Meet the Research Team!

Lab Director

Brandy Piña-Watson, Ph.D.

Brandy Piña-Watson is from a small city in the south Texas gulf coast region: Port Lavaca (go Sandcrabs!). She received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Texas A&M University in 2014 (Whoop!). She is currently an Associate Professor in the Counseling Psychology program within the Department of Psychological Sciences at Texas Tech University. Dr. Piña-Watson’s research focuses on understanding how individual factors, family dynamics, culture, and society impact Latinx adolescent and emerging adult depression, suicidality, and well-being, with a particular focus on the Mexican descent population. Her research takes a holistic and resiliency approach, acknowledging the complexity and intersection of various identities and contexts that may contribute to well-being and mental health disparities. In her spare time, Dr. Piña-Watson enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching Netflix, cooking, making arts & crafts, reading, and doing any activity outdoors that involves water and sunshine.

Current Graduate Students

Aundrea Garcia, M.A.

Aundrea Garcia is from El Paso, TX. She received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies from Texas Tech University in 2017. While at TTU, she was involved as an undergraduate research assistant in the Latinx Mental Health & Resiliency Lab. After graduation, she moved to Phoenix, AZ. She became a case manager for adults with serious mental illness diagnoses while also being a research assistant in the Behavioral Alcohol Research for Clinical Advancement (BARCA) Lab at Arizona State University. Her research interests include cultural and familial factors on mental health, acculturation, intragroup marginalization, substance use disorders, and addictive behaviors in the Latine population. Aundrea enjoys spending time with friends, watching YouTube documentaries, trying new restaurants, and doing puzzles in her free time.

Hannah Yoo, M.A.

Hannah Yoo was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2019. Before joining the Latinx Mental Health & Resiliency Lab, Hannah worked in the Culture, Language, and Pain Lab, investigating the role of culture and language in chronic pain experiences. Her current research interests focus on the role of social dynamics and cultural factors in developing and maintaining chronic disease, specifically among immigrant populations. Hannah enjoys exploring new cities, watching movies at the theatre, and cooking with her loved ones in her free time.

Crys Mylls, M.A.

Crys Mylls was born in Anchorage, AK, and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania. They graduated from Point Park University with a B.A. in Psychology in 2016. While pursuing their undergraduate degree, they worked as a Student Behavioral Associate at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPSY). They worked alongside a multidisciplinary team providing ancillary support for the Transitional and Comprehensive Recovery Units. After receiving their degree, Crys continued working at WPSY as a Milieu Therapist, providing support and group interventions to patients as they transitioned back into the community following hospitalization. Their research interests include mental health disparities for ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities, the impact of traditional gender roles and heteronormativity for these populations, and transdiagnostic resiliency factors. Their hobbies include knitting, crocheting, bingeing true crime shows, baking, and spending time with their wife, pets, and friends.

M. Nina Hernandez De La Cerda Clinton, M.A.

Nina Clinton received her M.Ed in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2020 with a portfolio in Integrated Behavioral Health from Dell Medical School. She received her B.S.A. in Biology and her B.A. Hispanic Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2016. Nina also received a certificate in Motivational Interviewing from the Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Before coming to Texas Tech, Nina was a Minority Fellow for the STAY fellowship awarded by the American Psychological Association. Nina held a position as a Bilingual Behavioral Researcher in the Health Innovation Lab led by Dr. Kasey Claborn. Additionally, Nina served as an IRB Liason for the Migrant Clinician Network. Her research interests include Latinx mental health disparities, substance use, Latinx youth in terms of bicultural and bilingual development, acculturation, immigrant paradox, and immigration policy. Her interests include Disney, Marvel, horseback riding, and spending time with family.

Daniela Navarro Verdugo, M.A.

Daniela Navarro Verdugo is from San Diego, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State Polytechnic University- Pomona (CPP) in 2021. Before coming to Texas Tech, Dani was a McNair Scholar and part of various labs at CPP. More recently, she was part of an NSF program where she researched the conditions of ICE detention centers and their impacts on detained migrants. Her research interests include mental health disparities, the impact of cultural values on mental health, and immigration policy. Her hobbies include walking her cat, drinking matcha lattes, and listening to Bad Bunny.

Bryce Robinson, M.A.

Bryce Anthony Robinson is from Corona, California but has lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for most of his life. He received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2021 where he worked in a lab studying emotional intelligence and psychometrics. In addition, he worked in a behavioral addiction’s lab as a McNair Scholar where he authored his first manuscript for publication on Veterans/Active-duty personnel. Bryce’s has a background researching Veterans and Active-duty personnel regarding factors related to PTSD/trauma. Most recently his research interests focus on better understanding the impact of discrimination on minority populations on mental health outcomes as well as the impact of stigma on racial/ethnic identity development.

Elizabeth Grado, B.A.

Elizabeth Grado is from Denver, Colorado. She received her B.A in psychology with a minor in Spanish from Texas Tech University in 2023. Her position as an undergraduate research assistant in the Latinx Mental Health & Resiliency Lab lead to her research interest in mental health disparities among ethnic minorities, cultural factors on mental health & acculturation. Outside of the lab, Elizabeth spends most of her time with her daughter Aspen, friends & family.

Erica Martinez, B.A.

Erica Martinez is a Counseling Psychology PhD student from Lubbock, Texas. They graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in May 2024. Erica was previously a McNair Scholar and an Undergraduate Research Assistant/Coordinator for the Latinx Mental Health and Resiliency Lab before becoming a Graduate Student in the lab. Her research interests include intragroup marginalization, acculturation, and identity among emerging Latine adults. Outside the lab, you will find Erica supporting women’s athletics at Texas Tech or finding a new coffee shop to study in.