About the Research Unit
The Research Unit produces a variety of research briefs, publishes articles in professional journals, and presents study findings at conferences and to the University campus community. The Research Unit also maintains the University of Maryland Resource Directory (pdf).
Areas of Research
- Student Development & Retention
- Clinical Service Delivery
- College Students’ Basic Needs (Food & Housing Security), Academic Success, and Well-being
- Multiculturalism, Inclusiveness, & Action Research
Learn More
Yu-Wei Wang, Ph.D.
Research Director, Assistant Director of the Counseling Center
Clinical Associate Professor
ywang122@umd.edu
(301) 314-7660
Academic History: Ph.D., 2004, Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri; Ed.M., 1999, Psychological Counseling, Teachers College, Columbia University; M.A., 1998, Organizational Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University; B.A., 1996, English and American Literature, National Central University, Taiwan.
Professional Interests: Social justice, multicultural, and international issues in education, counseling, and training; psychosocial processes related to stress, trauma, coping/problem solving, and well-being in culturally diverse populations; college students’ basic needs; mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods research design; and action research
Personal Interests: Spending time with family and friends, meditation, yoga, reading, biking, hiking
Tiana E. Cruz, M.A.
Research Analyst
tcruz1@umd.edu
(301) 314-7685
Academic History: M.A., 2012, Experimental Psychology, Towson University; B.S., 2010, Psychology, Towson University
Professional Interests: Student development and the college experience, gender and sexual identity and the development of identity, research design, data analysis, mixed methods
Personal Interests: Spending time with my family and dogs, walking and hiking outdoors, reading, cooking and baking, learning for personal enrichment
Israel Abebe, Ph.D.
Data Scientist
iabebe@umd.edu
(301) 314-7685
Academic History: Ph.D., 2022, Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park; M.A., 2010, Economics, University of Delaware; B.A., 2008, Mathematics and Economics, Salem College, North Carolina
Professional Interests: Research on the prevention of intimate and gender-based violence; understanding the influence of culture and acculturation on health behaviors; research and program evaluation design; quantitative and qualitative data analysis
Personal Interests: Attending stand-up comedy, reading memoirs, traveling
Bhanu Priya Moturu, M.S.Ed.
Graduate Research Assistant
bpmoturu@umd.edu
(301) 314-7692
Academic History: Doctoral student in Counseling Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park; M.S.Ed., 2017, Counseling and Mental Health Services, University of Pennsylvania; B.E., 2012, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Dubai
Professional Interests: Career self-management behaviors in workplaces; self-advocacy, and proactive behavior in workplaces; career development of students with disabilities with a focus on school to work and post-secondary transition; South-Asian women and factors contributing to their well-being
Personal Interests: Meditation, tennis, watching movies and dramas in different languages
Annabel Li, M.A.
Research Intern
awyli1@umd.edu
(301) 314-7692
Academic History: Doctoral student in Applied Statistics and Research Methods, University of Northern Colorado; M.A., 2019, Foundations of Professional Psychology, University of Northern Colorado; B.Sc., 2011, Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professional Interests: Statistics education for graduate students with visual impairment; psychological well-being in the postsecondary setting; meaning in life; research methods & designs; data analysis; research consultation for faculty, staff, undergraduate, and graduate students
Personal Interests: Traveling, arts appreciation
Carl Wachowski
Undergraduate Research Assistant
cnwski@terpmail.umd.edu
(301) 314-7692
Academic History: Undergraduate student in Public Health Science, University of Maryland, College Park
Professional Interests: Biopsychosocial factors that impact mental health; health disparities among culturally diverse populations; evaluation of clinical services; survey methodology; data analysis
Personal Interests: Rock collecting, stargazing, journaling, working on personal family tree, playing piano and ukulele
For more information about the Research Unit and projects that have been completed or are in progress, please contact Dr. Yu-Wei Wang.