Culture and Behavior Laboratory Members

Patricia Flynn, Ph.D.

(Health Psychology, Loma Linda University) is the postdoctoral research fellow and research coordinator for the Culture and Behavior Laboratory. Dr. Flynn’s research interests are focused on the investigation of breast and cervical cancer disparities through the study of culture and psychological processes. Dr. Flynn was recently awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship through the American Cancer Society to investigate the role of culture and the delivery of cancer related health services. She has also received recognition from the  National Institute of Health, Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program.

Dissertation Title: Motivated Breast Cancer Screening Behavior and Its Cultural Antecedents

Brenda Navarrete M.A., (BA, Psychology & Religious Studies, Westmont College)

is a sixth year clinical psychology student.  Brenda is interested in research concerning the role of cultural factors on achievement motivation in Latino high school students and breast cancer screening in Latino women.  She is currently on internship at the San Bernardino County Department of Behavior Health. She will complete 6 months of rotation in the outpatient mental health clinic and 6 months of rotation at the San Bernardino Juvenile Hall.

Dissertation Title:  Achievement Motivation among Latino and Anglo American High School Students

Jennifer Tucker M.A., (BA Psychology, Boston University)

is a fifth year experimental psychology student.  She is interested in how emotional states affect cognitive processes.  She has presented research on emotions, culture, and breast cancer screening.

Dissertation Title: Perceptions of Mistreatment, Culture and Psychological Processes: Implications for Health Disparities

Claudia Argueta (BA Psychology, San Francisco State University)

is a third year clinical psychology student. Claudia is interested in culture and behavior. She has also presented research findings in the area of cheating in academia.

Thesis Title: Values: A Qualitative Approach to the Study of Values among Latino and Anglo Women

 Graduated Students

 Gangaw Zaw, Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology, Loma Linda University)

completed her pre-doctoral Internship at Southern Arizona Veteran Administration Healthcare in Tucson, Arizona. She is currently working at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, CA.

Dissertation Title:  The Attribution of Intentionality in Relation to Culture and Self.

  Monica Hodges, Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology, Loma Linda University)

completed her internship at Pacific Clinics Outpatient Facility in Monrovia, CA.  She is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Southern California.

Dissertation Title: Empathy, Meta-Attributions, Judgment of Conflict and Preferences for Negotiation

 Sandra Brooks, Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology, Loma Linda University) Sandra completed her internship at the Lawndale Christian Health Center.  She completed a pre-doctoral fellowship at the United Negro College Fund’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute where she studied the achievement gap in higher education among African Americans. 

Research interests:  Education and achievement among African Americans; Racial identity development among persons of African descent; development of a behavioral health consultation model for use in faith-based health care organizations.

Clinical Interests:  Community psychology, Consultation, Program development; Reconciliation and forgiveness at interpersonal and intergroup levels; Health psychology with a focus on prevention; Interested in how the church can be used as vehicle for community education, empowerment and development among underserved populations.

Career Goals:  To become executive director multidisciplinary community-based wellness center that focuses on prevention.

Suzanne R. Hawley, PhD, MPH (Clinical Psychology, Loma Linda University), is an academician and clinical psychologist. She has worked as a clinician and researcher in various multidisciplinary settings over the past decade. Since 2003, Dr. Hawley has eagerly devoted much of her time in various roles serving public health in the state of Kansas. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Director of the KU-MPH Program at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Campus, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. She is also the Program Director for the Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute. She has worked in educational, community mental health, psychiatric hospital, and prison settings. Her research has focused on mental health, leadership, and diverse populations. To date, Dr. Hawley has presented over 60 papers and co-authored 16 publications. In 2004, she received a special service award from the Kansas Public Health Association for outstanding contributions to public health through her work with the leadership institute. In 2005, she received the KU Executive Vice Chancellor’s Diversity Award for her work with health disparities and promoting cultural competency.