Psychology Major Investigates Connections Between Families and Community Health

BRISTOL, R.I. – Abigail Valenzuela, a senior Psychology major and Public Health minor from Providence, R.I., has long been fascinated by individuals and the social networks they create and choose. Her observations about how different factors shaped her neighborhood and the people who live there, alongside a fascination with the brain’s function and group behaviors, also drove an interest in public health. She often asked herself: “How do people work?”

In designing her powerful combination of Psychology and Public Health studies, Valenzuela seeks to investigate and understand the intersection of these fields, particularly in communities where crises and chronic illnesses can cluster. She believes that understanding the bigger picture can help service providers design and implement interventions that might improve peoples’ lives. “I’m curious about healthcare support for people from underserved communities,” she said.

To learn more about how healthcare providers support the communities they serve, Valenzuela immersed herself in internship opportunities. She completed a child psychology, research, and testing internship at South County Child and Family Counselors, a health services organization that serves a variety of populations. During her internship, she assisted with and observed professionals delivering neuropsychological assessments, and saw firsthand the power of targeted interventions on families. “I discovered how to measure some of the behaviors I observed and apply them in a clinical environment,” she said. “Meeting with children and watching professionals apply theory and research-based strategies as they conducted assessments was eye-opening.”

During the internship, Valenzuela learned the importance of aiding parents struggling with their children’s health and disabilities. The results made a startling difference. “Seeing how families’ lives changed post-diagnosis was wonderful,” she says. “It made me want to help kids.”

Faculty Mentorship, Finding Opportunities

Valenzuela’s success in her academic and research areas were made possible by support from faculty and staff and finding the right fit with RWU.

“[Assistant Professor of Biology] Victoria Heimer-McGinn has been an amazing mentor,” she said. “She pushed me to think ‘Why not me?’”

That feeling of seeing numerous opportunities and finding community to thrive extended to when she first visited campus, helping her to choose RWU. “It represented opportunity,” said Valenzuela, a first-generation college student. “Attending a small school has made a difference for me.” She recommended RWU because “the educators care and want to see you succeed.”

When she began her journey to Roger Williams, Valenzuela relied on her family and friends’ support, the Pell Grant program, the Rhode Island Foundation’s Robert and Joyce Andrew Scholarship Fund, and the RWU Intercultural Leadership Ambassador Scholarship. She also earned a role as a Resident Assistant. “I wouldn’t be here without these incredible opportunities," she said.

Valenzuela also traveled to Greece and Italy as part of RWU’s Study Abroad program to expand her awareness of human networks and behaviors outside what she knew. While abroad, she observed human cultural interactions that were distinct from those she saw in the United States. Opportunities to apply sociological theories to others’ behaviors improved her understanding of what she learned in the classroom. “I was fascinated to see how people can live differently but still be human like me,” she said.

After graduating in May, Valenzuela will continue her research as a graduate student in Tufts University’s Master’s in Child Study & Human Development program. She wants to help deliver successful interventions in communities like hers. “Healthcare providers in underserved communities can benefit from improved education and professional development,” she said. “I want to model the kinds of behaviors I’d like to see.”

Education is the key to advancement, according to Valenzuela. “If we want to create long-term change, we have to improve community education and related interventions,” she said.