PEOPLE

Yun Garrison+Psychology+Bates+Reseacher+Korean

Yun Garrison, Ph.D.

Lab Director 

Thank you for exploring my work as a researcher. I am the founder and director of {the calm lab}. As a tenure-track assistant professor of Psychology at Bates College, my role consists of equal parts: research, teaching, and community engagement.

Research Interests

  • Community-engaged methodology with people from the Global South and East

  • Narrative and art-based research methodology

  • Myth of American meritocracy

  • Asian American/immigrant psychotherapy

  • Psychological and vocational well-being among people with marginalized identities and histories

  • Clinical and professional development among international trainees in mental health

Vyshu Viju | Lab Member 

Hometown:

I’ve lived in many places, so it’s hard to choose just one as home, but if I had to pick, Atlanta, Georgia, feels the most like home to me.

Research Interest/Projects:

I'm a junior at Bates College, majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. My academic interests lie at the intersection of these fields, with a particular focus on reproductive justice, including topics like abortion and adoption, as well as addiction, particularly substance abuse. I'm also deeply engaged in feminist and queer theory and have a strong interest in the history of countercultural movements, especially those of the 1960s. I am currently working on the South Asian Reproductive Justice Project. After college, I’m considering pursuing a Master’s and Ph.D. in Neuroscience or Psychology, or potentially exploring a career in Social Work. I’m still exploring my options, though.

Hobbies:

Beyond academics, I enjoy reading, writing, hiking, camping, dancing, knitting, and participating in theatre. I'm also passionate about gardening and landscaping. 

Alex Kani | Lab Member 

Hometown:

San Mateo, California 

Research Interest/Project:

I am a sophomore at Bates College, planning to major in psychology. Specifically, I’m particularly interested in clinical, cultural, and cognitive psychology. My goal for participating in this lab is to learn more so that I can give back to the community and hone in on my interests. Currently, I’m working on projects in the lab that involve reexamining literature about suicide prevention and intervention for seasonal and migrant farmworkers from the Global South and exploring reproductive justice issues concerning South Asian Americans.

Hobbies:

In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing soccer, and, more recently, cooking. One of my hobbies right now is knitting. I am currently knitting a scarf for my youngest brother. My comfort food is Annie's mac and cheese specifically the white cheddar one.

Sam Gerry | Lab Member 

Hometown:

Woburn, Massachusetts 

Research Interest/Projects:

I'm a senior at Bates majoring in psychology. My research interests lie in self-injurious behaviors (i.e., suicide and non-suicidal self-injury), critical psychology/psychiatry, and cultural psychology. Specifically, I'm interested in better understanding contemporary suicide prevention practices that may inadvertently harm suicidal individuals. I plan on pursuing a career in suicidology following my undergraduate studies. As a member of the lab, I worked on a project on Asian multilingual clients’ experiences in psychotherapy. Currently, I am focusing on my senior thesis project on theories of suicide and their application to racial minority college students.


Yuna Wu | Lab Member 

Hometown:

I grew up in Changsha, China, a place I believe has the best food in the world. Maine has become my second hometown, as I’ve lived here for about six years. I arrived during my sophomore year of high school and continued my education at Bates College.

Research Interests/Projects:
I am a senior at Bates College, double majoring in Psychology and Economics. My research interests lie in cognitive psychology, and I currently work as a research assistant in Professor Kahan's visual awareness lab. Additionally, I assist Professor Yun Garrison with the Multicultural Dialogue Project, supporting international students in Maine. I am passionate about behavioral economics, which sits at the intersection of both fields, and I aim to contribute to policies that address irrational behaviors. After college, I plan to enter the consulting industry, specifically economic consulting. I also have a strong interest in marketing.

Hobbies:
I love dancing and co-founded Ace+, a dance club on campus. We hold weekly workshops and are preparing for a performance in November. I am also an amateur photographer, capturing beautiful moments and people, which helps me appreciate the world from different perspectives.

Fernando Rojas | Lab Member 

Hometown: Bristol, Pennsylvania

Research Interests/Project: I am a 2022 Bates College graduate who majored in Psychology, minored in Spanish, and concentrated in Digital and Computational Studies. Since graduation, I have worked full-time at Bates, with my current position being a Coordinator of Residence Life. My research interests include the connections among behavior change, civic engagement, ethnic and racial identities, well-being dimensions, and other related topics. I am particularly interested in translating interdisciplinary research into practical solutions, such as social policies, training programs, and interventions that create meaningful change. 

In the lab, I contribute to the Multicultural Dialogue Project to support students of color. Additionally, I assist in conducting literature reviews focused on suicide prevention approaches for people from the Global South. Looking ahead, I plan to continue working in research to hone my specific areas of interest before pursuing a graduate degree in psychology or an interdisciplinary program.

Hobbies: Soccer is my biggest hobby–both playing and learning about the game. I coach the Bates Club Soccer Team and avidly follow FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC. Outside of soccer, I enjoy reading non-fiction, working out, and caring for my collection of 11 plants.

Lab Alumni

  • Sanika Shah, Center for Peace, Equity and Justice Specialist for Diversity, Equity, and Belonging at Friends Seminary, NY
  • Sevigne Pak, A&D Trade Sales at Lekker Home, MA
  • Sean Vaz, Clinical Social Work Master's Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, NY
  • Tianqi (Cheryl) Jiao, Computational Social Science Master's Program at University of Chicago, IL
  • Chris Draper, Athletic Counseling Master's Program at Springfield College, MA
  • Danielle Reeves, Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program at Boston College, MA
  • Selam Murphy
  • Jacey Song
  • Michelle Kim
  • Benjamin Conner, Clinical Social Work Master's Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, NY
  • Angela Craddock
  • Paige Sonoda, The Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP), DC
  • Fiki Hunt, The Tree Street Youth, ME 
  • Ron Do | Đỗ Đạt Thức, Research Assistant at Boston University, MA
  • Tamaki Hashiramoto | Boston Children’s Hospital, MA
  • Junsung Jeon | Junior at Bates College