Affiliate Faculty
Meet the SJSU faculty who provide their knowledge and expertise to support the HDCC through collaborative projects and leading programs at the clinic.
Dr. Jacqueline Bergman (she/her)
Nutrition Workshops, Research
Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging
With a focus on the interplay of psychosocial factors and health behaviors within
marginalized communities, Dr. Bergman's research aims to employ a community-based
participatory research approach to develop tailored programs and resources. By understanding
and addressing these complex dynamics, the ultimate goal is to empower these groups
with culturally-sensitive interventions that promote holistic health and well-being.
Dr. Robert Marx (they/them, he/him)
Core Identity Program
Child and Adolescent Development
Dr. Robert Marx’s community-engaged research and practice focus on reframing dominant
visions of queer and trans young people, so that they are no longer viewed as damaged
or at-risk, but rather as the gifted, complex people they are. Dr. Marx deploys a
variety of research methods, including critical youth participatory action research
and meta-analysis, to better understand and promote marginalized youth’s development.
In their work with the HDCC, Dr. Marx hopes to encourage young people to see themselves
as producers of knowledge and change agents.
Helping Young Children with Early Vocabulary Skills and Feelings of Frustration
Child and Adolescent Development
Dr. Bang's research focuses on how children learn their first words and then put words
together! Her work includes families from neurodiverse backgrounds and diverse language/sociocultural
backgrounds such as English-, French-, and Spanish-speaking families in the U.S. and
Canada. Through her research and teaching she is dedicated to working together with
families and educators to support an understanding of multiple pathways for children's
development.
Parenting Resources
Child and Adolescent Development
Dr. Shah is an experienced educator, author, and content developer with expertise
in teaching and curriculum development. She is a senior lecturer in the Department
of Child and Adolescence at San Jose State University. She is also the Founder of
Social Edge, an organization that is dedicated to empowering parents to meet the social,
emotional, and cultural needs of their children.
Cynthia Van Laar., CCC-SLP (she/her/ella) - Hablo español
Faculty/Director of Clinical Education
Communication Disorders and Sciences
Cynthia Van Laar acts as the Director of Clinical Education for the Center for Communicative
Disorders and Sciences Department at San Jose State University. In this role, she
oversees the Kay Armstead Center for Communicative Disorders (KACCD). Cynthia possesses
over 20 years of experience working as a licensed and certificated speech-language
pathologist. In 2017, she won the San Andreas Regional Center's award for Outstanding
Community Service.
Dr. Kim Tsai (she/her)
Family Resources
Child and Adolescent Development
Dr. Kim Tsai's program of research centers on family influences on adolescent psychosocial
adjustment and health. Her two intersecting areas of research include (1) examining
how cultural values contribute uniquely to family dynamics for adolescents from ethnic
minority and immigrant families and (2) investigating cultural and familial factors
that impact adolescent emotional well-being and health, specifically their sleep.
Lupe Ramirez-Steele, M.A., CCC-SLP (she/her/ella) - Hablo español
Faculty/Clinical Supervisor
Communication Disorders and Sciences
Lupe Ramirez-Steele is a bilingual pediatric SLP, a first generation Mexican-American
who provides services to the Spanish speaking population. Lupe is a private practitioner
and part-time faculty at San Jose State University. She specializes in the evaluation
and treatment of speech/language disorders in the English/Spanish speaking population.
She is celebrating her 20th year as a pediatric bilingual clinician this year and
is excited to share the wonderful work that the HDCC is doing.
Dr. Courtney Boitano (she/her)
OTD Supervisor, Faculty Partner
Occupational Therapy
Dr. Boitano is a faculty member at SJSU teaching in the occupational therapy masters
and doctorate (OTD) program. As an occupational therapist, she has over 15 years experience
working in a variety of pediatric settings and school based practice. Her clinical
practice focuses on children with developmental disorders and parent support. Dr.
Boitano is delighted to be a faculty partner with HDCC to fuse family centered care
approaches across disciplines for families as well as SJSU students.
Dr. Pei-Tzu Tsai, CCC-SLP (she/her)
Faculty Partner
Communication Disorders and Sciences
Dr. Tsai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and
Sciences. Her research focuses on linguistic-cultural aspects of stuttering and voice,
treatment effects, and clinical education. She is the clinical educator of the specialty
clinics, dedicated to stuttering and gender-affirming voice and communication at the
Kay Armstead Center for Communication Disorders.
Dr. Ellen Middaugh
Faculty Partner
Child and Adolescent Development
Dr. Middaugh is an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Development in the
Lurie College of Education at San José State University. Her research focuses on the
influence of varied social contexts on youth civic identity development and on the
implications of digital media for positive youth development.
Dr. Lesther A. Papa (He/Him/Siya/Esuna)
Faculty Partner
Psychology
Dr. Papa is an assistant professor of psychology at San José State University’s (SJSU)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. His clinical work is focused on children
and families with an emphasis on trauma informed, evidence based treatments, using
a cultural humility framework. Dr. Papa's research involves the experiences of minoritized
persons, specifically the impact of microaggressions on mental health.
Dr. Zachary McNiece
Dr. Li Shen (Jesslyn) Chong (she/her) - Speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay, & Hakka
Faculty Partner
Psychology
Dr. Li Shen (Jesslyn) Chong's research utilizes a biopsychosocial and community-based
participatory research approach to understand how life adversities and stress response
systems influence the risk of socio-emotional and health problems and racial/ethnic
health disparities. The goal of her research is to inform and optimize interventions.
She also pursues research on professional issues in health service psychology training.
Clinically, Dr. Chong provides evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents
in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Dr. Meekyung Han (she/her) - speaks Korean
Faculty Partner
Social Work
Dr. Han is a professor and a co-chair of the Child Welfare Partnership for Training
and Research at the School of Social Work. Dr. Han's research focuses on mental health
issues, family violence including child maltreatment, and the impact of trauma, with
a special emphasis on Asian Americans. Her academic pursuits are deeply rooted in
community engagement and the Transcultural Perspective framework, which prioritizes
diversity, human well-being, and social justice. Dr. Han is excited to join with the
HDCC as a faculty partner to address mental health disparities.
