Linus Yamane is a Professor of Economics at Pitzer College , part of the Claremont Colleges consortium. With a B.S. from MIT and a Ph.D. from Yale , he has taught at institutions including Harvard, Wellesley, and Kwansei Gakuin University. His research spans macroeconomics, labor economics, Japanese economy, and Asian American studies, with a focus on demographic disparities and economic policy. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, Yale University (1991) B.S. in Economics, MIT (1981) Research interests include macroeconomic theory, labor market discrimination, Japanese economic policy, and Asian American demographic trends. His work often intersects economics with social justice, examining wage gaps, racial disparities, and immigration impacts. Recent publications focus on biracial demographics, labor discrimination, and academic bias. Notably, his 2024 work Statistics for Economists provides methodological frameworks for economic research. Scientific Awards: Yale University Fellowship (1981-1986) Personal interests include Tae Kwon Do (1st degree black belt), soccer refereeing, violin, and exploring ethnic cuisines. He maintains an active teaching schedule, including courses on econometrics, macroeconomic theory, and Japanese economic history.
Dr. Dina Birman is a Professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami . Her research focuses on acculturation processes among immigrant and refugee populations, particularly their psychological, social, and academic adaptation. Key areas include refugee mental health, cultural identity, intergenerational dynamics, and educational outcomes for ethnic minority youth. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating psychology, sociology, and education to address challenges faced by immigrant communities. Notable contributions include studies on unaccompanied minors in foster care, Ukrainian refugees in Estonia’s schools, and Vietnamese refugees’ adjustment using ecological frameworks. Publications highlight methodological innovations in acculturation research, including mixed-methods analyses and telehealth adaptations during the pandemic. Collaborations with international institutions underscore her global impact. Dr. Birman’s research also explores policy implications, such as APA’s task force report on immigration and health, and refugee children’s access to education. She advocates for culturally responsive interventions and participatory action research with marginalized communities. Grants and sponsored research (details not fully visible) likely support her fieldwork and community-based initiatives. Labs/teams involved are unspecified, but her work aligns with broader efforts to improve immigrant integration and resilience.
Dr. Lekie Dwanyen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University. Her research examines traumatic stress and relational health in families affected by war and political violence, with emphasis on culturally relevant strategies to reduce mental health disparities in marginalized communities. She collaborates with Liberian refugees in the U.S. and Ugandan mental health stakeholders. Research Focus: Immigrant/refugee mental health systems Family resettlement dynamics Trauma interventions in conflict zones Feminist and social justice frameworks Her recent publications analyze mental health interventions for African refugees, war trauma in Liberian communities, and Ugandan mental health systems. Work consistently addresses cultural adaptation of therapies and systemic barriers in global health contexts. Education: Ph.D., University of Minnesota – Twin Cities M.S., University of Kentucky B.S., University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Minyoung Lim is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Bethel University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Adult and Professional Studies, and Graduate School. She teaches courses including Advanced Social Work Practice, Social Welfare History, and Research Methods. Lim holds an MSW from the University of Pittsburgh (2014) and a PhD in Social Work from Indiana University (2022). Her research focuses on refugees and immigrants, racial disparities, discrimination, and resilience, with particular attention to education and healthcare access for marginalized groups. Her research interests emphasize understanding the lived experiences of refugee and immigrant populations, including issues of cultural integration, post-migration adjustment, and systemic barriers to equity. Lim has presented at conferences such as the Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting and the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, focusing on topics like Burmese refugee students' educational experiences and Bhutanese refugees' healthcare utilization patterns. Lim's work has been recognized with awards including the 2022 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Korean American Social Work Educators Association and the 2020-2021 Community Engagement Associate Scholarship from Indiana University. She is a member of professional organizations such as the Asian & Pacific Islander Social Work Educators Association and the Society for Social Work and Research. In teaching, Lim emphasizes social policy, practice skills, and diversity competence. Her course development includes SOWK 335 Social Work Practice II. She maintains a provisional Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) certification in Minnesota.
Melanie Jewkes serves as an Extension Professor in the Family & Consumer Sciences department within Utah State University's Home and Community Department, based in Salt Lake County. She holds a Master's degree in Family, Consumer, and Human Development with a specialization in Consumer Economics from Utah State University (2008) and a Bachelor's degree in the same field with a focus on Family Finance (2006). Her research interests span financial wellness, nutrition education, consumer economics, food preservation, and refugee nutrition programs. She has developed numerous educational resources including the Empowering Financial Wellness Program, Homebuyer Education courses (available in English and Spanish), Food Preservation resources, and the Date Your Mate marriage celebration program. Her work particularly focuses on creating accessible financial education for vulnerable populations including refugees and low-income families. Dr. Jewkes' publication portfolio demonstrates a strong focus on practical applications of financial and nutritional education, with recent work addressing inflation management, holiday spending behaviors, and digital tools for financial wellness. Her research often intersects with community-based programs like SNAP-Ed and EFNEP, showing particular interest in how economic conditions affect consumer behavior and food security. Dean Don Felker Financial Management Award (national winner), 2024 Spirit of Extension, 2024 SNAP-Ed/EFNEP Educational Program Award (National 1st Place winner), 2022 Multiple Early Career Service awards, 2016 Community Partnership Award, 2016 Family Health and Wellness Award, 2016 Distinguished Team award, 2016 Dr. Jewkes has secured significant grant funding for her work, including a $2 million grant for Financial Wellness Education. She leads multiple extension programs including the Empowering Financial Wellness Program, Create Better Health (SNAP-Ed) for Salt Lake County, Homebuyer Education, and Food Preservation initiatives. Her work extends to refugee populations through specialized nutrition education programs and has been recognized with numerous awards for program excellence and community impact. She operates within the Salt Lake County Extension office, collaborating with various county departments and community organizations to deliver research-based educational programs that address local needs in financial management, nutrition, and family relationships.
Wendy de los Reyes serves as Assistant Professor of Psychological Science at Claremont McKenna College and Director of the AMPLIFY Lab (Advocacy, Mentorship, and Participatory research with Latin Immigrant Families and Youth). Her work centers on strengths-based approaches to Latine and immigrant-origin adolescent development within cultural-ecological systems theory, examining youth resistance to structural inequities through mentoring relationships and institutional youth voice expansion. She earned her B.S.Ed. and M.S.Ed. from the University of Miami, followed by a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from DePaul University and postdoctoral training in Developmental Psychology at the University of Michigan. Her research integrates her identity as a Cuban immigrant, first-generation college student, and native Spanish/English speaker to investigate macro-contextual influences like racism and xenophobia on youth development. Dr. de los Reyes' publications reveal consistent focus on Latinx youth sociopolitical development, refugee mental health, and community-university partnerships. Her work spans systematic reviews, community-based participatory research, and studies on natural mentoring, with strong emphasis on youth agency within oppressive systems. The AMPLIFY Lab's butterfly symbol (representing transformation and hope) reflects her commitment to youth-led social change through relationship-centered approaches. She received the Society for Research in Child Development - Latinx Caucus Dissertation Award for her contributions to understanding immigrant youth experiences. As lab director, she leads collaborations with MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership on mixed-methods studies of youth sociopolitical development, actively recruiting new members for projects examining how Latinx youth navigate social issues through supportive relationships in educational and community settings.
William D. Marelich is a Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton, within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. With a Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology from Claremont Graduate University (1997) and a BA from California State University, Sacramento, he has established himself as a prominent researcher in health psychology, particularly in HIV/AIDS research, decision-making in health settings, and statistical methodology. His educational background includes a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) postdoctoral fellowship from UCLA. Dr. Marelich's research interests span applied social psychology, health psychology, judgment and decision making, persuasion, social influence, research methods, and sexuality. He has developed several psychological measurement scales including the Need for Sexual Intimacy Scale (NSIS), Sexual Deception Scale, and various HIV-related assessment tools. His work demonstrates a strong emphasis on quantitative methods applied to real-world health problems, with particular focus on HIV-positive populations and their psychosocial contexts. He also maintains an active interest in Sport Psychology, particularly as it applies to baseball, having taught courses and worked with college baseball players. His publication record includes over 90 peer-reviewed publications and three books, with recent work (2021-2025) focusing on maternal HIV disclosure interventions, relationship dynamics, and methodological approaches. His research often employs longitudinal and multisite designs, particularly in the HIV disclosure intervention studies (TRACK project). The consistent theme across his work is the application of rigorous quantitative methods to understand health-related behaviors and decision-making processes. Outstanding Scholarship and Creativity Award (twice recipient from College of Humanities and Social Sciences) Dean's Faculty Scholarly Achievement Award (2025) Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Adolescence and Youth Dr. Marelich has taught Advanced Psychological Statistics, Health Psychology, and Multivariate Statistics for Psychology. His past appointments include Senior Statistician for Health Risk Reduction Projects at UCLA, research consultant for UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute, Research Scientist on a grant to reduce childhood maltreatment in Kenya, and Research Analyst for the California Department of Health Services Office of AIDS. He maintains active research collaborations with Murphy, Armistead, and Schulte on HIV-related projects and continues to develop measurement tools for relationship and health psychology research.
Dr. Nellie Tran serves as Professor in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at San Diego State University and Executive Director of the Center for Community Counseling and Engagement. Her dual role bridges academic scholarship with community mental health initiatives, focusing on underserved populations. Her research centers on multicultural counseling , critical race theory , and immigrant mental health , with specific expertise in Whiteness studies, Somali Bantu student engagement, and Asian/Asian American community perspectives. This work addresses systemic inequities through community-engaged methodologies. Recent publications (2015-2016) reveal a cohesive trajectory examining racial dynamics in everyday contexts and culturally responsive educational practices. The scholarship demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between counseling psychology, education, and critical race studies with consistent focus on social justice applications. As Executive Director of the Center for Community Counseling and Engagement, she oversees initiatives connecting SDSU students with community mental health services, providing practical training in multicultural counseling while addressing local needs. Her leadership creates pipelines for student involvement in community-based research and service delivery.
