Lillian Polanco-Roman

Lillian Polanco-Roman is an Assistant Professor of Psychology (Clinical) at The New School for Social Research, a unit of The New School. She holds a PhD from The Graduate Center, CUNY (2018) and has completed postdoctoral training at Columbia University and clinical work at Montefiore Medical Center, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, and CUNY institutions. Her research focuses on cultural psychology, mental health disparities, and youth development among racial/ethnic minority and immigrant populations, particularly examining the impacts of racial discrimination as race-based trauma on suicidal behaviors and well-being. She leads a lab investigating sociocultural stressors and their mental health consequences, emphasizing culturally responsive interventions.

Dr. Polanco-Roman’s work spans peer-reviewed articles in journals like JAMA Psychiatry and Psychological Trauma, with a focus on racial trauma, acculturation stress, and suicide prevention strategies. Her recent studies address online discrimination, state-level structural racism effects, and intersectional factors in mental health outcomes. Current courses include independent study and senior work projects in psychology.

Her research highlights the need for systemic and clinical approaches to mitigate racism’s mental health impacts, with a focus on minoritized youth populations. Grants and collaborations emphasize culturally grounded solutions to address disparities in mental healthcare access and outcomes.