Jade currently works as the CHANGE lab coordinator. She assists in the daily tasks of the lab while also managing current projects. She joined the CHANGE lab in 2025 after completing her undergraduate education at Oglethorpe University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration. 

Her research interests are centered on pediatric psychology, with a focus on chronic illness and promoting health equity for underrepresented adolescents. She enjoys reading, going to the gym, and drawing/painting. She is also an avid animal lover!

Zumana is currently working in the CHANGE lab as a graduate assistant. She is a second year Counseling Psychology doctoral student at Northeastern University. She received her bachelor's in Psychology and master's in Community and Trauma Counseling from Jefferson University.

Her research interests include community engaged research, liberation psychology, and promoting health equity justice, along with studying and developing evidence-based practices and interventions, for marginalized youth and adolescents. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching horror movies, and getting involved in her community!

Kia Vilchez Erickson is a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at Northeastern University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs. Her research interests lie in investigating and implementing strategies to address health disparities, as well as the rising threat of infectious disease  related to climate change. In addition, her passion for long distance running has led her to explore the relationship between exercise and chronic disease. Her experience living and working in Guatemala for 8 years has given her an appreciation for community-focused participatory research and how the important role that community health workers can play in respectfully responding to the needs of community members. In her free time, Kia enjoys reading, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Krystal Amihere is a Plus One MPH Student who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from Northeastern University. Her research interests are in the social determinants of health that determine the health outcomes of minority individuals and influence chronic disease. 

Krystal is exploring how community engagement and preventative care can reduce worse health outcomes for underserved communities and bridge gaps in health quality. Her hobbies inlcude cooking and trying different cultural foods.

Kathleen is the current co-op for the Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research and the CHANGE Lab. She is a third-year undergraduate student ('28), studying International Affairs with minors in Global Health and French.

Her main research interests include advancing health equity through technological endeavors and exploring the global implications of Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, she is very passionate about methods of Disaster Risk Reduction and Victim Assistance efforts, specifically through localized measures. In her free time, Kathleen loves to go on hikes, play tennis, cook, bake, color, listen to music, travel, and hang out with her two cats!  

Mia is currently working in the CHANGE Lab at Northeastern University as a health equity intern (HEI). Mia is a fourth year ('27) with a major in health sciences and minors in French and public health. 

Mia's research interests include researching HIV prevention and its effects on minoritized communities as well as how race and racism play into the health of different communities and what can be done to ensure equity and equality in those areas. Mia enjoys reading, shopping, and hanging out with friends. 

Kimberly is currently working in the CHANGE Lab at Northeastern University. She is a 4th-year Health Science major with double minors in Nutrition and Cell & Molecular Biology. 

Kimberly's research interests include the impact of social determinants of health, such as food security, on diverse communities, cardiovascular health, and preventive care. In her free time, Kimberly enjoys playing tennis, painting, and trying new restaurants in Boston!

Mateo is a Health Equity Intern and a fourth-year Health Sciences major (Class of ’27). His research interests include exploring the social and structural determinants of health, with the goal of reducing health inequities in underserved communities and advancing approaches to promote mental health and overall well-being. In his free time, he enjoys weightlifting, baseball, running, and playing music.

Trisha is currently working at the CHANGE Lab at Northeastern University. She is a third year health science and psychology major who is also on the premed track.

Trisha’s research interests include the role of stigma in sexual health and HIV prevention efforts, along with maternal and children’s health, particularly in rural areas and disadvantaged communities. She is also interested in exploring how health literacy impacts health outcomes, including how empowered individuals navigate the healthcare system, communicate effectively with providers, manage chronic conditions, and follow treatment plans. In her free time, Trisha enjoys art museums, movies, concerts, and painting.

Allison is a 4th year Biology major with a Spanish minor on the pre-PA track. Her hobbies including playing tennis, guitar, cooking, going to the gym, and spending time outdoors. Her research interests include finding and implementing strategies to eliminate health disparities in minorities populations, specifically non-English speaking, through preventive care as well as research on pediatric congenital heart defects.

Diya is currently working as a research assistant in the CHANGE Lab at Northeastern University. Diya is a fourth year ('27) majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Public Health.

Diya's clinical research interests include a variety of topics such as women's health, breast cancer, hormonal fluctuations, and circadian disorders. Diya enjoys spending time with friends and family in her free time along with painting and traveling.

Anthony is currently working in the CHANGE Lab at Northeastern University. He is a fourth year ('27) with a major in biochemistry and minor in public health and is on the pre-med track. 

Anthony's research interests include understanding how identity and adversity in Latinx communities affect health outcomes and how to develop interventions/resources for underrepresented communities that are affected by health inequities. When Anthony isn't busy with classes or research, he enjoys taking walks and exploring new places in Boston!

AnnKirsten is a fourth-year ('27) student majoring in Health Science with a minor in Global Health. Her research interests include black maternal health, how health inequities impact underserved neighborhoods especially the youth in those neighborhoods, and nutrition in marginalized communities. In her free time, she likes to read, do paint by numbers, and play her violin!

Ivana is a third-year undergraduate ('28)  student at Northeastern University, majoring in Health Science and Psychology. She has a strong passion for medicine, science, and community engagement. Ivana also enjoys music and spending time outdoors. As a Latina, her research interests include health disparities and their impact on diverse populations, as well as youth mental health and the importance of culturally sensitive interventions. 

Lucy is a current fourth year student ('27) majoring in Health Sciences with a minor in Health Psychology, on the PreMed track. She is from Reading, Massachusetts and enjoys going on walks with her dog and spending time with friends in her free time. Her research interests include assessing the social determinants of health and how limited access to healthcare impacts different disadvantage communities, particularly women and children. As an aspiring physician, she hopes to make an impact in her local community of Boston by tackling the barriers to health experienced by those who need care the most.

Pruthviraj is a fourth-year Cell and Molecular Biology major with a minor in Pharmaceutical Science on the pre-med track. His research interests include substance abuse, adolescent health disparities, and pharmacological approaches to cancer treatment. In his free time, Pruthviraj loves to try new restaurants or recipes, as well as go to the gym.   

Ashley is a 4th year Behavioral Neuroscience major with a minor in Public Health on the pre-med track. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, and going to concerts. Ashley's research interests include studying how social determinants of health impact an individual's ability to access healthcare as well as finding solutions to limit barriers in healthcare so that it's accessible to everyone, especially minority populations.   

Alvin is a current 5th year Health Science major at Northeastern University. Some of his hobbies include sculpting, watching basketball, and hiking. One additional research interest outside of the CHANGE lab would be investigating how digital health interventions can be leveraged to alleviate addictive behaviors such as alcoholism. He is also passionate about research focused on culturally responsive interventions and health education strategies that address disparities and promote equitable improvements in oral health outcomes.  

Ayala is a second-year ('29) Health Sciences student with a minor in Nutrition on the pre-med track. Some of her hobbies include pottery, fitness, and cooking. Her current research interest is in data-supported program improvement, which emphasizes inclusive and representative data collection. Some of her other research-related interests are maternal health, early childhood, and bacterial antibiotic resistance.  

Abby is a fourth year ('27) studying Biochemistry with a minor in Public Health. Her research interests center on how social determinants and environment shape longevity, mental health, and nutritional outcomes. Outside of academics, Abby enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing music. 

Riana is a 2nd year Computer Science and Biology major with a minor in Business Administration. Riana is passionate about biomedical informatics research and the use of technology to improve health outcomes, specifically in marginalized communities. In her free time, she loves baking, dancing, traveling to new places, and trying new cafes/restaurants! 

Sophia is a fourth year (‘27) undergraduate student majoring in Public Health. Her research interests include maternal health for underserved populations; understanding the effects of generational health disparities on children as they age and interventions to better their lives; and the impacts of medical rehabilitative care and inadequate access on postnatal women and adolescents. Her hobbies include playing basketball, baking, cooking, and hanging out with friends and family during her free time. 

Aminata is a 4th year majoring in Political Science minoring in Biology, graduating in 2025.  She is from New York. Her research interest includes understanding the impact of inadequate health care and finding ways to serve disadvantaged communities. Aminata is also interested in understanding cultural health differences as an aspiring physician. In her free time she likes to read and cook.