Jiin (she/her) is a second-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Department. She completed her undergraduate studies in Korean Literature, Education, and Psychology at Sogang University in South Korea and earned her master’s degree in Counseling and Clinical Psychology, also at Sogang University. She has clinical experience working with college students and adult clients in community settings.

Jiin’s research interests focus on the connection between mind and body, particularly the interplay between psychological vulnerability and physical pain. She is also interested in how cultural factors shape pain experiences, as well as topics such as narcissism, mindfulness, and mentalization. She previously trained at an institute with a psychodynamic orientation and strives to integrate psychodynamic principles into her clinical practice. In her clinical work, she values building mutual trust and empathy. She finds great joy in getting to know her clients.

In her spare time, she loves listening to K-pop music and dancing. During her undergraduate years, she was a member of a dance club and performed numerous K-pop dances. She also loves exploring new skincare products. If you ever need skincare recommendations, feel free to reach out. She’ll happily share plenty of suggestions!

Lily Suh (she/her) is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Counseling Psychology working with Dr. Shinye Kim. Her research interests include stress, chronic illness, and the mind-body connection. She is particularly interested in understanding how culture, health behaviors, and coping strategies shape the ways individuals experience and manage chronic health conditions.

Prior to graduate school, Lily earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she conducted research on therapy processes and patient outcomes in cognitive behavioral teletherapy for inflammatory bowel disease. She then worked as a Clinical Research Assistant at McLean Hospital, where she conducted research on eating disorders and the relationships between stress, health, and eating behavior.

Saumya is currently pursuing a master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and graduated with her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Throughout her studies, she has developed a curiosity about how intersectional identities, such as culture or disability status, impact an individual’s overall well-being and experiences with illness, particularly within healthcare settings like hospitals and clinics. She is interested in exploring these interactions further through research and hopes to gain a deeper understanding of these factors in the context of underrepresented and underserved populations. Through her work at the Pain, Context and Innovation Lab, she wants to better understand and explore the experience and expression of pain within South Asian cultures. 

After graduation, she hopes to work in clinical settings where she can have the chance to work with an interdisciplinary team focused on holistic and patient-centered care with a strengths-based approach. Her clinical interests are in working with individuals with disabilities, specifically individuals with acquired disabilities, chronic illness, and neurocognitive disorders, in the realms of adjustment to disability, pain management and cognitive rehabilitation. She looks forward to continuing to learn, expanding on her interests, and improving upon her skills.

My name is Rin Xie, a second-year Master's student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) program at UW-Madison.

My research interest is to explore how language shapes individual cognition and influences interpersonal relationships. I am also keenly interested in the topic of family climate, particularly examining gender as a critical factor influencing these dynamics.

Methodologically, I utilize Quantitative Research Methods, and am able to employ statistical software packages such as SPSS and Stata for data analysis. However, I maintain an open and proactive approach to learning Qualitative Research Methods to integrate diverse research perspectives.

I look forward to refining advanced research skills with our team members and contributing meaningfully to the lab's overarching goals. 

Katherine Whitaker (she/her) is a second year master's student in the Counseling Psychology department. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Louisville, majoring in psychology and minoring in philosophy. Following graduation, she greatly enjoyed working alongside undergraduate students in the admissions process, which brought her to Counseling Psychology. Throughout her studies and lived experience, Katherine has fostered curiosity about the stories we tell about our lives and the power that those stories may hold. 

Katherine's research interests include how access to healthcare may be influenced by intersecting social locations, with particular interest in LGBTQ+ identities and rurality. Additionally, she has been curious about how methods of data analysis may capture and reflect themes in qualitative data differently. In her clinical work, Katherine practices a narrative approach integrated with cultural wealth. She grounds her practice in cultural humility and responsiveness, authenticity, and empowerment.

In her free time, Katherine greatly enjoys spending time outdoors (especially biking), going to the movies with her partner, and cozy evenings at home with her cat and a good book.

Hamin is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her undergraduate studies in Communication & Media Studies, with minors in English Language & Literature and Psychology at Seoul National University in South Korea. She also earned her master’s degree in Communication & Media Studies at Seoul National University. She has extensive experience working in the health context, including startups, clinics, and volunteer work. Her research interests focus on interpersonal communication such as patient-provider communication, caregiver relationships, and support systems. She also does research on the intersection between interpersonal and mass communication, looking into how such relationships are represented in media and mediated by technology. She uses both quantitative and qualitative methodology in order to explore these issues. Many of her works have been presented in major communication conferences including the International Communication Association, National Communication Association, and Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.