News from the Lab
2024
Fall
Dr. Myers Chairs an Executive Session at the American Anthropological Association conference while Yang Liu presents a poster.
The Culture, Mind and Brain Seminar (co-hosted by Dr. Myers) welcomes Heather Wurtz, PhD, for her talk on “Coping with Aging and Adversity in the Pandemic’s Aftermath: Perspectives from Latinx Immigrant Women in NYC.”
Mihiret Mesganaw’s new book, Persecution, Migration and Nationalism: The Amhara Experience is now forthcoming with Ethics Press.
Dr. Myers new book, Breaking Points, has been released by University of California Press.
Taylor Shimizu and Simon Gonzales present at SMU Research Days.
Daisy Fields and Taylor Shimizu receive Hamilton Scholarships to work in the lab for the academic year.
New Published papers include:
Myers, N.L., Meeker, R.*, Odeng, V.* Pastors as Partners in Care: African Immigrant Pastors on Mental Health Care Referral Processes for Young Congregants Experiencing Symptoms of Psychosis in the US. Community Mental Health Journal. Online First.
Klodnick, V.V., LePelusa, B., Reznik, S.J., Johnson, R., Myers, N., Lucksted, A., Cohen, D., Lopez M. Substance Use Approaches among Peer Support Specialists in Community Mental Health Early Psychosis Programs. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. July 25, 2024: Online ahead of print.
Stein, E.*, Hutnyan, M.*, Myers, N. Identifying Barriers to Mental Health Care for Black American Youth: A Qualitative Study. SMU Journal of Undergraduate Research 8 (1):article 4.
Summer
Taylor Shimizu will travel to Helsinki, Finland, as a Hamilton Scholar to present a research poster from our lab on hearing voices in Tanzania at the International Society for the Study of Psychosis conference in June.
Dr. Myers new book, Breaking Points: Youth in Crisis and How We All Can Help is In Press with University of California Press and expected in Fall 2024.
Nusaiba Chowdhury has a planned dissertation defense April 9, 2024.
Justin Wilkey was admitted to medical school at UT-Southwestern for Fall 2024 –congratulations, Justin!
Daisy Fields and Taylor Shimizu receive Hamilton Fellowships for summer research!
2023
Spring
Yang Liu receives the PEO Fellowship for her graduate studies on perinatal depression in China.
Yang Liu receives a DCII Summer Research fellowship for her summer research in China.
Simon Gonzales receives a Maguire Fellowship and departmental funding to support his preliminary summer research.
Fall
Daisy Fields joins the lab as a volunteer intern.
Dr. Myers becomes the new Director of Health and Society at SMU.
Simon Gonzales joined the lab to research families and substance use among Chicano/xs in Texas.
The team published an article on substance use and early psychosis in Early Intervention in Psychiatry in partnership with colleagues from UT-Austin.
Claire Jannsen graduated from SMU early with plans to travel, work, and apply to medical anthropology programs in the Fall.
Halle Tarvin took a temporary leave to pursue a Master’s in Cannabis Studies en route to her PhD.
Marne Chacon finished the program with her Master’s degree and will remain in Montana where she has been working as a child therapist–we are wishing her all the best!
Dr. Myers, Matthew Hutnyan and Emily Stein have a new publication in the SMU Undergraduate Research journal based on research we completed together in the lab.