Masters of Science Forensic Psychology program. California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Master’s Thesis: Can Kids' Court enhance resilience among children set to testify in court?       

2018-2020

Bachelors of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Magna Cum Laude, 3.804 GPA         

2013-2017

• Monarrez, V. & Mendez, A. (2019) Comparing Live vs. Picture Showups Under Laboratory and Field Conditions. Talk session presented at the California State University, Los Angeles Research Symposium, Los Angeles, CA.  

February 2019

•   Graduate Research Assistant                        

California State University, Los Angeles – Forensic Psychology Lab

Advisor: Dr. Mitchell Eisen

• Teach study-specific protocol to incoming research assistants

• Compose abstracts for submitted symposium and conference proposals

• Compose IRB research proposals for new and continuing projects

2018-Present

•   Undergraduate Research Assistant                 

California State University, Los Angeles - Forensic Psychology Lab

Advisor: Dr. Mitchell Eisen

• Run protocol for a field simulation paradigm involving Showups (ID procedure)

• Experience using NEO-PI R and MMPI personality measures

• Creation of ‘six-packs’ or photo line-ups

• Entered data for multiple research studies

• Acted as a confederate in 2 experiments

• Experience reporting witness report times for studies involving eyewitness identifications 

• Used Google Sheets as a method for random assignment of research participants in experiment examining factors distinguishing witness identification results from field and lab conditions

2017-2018

•   Graduate Assistant                    

• Proctor exams

• Aid in creating study sessions for the students

• Inputting grades into excel sheets

• Aid in grading papers

2018-Present

•   American Psychology – Law Society (APLS)       

2018-2019

•   American Psychological Association (APA)       

2019

• American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS)

2019

•   Western Psychological Association (WPA)

2019

• Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse

​Santa Fe Springs, California 

• Working with clients under supervision in private or group sessions 
• Substance Abuse Counselor 

​

2019-Present

• Greenhouse Therapy Center – Floortime Specialist

Various locations across Los Angeles County 

• Working as a Floortime specialist with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities

2019-Present

•   VISTO volunteer for LA County Probation – Kid’s Court Research Assistant 

Various locations across Los Angeles County 

• Part of a research group working towards establishing competency in juvenile delinquent populations known as Kid’s Court run by researchers Rebecca Nathanson (Ph.D.) and Kim Larson (Ph.D., J.D.)

• Conduct a set of interviews including the use of stress scales and intelligence tests such as the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence – Second Ed. (WASI-II)

• Work alongside probation officers and researchers

• Data collecting and coding

2018-Present

• CSULA Grad Equity Fellowship, California State University, Los Angeles  

$2,000

2019-2020

• Margaret & Phill Scholarship, California State University, Los Angeles 

$5,000

2019-2020

• William Hobson and Evelyn Troup Fund, California State University, Los Angeles 

$2,000

2019

•   Dean’s Honors List - Honors Convocation

Winter 2014, Winter 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017

• Oral Communication Showcase College Speaker (best in class), California State University, Los Angeles

2014

• OPI Faculty - Child Scholar, OPI Cosmetics, North Hollywood, CA 

$1,000

2014

• Cash for College Scholarship Winner, California State University, Northridge

$1,000

2013

•   Human Subject Research – Social & Behavioral Educational Researcher Training

• CITI Training        

January 2018-2021

• Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT)

• California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAP) 

July 2019

• Substance Abuse Counselor Ethics, Confidentiality, and Boundaries Training

July 2019

•   CPR/ AED/ First-Aid Training    

June 2019

• WASI administration and scoring 

• LA County Probation Department Competency Project Training 

June 2018

• Software
• SPSS, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets

• Billingual
• Fluent in English and Spanish, can understand some French

• Knowledge of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)

• California’s Drivers License

• Light the Night Walk – Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Woodland Hills, California

• Walk in support of those suffering, bringing awareness, fundraising for research

2013, 2014, 2018

• AIDS Walk

Los Angeles, California

• Walk in support of those suffering, bringing awareness, fundraising for research

2014

• Teen Court Juror at Van Nuys High School

Van Nuys, California

• Juvenile justice diversion program for early teen offenders

• Insight on the concept of restorative justice

2010-2013

• First Five Advocate

Van Nuys, California

• Provided parents of children aged 0-5 with box kits full of information on brain development, activity suggestions and supportive resources

2012-2013

• Stop Hate and Delinquency by Empowering Students (S.H.A.D.E.S) Training 2012

Los Angeles, California

• Extension of Teens Court

• Focus on bullying incidents rooted in prejudice and bias

• Trained to be an informed and effective juror

2012