2023 Psychology News - Summer Edition

Message
from the Chair
This has been another stellar year for the Department, as
we continue to be the most popular major in the College. In
addition, we are the largest Ph.D. granting department in
the University, and our scholarship and extramural funding
is among the best at UM. As always, we are extremely
proud of these accomplishments, and I am grateful to the
faculty, students and staff who have made this happen.
On the pages that follow you will read about the recent accomplishments of many of our
faculty and students. For example, we are extremely proud to be home of the UM Center
for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM), which aims to bridge the boundaries that
have traditionally divided behavioral and biomedical research to catalyze mental health
HIV science in one of the regions of the United States hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. The overarching
theme of CHARM is to reduce the impact of mental health and minority health
disparities across the HIV prevention and care continua. The Center, under the direction of
Professor Steven Safren, was recently designated as a full NIMH AIDS Research Center and
funded for another 5 years.
We have been fortunate to recruit two new faculty members this year. One of our former
graduate students, Lara Traeger, joined our faculty in January, 2023 as an Associate
Professor in the Health Psychology Division. Lara comes to us from Harvard University/
Massachusetts General Hospital where she was a member of the psycho-oncology group,
and she will be an important contributor to the Cancer Survivorship Program at the
UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. We are also delighted that Mingbo Cai has
accepted our offer to join the faculty beginning in January, 2024. Mingbo was most recently
at the University of Tokyo where he used methods from probabilistic theory, psychology,
neuroscience and machine learning to understand the computation performed by the
human brain. As a member of the department’s Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
Program, Mingbo will also develop computational tools for understanding brain imaging
data. We are pleased to have both Lara and Mingbo with us, and we are excited about the
expertise and enthusiasm that they bring.
It is always sad to say farewell to one of our long-serving faculty, but Senior Lecturer Frank
Foote decided to retire this year. A former graduate student in our department, Frank
has been a stalwart in our undergraduate teaching program for the past 25 years. He
has always been willing to help out with our teaching needs, and he does so in selfless,
convivial manner. The Department owes Frank a debt of gratitude for his years of
outstanding service.
I hope you enjoy hearing about the department in the pages that follow. Once again, let
me thank you for your generous support of the department and its programs over the
years, and I look forward to working with you in the future.
Phil McCabe
Phil McCabe, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Established in 1993 by the Florida Legislature,
the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University
Center for Autism & Related Disabilities has served our
South Florida community with distinction for 30 remarkable years.
Our mission is to optimize the potential of people
living with autism and related disabilities.
The impactful programs and services we offer are provided at no direct
cost to Florida residents with autism and related disabilities of all ages,
their family members, the professionals who serve them, and the
communities in which they live, work, and play.
IT HAS BEEN OUR HONOR TO SERVE YOU.
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Give to Psychology
AND SUPPORT YOUR DEPARTMENT
www.psy.miami.edu/givetopsychology
For information about making a gift or a multi-year pledge to the
Department of Psychology, please contact
Dr. Michael Alessandri, malessandri@miami.edu (305) 284-6558.
MICHAEL ALESSANDRI, PH.D., EDITOR and VIVIAN M. PEREZ, LAYOUT & DESIGN
STAY CONNECTED

FACULTY AWARDS
Promotions
UM-PSYCHOLOGY NEWS
How Psychology is making news!
HIRING ON THE SPECTRUM
YOUR SOUTH FLORIDA
Dr. Michael Alessandri
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE
OF STRESS REDUCTION IN
CANCER CARE
Drs. Mike Antoni & Frank Penedo
JENNIFER DUROCHER, PH.D.
Associate Professor
Clinical Director, Center for Autism and
Related Disabilities (C.A.R.D.)
2023 IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AWARD
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and
Open Spaces Department
CHRISTINE F. DELGADO, PH.D.
Research Associate
Professor
MELISSA N. HALE, PH.D.
Clinical Associate
Professor
We are proud to recognize our faculty on their promotions.
These decisions reflect the faculty members’ achievements in teaching,
professional engagement and service to the university.
LEARN MORE
LINDA RAY INTERVENTION
CENTER EXTENDS HOURS,
EXPANDS SUPPORT
Isabel Chica, M.S.Ed.
LEARN MORE
LEARN MORE
BRAIN-WAVE DATA AND
HEARING TEST MAY HELP
DIAGNOSIS AUTISM EARLIER
Drs. Christine F Delgado &
Elizabeth A Simpson
LEARN MORE
Welcome
LARA TRAEGER , PH.D.
Associate Professor
HOW WE LEARN FROM
BEING WRONG CAN LEAD
TO ANXIETY
Dr. Aaron Heller
PSYCHOLOGIST HELPS TO
CURB YOUTH EMOTIONAL
STRUGGLES IN NOVEL WAYS
Dr. Jill Ehrenreich-May
SIMON HOWARD, PH.D.
Assistant Professor
Director of the Psychology of Racism, Identity,
Diversity, and Equity (PRIDE) lab
2022 MICHELLE ALEXANDER
EARLY CAREER AWARD
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
Dr. Lara Traeger is a clinical-health associate professor,
psychologist, and researcher whose work focuses on
strategies to enhance quality of life and resilience
among adults affected by cancer and aging.
Dr. Traeger particularly enjoys applying mixed
methods to emerging research questions. She
completed her graduate training at UM, so she is very
excited about the opportunity to work at a place that has meant so much to her
for so many years. Dr. Traeger is looking forward to shaping new research ideas
within our vibrant campus and city, in collaboration with UM faculty and student
collaborators.
LEARN MORE
AUTISM RATES HAVE TRIPLED.
IS IT NOW MORE COMMON
OR ARE WE JUST BETTER AT
DIAGNOSIS?
Dr. Jennifer S. Durocher
LEARN MORE
LEARN MORE
HIV SYMPOSIUM CONNECTS
RESEARCHERS, HEALTH
PROFESSIONALS
Dr. Steven Safren
LEARN MORE
SYLVESTER GOES TO
CAPITOL HILL IN SUPPORT OF
COMPREHENSIVE CANCER
SURVIVORSHIP ACT
Dr. Frank Penedo
HOW IMAMS CAN
DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL
HEALTH CARE AMONG
MUSLIMS
Dr. Amy Weisman de Mamani
LEARN MORE
LEARN MORE
YANERYS LEÓN, PH.D.
Research Associate Professor
Division Director, Applied Research and
Behavior Training
2023 ABAI OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD
Association for Behavior Analysis International
RESEARCH EXPLORES EARLY
PREDICTORS OF CHILDREN’S
LANGUAGE DELAYS
Dr. Lynn Perry
LEARN MORE
RESEARCHER IMAGINES A
WORLD WITHOUT GRATITUDE
Dr. Debra Lieberman
LEARN MORE

GRADUATE STUDENT NEWS
TRAINING RESEARCHERS TO COMBAT HIV INEQUITIES
IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES
A University of Miami program gives students experience in Black, Latino and LGBTQ
communities most affected by HIV.
A new training program at the University of Miami (UM) provides young researchers with
opportunities to work with some of the communities most affected by HIV health inequities.
Dr. Amishi Jha
Inspires Graduates at
Commencement
Amishi Jha, Ph.D., neuroscientist and professor of psychology in
the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience at the
University of Miami speaks at commencement to those earning
graduate degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences;
College of Engineering; Rosenstiel School of Marine,
Atmospheric, and Earth Science; Miller School of Medicine;
and the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
NOTABLES
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIONAwards
ALUMNI NEWS
The Culturally focused HIV Advancements through the Next Generation for Equity (CHANGE)
Training Program aims to equip the next generation of HIV behavioral scientists with the skills
required to address and eliminate health disparities in HIV treatment and prevention in South
Florida’s Black, Latino and LGBTQ communities, according to a UM news release.
MICHAEL
ALESSANDRI, PH.D.
FACULTY
AMISHI
JHA, PH.D.
FACULTY
ROXANA
BOLDEN
STAFF
MALENA
PRICE
GRADUATE STUDENT
CONGRATULATIONS ALUMNA LISA M. LÓPEZ, Ph.D., '01
RECIPIENT OF THE
Annette M. La Greca Distinguished Alumni Award and Colloquium Series
The award invites distinguished Ph.D. alum back to campus to discuss their
careers and meet with students and faculty.
DEBRA LIEBERMAN, PH.D.
Professor, Assistant Chair for Acedemic Affairs
PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT ORGANIZATION PGSO AWARDS
Mentor of the Year
CARMEN ORTEGA
ROD WELLENS OUSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
Teachers of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS ALUMNA IHEOMA IRUKA, PH.D., '05
RECIPIENT OF THE
American Psychological Association's
2022 Mid-Career Award for Outstanding Contributions
to Benefit Children, Youth and Families.
The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in
science, policy and practice.
SPENCER EVANS, PH.D.
ANNETTE LA GRECA, PH.D. &
JILL EHRENREICH-MAY, PH.D.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY MISSION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOALS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, THE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
IS TO ACQUIRE, ADVANCE, AND DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE WITHIN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BIOBEHAVIORAL
SCIENCES. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS THE DEPARTMENT SEEKS A BALANCE AMONG SEVERAL ACADEMIC
ENDEAVORS INCLUDING: TEACHING, RESEARCH AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, WHILE BEING MINDFUL OF
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ISSUES IN ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES.
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