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Assistant Professor
The University of Texas El Paso
I have research, clinical, and service experiences in rehabilitation, health, psychology, and counseling disciplines with the expertise in promoting positive psychosocial outcomes in people with disabilities. My research focuses on identifying and bolstering protective factors to reduce the adverse effects of stress in people with disabilities, particularly in the multiple sclerosis (MS) population. My experiences working with people with MS sparked my interests in gaining greater insight into how psychosocial factors can enhance their daily functioning, community participation, and quality of life. I worked with individuals with MS in the Multiple Sclerosis Multidisciplinary Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. I administered and scored neuropsychological assessments, and participated in a multidisciplinary team meeting to help individuals with MS understand their strengths and limitations, which guided them in utilizing their strengths in daily living and community participation. My clinical experiences have also shaped my research interests where I observed that people with MS with stronger protective factors (e.g., hope, resilience, optimism, self-efficacy, coping flexibility, and social support) have better psychosocial adjustment and higher quality of life compared to those with relatively limited protective factors.