Cole Cayard is pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology at University of Minnesota. Post undergrad, I have aspirations to attend medical school and potentially doing a MD/PhD program with the goal of a career in Neurology. Outside of academics, I can often be found in the ambulance working as Lead EMT. While during my free time I love to read a good book or go for a relaxing run.
Ana Mireya Díaz is a doctoral student in the department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. An educator by training, she worked for several years in community-based education, development projects and research. She holds a M.A. in Educational Studies-Teaching and Learning from the University of Michigan and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is interested in relational and learning supports for young people who have experienced trauma, risk and resiliency factors in the case of families touched by parental mental illness, and intervention research. In her free time, she enjoys getting to know the Twin Cities with her partner, spending time with their dog, Paulo, and watching a good movie (preferably with popcorn).
Hannah is a senior majoring in Family Social Science with a minor in Developmental Psychology. She is passionate about working with children and their families, and she plans to pursue a career in Child Life or Family Therapy. In her free time, she works as a dance coach, serves as head of recruitment for her sorority, and volunteers at Children’s Minneapolis. She is excited for the opportunity to work with Dr. Weiler’s team and gain valuable research experience.
Sophia Frank is a fourth-year student at the University of Minnesota pursuing a B.S. in Family Social Science. Interested in the social, emotional, and behavioral development of adolescents and the impact of childhood experiences in adulthood, Sophia hopes to support emotion regulation in youth while navigating various educational and research
settings. Following the completion of her undergraduate degree, she aspires to obtain a master’s degree in developmental psychology. In her spare time, Sophia enjoys painting, reading, and spending time with her family.
Briana Joseph is a second-year student at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Biology, Society, Environment and minoring in Family Social Science. She is interested in youth mentorship, support for young people who have experienced trauma, and rural mental health needs. In her free time, Briana enjoys playing tennis, reading, and taking walks with her Golden Lab. She is excited for the opportunity to work with Dr. Weiler’s team and gain valuable research experience.
Yunqi (Kay) He is a doctoral student in the Family Social Science department at the University of Minnesota. She received a M.A. in communication from Rutgers University and a B.A. in psychology and communication from the University of Delaware. She is interested in finding ways to support children who have experienced trauma and families who are at risk due to living circumstances. After she finishes her Ph.D., she hopes to hold a faculty position where she can complement her research career with teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In her spare time, Kay likes watching stand-up comedy and traveling.
Meredith McDowell is a junior at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities pursuing a B.A. in Human Physiology and a Spanish Studies minor with the College of Liberal Arts. This foundational knowledge will fuel her medical education and she hopes that it will help her meet communal healthcare needs. In her free time, she loves to work out, read, cook, paint, and play quadball(google it) for the university’s competitive travel team and the Major League Quadball summer team known as the Minneapolis Monarchs. Meredith is a Research Assistant for the RiseUp Red Wing rural youth mental health project and is honored to perform such meaningful work.
Čante Nakanishi (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota) is pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, with a focus on couples and family therapy. She received her M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Wisconsin – Stout and her A.B. in Psychology from Dartmouth College. As a result of her diverse upbringing, she has dedicated her career to her community, addressing multicultural/intersectional family issues, and intergenerational healing. Her research focus includes perinatal mental health in Native communities, intercultural couples, and historical trauma healing.
Haoran Zhou is a doctoral student in the Family Social Science department (CFT track). Born and growing up in Wuhan, a populated city in central China, he received his bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from Central China Normal University and later attended University of Pennsylvania for his master’s degree in mental health counseling. His research interest is related to prevention and interventions for youth along with their families ever exposed to trauma incidents. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out, watching movies, cook different recipes, and play some video games.
Not Pictured: Katy Johnson, Anya Congreve
Previous Team Members
Previous members not pictured: Lila Khan, Nathasha Chandrasekharan, Leah Jordan, Claire Busse