krpete15@ilstu.edu

Greetings everyone, I am Kierra Peterson, and I will serve as the SASP President this year. I am a third-year doctoral student in school psychology at Illinois State University. For my undergraduate tenure, I attended Alabama State University where I secured my bachelor’s degree in psychology with a double minor in Spanish and writing. After that, I attended Clayton State University to obtain a master’s in clinical/counseling psychology. After graduating, I went back to school to acquire a master’s in strategic leadership development, as I plan to open my own Clinical Psychology practice in the future. I am passionate about researching issues relevant to Black culture, and currently I just finished my apprenticeship project on the differences in racial microaggressions for Black college students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) versus those at Historically White Institutions (HWIs). Currently, I am researching the #BlackInTheIvory campaign to analyze how Black faculty members cope with tokenism as White higher education institutions use them to appear diverse. I recently received a Fellowship aimed at diversifying higher education faculty in Illinois, so I am excited to enter academia upon receiving my Ph.D. in school psychology. In my free time, I enjoy participating in global community service projects, such as helping build stoves in Costa Rica and educating youth in St. Lucia. I am also a new mom to my, now, 15-month-old son, Bryte. For relaxation, I enjoy journaling, doing yoga, trying new restaurants, and traveling throughout the globe. 

dbautista@ego.thechicagoschool.edu

Hello! I am excited to be serving as this year’s past-president for APA’s Div. 16 SASP board. I am a fourth year doctoral student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where I also completed my Masters in Education. I completed my bachelors in Psychology in 2011 and double majored in Marketing. Since then, I have worked in sales, management, administrative, human resources, and recruiting positions for over 15 years. After having children of my own, and have had the opportunity to tutor and mentor children, I turned to the path of school psychology. My research interests include 1) the educational barriers for first generation American students with parents who do not speak the English language, 2) the short-term and long-term effects of bullying in children, and 3) the effects of acculturation and code switching on the psychopathology of immigrant students. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, cooking, and gardening. I look forward to continuing to support the SASP board and assisting in achieving our mission in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, suggestions or feedback about APA Division 16 or SASP.

jeanpauline_serrano@ucsb.edu

Hello! I am thrilled to serve as the SASP President-Elect this year. I am a third-year doctoral student in school psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). I earned my master’s and bachelor’s degrees in psychology from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where I currently teach as part-time faculty. My research focuses on understanding how individual, family, school, and community factors influence the mental and physical health and academic success of historically marginalized students. I am particularly passionate about the role school psychologists play in strengthening family-school connections. My career goal is to become a professor, where I can teach and mentor the next generation of underrepresented scholars while advancing inclusivity in school psychology. In my free time, I enjoy mental health walks, listening to audiobooks, and exploring new restaurants with friends and family. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or recommendations—or just to connect!

lto5@calstatela.edu

Hello, everyone! My name is Laura (they/them/theirs). I’m a third-year student in the M.S. in Counseling, opt. School Psychology program at the California State University, Los Angeles, serving as the 2024 SASP Editor. I earned my B.S in Physiology & Neuroscience; Developmental Psychology at the University of California, San Diego. I have volunteer experience in academic and SEL interventions and as a crisis counselor. I worked in autism interventions, parent consultations, and as a student research assistant on various projects. My current research interests include MTSS implementation, youth mental health, autism interventions, and multicultural and socially just practices. I like to crochet, play video games, and go on walks with my pets during my free time. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to connect!

kcampbell95@student.gsu.edu

Hi everyone! I am Kate Campbell-Graham and I am honored to serve as this year’s SASP Editor-Elect. I am currently a first-year doctoral student in school psychology at Georgia State University. Before starting graduate school, I attended the United States Military Academy, where I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in English. Currently, I am a member of two research teams: one focuses on implementing inclusive approaches in middle schools to reduce exclusionary practices and substance use, and the other aims to strengthen MTSS practices in schools through culturally responsive strategies. My research interests center around school climate and its role in improving outcomes for students with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). I am also passionate about supporting students with disabilities in their transition planning. Outside of academics, I enjoy traveling, trying new foods, and running!

jc5842@tc.columbia.edu

Saludos para todos! Hi, everyone! I am looking forward to being SASP’s Diversity Affairs Chair. I am a proud first-gen, third year Ph.D. student in the school psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from Guilford, Connecticut, I graduated with a bachelors in Psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies from the University of New Hampshire. My research interests include investigating how interventions and mental health interact in children and families with complex support needs including newcomer immigrant children, adolescents and their families. I am also interested in figuring out how schools can better support these youth by addressing issues around school climate. In my free time I enjoy being outdoors and painting acrylic landscapes.

ekene_azuka@berkeley.edu

Hey guys! I am so excited to be involved with SASP this year as the Diversity Chair – Elect. I am a PhD student in the School Psychology Program at University of California, Berkeley. I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Cognitive Studies and Psychology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee. My current research interests are surrounding academic achievement for children who have experienced maltreatment, as well as trauma informed practices in the K-12 education system. I am also passionate about implementation science and school improvement initiatives. In my free time, Ekene enjoys spending time with friends, all things theater and musicals, roller derby, and dissecting the meaning behind television series and movies (watch Severance!!!).

eric-field@uiowa.edu

Hi, everyone! I am a “fifth year” student at University of Iowa. I used quotes because I’ve been a school psychology student for seven years. I was an Ed.S. student at Valparaiso University. After earning my M.Ed. in Educational and Psychological Foundations after one year, I transferred into the Ph.D. program at University of Kansas. When I learned the University of Iowa program was reopening a year later, I transferred back home to be close to my family. I am currently doing my internship at Heartland Area Education Agency in central Iowa. My research interests involve gifted and twice-exceptional students (gifted students with coexisting disabilities), especially examining how to improve pre-service training for all education professionals. In my free time, I love doing karaoke and running an independent Girl Scout troop with my wife for our two daughters. SASP puts on a lot of great programs, and I keep working to make sure future school psychologists know what we offer through social media and the monthly newsletter. Also, I hold the record for longest term on SASP Board (long story with that one…). I’m in my fourth year on the board having served both as Convention Chair and Communications Liaison.  You might say I like these guys since I keep sticking around on the board…

alexandria.crawford@uconn.edu

Hi, everyone! My name is Lexi and I couldn’t be more excited to serve as the 2025 Convention Chair on the SASP board.  I am currently a third-year school psychology doctoral student at the University of Connecticut.  Prior to starting this program, I served in the Air Force for over four years through which I was lucky enough to travel the world, meet the most incredible people, and study psychology and sociology in undergrad.  My research interests are generally related to the relationship between social determinants of health and social/emotional functioning and wellbeing in students.  During my free time, I enjoy learning new things (I’m about to start adult ballet classes!), cuddling with my two cats, and spending time with my friends and family.  I look forward to all of the new people that I’ll be able to meet and collaborate with in this role!  Please reach out if you’d like to connect more about SASP, psychology, or life in general!

amberlreinke@ucsb.edu

Hi, everyone! My name is Amber Reinke, and I’m thrilled to serve as the 2025 Convention Chair-Elect on the SASP Board. I’m currently a second-year doctoral student in school psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Before starting my doctoral journey in 2023, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in History and Education Studies from UCLA in 2020 followed by holding positions as a research coordinator, K-12 teacher, and high school softball coach. My research interests focus on understanding the processes and mechanisms through which early symptoms of psychopathology contribute to negative school-related outcomes, as well as exploring student-athlete mental health and well-being. In my free time, I enjoy watching sports and spending time with my family and friends. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect or have any questions!

rbynum@zagmail.gonzaga.edu

Hello! I am thrilled to serve as the SASP Student and Chapter Relations Chair. I am a third-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at Gonzaga University. Prior to Gonzaga, I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology at Washington State University. My research focuses on early childhood cognitive assessment and intervention practices. While completing my doctorate, I am currently the program coordinator for the Office of a Pedagogy of Hope through Research and Practice, a social justice office housed in the Gonzaga School of Education that promotes equitable practices in K-12 and higher education. Outside of work, I try to spend my time outdoors hiking, camping, or running. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for support!

sara.flash@uconn.edu

Hi everyone! I am incredibly excited to serve as the SASP Student and Chapter Relations Chair-Elect this year. I am currently a third-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at the University of Connecticut. Prior to graduate school, I completed my undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Muhlenberg College and had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in Washington, DC. My research interests include intervention development, intervention implementation and fidelity, and school-based consultation. In my free time, I love to spend time hiking, swimming, and running outdoors and visiting family and friends. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to connect!

deborah.ith@umconnect.umt.edu

Hello everyone! I am a second-year doctoral student in the School Psychology Program at the University of Montana. Prior to this, I worked as a junior high school mathematics teaching assistant and paraeducator. My research is inspired by the students I worked with and focuses on building hope, resilience, and mental wellness in children and adolescents. My research aims to promote equity through multitiered social-emotional and behavioral interventions in K-12 education. Specifically, I am currently working on my master’s thesis which focuses on understanding how to facilitate school belonging among Latine students who immigrated to the United States during adolescence. I am also the project manager of a grant-funded project to co-develop culturally responsive social-emotional curriculums through partnerships with tribal members within indigenous communities in Montana. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, creating and viewing art, and spending time with my family and my dogs. I look forward to meeting many of you at conventions and through my responsibilities in this role!