兔子先生

The Ethnicity, Culture, and Health Lab, or ECHO Lab, researches how developmental outcomes are influenced by both positive and negative experiences associated with one鈥檚 culture or race. We want to learn more how everyday experiences and identities shape health, well-being, and adjustment for racial and ethnic minority youth and their families. The lab is directed by UH College of Education Assistant Professor Elizabeth Jelsma.

Principal Investigator

Elizabeth Jelsma, Ph.D.

Lab Director and Assistant Professor

Elizabeth Jelsma is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences at the 兔子先生 College of Education. She earned a Ph.D. in human development and family sciences from University of Texas at Austin in 2022 and a B.S. in psychology from Tulane University in 2017. Her research interests include adolescent and adult health within the context of race, ethnicity, and family. Currently she is investigating how family members are affected by each other鈥檚 experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination and stress spillover within racial/ethnic minority families.

Lab Members

Mahnoor Ahmad

Graduate Student

Mahnoor Ahmad is a student in the UH school psychology doctoral program... Her advisors are Professor Brad Smith and Assistant Professor Elizabeth Jelsma.

Lauren Chapman

Graduate Student

Lauren Chapman is a student in the school psychology doctoral program... advancing inclusive, culturally responsive practices through applied research.

Nema Kebbeh

Graduate Student Research Assistant

Nema Kebbeh is a student in the UH school psychology doctoral program. He graduated with a B.A. in developmental psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy. His research interests are broad in child and adolescent development, with a particular emphasis on social-emotional development. This includes studying (a) how emotional regulation and self-control influence growth and peer affiliation dynamics; and (b) how culture and interpersonal relationships contribute to and are influenced by social-emotional development. Additional areas of interest include special education, neurodevelopmental disorders and research methodologies. His advisor is Professor Brad Smith.

Medha Kukkalli

Undergraduate Student

Medha Kukkalli is an undergraduate UH student majoring in human development and family sciences. She currently assists ECHO lab members with the UH Black Family Health Study and is conducting a literature review of high-effort coping and Black and African American young adult mental health. Her career interests include working in the social services sector, exploring the development side of the nonprofit industry, and working with underserved communities in the local Houston area.

Galo Medina

Graduate Student

Galo Medina is a student in the school psychology doctoral program. He graduated from UH with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in human development and family sciences. His advisor is Professor Bradley Smith. His research interests are on the topic of academic resilience within diverse student populations. Specifically, he wishes to focus on the identification of protective factors to create resilience interventions and strategies for at-risk marginalized students. In addition, he is interested in promoting equitable access to higher education for underserved communities. In his free time, he enjoys cooking BBQ, shopping and spending time with his pets. Feel free to contact him at gamedina@cougarnet.uh.edu with any questions you may have.

Tiffany Ngo

Graduate Student

Tiffany Ngo is a student in the UH school psychology doctoral program. She graduated with a B.S. in psychology with a minor in medical humanities from Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her master鈥檚 in psychology from Boston University. Her research interests include examining the resilience of marginalized youth and families in the context of seeking mental health and special education services in school and beyond, equitable access to those services, and cultural humility/sensitivity in research and clinical practices. Her advisor is Professor Brad Smith.