Crystal L. Barksdale
Department of Psychology
George Washington University
Building GG
2125 G St. NW
Washington D.C. 20052
Phone: 202-994-6320
Email: clb@gwu.edu

Crystal L. Barksdale is pursuing a research agenda that focuses on children’s mental health services and utilization, with a specific interest in disparities among African Americans.  Dr. Barksdale is currently working on a project that involves examining mental health and utilization disparities in children’s mental health services using a national data set on comprehensive community mental health services for children.


Elise T. Pas, PhD, NCSP
624 North Broadway
Hampton House, Room 801
Baltimore, MD 21205
Email: epas@jhsph.edu 

Elise T. Pas is pursuing a research agenda that focuses on school reform efforts with a focus on improving the classroom and school contexts to impact student outcomes. Dr. Pas is currently using data from the PBIS Plus and Maryland State PBIS Initiative to examine teacher factors, program implementation and discipline referral patterns.

Richard E. Sechrest, PhD
6152 Montgomery Road
Elkridge, MD 21075
Phone/Fax: 410-796-5522
Email: rsechre@jhsph.edu

Richard E. Sechrest's past research examined the efficacy of culturally derived interventions in substance abuse treatment with Asian and Pacific Islander women in a rural location on the island of Hawaii.  The treatment program, Hui Ho’ola O Na Nahulu O Hawai’i (translated: the gathering that gives life back to the people of Hawai’i), integrated conventional substance abuse treatments such as group therapy, family therapy, career counseling, and family-related services with more unconventional treatment strategies. Dr. Sechrest plans to become involved in assessing seeming barriers to therapy, both geographic and philosophic, that reduce continuation of therapy for minority clients or special populations.

Eduardo A. Lugo Hernández, PhD
23 Street U, 4 Royal Town
Bayamon, Puerto Rico 00956
Phone: 787-504-2308
Email: ealugo@ipsi.uprrp.edu 

Dr. Lugo Hernández is currently training on the development of comprehensive school violence prevention initiatives using a Participatory Action Research approach. He also is attempting to understand how culture impacts the implementation of violence prevention initiatives in the school, specifically with Puerto Rican and Dominican families.