As a subset of the Society of Pediatric Psychology's Diversity Committee, the Diversity SIG is comprised of approx. 80 members of the Society of Pediatric Psychology with interests in diversity issues. Members are in various stages of their careers and include students, interns, post-doc, and faculty. The Diversity SIG leadership is comprised of 2 co-chairs, 1 secretary, and 3 student board members. A brief description of each committee and their leadership is below:
SIG Co-chairs: Drs. Josie S. Welkom and Steven Reader
Co-chairs serve a 3-year term and provide overall leadership for the SIG. They work closely with the Diversity Member-At-Large for Division 54, the Diversity Committee, SIG Secretary, and SIG Trainee Members-At-Large to communicate with, provide resources to, and develop initiatives with and for SIG membership related to the mission of the Diversity SIG.
Josie S. Welkom, Ph.D.
Dr. Welkom is a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her research and clinical interests include health disparities across the lifespan, patient-provider communication, adherence, sickle cell disease, asthma, and pediatric pain. She has been a member of the Diversity SIG since it was founded and is deeply committed to furthering its mission. She is in a non-traditional role for a pediatric psychologist as a Program Officer at NSF but feels as though this position allows her to have an impact on shaping the direction of future research and supporting the success of early career scientists. She is directly responsible for managing two research programs, 1) the NSF Directorate for Social Behavioral and Economic (SBE) Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (SPRF) program and the 2) SBE Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. In addition, she represents SBE on the HBCU Excellence in Research program. Through these activities, Dr. Welkom focus on broadening the participation of underrepresented scientists and institutions in research. Additional information about Dr. Welkom can be found at www.nsf.gov/staff/staff_bio.jsp?lan=jwelkom&from_org=NSF
Dr. Welkom is a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her research and clinical interests include health disparities across the lifespan, patient-provider communication, adherence, sickle cell disease, asthma, and pediatric pain. She has been a member of the Diversity SIG since it was founded and is deeply committed to furthering its mission. She is in a non-traditional role for a pediatric psychologist as a Program Officer at NSF but feels as though this position allows her to have an impact on shaping the direction of future research and supporting the success of early career scientists. She is directly responsible for managing two research programs, 1) the NSF Directorate for Social Behavioral and Economic (SBE) Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (SPRF) program and the 2) SBE Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. In addition, she represents SBE on the HBCU Excellence in Research program. Through these activities, Dr. Welkom focus on broadening the participation of underrepresented scientists and institutions in research. Additional information about Dr. Welkom can be found at www.nsf.gov/staff/staff_bio.jsp?lan=jwelkom&from_org=NSF
Steven Reader, Ph.D. (SIG Co-Chair)
(Pronouns: He/Him)
Dr. Reader is a pediatric psychologist at Nemours/Al duPont Hospital for Children. His research focuses on family psychosocial risk screening in pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD), and his clinical interests include pediatric chronic illness, specifically, SCD. Dr. Reader promotes diversity within SPP and as a psychologist by his participation on the Diversity Committee in the Division of Behavioral Health at Nemours, previous service as the Awards Chair for the SPP Diversity Committee, current service as the Diversity SIG Co-Chair, and research and clinical work in SCD (which is a historically underserved chronic illness population).
(Pronouns: He/Him)
Dr. Reader is a pediatric psychologist at Nemours/Al duPont Hospital for Children. His research focuses on family psychosocial risk screening in pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD), and his clinical interests include pediatric chronic illness, specifically, SCD. Dr. Reader promotes diversity within SPP and as a psychologist by his participation on the Diversity Committee in the Division of Behavioral Health at Nemours, previous service as the Awards Chair for the SPP Diversity Committee, current service as the Diversity SIG Co-Chair, and research and clinical work in SCD (which is a historically underserved chronic illness population).
SIG Secretary: Dr. Justin L. Williams
The SIG secretary safeguards all archival records of the SIG, keeps minutes of SIG-related meetings, updates information regarding SIG policies and infrastructure, maintains resources for SIG members on the SIG's website, maintains the SIG roster up-to-date and well communicated with the Division, and generally fulfills the functions of a Secretary in responding to the needs of the SIG's leadership and members.
Justin L. Williams, Ph.D.
(Pronouns: She/Her & They/Them)
Dr. Williams is a clinical psychologist at Kaiser Permanente (Georgia). Her clinical interests include children, adolescents, and young adults with mental health concerns and chronic medical illnesses; and her research interests include psychosocial supports for and transition readiness among youth with sickle cell disease (SCD). Dr. Williams promotes diversity within SPP and within her clinical practice through her research and clinical work with youth with SCD and by serving as the current Diversity SIG Secretary.
(Pronouns: She/Her & They/Them)
Dr. Williams is a clinical psychologist at Kaiser Permanente (Georgia). Her clinical interests include children, adolescents, and young adults with mental health concerns and chronic medical illnesses; and her research interests include psychosocial supports for and transition readiness among youth with sickle cell disease (SCD). Dr. Williams promotes diversity within SPP and within her clinical practice through her research and clinical work with youth with SCD and by serving as the current Diversity SIG Secretary.
SIG Student Board Members
Juliana Yanguas, M.S.
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Juliana is a psychology trainee who is in the process of applying for her clinical internship. Her clinical and research interests include pediatric psychology, end-of-life communication, transplant, and rehabilitation. She is a 5th year graduate student at Nova Southeastern University. She is mentored by Dr. Jessica M. Valenzuela. Juliana is excited to promote diversity within SPP and across various contexts by providing (a) Spanish-speaking services to the Latino community during her clinical internship and future work and (b) suggestions on how to increase SPP’s focus on diversity at conferences, in internet-based communications, and on its website. Additional information about Juliana and her mentor's research lab can be found at phedup.weebly.com
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Juliana is a psychology trainee who is in the process of applying for her clinical internship. Her clinical and research interests include pediatric psychology, end-of-life communication, transplant, and rehabilitation. She is a 5th year graduate student at Nova Southeastern University. She is mentored by Dr. Jessica M. Valenzuela. Juliana is excited to promote diversity within SPP and across various contexts by providing (a) Spanish-speaking services to the Latino community during her clinical internship and future work and (b) suggestions on how to increase SPP’s focus on diversity at conferences, in internet-based communications, and on its website. Additional information about Juliana and her mentor's research lab can be found at phedup.weebly.com
Ashley Marchante-Hoffman, Ph.D.
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Dr. Marchante-Hoffman is a psychology fellow at Nemours/Al duPont Hospital for Children. She works primarily with Hispanic/Latinx children, adolescents, and families within a primary care setting that serves a diverse community. Clinically, she sees everything and loves that about primary care! Dr. Marchante-Hoffman's research has focused on risk and protective factors associated with mental health and physical health in Hispanic/Latinx youth. She promotes diversity through her clinical work and research which is focused on better understanding the needs of the Hispanic/Latinx community and increasing their access to care. She actively participates in a weekly bilingual seminar, diversity rounds, and a diversity committee within Nemours. Lastly, Dr. Marchante-Hoffman is excited to promote diversity as a student board member within SPP!
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Dr. Marchante-Hoffman is a psychology fellow at Nemours/Al duPont Hospital for Children. She works primarily with Hispanic/Latinx children, adolescents, and families within a primary care setting that serves a diverse community. Clinically, she sees everything and loves that about primary care! Dr. Marchante-Hoffman's research has focused on risk and protective factors associated with mental health and physical health in Hispanic/Latinx youth. She promotes diversity through her clinical work and research which is focused on better understanding the needs of the Hispanic/Latinx community and increasing their access to care. She actively participates in a weekly bilingual seminar, diversity rounds, and a diversity committee within Nemours. Lastly, Dr. Marchante-Hoffman is excited to promote diversity as a student board member within SPP!
Nikita Rodrigues, M.A.
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Nikita Rodrigues is a graduate student in Clinical Psychology at Georgia State University, and she is currently completing her internship year at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Clinically, Nikita work primarily in primary care settings that serve predominantly underserved minority populations. She appreciates how primary care allows psychologists to improve access and reduce stigma for minority patients. Her research interests align well with her clinical work, as Nikita focuses on intervention development and implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinic settings. Nikita promotes diversity through both her clinical work and research by contributing to practice settings that improve access to care for minority populations and ensure evidence-based interventions are reaching these populations in effective ways. Additionally, as she moves on from graduate school to fellowship, Nikita plans to increase diversity training for graduate student trainees and continue teaching multicultural psychology classes at the undergraduate level in an effort to promote minority representation in the field. Additional information about Nikita and her mentor's research lab can be found at sites.gsu.edu/champ-lab/current-members/members/nikita-rodrigues/
(Pronouns: She/Her)
Nikita Rodrigues is a graduate student in Clinical Psychology at Georgia State University, and she is currently completing her internship year at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Clinically, Nikita work primarily in primary care settings that serve predominantly underserved minority populations. She appreciates how primary care allows psychologists to improve access and reduce stigma for minority patients. Her research interests align well with her clinical work, as Nikita focuses on intervention development and implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinic settings. Nikita promotes diversity through both her clinical work and research by contributing to practice settings that improve access to care for minority populations and ensure evidence-based interventions are reaching these populations in effective ways. Additionally, as she moves on from graduate school to fellowship, Nikita plans to increase diversity training for graduate student trainees and continue teaching multicultural psychology classes at the undergraduate level in an effort to promote minority representation in the field. Additional information about Nikita and her mentor's research lab can be found at sites.gsu.edu/champ-lab/current-members/members/nikita-rodrigues/