Our Team
Arryn Guy, PhD she/they
Dr. Arryn A. Guy (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) in Chicago, IL. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Illinois Tech, and was a clinical psychology resident at the Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital. Dr. Guy completed an NIMH-funded T32 fellowship in Biobehavioral HIV research at Brown University in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, while cross-training with the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies (CAAS) in the School of Public Health. Dr. Guy is also the principal investigator of a NIDA-funded K99/R00 award adapting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to create a gender-affirming stigma intervention targeting substance misuse and HIV risk. Dr. Guy is proud to be a queer woman(ish) in long-term recovery.
Liza Kolbasov they/them
Liza Kolbasov (they/them) is a Clinical Psychology PhD student at the Illinois Institute of Technology and a graduate research assistant in the CRAFT Lab. Their research interests focus on exploring factors that contribute to mental health outcomes for trans and gender diverse individuals, including stigma and oppression, as well as community strength and resistance. They are passionate about community engagement and uplifting the expertise of lived experience.
Kate Linenbach they/them
Kate Linenbach (they/them) is a student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where they are currently a member of the CRAFT Lab. They received a B.S. in psychology with a concentration in biology and a minor in education from UC Davis. Their research interests broadly focus on the mental health outcomes of sexual and gender minority individuals with additional marginalized identities. They are also interested in the health of individuals who engage in non-monogamous relationship structures (such as ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, etc).
Mikey Shock she/her
Mikey Shock (she/her) is a student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at IIT. Mikey received her BA in Psychology and Gender and Women’s Studies (Gender, Trans, and Sexuality Studies) from The University of Arizona with a minor in Spanish. Mikey has previous clinical experience working in mental health support and crisis intervention. Her research focuses on health disparities affecting queer and trans identities and the psychological effects of cancer survivorship. After grad school, Mikey plans to pursue a balanced career in research, clinical practice, and teaching while continuing to advocate for the trans community. Contact: Mikey@MikeyShock.com
Kendall Rossignol she/her
Kendall Rossignol (she/her) is a first-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Illinois Institute of Technology and a member of the CRAFT Lab. She recently received her Bachelor of Science at Millikin University in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology and a minor in Gender Studies, and a certificate in Human Services. Her research interests focus on women’s and LGBTQ+ issues and their effects on mental health, including the impacts of misogyny, religiosity, compulsory heterosexuality, and transphobia. She is also passionate about working with individuals with substance use disorders and is interested in developing more inclusive and affirming approaches to care.
Mayor Manlapid they/he
Mayor Manlapid (they/he) is a Masters student at the Brown University School of Public Health. Mayor received their B.A. in Intensive Psychology from the University of California - Santa Cruz. They have prior work experience in young adult mental health promotion and youth mental health advocacy. Mayor's research interests broadly revolve around the relationship between gender identity and positive mental health outcomes. His specific passions include the destigmatization of trans identity through the research and platforming of positive trans experiences, such as gender euphoria and trans joy.
Community Partners
Risa Flynn she/her
Risa Flynn (she/her) is the director of research at the LA LGBT Center. Risa’s career has been dedicated to education, public health and clinical research focused on health disparities in underserved, vulnerable populations. She’s worked for 30 years in public health, academic, and community-based settings in work that centers community in the process of reducing disparities and improving quality of life. Under her leadership the Los Angeles LGBT Center Clinical Research Program has gained a reputation for methodologically rigorous research rooted in community priorities and need. The Center’s current research portfolio includes socio-behavioral, biomedical, and epidemiological studies as well as randomized clinical trials, focused on HIV/STI prevention and treatment, substance use, mental health, intimate partner violence, and other issues of concern for LGBTQ communities.
Mika Baumgardner they/he
Mika Baumgardner (they/he) is an administrative coordinator at the LA LGBT Center. His research interests center around transgender health and community engaged research.
Meet our Community Advisory Board Members
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April Saravia she/her
CAB Member
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Carla Ibarra she/they
CAB Member
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Danny Guerra he/him
CAB Member
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Jennifer Schwartz she/they
CAB Member
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Olly Richards they/he
CAB Member
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Storm Gaustria she/they
CAB Member
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Jesus "Yarimah" Iñiguez she/they
CAB Member
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Nico Moody they/them
CAB Member
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April (she/her) has 15 years of experience working in the HIV Prevention and Social Services Sector. She is currently a Linkage & Retention Specialist at the Trans Wellness Center in Los Angeles providing much needed wrap-around services to the transgender, non-binary, and intersex communities. These services include linkage resources such as Primary Care & HRT, Mental Health, Substance Use Recovery, Support Groups, Housing, Benefits Enrollment, PrEP and PEP, and Name and Gender Marker Change. Her passion for this work began through her special connection with the community and clients she serves– them being much like herself. Many clients find themselves thinking that there is no hope at the end of the tunnel; however, April is evidence that there is hope, having been there herself. She has made a life-long commitment to advocate for her community and other underserved communities at her reach and beyond.
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Carla Ibarra (she/they) is a transgender rights activist and public health professional with more than nine years of community-focused work highlighting health equity and justice in BIPOC trans and non-binary communities.
She is a commissioner at the Transgender Advisory Council of the City of Los Angeles, advising the mayor on key issues affecting the trans community. At present, she is also pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, where she works to continuously works to center the lived experiences of trans and non-binary people in health research and policy.
Because of her work and dedication, Carla was featured in "The Power of Kindness," a special documentary with Lady Gaga, in honor of World Kindness Day. In May 2022, she was a part of the first-ever MTV Mental Health Youth Action Forum held at the White House. Advocating to transform mental health awareness into actual, tangible actions, Carla and other young leaders dialogued with US President Joe Biden, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and mental health advocate and world-renowned artist Selena Gomez.
Carla is a proud trans Filipina immigrant born and raised in Metro Manila. She now resides in Los Angeles, California, with her beautiful husband and three awesome cats named Chubs, Meatball, and Meatloaf.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram - @miss.carlaibarra
Twitter - @GinangIbarra
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Danny Guerra (he/his/him) is a Salvadoran trans genderfluid writer and community organizer living in the greater Los Angeles area. Danny is an educator primarily focusing on alternative sexual practices, remodeling typical relationship structures, safer sex practices, and consent negotiations with a variety of identities. He has been creating educational and social spaces for qtibipoc community members since 2018. Additionally, Danny is the co-founder and facilitator of a virtual support space for disabled adults to talk about their experiences with sexual ableism. Believing community is an intentional action we must consciously opt into, Danny tries to find new ways to choose community every day.
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Jennifer Schwartz (she/they) is a licensed clinical social worker, and has worked as a therapist specializing in serving the LGBTQ community, PLWHA, and other marginalized communities since 2012. Additionally, Jennifer is privileged to provide continuing education to other health and mental health professionals on a variety of topics including care coordination, supervision, and cultural considerations for providers serving the polyamorous, LGBTQ, BDSM/Kink communities, as well as clients who are Fat/living in larger bodies. Jennifer currently leads the Behavioral Health department at Corner Health Center, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, following a 9 year tenure as a mental health leader within the Detroit community. She has served an an advisor to the Michigan HIV/AIDS Council, as well as participating on several state and community non-profit committees, focusing on service to marginalized populations.
Jennifer received her MSW from University of Michigan, and her BSW from the University of Michigan- Flint, where she tailored her educational experiences toward sexual health education and sex therapy, as well as general mental health.
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Olly (They/He) is a trans, nonbinary Research Assistant and study Navigator within Brown University. They received their BSc in Psychology and Criminal Justice & as a Clinical Research Assistant with justice-involved youth and autistic youth/young adults, respectively. He is particularly interested in research focused on the experiences of those who’ve endured complex trauma, as well as the development of psychometric instruments. In their personal life, Olly fosters cute animals and fervently enjoys all forms of art.
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Storm Gaustria (she/they) is an Afro-Indigenous trans activist, educator, and queer researcher in Gainesville, Florida. She's a third-year student at the University of Florida studying Sociology. She aspires to become a mental health therapist specializing in care for LGBTQIA* people of color.
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Jesus “Yarimah” Iñiguez (she/they) is a Transgender-Gender Queer, Latinx visual artist from Chicago. They have worked in the field since 2015 and have collaborated with Columbia College Chicago, the Haitian American Museum of Chicago, The Center for Black Music Research and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. They incorporate Pre-Columbian American visual elements into contemporary U.S Latino/a/x styles.
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Nico (they/them) is a trans nonbinary scientist. In their professional work, they research the evolution and mechanisms of non-human animal communication. Or, how do animals talk to each other and why is it like that? In their heart, Nico loves research and building data-driven solutions to address challenges their community faces. In their free time, you can find Nico hanging out with their pets, birding, or trying out a new craft.
Meet our Alumni
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Lluvia Ramirez they/she
CAB Member
LLuvia (they/she) has been working in the HIV field since 2007, working within Transgender communities of color and with black and brown LGBTQIA youth. She is currently the Senior Program Manager for AID Healthcare Foundations' Public Health Division in Chicago. LLuvia also has been working as a Capacity Building Specialist for the San Francisco Health Department for the last 5 years. She sits on various Boards of Directors in the Chicagoland Area and was the Program Manager for the First CDC grant for Transgender Communities of Color at Howard Brown Health.
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Volta Tran she/her
CAB Member
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J Banson they/them
Undergraduate Research Assistant
J is a junior at Brown University studying Gender and Sexuality Studies with a focus on queerness, health and Asian identities. They previously worked as a research assistant for the Trans Led Care study. Passionate about LGBTQ mental health and community building, J has worked as a Trevor Project crisis counselor and as a Gender and Sexuality Peer Counselor at Brown. Outside of academics, they enjoy climbing, meditation retreats, and are excited to study abroad in Taiwan in spring 2025.
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Luke Horton he/him
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Luke is a recent graduate of Brown University who studied Anthropology and Psychology, specifically focusing on the nature of loneliness and human connection through crisis hotlines. His interest in putting scholarship into action and community care led him to working with the Trans Led Care study to continue his passion for mental health care within BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Currently, he works as an English Teacher in Thailand through a Fulbright scholarship.
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Ty Scott
Staff Research Assistant
Ty is an MPH graduate from Brown University School of Public Health. Their central research interests are PrEP access, STI/STD health, and health equity. They began research work in undergrad, assisting research teams dedicated to health behaviors surrounding HIV prevention among incarcerated individuals and mindfulness within the LGBTQ+ community. Their graduate thesis reviewed unique determinants of HIV-related health behaviors for Black and white YMSM. Their research work concerning the queer community continued through graduate school, including guiding qualitative analysis efforts, research study enrollment protocols, and HIV testing with participants. Ty now works at Emory University as a research coordinator with the Emory Center for Infectious Disease Modeling & Analytics and Training Hub (CIDMATH). In their free time, they enjoy varying creative outlets, most particularly dance, makeup, and cooking.
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Peyton Erb she/her
Peyton Erb (she/her) is a Clinical Research Assistant in the CRAFT Lab. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Counseling and Human Resource Development from Indiana State University, she worked for a few years in HR developing and implementing policies and programs for employment well-being, diversity, equity and inclusion. Peyton left the HR world to pursue her passion for Clinical and Counseling Psychology. She came to the CRAFT Lab at Illinois Tech to learn the ins and outs of clinical research and hopes to apply to clinical psychology graduate programs in the near future.