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.
CURRENT TEAM MEMBERS
Dr. Melanie Elyse Brewster is a professor of psychology and education at Columbia University in the counseling psychology PhD program. As a New York state licensed psychologist, she holds a part-time private psychotherapy practice and has worked with a broad array of clinical issues—ranging from identity development and career empowerment to recovery from trauma and sexual violence. Dr. Brewster co-founded the Sexuality, Women, and Gender Project at Teachers College, Columbia University—a graduate-level advanced certificate program.
Her book, Atheists in America, was published by Columbia University Press in 2014. She was formerly editor of the journal Secularism and Nonreligion and an associate editor for the Journal of Counseling Psychology.
Regarding other research and scholarship, Dr. Brewster writes extensively with colleagues across the globe on issues of minority stress, stigma, and discrimination.
Dr. Riddhi Sandil is an Associate Professor of Practice and Director of the Psychological Counseling Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Riddhi is also the co-founder of the Sexuality, Women, and Gender Project at Teachers College and Queer Anga, a queer wellness collective in NYC. Riddhi is passionate about increasing access to wellness for queer communities and awareness about minority stress, complex trauma, and intersectionality. A licensed psychologist, Riddhi is also particularly interested in understanding how systemic oppression can impact access to health resources and other social supports.
Sanjana Basker, MA (she/her) is a first-year 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 second-year 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 third-year counseling psychology 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 a fourth-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at TC. 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.
Olivia Snow MA, MEd, LMHC-LP is a graduate of the Teachers College, Columbia University Counseling EdM program and current doctoral student for the Counseling PhD program. She has previously served as an administrative coordinator for the SEI Fellowship program and Sexuality, Women, and Gender Advanced Certificate program. In her academic pursuits, she shaped her training to balance mental health and social justice by earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Ethnic Studies from Washington State University. While continuing her education at the Teachers College, Olivia also earned an Advanced Certification in Sexuality, Women, and Gender with a focus on Reproductive and Maternal Well-being. Beyond academia, Olivia has found it essential to engage in the reproductive justice movement through community engagement. She has trained with Ancient Song Doula services to become a full-spectrum doula which emphasizes supporting birthing individuals who exist within the margins of care. This work inspired her passion to support individuals who often find themselves experiencing the consequences of the growing health disparities in our current medical system. As researcher, Olivia has centered her passion on exploring the micro-, meso-, and macro-level intersectional considerations of the maternal mortality crisis including implicit bias from providers, identity development, and systemic oppression. In her free time she enjoys yoga, watching psychological thrillers, and caring for her many plant babies!
Sylvie Wong, EdM is a fourth-year doctoral student in Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program at TC. She grew up in Hong Kong and received her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Bates College and her Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her research is driven by the idea that the psychological stress of marginalized communities is inextricably linked to systems of oppression. She is interested in studying how family, culture, and sociopolitical landscapes shape the identity development and psychological outcomes of adolescents and young adults from marginalized backgrounds, with a particular interest in Asian Americans. Ultimately, she hopes to improve access to culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care for underserved youth and families through her research and clinical work. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, drawing, live music, and spending time with dogs.
ALUMNI
>> Doctoral alumni <<
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
Nadia 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