About

MISSION

The Wright Institute Pipeline to Advanced Degrees (WIPAD) aims to help diversify the field of psychology by creating a pipeline for underrepresented students, especially Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and first generation college students. To this end, WIPAD supports two primary programs: (1) Psychology Internship Program and (2) Diversity Recruitment Program. Both are designed to educate, empower, and inspire historically underrepresented and excluded students to explore and pursue advanced degrees and careers in mental health.

OBJECTIVES

• To increase awareness about educational options and career paths in psychology
• To empower and inspire historically underrepresented and excluded students to seek advanced degrees in psychology

Programs

PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Mission

Psychology Internship Program (PIP) partners with local high schools to provide mentorship-based internships that facilitate awareness and knowledge about advanced degrees and career options in clinical psychology for historically underrepresented and excluded students. Currently PIP offers internships in two locations in the broader San Francisco Bay Area: East Bay and South Bay.

Psychology Internship Program East Bay (PIP-EB) meets for one full academic year. Weekly seminars are led by culturally similar graduate student mentors and undergraduate student assistants. PIP-EB has most recently worked with the following high schools in the East Bay: Life Academy, Berkeley High School, Contra Costa College’s Middle College High School, Oakland High School, and Oakland Technical High School. PIP-EB is based largely on the Taking Flight model. Currently, PIP-EB is under the supervision of Anu Orebiyi, M.A.

Psychology Internship Program South Bay (PIP-SB) meets for one full academic year. Monthly seminars are led by culturally similar graduate student mentors. PIP-SB has been working with Mills High School in Millbrae since 2018 under the leadership of Shiyu Zhang, M.A. PIP-SB is based on the Taking Flight model, serves predominantly Asian American students experiencing high academic stress, and is commonly referred to by the PIP-SB team as the Mental Health Awareness Initiative (MHAI).

• To increase interns’ understanding of the field of clinical psychology, including educational pathways and career options
• To increase interns’ overall confidence in their ability to pursue higher education and advanced degrees
• To increase interns’ sense of community and belonging with culturally similar students and professionals

Taking Flight is the main manual-based curriculum used by PIP. It was originally developed by Dr. Anatasia S. Kim. After many years of working with her graduate students and undergraduate assistants and testing, modifying, and streamlining the approach, Dr. Kim and her former graduate student Dr. Abigail Johal synthesized this work into a book that can easily be adopted by psychology programs and departments as well as mental health organizations invested in helping to grow a diverse and representative mental health workforce.

Clinical Psychology Internship for Underrepresented Students: An Inclusive Approach Toward Higher Education (Routledge, 2021).

• Overview of the field of psychology
• Common mental health concerns among adolescents and disenfranchised communities
• Self-reflection and insights
• Research approaches to mental health issues
• Clinical approaches to mental health issues
• Capstone projects and presentations
• Integration of knowledge, skills, and self-concept

• Didactic
• Hands-on application
• Project/presentation
• Guest speakers
• Field trips
• Pre-post surveys

“It made me feel inspired [to be mentored by graduate students and professionals of color]. It made me feel more reassured as a person of color because it gave me models to follow. Having these mentors was crucial to my own mental health. The fact that this was one of the first times I ever saw professionals of color made me scared but reminded me that they existed. They gave me strength when the world really feels like it is against POC.” Fernando, PIP-EB

“It really kick started my career by connecting me to psychology and the mental health field. My experience with the program made it seem possible that I can become a doctor or psychologist to people like me, other people of color.” Victor, PIP-EB

“[Being with other first-generation college-bound students and professionals of color] was inspiring and calming because I was being taught and given advice by people that were just like me.” Yá Hiness, PIP-EB

“Taking Flight has been a complete eye opener to the field of mental health for me and the many careers and study options available.” Yesenia, PIP-EB

“I love being a part of this group...maybe it (psychology) is something I would like to further pursue in the future.” Former PIP-SB Intern

“MHAI presents an opportunity to expand my interests in psychology and I believe that there is no better way to learn than seeking different perspectives and opinions.” Former PIP-SB Intern

“I hope to expand my awareness and knowledge on mental health, give a helping hand to those in need of it, and take on things I would normally shy away from. I'm very proud of myself for applying last year and for the amount of things I've garnered through the Zoom meetings. I hope to be another hand in making more progress toward breaking the stigma!” Former PIP-SB Intern

“I still feel a little discomfort opening up and talking about mental health with others, and I hope that MHAI will help me feel more comfortable and be able to freely share.” Former PIP-SB Intern

The Wright Institute Diversity Recruitment Program is geared towards prospective graduate students who have completed or are in the process of completing their undergraduate degree. It offers several events throughout the year designed to help demystify the graduate school application process as well as information about degree options in psychology, financing graduate education, and specific topics geared for underrepresented students such as imposter syndrome. Participants connect with current faculty and graduate students in The Wright Institute’s MA and PsyD programs as well as The Wright Institute Admissions Director. Events are open to any BIPOC and/or first-generation college students.

Real Talk Event Flyer

Our Team

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Anatasia Kim, PhD
Executive Director, WIPAD

Anatasia S. Kim, PhD, is a Professor at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. She received her BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley and her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Developmental Psychology from UCLA. She is a National Ronald McNair Scholar and the recipient of a number of awards including the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship, Okura Mental Health Fellowship, and APAGS Guardian of Psychology Award. In addition to graduate teaching, she has a private practice specializing in treating children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety disorders, depression, and neuro-cognitive disorders using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment Theory, Family Systems, and Buddhist Psychology. She also provides Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) consultation and training to organizations. In recent years, she served as President of the Alameda County Psychological Association, Chair of California Psychological Association (CPA) Immigration Task Force, CPA’s state Diversity Delegate, and APA Division 31 Diversity Leadership Development Program. Dr. Kim is the lead author of It’s Time to Talk (and Listen): How to Have Constructive Conversations About Race, Class, Sexuality, Ability, and Gender in a Polarized World (New Harbinger, 2019) and of Clinical Psychology Internship for Underrepresented Students: An Inclusive Approach Toward Higher Education (Routledge, 2021). For more information about Dr. Kim, please check out: www.anatasiakim.com

Anu Orebiyi, MA, LMHC
Assistant Director and Primary Supervisor, PIP
Program Director, PIP-EB

Anu Orebiyi, MA, is a mental health practitioner, who received her B.S. in Biology with a Psychology minor at Truman State University in 2006, her M.A. in Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology in 2009, and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute in 2021. Anu is a licensed mental health counselor in WA State, and she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. Anu is passionate about working within/alongside marginalized communities and in increasing equitable access to mental health supports both to and within marginalized communities. As a result throughout her 13+ years working as a clinician, Anu has worked with a wide variety of individuals within a variety of settings including working in a sub-acute facility with kids experiencing significant trauma and behavioral difficulties, in multiple school settings, in-home both with kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their families and with individuals 55+ struggling with depression, in an agency providing specialized case management for African American elders who were 65+, in the Wright Institute's In-house Clinic, and with UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital's Center for the Vulnerable Child (CVC)'s Support to Enhance Early Development Program (SEED). Anu has also worked alongside the University of Washington’s Health Promotion Research Center in researching the efficacy and dissemination of their in-home depression counseling program across diverse populations, and Anu continues to proactively dedicate herself towards the increased efficacy of and access to mental health services across diverse populations.

Lelia Youn, MA
Administrative Assistant

Lelia Youn, MA (she/her) is a 3rd year student at the Wright Institute’s Doctoral program. She received her BS in Microbiology with a minor in Asian Studies at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Lelia joins the WIPAD program with experience in PK-12 education. Most recently, she was an assistant school counselor and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) teacher; previously she was a biology teacher. With an appreciation for systems thinking and honoring the experiences of the individual, Lelia strives to foster supportive relationships while keeping in mind the contexts in which our students are living in. As a previous mentor, Lelia appreciated the supportive environment co-created by her fellow mentors and incredible mentees. Lelia returned as the administrative assistant to learn more about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the program.

SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING TEAM

James Serrano
Social Media Team

James is a member of Heidrick Consulting (HC) and is based in the Los Angeles office. Since joining HC, James has supported the execution of numerous projects within the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practice and Culture-Shaping Practice. His primary responsibilities on client engagements have included analyzing robust qualitative and quantitative data sets, presenting bright spots, gaps, and findings through creative PowerPoint design, and supporting the project management of internal teams to deliver against client timelines.

James joined Heidrick & Struggles in 2021 through the firm’s Analyst Development Program (ADP) where he rotated through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and CEO & Board Practice before dedicating to Heidrick Consulting. In his previous rotation, he supported executive searches involving gender and ethnically diverse CEO and Board members across global Technology, Manufacturing, and Financial Services companies through talent mappings, business development, and company/industry research.

Outside of Heidrick & Struggles, James is involved in developing a pipeline program that aims to create more access to higher education and careers in Psychology for First-Generation and underrepresented students. Through culturally affirming mentorship programs and partnerships with local high schools and PsyD programs, James hopes to pave the way for the next generation of diverse leaders in Psychology.

Prior to joining Heidrick & Struggles, James attended the University of California, at Berkeley where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Political Economy.

Ali Manrique
Social Media Team

Ali Manrique (she/her) is a first year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the Wright Institute. She is a first-generation student and identifies as a proud bilingual Peruana. She received her B.A. in Psychology and minor in Education from UC Berkeley in 2018. During undergrad, she was a research assistant for the PIP program and really enjoyed getting to work with primarily first-generation students of color interested in the psychology field. After graduating UC Berkeley, she had experience working as a youth case manager, a mental health counselor, and an IEP legal advocate for high schools in Oakland. Ali would like to focus on helping underprivileged Latinx communities have access to mental health services and demystify higher education for first-generation youth. She is delighted to be back working with the amazing PIP family!

Alex Rodriguez
Social Media Team

Geraldine Lonsdale
Social Media Team

PIP PROGRAM STAFF

Belén Mora-Navarro, MA
PIP Outreach

Belén (she/her/hers/ella) is a first-generation, bilingual, Mexican American graduate student from Oakland California. She is passionate about increasing representation in the field of psychology and the use of therapy as an instrumental part of overall health, wellness, and healing. As a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Senior Fellow, Belén advocates for the continued needs of underrepresented graduate students through her work with La Consulta Clínica, a student-created and facilitated independent study for Latinx-identifying and Spanish-speaking students at the Wright Institute, and the Latinx Psychological Wellness Series to promote belonging and community. Having served as a mentor for the last two years with The Wright Institute Pipeline to Advanced Degrees program run by Wright Institute faculty member Dr. Anatasia Kim, Belén continues to participate through outreach, visiting schools across the San Francisco Bay Area to promote the internship to first-gen college and BIPOC students. Belén is currently working on applying for pre-doctoral internship, completing her dissertation on the Impact of Child Marriage on Latin American women's psychosocial development, and presenting at the National Latinx Psychological Association conference later this year. In her spare time, Belén enjoys tending to her many plants, watching reruns of Grey's Anatomy, and researching skincare for melanated skin.

Davis Vu, MA
Program Manager, PIP-SB/MHAI

Davis Vu, MA, is a clinical graduate student at the Wright Institute. He received his BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz. Prior to and during his clinical training he has worked closely with families to better understand neurodiversity, anxiety, depression, and cultural stigma related to mental health. Within his doctoral program he has co-created a student-led space for Asian identified communities to come together in response to racism and xenophobia. He has also worked with survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence through evidence based practices in therapy to form healthy, empowering relationships. Davis was a member of the Mental Health Advancement Initiative (MHAI) as a mentor to a team of passionate upcoming young adults and is continuing his work within MHAI this year through fostering community connections and outreach.

Keziah Lyu, PsyD
Program Manager, PIP-SB/MHAI

Keziah Lyu, PsyD, is a psychological associate at Kaiser Fremont Adult Psychiatry. She received a BA in Psychology with a minor in Asian American Studies from UC Berkeley and recently graduated from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California with a PsyD in Clinical Psychology. Keziah currently provides psychotherapy to underserved populations and communities in the East Bay. As a daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she is interested in serving diverse minority populations, and her research interests include shame, stigma, psychological help seeking, and Asian American mental health. She formerly also served in the Asian American Psychological Association as the Student Representative for the Division on Practice and the Membership Coordinator for the Division on Students. Keziah was a member of the Mental Health Advancement Initiative (MHAI) as a mentor in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 and will be continuing this work as a program manager for MHAI this year.

PIP MENTORS

Zack Simon
PIP East Bay Mentor

As an African American male who is the first in his family to pursue a doctorate degree, Zack Simon’s passion is working with children, adolescents, and families. Having worked with many low-income BIPOC and immigrants for most of his career, Zack brings firsthand professional experience. What is unique about Zack is his creativity, thoughtfulness, and openness to learning. These qualities are evident in his hobby as a breakdancer and his engagement in clinical psychology. His area of research aims to inform and augment mental health services that focus on the social and mental well-being of African children and families. As he engages with each individual, he values bringing the best out of them with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

Geraldine Lonsdale
PIP East Bay Mentor

Geraldine Lonsdale (she/her) is a first-generation, Filipinx-identifying, Bay-Area native from Vallejo, CA. She is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley where she received her BA in Psychology and minor in Disability Studies in May 2021. Currently, she is in her second year at the Wright Institute’s Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. This is Geraldine’s 4th year working with the Psychology Internship Program, where she serves as both a mentor and social media manager. Geraldine has previously worked as a peer counselor at UC Berkeley, and as a counselor at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA. She is currently a practicum trainee at Portia Bell Hume Behavioral Health Center with Alameda County Outpatient Services (ACOS). Geraldine's clinical interests include early trauma intervention, family therapy, and complex trauma. Geraldine has a passion for working with youth and the next generation of clinicians of color, with the intention of not only diversifying the field of psychology, but breaking down barriers and stigma to mental health in BIPOC communities.

Guadalupe Espinoza
PIP East Bay Mentor

Guadalupe Espinoza is a graduate student at the Wright Institute in Berkeley pursuing a Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology. She received her BS in psychology from the University of La Verne in 2017. Before attending graduate school, Guadalupe worked in education as a program leader and program assistant in different afterschool programs and as a learning coach at an alternative public school. Her clinical training has been in different public schools in Oakland, California. Guadalupe hopes to help support underserved communities and advocate for their needs.

Elle de la Cruz, LCSW
PIP East Bay Mentor

Elle is a first generation Filipina-American social worker and therapist with experience in early childhood mental health, adolescent mental health, trauma-informed therapy, and family therapy. She has worked in many multidisciplinary settings including: the child welfare system, public schools, and healthcare systems. Elle received her MSW from the School of Social Welfare at UC Berkeley, focusing on Community Mental Health. For 5 years, she worked as a clinician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, providing family therapy and early childhood mental health services to 0-5 year olds placed in foster care and their family systems. She currently works as a community college counselor, high school mentor, and private practice therapist. Elle is passionate about supporting BIPOC folks in the mental health field. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors near the water, discovering good food with her partner, reading young adult fiction, and playing with her crew of nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Dyana Lam
PIP South Bay / MHAI Mentor

Dyana Lam is a first-generation, Southeast Asian-American graduate student from the Bay Area. She is currently a second-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute and received her BA in Psychology from UC Davis. Prior to attending graduate school, Dyana was a case manager working with transitional aged foster youth in Santa Cruz County. She also practiced ABA therapy and was a research assistant for the Autism Phenome Project at the UC Davis MIND Institute. Dyana is a current practicum trainee at the Carl B. Metoyer Center for Family Counseling and previously trained at the College Wellness Program. She is passionate about food justice and uplifting at-promise youth and families in historically underserved communities.

Daphne Situ
PIP South Bay / MHAI Mentor

Daphne Situ is a 2nd year student at UC Berkeley. She is working toward her BA in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Genetics, Genomics and Development. Daphne was part of the PIP-SB/Mental Health Advancement Initiative (MHAI) program throughout her years as a high school student and has returned to the program now as an undergraduate mentor. She enjoys finding and working in the intersection between biology and social justice. Daphne has also worked with Stop AAPI Hate since the summer of 2020. She is excited to be an undergraduate mentor and support the program this year! She hopes to form meaningful connections with her mentees and foster an environment that encourages their journey with psychology and personal wellness.

Ryan Lee
PIP South Bay / MHAI Mentor

Ryan Thomas Lee (he/they) is a second-generation Chinese American, first-generation college student who was born and raised in San Francisco and attended Lowell High School. He is a recent UC Berkeley graduate, where he obtained his BA in Psychology & Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies just this past spring of 2022. Ryan currently works as a RBT (Registered Behavioral Technician) at Maxim Healthcare, providing ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) therapy to children on the spectrum across the East Bay. Having experienced firsthand the stigmatization of mental health issues across his communities, Ryan has devoted his professional life towards the advocacy of an open dialogue on community-specific barriers to mental health preservation. Through such discourse, he aims to uplift the mental health taboos of marginalized, BIPOC communities by equipping themselves with the necessary tools to combat such cultural stigma. In the next coming years, Ryan hopes to ultimately obtain his PsyD at the Wright Institute in order to promote his passions within cross-cultural, trauma, and sexual psychology, and to further the ongoing campaign towards decolonizing the psychology field.

Madeline Wong
PIP South Bay / MHAI Mentor

Madeline Wong (she/her) is a medical student and received her BA in Psychology and BS in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She co-founded the Mental Health Advancement Initiative after noticing the need for mental health awareness at her high school. In college she engaged in moral development research and continued her involvement in community organizations. She is passionate about addressing health disparities and public health issues.

DRP PROGRAM STAFF

Tamyra Johnson
Program Staff, DRP

Tamyra Johnson is a third-year student in the PsyD program at The Wright. She is currently a practicum trainee at the Martinez VA Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Program and a co-founder of The Black Student Union (BSU). Tamyra served active duty in the U.S. Army and worked in mental health, working with military personnel and veterans. Her interests include social justice, anti-racism, working with marginalized populations, trauma informed therapy, substance abuse, and working with veterans.

Jadasey Pivin
Program Staff, DRP

Jadasey Pivin is a second year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute who identifies as a multi-racial Asian American woman. She received her BA in Psychology and Asian American Studies from California State University, Northridge. Jadasey is the first in her family to graduate undergrad and the first to attend graduate school. Prior to and during her clinical training at the Wright, she has been working as a psychometrist and clinical assistant at a private multi-disciplinary mental health clinic that provides services to clients across all ages, sex and gender, ethnic backgrounds, and culture. Jadasey is passionate about creating space for POC communities and her clinical interests include working with individuals who may be going through identity issues, anxiety, or trauma.

Cindy Alvarenga
Program Staff, DRP

Cindy Alvarenga (she/her) is a first year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at the Wright Institute and she identifies as a first-generation Latinx woman. She received her B.S. in Biopsychology with a minor in Applied Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in June 2020. During her undergraduate career, Cindy was a research coordinator at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UCSB. Cindy also mentored underserved high-school students and volunteered at a preschool for homeless and at-risk children who needed extra support. Post-grad, she was a support counselor partnering with teachers, clinicians and families to help students meet their IEP goals. Influenced by her personal and professional experiences, Cindy hopes to help underprivileged and underserved communities access much-needed mental health resources and to address the social disadvantages and inequities society fails to recognize.

Contact Us

Psychology Internship Program

If you are interested in bringing PIP to your high school, graduate program, or mental health organization, please contact: takingflight@wi.edu

Diversity Recruitment Program

For information about upcoming events, please contact: pipeline@wi.edu