Dr. Leeza Ong, assistant professor in the Counselor Education Counseling Psychology department, has two projects which provide opportunities for students to be involved in the research project. We would like to introduce you to Dr. Ong and her students in a multi-part series exploring their work.
My name is Julia Pawlowski, and I am a first-year graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. I am originally from Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and I attended Marquette for my undergraduate degree. I am a research assistant on the project The Effect of Mindful Prayers on First-Generation Immigrant/Refugee Women’s Wellness: A Qualitative Study. In five years, I see myself completing a Ph.D. Program in counseling psychology.
My research interests are in multicultural psychology and psychopathology. Specifically, they include the role of acculturation in reinforcing or buffering the impact of stigma, factors that worsen the psychological consequences of microaggressions on mental health among minority groups, and the impact of cultural beliefs/attitudes on identity formation.
As the child of two immigrants, I grew up in an immigrant/ refugee community that survived by helping one another. Being bicultural has made me aware of cultural sensitivity from a young age, as navigating between my two cultures often left me conflicted. My personal upbringing and acquired psychological knowledge are the reasons I pursued a degree in clinical mental health counseling. I am passionate about helping this population and making a difference in individuals’ lives. I wanted to work with Dr. Ong because of her work regarding immigrant and refugee psychological well-being.
For more information on our rehabilitation specialization within the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, check out our College of Education 2020 Magazine.
The Marquette Educator 