Educational Background

• Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Rhode Island
• Predoctoral Internship, Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology, Boston Medical Center and the Boston University School of Medicine
• M.A., Psychology, University of Rhode Island
• B.A., Psychology, Rhode Island College

Research Interests

Professor Mena’s research examines the influence of cultural and contextual factors on physical and mental health. She is especially interested in illuminating the experiences of historically marginalized groups and strives to apply research findings in community settings. She has a passion for working with students on research from conceptualization to publication and every step in between.

Multicultural Psychology Lab

Courses Taught

• FOUN 098: Success and Failure
• PSYC 100: Introduction to Psychology
• PSYC 240: Multicultural Psychology
• PSYC 287: Research Methods in Multicultural Psychology
• PSYC 374/674: Latinx Psychology

Book

Mena, J. A. & Quina, K. (Eds.). (2019). Integrating multiculturalism and intersectionality into the psychology curriculum: Strategies for instructors. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Selected Publications

(*Student co-Author)

Mena, J. A., Soto, J. A., Wei, W., *Kaplan, S., & *Salazar, S. (2020) Does centrality moderate the relation between skin tone satisfaction and psychological adjustment for Latinx Blacks and non-Latinx Blacks? Race and Social Problems.

Mena, J. A., Durden, T. E., *Bressette, S. E., & *McCready, T. (2019). Black and White self-identified Latinx respondents and perceived psychological distress and impairment. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 41(4), 504-522.

Mena, J. A. & Vaccaro, A. (2017). “I’ve struggled, I’ve battled”: Invisibility microaggressions experienced by women of color at a predominately White institution. NASPA Journal about Women in Higher Education, 10(3), 301-318. 

Mena, J. A. & Rogers, M. R. (2017). Factors influencing multicultural teaching competence: Social justice orientation and multicultural environment. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 11(2), 61-68. 

Mena, J. A., *Ampadu, G., & Prochaska, J. O. (2016). The influence of engagement and satisfaction on smoking cessation interventions: A qualitative study. Substance Use and Misuse, 52(3), 322-331. 

Mena, J. A., & Vaccaro, A. (2014). Role modeling community engagement for college students: Narratives from women faculty and staff of color. In S. V. Iverson & J. H. James, (Eds.), Feminist Community Engagement: Achieving Praxis. Pelgrave.

Mena, J. A. (2011). Latino parent home-based practices that bolster student academic persistence. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 33(4), 490-506. 

Vaccaro, A., & Mena, J. A. (2011). It’s not burnout, it’s more: Queer college activists of color and mental health. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, 15, 339-367.

Selected Presentations

Mena, J. A. (2019). Teaching the next generation of psychology students: Multiculturalism & intersectionality in action. Plenary delivered at the Association for Women in Psychology conference, Newport, RI.

Mena, J. (2016)."The cure for the pain, is in the pain": Historically marginalized college students and mental health treatment barriers and opportunities. Keynote address for the Northeast College Counseling Centers Directors Conference, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME.