About the Dr. Michael Sullivan Diversity Scholarship Fund

This scholarship supports research/training and community projects in the area of diversity/multiculturalism. Awards up to $500 per recipient are granted once a year, and the winner(s) are announced in the spring. Grants support or assist applicants in covering expenses related to their projects or research. The deadline for submission is the second Friday in January. The award application must be submitted electronically to the chair of the review committee by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the deadline.
The Dr. Michael Sullivan Diversity Scholarship Fund is supported by generous gifts, grants and contributions from individuals and organizations who seek to honor Dr. Sullivan and advance diversity initiatives or research in states, provinces and territories

ALEXANDRA PIEDRA is a fourth year clinical psychology doctoral candidate at Case Western Reserve University. Her clinical work focuses on work pertaining to adolescents, children, and families. Her research is focused on developing and testing novel interventions that may make anxiety treatment more welcoming and accessible to more individuals. Relatedly, she is also interested in factors related to cultural competence and cultural humility.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: Alexandra’s research is an interview-based study to eventually inform a manualized, identity-affirming mental health intervention for LGBTQIA+ adolescents experiencing anxiety or depression. In this study, we will ask LGBTQIA+ adolescents and a parent/guardian complete a short interview and a survey battery that touches on their preferences for treatment, concerns for treatment, past minority stress experiences, current anxiety, and current depression. One unique aspect of this study is that we will explore preferences for a parent-training portion of the intervention.