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Author Biography

Yarisbel Melo Herrera, Ph.D. Candidate in Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, ymelo@uri.edu

Yarisbel Melo Herrera is a Registered Dietitian and Ph.D. Candidate in Health Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition at the University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include perinatal nutrition, women’s health, and public health nutrition. Her dissertation project aims to improve the diet quality of WIC-participating women using online grocery shopping environments. As a Latina of color born and raised in Panama City, Panama, Yarisbel is also passionate about helping reduce health disparities in the Hispanic/Latinx community and promoting diversity and inclusion in research and the dietetics profession.

Jiangping Cai, Doctoral candidate in the URI/RIC PhD in Education Program, and Associate Teaching Professor of Chinese, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Rhode Island. jiangping_cai@uri.edu.

Jiangping Cai is a doctoral candidate and an associate teaching professor of Chinese at the University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include second language acquisition, the experiences of multilingual learners, and identity of multilingual learners. Her dissertation project aims to explore the lived experiences of English-speaking multilingual learners studying Chinese and how they perceive their identities.

Mardoche W. Telusma, Doctoral candidate in the URI PhD Clincal Psychology Program, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, telusmam@uri.edu.

Mardoche W. Telusma is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of Rhode Island. She graduated with a B.A in Public Health at Simmons University. Her research and clinical population interests are LGBTQIA+, racial/ethnic minorities, and first-generation individuals. Specifically, she is interested in intersectionality and the following experiences: trauma (sexual and racial), depression, anxiety, and familial relationships.

Jacquelyn Potvin, Ph.D. Candidate in Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, jpotvin@uri.edu

Jackie is a PhD student in Health Sciences with a focus in Nutrition at the University of Rhode Island. Jackie is primarily interested in community nutrition and working with underserved populations. Her current research focuses around a USDA Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) grant. She is working in the Amin Lab to study the effects of a combined STEAM- and nutrition-education summer program on underserved, racially and ethnically diverse elementary-aged youth in Rhode Island. She hopes to continue working in community nutrition education upon graduation.

Orianna D. Carvalho, Ph.D. Candidate in Behavioral Science, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, OriannaCarvalho@uri.edu

Orianna is a doctoral candidate in Behavioral Science at the University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include basic needs insecurity and how institutions such as colleges and universities can bolster their students’ success by providing basic needs support. Her current research involves conducting a statewide assessment of mental health and substance use services offered, a survey of food insecurity at the University of Rhode Island, and stress experienced by college students with minoritized identities of gender and sexuality.

Brenda Santos, Research Director, Annenberg Institute at Brown University, brenda_santos@brown.edu

Brenda received her PhD in Education from the University of Rhode Island and is currently leading research practice partnerships with Rhode Island school districts at the Annenberg Institute at Brown University. Her interests in applied research include disciplinary literacy, culturally responsive and sustaining practice, teacher learning, community-engaged evaluation, and equity in school improvement.

Qingyu Yang, Ph.D. student in the URI/RIC PhD in Education Program, and Associate Teaching Professor of Chinese, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Rhode Island. kittyyang@uri.edu

Qingyu Yang is a doctoral student in the URI/RIC PhD in Education Program and an associate teaching professor of Chinese at the University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include second language acquisition, Chinese pedagogy, intercultural communicative competence development, proficiency oriented teaching and assessment.

Joise Garzón, PhD, MSW, LICSW, Assistant Professor in the Master of Social Work Program, Rhode Island College. jgarzon@ric.edu

Joise was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island at a young age. She received her PhD in Education from the University of a Rhode Island and is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Master of Social Work Program at Rhode Island College, the Co-Director of the Social Work Practice Latinx Center of Excellence, and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Her research interests include college persistence and retention, the experiences of Latinx college students, the experiences of faculty of color, and peer mentorship.

Hayley Lindsey, PhD student in Clinical Psychology, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, hayley_lindsey@uri.edu

Hayley Lindsey is a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include health behaviors, behavioral interventions, interdisciplinary approaches, and health equity in populations that experience headache diseases (e.g., migraine) and/or chronic pain. Her current work focuses on multiple health behavior change in adults who experience migraines.

Aradhana Srinagesh, PhD student in Clinical Psychology, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, asrinagesh@uri.edu

Aradhana Srinagesh is interested in the intersection of Psychology and Public Health, specifically, investigating risk and protective factors for alcohol and substance use by adopting novel methodologies and mobile technology (JITAIs, EMA) to increase accessibility and dissemination of culturally sensitive interventions. She identifies as first-generation immigrant and her immigrant experiences have shaped her commitment to education, equity, and social justice.

Bobby Gondola, Ph.D. College of Education, University of Rhode Island, Community College of Rhode Island, bobbygondola@uri.edu.

Bobby Is a college administrator at New England’s largest community college, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), serving in leadership roles as head of the Flanagan campus, Associate Vice President for Advancement and College Relations, and Executive Director of the CCRI Foundation. His research centers community college students’ voices through participatory action research and participant-generated arts-based methods so that their perspectives are activated when decisions must be made by college administrators; his career experience spans executive roles in the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors, and he teaches courses at both the University of Rhode Island and Johnson & Wales University.

Elizabeth-Ann R. Viscione, PhD Student in Clinical Psychology, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, eviscione@uri.edu

Elizabeth-Ann is a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Rhode Island. Her research focuses on sexual functioning and experience, often with a particular focus on those who identify as women. Her clinical interests include working with adults contending with sexual dysfunction or mental health concerns associated with medical conditions.

Jodi Sutherland Charvis, Ph.D. Student in Behavioral Science, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, jodisutherland@uri.edu

Jodi is a Ph.D. student in Behavioral Science at the University of Rhode island. Her research interests include health risk behaviors, health behavior change and social determinants of health linked with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in various cultural groups.

Annemarie Vaccaro, Associate Dean & Professor, College of Education, University of Rhode Island, avaccaro@uri.edu

Dr. Annemarie Vaccaro is a Professor and Associate Dean in the College of Education at the University of Rhode Island. Her scholarship focuses on the experiences of diverse students, faculty and staff in higher education. She uses qualitative research methods to document rich and nuanced experiences in varied post-secondary settings. She enjoys mentoring graduate students and supporting their scholarly journeys.

Abstract

Research has shown that graduate students experience a host of stressors as they navigate higher education. This study was a participant-generated visual method (PGVM) project with 14 doctoral students from one research university in the northeastern United States. The purpose of this study was to illuminate doctoral students’ experiences as the world was progressing toward a post-pandemic reality. Data sources included visual image solicitation, a focus group interview, and individual memoing over one semester. Several themes emerged, including stressors related to working while in graduate school, finances, and social challenges. This study offers insights to graduate programs seeking to reduce student stress and support student success. It also offers support for the use of PGVMs to illustrate complex experiences and to connect participants in ways that could support graduate students coping with stress.

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