University Lincoln Center, majoring in psychology on the pre-health track. Her research interests focus on exploring mental health disparities among minority communities. After graduation, Saniya plans to apply to medical school, where she aims to improve health outcomes for underserved populations.

Kelsey Kelly O'Brien

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Kelsey Kelly O'Brien graduated from Fordham University with a B.S. in Psychology. She is happy to be part of YDDC to explore and enrich her research experience. She hopes to pursue an M.S. in marriage and family therapy, focusing on interracial relationships, and a PsyD. in mental health counseling. She is interested in studying minority individuals in social and cultural settings throughout major life stages.

Sydney Orama

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sydney Orama is a senior at Rose Hill majoring in psychology (BS) and minoring in Latin American and Latino Studies. She is interested in studying the mental health disparities that minority groups face. She hopes to pursue a career in environmental psychology, focusing on how the environment can influence behaviors and experiences among those in the ASD community and other developmental disabilities.

Dayana Lazo-Lazo

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Dayana Lazo-Lazo is a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Latin American/Latino Studies. She is highly excited to join the YDDC Lab as a research assistant to help hone her communication skills and gain experience in psychology and lab work. She is interested in becoming a therapist, and she hopes to help contribute to making mental healthcare more accessible to BIPOC communities. 

Rebecca Garvey

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Rebecca Garvey is a senior who is majoring in psychology with a minor in marketing, and she is from Massachusetts. She is excited to be part of the YDDC Lab, and she is interested in how socioeconomic factors influence youth development.

Gabriela Lucero

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Gabriela Lucero is a Senior at Fordham University's Rose Hill campus, pursuing a B.S. degree in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology on the Pre-Med track. Her academic focus lies in exploring the intricate biological systems related to sleep. Specifically, Gabriela is keen on investigating how sleep patterns among college students impact their physical and mental well-being. Her engagement extends to participating in our Biomarkers program. She has honed her skills in examining blood pathogens through hands-on experience at our Dry Blood Spotting (DBS) station, where she adeptly collects blood samples. Beyond her academic pursuits, she aims to attend Dental school and specialize as a Pediatric Dentist. In her leisure time, Gabriela enjoys spending quality moments with her canine companions, following the New York Knicks, and maintaining an active lifestyle by going to the gym.

Phuong Bui

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Phuong Bui is a sophomore majoring in Marketing with a minor in Psychology, with a strong interest in human behavioral research. She has previously conducted independent research on how colored surgical masks affect adolescents’ ability to recognize emotions. More recently, she explored how platforms like TikTok and Reddit perpetuate and popularize conspiracy theories. These experiences have deepened her understanding of human behavior and strengthened her ambition to become a Consumer Insights Analyst, where she hopes to apply her knowledge to help businesses better connect with their audiences.

Ayya Omar

Advisory Board Member

Ayya Omar is an undergraduate sophomore at Fordham College at Rose Hill, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Business Administration and Arabic. Ayya is interested in Developmental, Clinical, and Counseling Psychology. She serves on the Community Advisory Board as an advisor for the Fordham University Sleep Study (FUSS). She is also the treasurer of the Psychology Club and secretary of the Arabic Club.

Araly Langomas

Advisory Board Member

Araly Langomas (she/they) is a senior at the Gabelli School of business, majoring in Marketing, minoring in Economics. She is a 3rd-year Resident Assistant, the President of Spoon University, a Community Board Advisor for the Fordham University Sleep Study, and an intern at a public relations agency.

Audrey Gomez

Advisory Board Member

Audrey Gomez (she/they) is a sophomore at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. Audrey plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. She is a FUSS advisory board member and research assistant in Dr. Karen Siedlecki’s Memory & Aging Lab.

Tanjila Rahman

Advisory Board Member

Tanjila Rahman (she/her) is a sophomore at Fordham University at Rose Hill who majors in Biology on the Pre-Med track. Tanjila takes part in the FUSS Advisory Board. Tanjila's goal is to pursue her goal of becoming a Physician Assistant with interests in Psychology and Emergency Medicine.