MDC Faculty

My Background and Interests

Scholarly, I am a Developmental Psychologist. My specialization is in Applied Developmental Science (ADS), which focuses on the use of research and application to promote positive development across the lifespan. 

Throughout a decade, I developed a strong research background in adolescent psychosocial development and community-based research intervention programs from both my graduate education and clinical work experiences. My research examined adolescent psychosocial development, specifically in the promotion of positive domains such as identity and intimacy. For the last 20 years, I have been teaching undergraduate and graduate students at 2- and 4- year public, and private institutions. I have been teaching at MDC North Campus since January 2010.

In addition, I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and State Qualified Supervisor in the State of Florida with clinical experience in a variety of settings ranging from hospital, community mental health centers, university-affiliated centers, elementary and alternative high schools, and private practice.

I currently serve as Peer Reviewer in the Fulbright Specialist Program (2024-current) and I was on the Fulbright Specialist roster (2018-2023) - U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and World Learning. I completed a Fulbright Specialist project at the University of Bergen in Norway during May 2022.

Recently, I was awarded with the Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation Endowed Teaching Chair (2022-2024) and a NISOD Excellence Award (2023) - National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development from the University of Texas in Austin.

In 2016, I was awarded the City of Miami Police Department Endowed Teaching Chair in the Social Sciences (2016-2018).

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

"The secret of education lies in respecting the pupil." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Broadly and in appropriate ways for each course, I seek to develop students’ abilities as critical thinkers, foster their intellectual and personal competencies for excelling in psychology-related careers, enlarge their understanding of how culture impacts development and intervention efforts, and increase their appreciation of the complexities of a diverse society.

Through reading, writing, presentation assignments, and applied exercises, I nurture students’ competencies for functioning effectively in the knowledge-intensive psychology-related careers, including competencies for solving problems, adapting to change, communicating effectively, thinking critically, synthesizing information, and working in teams.

"You cannot shame or belittle people into changing their behaviors."

Importantly to the mentoring process, I highly encourage students to visit my office and discuss future career plans, offer volunteer site resources, and graduate school and job related information in psychology.

Co-curricular, I hosted the Annual Psychology Advisement & Career Fair at the North Campus for almost a decade. The Fair was born from the Psychology Club officers and members. With collaboration from Psi Beta, National Honor Society in Psychology, and the Social Sciences Department, it was a signature campus and student-centered event. It provided all students and especially Psychology majors, advisement and transfer information, university information tables, alumni connections, and guest speakers. We also distributed the Psychology Student Handbook, which I also created with collaboration from college-wide colleagues, and still revise annually, containing information covered in the Fair such as university transfer guides, clubs, college-wide psychology faculty contact information, and more.

"Tell me and I forget; Teach me and I remember; Involve me and I learn"

Student Wellbeing + Mental Health:

National Crisis Line - 988 -  anyone needing immediate mental health services and emotional support (including suicidal crisis and severe emotional distress).

• Crisis Text Line
  Text STEVE to 741741 - Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis, connecting people in crisis to trained crisis counselors.

On-Campus Mental Health Counseling 

Sessions are in-person (on campus)

Virtual Mental Health Counseling 

Sessions available during the day, after hours and Saturday

Review counseling schedule + more resources at:

https://www.mdc.edu/student-wellness/

CURRENT & UPCOMING CLASSES: Spring 2025

Course modalities are Blended/Hybrid or MDC Online/Asynchronous or MDC LIVE/Synchronous via CANVAS

SLS 1510 - Preparing for Student Success - Blended section (14W)

CLP 1006 - Psychology of Personal Effectiveness - Blended section

DEP 2000 - Human Growth & Development - Blended sections

CLP 2140 - Abnormal Psychology - MDC Online sections (8W2)

Courses Taught:

Teaching & Mentoring

Undergraduate Courses: 2004 – Current

Psychosocial Developmental Interventions Lecture & Senior Laboratory

Developmental Psychology Lecture & Senior Laboratory

Psychotherapy

Psychology of Adolescence

Theories of Personality

Abnormal Psychology

Human Sexuality

Human Growth & Development

Introduction to Psychology

Psychology of Personal Effectiveness

Student Support Seminar

Preparing for Student Success

College Survival Skills/Seminar

First Year Experience

Learning Community: Psychology of Personal Effectiveness & College Algebra

Learning Community: Preparing for Student Success & College Prep Math

Social Environment

2023-2024      

Course design and curriculum planning for Human Services certificate program course, HUS 1302 - Basic Counseling Skills

2018-2019      

Course design and curriculum planning for Human Services certificate program course HUS 1318 - Domestic Abuse and Family Violence

2014-2015      

Course design and curriculum planning of new Learning Community course in collaboration with Math faculty targeting second year Psychology Pathway students and Statistics I math course, incorporating the college-wide grant with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen & Unplanned Pregnancy.

2010-2011      

Course design and curriculum planning of new Learning Community course in collaboration with Math faculty targeting first semester college freshman using an existing Student Life Skills course and College Preparation/Remedial math course to increase campus-wide passing and retention rates.

Graduate Courses and Seminars: 2007 - Current

Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) hybrid graduate course with MDC

Analysis of Teaching in Higher Education

Lifespan Human Development

Group Counseling

Couples & Family Systems

Advanced Clinical Internship

Directed Independent Study

USEFUL ACADEMIC & WELLNESS LINKS

The Psychology Field:

American Psychological Association (APA)

APA's Psychology Science in Action

APA's Psychology Student Network 

APA's Project Assessment

APA's Introduction to Psychology Initiative (IPI)

APA's Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) - Division 2

APA's Society for the Psychology of Women - Division 35

Association for Psychological Science (APS)

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)

Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Developmental Psychology:

APA's Developmental Psychology - Division 7

InfoAboutKids.org

Society for the Study of Human Development (SSHD)

Society for Research on Child Development (SRCD)

Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA)

Society for Research on Identity Formation (SRIF)

Mental Health Counseling:

American Counseling Association (ACA)

American College Counseling Association (ACCA) - Division of ACA

American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)

Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA)

Florida Counseling Association (FCA)

Dial 211 - Find local resources

Dial 988 - National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Human Sexuality/Relationships:

The 5 Love Languages - Dr. Gary Chapman

Bedsider.org

Go Ask Alice! - From Columbia University

The Gottman Institute

PFLAG National

Human Rights Campaign

Transequality

mypronouns.org

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network - RAINN

Positive Psychology:

International Positive Psychology Association

Patch Adams, MD

Dr. Brene Brown

CO-CURRICULAR ENGAGEMENT

Primary Faculty Advisor from 2010-2020: The Psychology Club @ North Campus, est. 2005

Our purpose is to provide student members (psychology & non-psychology  majors) an opportunity to explore topics  related to the  field of psychology via a variety of educational and service related activities. 

Student Life Excellence Awards: Student Organization Overall

Student Organization of the Year Award (2017-2018)

Student Organization of the Year Award (2012-2013) 

Outstanding Event Award: First Annual Psychology Advisement & Career Fair (2012-2013)

Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award (2012-2013)

Student Life Excellence Awards: Student Leadership

President's Leadership Award - President (2017-2018)

Most Outstanding Member Award - President (2016-2017)

Leadership Enhancement Award - Treasurer (2015-2016)

Leadership Enhancement Award - Vice President (2014-2015)

Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy (iCED):

President's Volunteer Service Award - Bronze Category (2017-2018)

President’s Volunteer Service Award - Bronze Category (2014-2015)

President’s Volunteer Service Award - Silver Category (2013-2014)

President’s Volunteer Service Award - Bronze Category (2012-2013)

International Service Immersion:

Faculty Led Co-Curricular Service Immersion Initiative in Managua, Nicaragua: May 4th-11th, 2014

AREAS OF RESEARCH & ACADEMIC INTERESTS

Teaching & Learning, College Student Wellness, Outreach Research/Community Supported Interventions (Positive Youth Development), Adolescence & Emerging Adulthood Psychosocial Development, Family Dynamics, Group Processes

REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES & BOOK CHAPTERS

Cordaro, M., Meca, A., Garcia, A., Ramos, S. & Howard, K. (2023). Al Mal Tiempo, Buena Cara (Keeping a good face during bad times): Differential Psychosocial and Health Profiles between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Public-School Teachers in Texas. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, DOI: 10.1080/15555240.2023.2196428

Eichas, K., Montgomery, M. J., Meca, A., Garcia, A. J., & Garcia, A. (2021). Engaging marginalized youth in positive development: The Changing Lives Program. In R. Dimitrova & N. Wiium (Eds.), Handbook of positive youth development: Advancing research, policy and practice in global contexts (pp. 431-446). New York, NY: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70262-5_29

Eichas, K., Albrecht, R. E.,  Garcia, A. J., Ritchie, R. A., Varela, A., Garcia, A., Rinaldi, R., Wang, R., Montgomery, M. J., Silverman, W. K., Jaccard, J., Kurtines, W. M. (2010). Mediators of positive youth development intervention change: Promoting positive and problem outcomes? Child and Youth Care Forum, 39(4), 211-237. 

Kurtines, W. M., Ferrer-Wreder, L., Berman, S. L., Cass-Lorente, C., Briones, E., Montgomery, M. J., Albrecht, R., Garcia, A. J., & Arrufat, O. (2008). Promoting positive youth development: The Miami youth development project (YDP). Journal of Adolescent Research, 23(3), 256-267.

Kurtines, W. M., Montgomery, M. J., Eichas, K., Ritchie, R., Garcia, A., Albrecht, R., Berman, S., Ferrer-Wreder, L., & Cass-Lorente, C. (2008). Promoting positive identity development in troubled youth: A developmental intervention science outreach research approach. Special Issue: New Directions for Identity and Intervention, Identity: International Journal of Theory and Research, 8(2), 125-138.

GRANT EXPERIENCE ~ MDC

2013-2017      Faculty Lead, North Campus, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and Miami Dade College. PI: Jill Antonishak, Evaluation Consultant, and Chelsey Storin, Manager (The National Campaign). College grant coordinator: Jessyca Perez. The purpose of the grant was to investigate how various student and college experiences influence students’ decisions to persist in and complete college. In particular, positive effects of pregnancy planning and prevention on student retention and persistence. Findings that an online intervention improves knowledge, commitment to unplanned pregnancy, and behaviors to prevent unplanned pregnancy were explored. Data provided support to understand the importance of pregnancy prevention and planning on student success. 

ACADEMIC SERVICE

2024-current  

American Psychological Association (APA):

Faculty Member, Affinity Groups - Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP), Division 2 of American Psychological Association (APA)

Community College Educators

This group will share ideas and experiences associated with teaching psychology at community colleges. We will work to share resources, improve student success, and provide members with a sense of community and belonging. This group will be open to all community college teachers, both part-time and full-time, as well as staff and administrators associated with the teaching of psychology.

Latinx Educators/Educators at HSIs

Connecting Latinx Psychology instructors and instructors at Hispanic-Serving Institutions to share teaching and research resources.

National Collaborations:

Fulbright Specialist Program (FSP) Advisory Committee, World Learning

Florida Advisory Community Board member, Motivating Campus Change (MC2) Project, University of Washington and University of North Texas Health Science Center (5-year grant to further understand and adapt Personalized Feedback Interventions (PFIs) to better fit diverse college and student communities and local contexts)

International Collaborations:

Contributor, Cross-National Positive Youth Development (CN-PYD) Network. Fulbright Specialist Roster project at the University of Bergen, Norway. PI: Dr. Nora Wiium (Since May 2022)

MDC North Campus & College-wide:

Faculty Contributor, College-wide Provost’s Student Wellness and Mental Health Initiatives, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL

Faculty Committee Reviewer, Study Abroad Advisory Committee (SAAC), Office of International Education, Wolfson campus, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL

Faculty Committee Member, Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), Student Services Office, North Campus, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL

Faculty Committee Member, Wellness Committee, North Campus, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS 

2000 – current:   

American Psychological Association (APA), Undergraduate; Graduate; Early Career; Affiliate

    2012 – current       Community College Teacher Affiliate

    2019 – current       American Psychological Association (APA), Division 2, Society for the Teaching of Psychology

    2019 – current       American Psychological Association (APA), Division 7, Developmental Psychology

2019 - current          American College Counseling Association (ACCA), Professional Member

Personal Corner

"Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence." - Hal Borland

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive." - Eleanora Duse

Explore and enjoy: poetryfoundation.org