Dr. Oswaldo Moreno

Director, La Esperanza Research Program

Oswaldo Moreno (he/him/his), Ph.D. is the Director of La Esperanza Research Program. He is also an Associate Professor of Psychology and the Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He earned a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies from Arizona State University, a  M.T.S. in Religion and Social Science from Harvard University, as well as M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Clark University. Dr. Moreno also conducted a Pre-doctoral Residency Training at the Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology at Boston University School of Medicine and completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Brown University School of Public Health. Broadly, his research involves understanding and addressing the health and healthcare disparities in the United States that affect individuals from low-income and racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, especially the Latine communities. Dr. Moreno research program includes both applied and basic research that lie at the intersection of motivational interviewing theories, prevention/intervention science, and cultural and contextual approaches to clinical science including psychology of religion and spirituality. His research projects have included evidenced-based practices, culturally sensitive interventions, prevention for Latine youth and families, as well as substance use and mood disorders.

Lisa Fuentes

Graduate Research Assistant - 6th Year Ph.D. Student

Lisa Fuentes (she/her/hers) is a Ph.D. student in VCU's Counseling Psychology’s Doctoral Program. Prior to VCU, Lisa received her bachelor's degree in Sociology from Brigham Young University (BYU) and a masters degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Denver. Her research interests are in the areas of mental health disparities among underserved populations, Latine Psychology, healing historical trauma and mental health practices among indigenous populations. The title of her dissertation was, "Immigration related-stressors and Latinx immigrant well-being: The role of family and community resilience." Lisa is currently on an APPIC accredited internship  at Rutgers University Health Services in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Overall, Lisa is invested in continuing to be part of the process of removing the stigma that is associated with mental health in Latine communities and providing culturally appropriate services.

Isis Garcia-Rodriguez

Graduate Research Assistant - 5th Year Ph.D. Student

Isis Garcia-Rodriguez (she/her/hers) is a Ph.D. student in VCU's Counseling Psychology’s Doctoral Program. Prior to VCU, Isis received her bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology and Health & Society at Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. While at La Esperanza, Isis was awarded the Commonwealth of Virginia as a COVES Policy Fellow. The title of her doctoral dissertation was, "Social determinants of alcohol use among Latine college students." Isis will also be entering her APPIC approved internship program at the University of Virginia. Her research interests are in the areas of: legal status, parent-child relationships, systemic factors (e.g., public policy), immigration, immigration trauma, and overall adolescent health in Latin mixed-status families. Overall, Isis is invested in continuing to engage with the Hispanic/Latine community and contribute through interdisciplinary research, clinical practice, policy, and advocacy.

Cindy Hernandez

Graduate Research Assistant - 4th Year Ph.D. Student

Cindy Hernandez (she/her/hers) is a Ph.D. student in VCU's Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program. Prior to VCU, Cindy received her bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Communication Studies from the University of Florida. Her research interests are in the areas of mental health disparities within the Latine community, immigration and policy-related trauma, resilience, advocacy, and identity formation in Latine immigrants. While at La Esperanza, Cindy was awarded a F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The title of her F31 is, "The role of caregiver-adolescent interpersonal and cultural factors on Latinx adolescent tobacco use: A mixed-methods study." Overall, Cindy is invested in increasing accessibility to higher education and mental health services for the Hispanic/Latine community and advocating for immigrant rights.

Geovani Munoz

Graduate Research Assistant - 3rd Year Ph.D Student

Geovani Muñoz (he/him/his) is a Ph.D. student in VCU's Counseling Psychology’s Doctoral Program. Prior to VCU, Geovani received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Political Science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). While at VCU, Giovani has been funded by the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program and The Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Fellowship. His research interests are in areas of reducing mental health disparities among ethnic minority children, adolescents, and families through evidence-based practices and investigate methods that increase the academic success of ethnic minority communities. Overall, Geovani is invested in increasing mental health services for the Latine/Hispanic community, as well as other ethnic minority populations.

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Camila Tirado

Graduate Research Assistant - 2nd Year Ph.D. Student

Camila Tirado (she/her/hers) is a Ph.D. student in VCU's Counseling Psychology’s Doctoral Program. While at La Esperanza, Camila is currently working on her NIH Diversity Supplement from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Her grant is entitled, "Predicting effects of ENDS flavor regulations among Latinx/e smokers: Impact of cultural assets on attitudes, intentions, and behavior." Her research interests include mindfulness and contemplative practices in transgenerational trauma counseling, as well as multicultural and social justice counseling. After La Esperanza, Camila hopes to accomplish an interdisciplinary clinical science with neuroscience to investigate substance use/ addictions, trauma, and mindfulness in underrepresented populations.

Natalia Gomez Giuliani

Graduate Research Assistant - 1st Year Ph.D. Student

Natalia Gómez Giuliani (she/her/ella) is a Ph.D. student in VCU's Counseling Psychology’s Doctoral Program. Prior to VCU, Natalia was a research area specialist at the University of Texas, San Antonio and a research assistant at the University of South Alabama. Natalia received her bachelor’s in Psychology from Carlos Albizu University in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her research interests are broadly focused on the intersections between individual, cultural, and contextual factors and their relationship with service utilization, health behaviors, and well-being, specifically in Latine/Hispanics. Additionally, she is interested in increasing access to culturally-sensitive mental health care at the individual and collective level, both through clinical application and mentoring of future Latine professionals. Overall, Natalia is invested in the healing of Latine/Hispanics through increased access and utilization of effective and culturally appropriate mental health services.

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Rafael Hernandez, B.A.

Ph.D. Student at George Mason University

Rafael Hernandez (he/him/his) graduated from VCU in 2019 with a double major in philosophy and psychology with a concentration in addiction studies. His research interests lie in the area of substance use and behavioral addictions within the Latine community. While at La Esperanza, Rafael presented research at the National Hispanic Science Network Conference, the Society for Cross-Cultural Research Conference, and the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality Mid-Year Conference. Rafael is currently enrolled in a clinical psychology doctoral program at George Mason University where he aims to provide bilingual, culturally sensitive substance use and behavioral addiction services for Latine communities.

Miriam Ortiz, B.A.

Ph.D. Student at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Miriam Ortiz (she/her/hers) graduated from VCU in 2015 with a major in psychology and minor in criminal justice. Her research interests are in the areas of health and healthcare disparities that affect ethnic minorities and the influence of cultural values in mental health, especially the Latine and immigrant communities. While at La Esperanza, Miriam presented research at the Association of Behavior and Cognitive Therapies Conference (ABCT), the National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA), the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, the Society for Research in Child Development, and the Society for Cross-Cultural Research. Miriam is currently enrolled in a clinical psychology doctoral program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where she aims to provide culturally sensitive mental health services for Latine communities.

Jennifer Argueta-Contreras, MPH

Graduate Student at Georgetown University

Jennifer Argueta-Contreras (she/her/hers) graduated from VCU in 2020 with a major in biology and a minor in psychology. Her research interests are in the areas of the bio-psycho-social frameworks, as well as policy, that inform health disparities within the Latine communities. While at La Esperanza, Jennifer presented research at the National Conference in Health Disparities. Jennifer is currently enrolled in a Master in Public Health and Public Interest program at Georgetown University. Jennifer's long-term plans are to pursue a doctorate degree in medicine and policy specializing in family medicine and population health to work within the Latine community. 

Jennifer Rodriguez, B.A.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jennifer Rodriguez (she/her/hers) graduated from VCU in 2020 in psychology and a minor in political science. Her research interests are in the areas of trauma, ethnic-racial identity, social injustices, acculturation, child development within the minority communities, especially the Latine communities. While at La Esperanza, Jennifer has presented research at the Diversity Challenge Conference. After La Esperanza, Jennifer plans to pursue her doctorate in counseling psychology and eventually move to El Salvador to help youth who have suffered from trauma in the prison system.