The Community Health Advocacy for Minority Populations, Immigrants, and Other Newcomers, and their Mental Health (CHAMPION Mental Health) Lab seeks to actively promote the value and benefits of utilizing Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) as a critical approach to examining and addressing mental health equity issues and health disparities that are relevant to community members who experience stigmatization, marginalization, and discrimination due to their age, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, Aboriginal status, migrant status, national origin, socioeconomic status, disability, and/or HIV status.
The mission of the CHAMPION Mental Health Lab is to conduct collaborative research with like-minded academic colleagues and community stakeholders with lived and work experiences relevant to the lab’s research agenda, particularly through community engagement, equitable partnerships, meaningful involvement, capacity-building, and shared governance and ownership of responsibilities and new knowledge. The lab’s vision is to be a robust research entity that is a positive force for advocacy for the rights and needs of marginalized populations. Using qualitative, quantitative, action, and mixed research methods, the lab’s primary aim is to conduct studies that will generate outcomes and lessons, which will inform and help innovate prevention and intervention programs, organizational policies, and efforts to improve access to services for underserved and underprivileged communities.
People
Lianne Barnes received her PhD in Social Psychology from UCLA in 2019. Her research goal is to understand how going through painful experiences changes how we empathize with others who have been through similar experiences, how that shared experience impacts the quantity and quality of any support offered to the empathy recipient, and how we can increase support for people experiencing trauma. Dr. Barnes has also looked at empathy toward outgroup members, such as members of the LGBTQ community, and has conducted cultural neuroscience research in Amman, Jordan. Dr. Barnes uses experimental methods and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Email: lianne.barnes@unlv.edu. As an Associate Professor-In-Residence in the UNLV Department of Psychology, Dr. Barnes collaboratively co-mentors the graduate and undergraduate research assistants of the CHAMPION Mental Health lab.
Danica Christy is a graduate student in the Psychological and Brain Sciences PhD Program. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2023. Her research interests focus on mental health and protective factors among sexual and gender minorities. As a Las Vegas native, she aims to utilize her research to advocate for underserved populations in the area. Danica can be contacted at chrisd5@unlv.nevada.edu.
Richelle Kennett is a graduate student in the Psychological and Brain Sciences PhD program. She graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Social Psychology and a B.A. in Gender Studies. As a queer, AAPI woman, her research aims to understand the sexual wellbeing and stereotypes of gender, sexual, and racial minorities. Her goal is to produce research that can inform and improve resources for marginalized communities. She can be contacted at kennett@unlv.nevada.edu.
Mak Blewett received their undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Gender and Sexualities Studies at UNLV in 2024. Their research interests are focused on how different forms of support systems can increase the mental health and well-being of transgender and gender non-conforming people in Las Vegas. They hope to raise more awareness and expand on research about the transgender community within the field of psychology. Outside of their studies Mak enjoys reading, writing poetry, and hiking. Should you have any further questions for Mak, please contact them at blewett@unlv.nevada.edu.
Star Chimilio Lawson recently received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Human Services. Her research interests focus on social work, with an emphasis on promoting the well-being of racial and sexual minorities. She hopes to enhance mental health services for these populations by developing strategies to address the barriers that limit their access to quality care. You can contact Star via email: star.chimiliolawson@unlv.edu.
Mykala Hannah is an undergraduate student who is set to graduate in Fall of 2026 with her BA in Psychology. As a black woman a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, her interests lie in the mental health, well-being and emotional safety of marginalized and underrepresented communities from a clinical psychology lens. After graduation, Mykala plans to pursue her master’s and, in time, become a Clinical Professional Counselor. Aside from school, Mykala loves baking, spending time with loved ones, playing pool, and building her TBR book list. She can be contacted at: hannam9@unlv.nevada.edu.
Andrea (Rea) Navarro is a postbaccalaureate with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Their research interests lies in cyberpsychology with a specific focus in mental health, discrimination, and stereotypes through a digital lens. Rea plans to pursue a career as a research psychologist with the goal of advocating for social justice. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, they are passionate about the full de-stigmatization of gender and sexual minorities. To contact Rea, e-mail navara20@unlv.nevada.edu.
Katelyn (Kat) Rivera most recently attained a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies. They are interested in bringing more awareness to mental health in minorities and helping shed the stigma surrounding mental health and seeking help. More specifically, they seek to help families and communities gain help they may think is not available to them. After getting their B.A., they plan to get their master’s and become a Marriage and Family Therapist. As a queer individual, they hope to enter the field also giving attention and care to LGBTQ+ folx. When not in school, Kat enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends, reading books, and doing art. Kat can be contacted at riverk15@unlv.nevada.edu.
Former Graduate Assistants/Students
Sherry Bell, PhD, was a graduate student in the Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS) PhD Program with a Quantitative, Social, and Community area emphasis from 2020 to 2023. Sherry’s research interests include employing participatory action research, mixed methods, and social network analyses to promote health and well-being for underserved communities. Specifically, she is interested in collaborating with communities to promote health and empowering individuals to make their own decisions that affect their lives and health, while respecting different identities. Sherry is currently a postdoctoral fellow of the Psychology department at the University of Oregon and can be contacted at sherryb@uoregon.edu.
Brandon Ranuschio, PhD, joined the CHAMPION Mental Health Lab as a doctoral student in the Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS) PhD program at UNLV after receiving his Bachelor’s in Psychology from UNLV in 2018. His research interests focus on gender and sexual minorities and factors that contribute to mental health, resilience, and positive outcomes. His PhD research project looked into neurocognitive conditions in HIV positive men. Brandon is now currently working in PIE ORG in Chicago, Illinois, as an Evaluation Coach and can be contacted at brandon@pieorg.org.
Former Undergraduate and Post-Bacc Research Assistants
Jenna Despres received her Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2019. She is currently working to pursue a a Master in Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Her research interests are focused on the LGBTQ+ community, their heightened mental illness, and relationship dynamics in diverse types of relationships. She hopes to add to pre-existing research on how gender/sexuality interacts with mental health. Jenna can be contacted at despres@unlv.nevada.edu.
Elijah Gutman was an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Psychology degree with a minor in communications. His research interests include drug addiction, program development, and social development. Elijah aspires to increase funding in the mental health field via policy and community outreach. Aside from school, he loves yoga, music, meditation, and food, of course. Should you have any further questions for Elijah, please contact him at gutmae1@unlv.nevada.edu.
Trinity Puno received her B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology degree with a minor in Psychology in 2021. Her research interests include identifying the complications minorities face when trying to better their mental and physical health. Moreover, she is interested in formulating the most efficient interventions for minorities of Las Vegas by minimizing inequities. Trinity is currently attending medical school at the University of Montana and eventually hopes to practice in Las Vegas. Aside from school, she loves arts and crafts, music, and spending time with family. Should you have any further questions for Trinity, please contact her at puno@unlv.nevada.edu.
Alexander Ribeiro was an undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Psychology degree and a minor in Family Studies when he joined the lab. His research interests are primarily to explore the gap that exists between service providers and minorities in need of mental health services. In his free time, Alexander enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as listening to music. Alexander is now pursuing a Masters of Science in Couple and Family Therapy at UNLV and can be contacted at ribeia1@unlv.nevada.edu.
Aruna Sedere received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2020. His research interests are focused on addressing complications in the healthcare field that hinder a patient’s treatment. Aruna joined the CHAMPION Mental Health Lab in Fall of 2019 with the intent of exploring the treatment minorities receive in the Las Vegas medical system. Whether the patient is of a racial/sexual minority or an individual with mental health complications, Aruna wants to explore the treatment each patient receives. If you want to contact Aruna, you can email him at sedere@unlv.nevada.edu.
Nadia Sheik Yosef was an undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Psychology degree with a minor in Criminal Justice. Her passions include relieving the stigma revolving around mental health and helping to increase the comfort level for all individuals who feel that they may need to seek help. More specifically, she would like to shed light on minorities who feel that they don’t have equal opportunity to get the unbiased and open-minded care that they deserve. Nadia is currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work at Columbia University. You can contact Nadia by email: sheikn1@unlv.nevada.edu.
Esmeralda Villalobos received her undergraduate B.S. in Biology degree and a minor in Neuroscience at UNLV in 2023. Her research interests center around healthcare disparities affecting local underserved communities. Esmeralda hopes to go to medical school and become a physician. Some of her other interests include painting, reading, going to concerts, and hanging out with friends. If you would like to contact Esmeralda, please send an email to villae12@unlv.nevada.edu.
Janelle Wackens received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2023 and is currently pursuing an MBA at UNLV. She is interested in addressing issues that minorities face and how to accommodate their needs. She hopes to work in mental health in Las Vegas in the future. When she is not in school, she loves spending time with family, listening to music, and writing. Janelle can be contacted at wackens@unlv.nevada.edu.
