Joel (he/him) graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.A. in Psychological Science, Magna Cum Laude, in May 2021. While at the University of Connecticut, Joel was designated a Ronald E. McNair Scholar for his desire to pursue a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology and under-represented background as a Mexican American from an impoverished home. His undergraduate research was overseen by the mentorship of Dr. Monnica Williams, who introduced Joel to issues surrounding racial trauma, inequities in inclusion of People of Color (POC) in psychedelic research, and the broad need for social justice among people from all identities. Additionally, he was a top-performing Cadet in the UConn Army ROTC program with a record of high achievement, consistent extracurricular involvement, and dedication to leadership excellence. Prior to attending the University of Connecticut, he received formal training and supervised clinical practicum at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX., for his Behavioral Health Specialist position in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Currently, Joel holds a Postgraduate Research Associate position at Yale’s School of Medicine, serving as the Lab Manager of the Race Equity and Addiction Lab in the Department of Psychiatry. His lab explores various domains of phenomena associated with addiction, such as self-change and craving, using various community-based qualitative methods. Additionally, his lab works alongside an expert team to examine differences in clinical trial treatment outcomes in POC using integrative analysis techniques. He is also a Clinical Research Assistant for the MAPS-sponsored, FDA multi-site expanded access study of MDMA for treatment resistant PTSD at the Behavioral Wellness Clinic. In this role, Joel coordinates clinician training and has ensured compliance with FDA and DEA requirements as outlined in the MAPS clinical trial protocol. Joel has presented his research at 20 research conferences and has 5 co-authored publications in the aforementioned domain areas of diversity issues and psychedelics, receiving widespread support from psychedelic and federal experts alike.

Joel will begin Columbia University’s Masters in Psychology – Clinical program in the Fall of 2022, and he plans to pursue a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology after. He has long expressed great interest in a career conducting academic research on various conceptual frameworks to maximize the efficacy of psychedelic psychotherapy modalities for POC and, specifically, people from impoverished communities and Hispanic / Latinx populations. Joel hopes to be a mentor/connector for students everywhere with an interest in psychedelic research.