identityLORE
identityLORE is the Laboratory for Oppression, Resilience, and Empowerment.
LORE, defined (archaic):
something that is taught, a lesson, something that is learned, knowledge gained through study or experience, a particular body of knowledge or a tradition.
TEAM MEMBERS
Sanjana Basker, MA (she/her) is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at TC. Prior to doctoral studies, she received her B.Sc. in International Affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology, served as a consultant for two large federal health agencies, received her M.A. in Psychology from The New School for Social Research, and completed a certificate program in gender and sexuality studies at The New School. Now, her research attends to sprawling issues of health, gender, sexuality, intimacy, and relationality as seen through an interdisciplinary and critical feminist lens. A short sample of recent interests includes chronic reproductive illness and medical mistrust, relationship anarchy and platonic partnership, the psychology of radicalization and deradicalization, embodiment and objectification, eroticism and the grotesque, and qualitative and feminist methods. Outside of research, Sanj loves to read (literally everything, but mostly romance novels), write (poorly, but with great enthusiasm), and watch the Great British Baking Show (ask her about The Bracket).
Cordelia Zhong is a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wellesley College. Prior to attending TC, she worked as a clinical research coordinator at Wellesley Centers for Women and the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute. Her research interests focus on exploring how digital technologies could be leveraged in adapting mental health interventions for minority populations and for low-resource environments where people seek mental health care (i.e., school, college, and primary care environments). She is bilingual in Mandarin and English, and in her free time, she enjoys going to museums, watching Broadway shows, and finding new dessert spots.
Monyae A. Kerney (she/They), M.A., M.S., is a PhD student at TC. Prior to doctoral study, she earned bachelor’s degrees in Psychology, Sociology, and African American Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University. She then earned her M.A in Spirituality, Mind, Body Psychology from TC’s SMBI Program and an advanced certificate in Sexuality, Women, and Gender (LGBTQ concentration). They began Their PhD at the University of Kentucky, where she earned her M.S in Counseling Psychology. Monyae then returned to TC in her third year for the completion of her PhD. Their gothic Black feminist research examines the role of the mind, body, spirit, and nature within quare Afro-indigenous onto-epistemology, including [non-Christian/non-religious] spiritual praxis as nontraditional healing approaches to psychotherapy. She employs her embodiment as a queer nonbinary Black womxn and the embodied wisdoms of sexual and gender minority Black womxn communities, to decolonize western models of research and healing intervention. She is also a 200-hour registered yoga teacher, full spectrum doula, horror film lover, Black cat mama, and amateur pole dancer (in her free time).
Veronica Kim, MA (they/them) is in their last year in the Counseling Psychology program at TC and in internship. They received a BFA in Studio Art and Philosophy from NYU and a MA in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Spirituality Mind-Body Practice from TC. Their research is driven by questions around stigma, identity, and resilience, such as 1) How do people with multiple marginalized identities develop and manage their identities? 2) How do people with stigmatized sexual identities cope with stigma? 3) How can spirituality promote individual and collective resilience against oppression? In addition to research, they like gallery hopping in Chelsea, beach days with friends, and boba.
ALUMNI
>> Doctoral alumni <<
Olivia Snow, PhD
Sylvie Wong, PhD
David Lopez Molina, PhD
Wei Motulsky, PhD
>> Masters alumni <<
Sarah Arango, EdM
Nick Bensmiller, EdM
Erik Berg, MA (clinical psychology)
Melissa Brenman, EdM
Taymy Caso, MA (clinical psychology)
Andy Chan, MA (clinical psychology)
Jacks Cheng, EdM
Sungsub (Billy) Choo, EdM
Banks Clippinger, EdM
Austin Eklund, EdM
JD Goates, EdM
Ryan Herman, EdM
Dezh Kelson, EdM
Brian TaeHyuk Keum, EdM
Siavonh Lenaburg, EdM
Charles Lovett, EdM
Negar Morshedian, EdM
Taylor Orlandoni, EdM
Dionne Regis, EdM
Nat Roberts, MA
Blake Soderstrom, EdM
Jasmine Sundri, EdM
Jason Wang, EdM
Stephanie Wong, EdM
Lindsey White, EdM
Aysegul Yucel, EdM
Claudia Zavala, EdM
