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Cierra Abellera

In the HDE Lab, Cierra’s research interests involved cortisol functioning and psychological well-being among refugees. She also collaborated with Shukuru Kamulete to develop focus groups in order to better understand the educational barriers and supports of refugee-background students on campus. Cierra was active on campus as a TRiO Peer Mentor, a McNair Scholar, and member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Living Legacy Committee. Upon graduation, she was awarded the prestigious Top Ten Scholar Award. She is currently a graduate student in Social Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. 

Highlighted Works in the HDE Lab:

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  • Abellera, C., Kamulete, S., & Masarik, A. S. (April 15, 2019). Educational barriers and resources for university refugee-background students. Poster presented at the Undergraduate Research Conference in Boise, ID.
     

  • Abellera, C., & Masarik, A. S. (April 14, 2018). Cortisol variations and the mental health consequences of war-related trauma: An illustrative review. Oral presentation at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference in Denver, CO.

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  • Masarik A. S., Abellera, C., Holdiman, A., Knudson, A., & Mack, A. (November 18, 2017). Refugee stress and resilience: Application of the Family Stress Model. Poster presentation at the National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.

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