Dr. Mei-ki (Maggie) Chan

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Dr. Maggie Chan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and teaching credentials from the Chinese University of Hong Kong before completing her PhD in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her professional journey includes comprehensive clinical training in serving children and youth in school settings. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Hawaii Internship Psychology Consortium accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). She is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She was selected as Early Career Scholar by the Society of the Study of School Psychology (SSSP) in 2023 and the recipient of the APA Division 16 Outstanding Dissertation Award (2023) and the SSSP Early Career Research Award (2024). She is serving as the Editorial Fellow of School Psychology Review and on the editorial boards of School Psychology and Family Process.

Dr. Chan is dedicated to optimizing school systems for the holistic development of children and youth, particularly within culturally diverse populations and amid social inequity. Her research has two primary focuses: enhancing culturally responsive school-based mental health screening and understanding the intersecting impact of school contexts (e.g., school diversity), sociocultural factors (e.g., discrimination, peer support), personal assets (e.g., social-emotional competencies), and social positions on student development within culturally diverse settings. By aligning these research lines, Dr. Chan aims to strategically and systematically identify and implement universal and targeted supports to effectively meet students' needs.

Emmy Ruff

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Emmy is a doctoral student in the School Psychology PhD program with an advanced quantitative certificate at Utah State University. She earned her bachelor's degrees in Criminology and Psychology from the University of Mobile and became a licensed behavior therapist. She earned her master's degree in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis in Brain and Behavioral Sciences from the University of South Alabama, where she researched brain development and how we measure externalizing behaviors in children. Her research focuses on how we identify and measure externalizing behaviors and Autism Spectrum Disorder in young children. She specifically hopes her research helps teachers and parents identify maladaptive behaviors and signs of autism to promote early intervention and optimal outcomes for youth. After completing her doctorate, she hopes to continue her research while providing integrative autism assessments.

Yufu Wang

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Yufu Wang is a School Psychology doctoral student in the Psychology Department at Utah State University. Yufu completed an undergraduate degree in education at University College London and a master’s degree in educational psychology at the University of Virginia. Prior to USU, she worked as a preschool teacher in a bilingual language immersion school. Her research focuses on the essential factors within both school and family environments that contribute to the thriving of youth, especially for marginalized or culturally diverse communities. Yufu aims to foster positive psychosocial development of youth.

Margaret (Maggie) Brown

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Margaret (Maggie) Brown is an undergraduate student in the College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University. She is currently in her final two semesters of school and will graduate with a major in Psychology and a double minor in Music and Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy. Maggie has been an involved member of her university through her participation in CEHS Council, the Government Relations Council, and contributing to campaigns in student elections. To feed her passion in Psychology, she has worked with Dr. Maggie Chan and her graduate student Emmy Ruff on a few of their projects. She also recently began a Psychology and Social Work position at the Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection, facilitating the volunteer trainings and coordination to help people through the challenges of inter-cultural communication. In the future, Maggie hopes to complete a PhD in Psychology, with a special research emphasis on the Psyche of individuals with Differences of Sex Development (intersex). Maggie aims to help better the mental health of these individuals and their families by understanding the impact of their condition on their day to day lives, and how it can be de-stigmatized through changing educational curriculums, increasing awareness, and providing validation for this group of people.