Lab Members
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. May Ling Halim, Director |
Dr. May Ling Halim is a Professor of Psychology at CSULB. Dr. Halim completed her MA and PhD in Social Psychology
with a Developmental Focus and Quantitative Minor at New York University and her BA in Psychology at Stanford University.
Dr. Halim has won numerous awards and grants, such as from the National Science Foundation and the American Psychological Foundation. She has been invited to speak
at several events and universities such as the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology and the Society for Research on Child Development Biennial Meeting.
Her research spans two broad areas. The first examines the development of gender and racial intergroup
attitudes. The second focuses on gender identity development among diverse young children. Her research
has been published in national academic journals such as Child Development, Developmental Psychology, and
Health Psychology and has been used to inform legal proceedings (e.g., ACLU, Supreme Court), government policy (e.g., White House) and educational policies (e.g., Head Start). Her work has also been written about in the popular media, such as on NPR, CNN and in
Psychology Today, and she has written op-eds for Huffington Post and NBC Think. She has also served as a Consulting Editor or Editorial Board
Member for several academic journals including Child Development, Journal of Cognition and Development, and Sex Roles.
Dr. Halim also consulted as a Program Director at the CSULB Center for Evaluation and Educational Effectiveness.
(Download CV) |
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Joshua Diaz
 |
Joshua Diaz is a second-year graduate student in CSULB’s Master’s in Psychological Research program. He plans to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology, with the long-term goal of becoming a professor and conducting interdisciplinary research. His research interests include ethnic-racial identity development, group dynamics, social activism, and critical consciousness – with a focus on how social structures and lived experiences shape psychological, affective, and neurocognitive processes. In addition to his research training, Joshua currently works as a graduate assistant at CSULB’s Center for Evaluation and Educational Effectiveness, where he contributes to applied research and evaluation efforts aimed at identifying evidence-based practices that promote student success, equity, and institutional effectiveness. |
Mark Ortiz-Payne
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Mark is a second-year graduate student in the Master's of Arts in Psychological Research program at CSULB. He finished his BA in Psychology at CSULB in 2021, and he worked with Dr. Halim as an undergraduate research assistant. His goal is to earn a PhD in Community Psychology and conduct research as a professor. He is interested in doing research on issues impacting LGBTQ+ communities and investigating the societal causes of those issues. His hope is to use research to advance knowledge about LGBTQ+ experiences and promote societal changes for LGBTQ+ communities. |
UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTBACCALAUREATE STUDENTS
Pauline Atienza
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Pauline is an undergraduate senior who is majoring in Psychology and also completing pre-medicine coursework. Her goal is to attend medical school to become a pediatrician. Before medical school, Pauline plans to work with children with cognitive disabilities as a Registered Behavior Technician. Ultimately, Pauline desires to be able to provide holistic health care in her future career – as she knows the crucial value psychology has in understanding children and their development. |
Brianna Gonzalez
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Brianna received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Forensic Studies in the Summer of 2025. She plans to get a Master's degree in Forensic Psychology and a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. Brianna aims to examine how early trauma, psychopathology, and environmental risk factors can influence criminal behavior and recidivism across the life span. In the future, Brianna plans to work as a forensic psychologist in a juvenile detention facility to support disadvantaged and marginalized youth within the system. Currently, she works with children on the spectrum as a behavior technician. |
Elijah Jimenez Gutierrez
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Elijah is a junior who transferred to CSULB in Fall 2025 and is a Psychology major. His future goal is to join a graduate program in Art Therapy and become certified so he can provide clinical care through the therapeutics of art. His research interests currently are in identity/gender development and family dynamics, especially within the transgender and gender non-conforming community. |
Ashley Nguyen
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Ashley is currently a senior undergraduate Child Development and Family Studies major with a minor in Psychology. She plans to pursue a Master’s degree in School Psychology, with the goal of becoming a School Psychologist. In addition to assisting in research, Ashley has experience working with young children (infancy through Pre-K) across a variety of settings. She is currently working as Toddler Lead Teacher at a Child Development Center. Her interests are in children’s mental health and understanding the role of school systems in supporting psychological well-being. |
Vanessa Olivares
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Vanessa graduated from CSULB in the Spring of 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Child Development and Family Studies. She is planning to attend graduate school to obtain a Master’s of Social Work. Currently, Vanessa works in the Long Beach Unified School District’s Expanded Learning Program. She’s located at an elementary school and works directly with children in Transitional Kindergarten to 5th grade. Vanessa's goal is to be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in a non-profit mental health setting, serving multilingual children and families from low-income backgrounds. |
LAB ALUMNI
Undergraduate Students
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Armando Alvarez, M.S. in Human Factors Psychology at CSULB
Maria Arredondo, B.A., Department Honors, Outstanding Senior in Psychology
Yvette Apatiga, B.A., M.S. in Human Factors Psychology at CSULB
Julianne Baek, B.A., Psychology
Benjamin Beyer, B.A., pursuing M.S. in Counseling at CSUDH
Jocelyn Borrego, B.A., Psychology
Elizabeth Campbell, B.A., Psychology
Eric Cortez, B.A., Psychology
Eliza Derfelt, B.A., Psychology
Kaelyn Echave, B.A., M.A. in School Psychology at CSULB
Melissa Ehlers, B.A., Psychology
Sophya Ekmekjian, B.A., pursuing Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology at Texas Tech
Megan Fisher, B.A., Psychology, Minor: Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies
Celeste Garcia, B.A., Psychology
Nancy Giang, B.A., pursuing M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy at CSUDH
Kimberly Griffin, B.A., Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at U. of La Verne
Kevin Han, B.A., pursuing a Ph.D. in School Psychology at UC Riverside
Emily Hermez, B.A., pursuing Psy.D. at Azusa Pacific San Diego
Keila Hirokawa, B.A., Psychology
Julyssa Juarez, B.A., M.A. in School Counseling at CSULB
Esther Kim, B.A, B.S., M.A. at John Jay University
Emerald Lee, B.A., M.A. in Social Work at CSU Fullerton
Lilian Lim, B.A., M.S. in Human Factors Psychology at CSULB
Natasha Lindner, B.A., Psychology
Natassia Mattoon, M.S. in Human Factors in Psychology at CSULB
Olivia Massey, B.A., M.A. in School Psychology at CSU Fullerton
Barbara Mendivil, B.A., Psychology
Keith Moy, B.A., Psychology
Sara Ortiz-Cubias, M.A. in School Counseling at CSULB’s School of Education
Kestel Owen, B.A. in Psychology, Fulbright Scholar
Aubrey Pellicano, M.A. in Academic Research in Psychology, Humboldt State
Daniella Ramirez, B.A., M.A. in Psychological Research at CSU Fullerton
Madison Rocha, B.A., Psychology
Jacqueline Cecile Ramos, B.A., Psychology
Julie Rossi, B.A., Psychology, Outstanding Senior in Psychology
Dylan Sakamoto, B.A., M.S. in Industrial Organization Psychology at CSULB
Crystal Sanchez, B.A., Psychology
Jaime Sanchez, B.A., M.S in Human Factors Psychology at CSULB
Samantha Sander, B.A., M.A. in School Psychology at San Diego State
Elaine Scenters-Zapico, B.A., M.A. in School Counseling at CSULB
Devynn Smith, B.A., pursuing M.A. in School Counseling at CSUF
Akashi Suon, B.A., Psychology
Sachiko Tawa, B.A., pursuing Psy.D. at Alliant International
Jannila Te, B.A., Psychology
Nathalie Torres, B.A., M.A in Social Work at USC
Kat Van Tol, B.A. in Psychology at CSULB
Audrey Tran, B.A., pursuing Psy.D. at Univ. of San Francisco
Emily Wang, B.A in Psychology at CSULB
Lisbet Wences, B.A., Psychology
Jessica Wysocki, B.A., Outstanding Senior in Psychology
Jeanette Zambrano, M.A., Ph.D. in Urban Education at USC, CSUSB Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Graduate Students
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Danielle Bryant, M.A. in Psychological Research, J. Robert Newman Scholar
Rita Butrus, M.A. in Psychological Research
Esther Choe, M.A. in Psychological Research
Ramon Flores, M.A., Ph.D. In Human Development and Psychology at UCLA
Anais Martinez, M.A., pursuing Ph.D. in Psychology at UC Riverside
Alisha Osornio, M.A. in Psychology