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Behavior and Child Development Lab Department of Psychological Science

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Dr. Montiel-Nava
BECHILDLAB
Department of Psychological Science
Email: bechildlab@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-8217
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About Us

Dr. Cecilia Montiel-Nava

Director
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Dr. Cecilia Montiel-Nava

Dr. Cecilia Montiel-Nava, a bilingual clinical psychologist, holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, and a B.A. in Psychology from the Universidad Rafael Urdaneta (Venezuela). Dr. Montiel-Nava’s research focuses on four topics: 1) Understanding ethnic disparities among children with autism spectrum and neurodevelopmental disorders, 2) ADHD and its comorbid disorders, 3) Evidence-based interventions that can be carried out by parents of children with developmental delays in underserved populations, and 4) Validity and acculturation of diagnostic instruments. Her research has as an ultimate goal to reduce the gap in access to services that identify and treat neurodevelopmental disorders to improve the quality of life of RGV residents. Contact her at cecilia.montielnava@utrgv.edu.


Director

Maria Cecilia, MS

Lab Manager
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Maria Cecilia, MS

Maria Cecilia, or Cecilia as she likes to be called, is a first year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student. She is currently the lab manager of the BeCHildLab. Cecilia did her undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University. Upon graduation she traveled to Belgium, where she lived for three years studying the language and loving its cultural diversity (Belgium has three official languages!). When she returned to the U.S. she completed her Master’s Degree in Counseling, where she did clinical work which included helping children and families going through the grieving process, psychoeducation on topics such as parenting skills, and group and individual counseling. Her love for research pushed Cecilia to also finish a thesis, and she was the only student of her graduation class to do so. For Cecilia, people have great potential for greatness, and her goal is to help clients find and treasure that potential. She is a proud resident of the Rio Grande Valley, and is enthusiastic to serve her community with empathy and kindness.


Lab Manager

Ana Ramirez, BCBA

Ph.D. Student
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Ana Ramirez, BCBA

Ana is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. She is interested in the assessment and treatment of autistic children and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, particularly in how bilingualism and cultural differences might influence them.
Ph.D. Student
Clinical Psychology Department

Denise Lecusay, BS

Graduate Research Assistant
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Denise Lecusay, BS

Denise Lecusay originally from Havana, Cuba is a first-year Clinical Psychology student and a Graduate Research Assistant of the Behavior and Child Development Lab. Denise graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UTRGV and has worked in the medical field for more than a decade. For the past nine years she specialized in behavioral practices while working with children and adolescents in a pediatric clinic under the mentorship of the physician. In her professional path she expresses particular attention to the improvement of written behavioral plans and assessment tools in Spanish for bilingual patients for enhanced comprehension. Denise intends to focus her research in the area of Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Child Neurodevelopment and hopes to help identify culturally competent treatment resources in order to serve and educate the Rio Grande Valley and adjacent Hispanic communities. In her leisure time she is an avid photography enthusiast and enjoys participating in the art community.


Graduate Research Assistant

Lilibeth Pesina, BS

Graduate Research Assistant
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Lilibeth Pesina, BS

Originally from Matamoros Mexico, Lily Pesina is a Clinical Psychology graduate student who earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UTRGV. She has studied at both the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses. Lily is passionate about learning languages and obtained a minor in Spanish and a minor in French as part of her undergraduate studies. Lily has been part of two undergraduate research laboratories, including the School of Medicine Neuroscience Lab and the Internalizing Disorders in Youth. Upon graduation, Lily hopes to become a counselor, building on her experiences as a volunteer at the UTRGV Autism Services Clinic and the UTRGV Collegiate Recovery Program. Lily works for the office of Engaged of Scholarship and Learning as Engaged Scholar Award Coordinator. In her spare time, she enjoys immersing herself in other cultures honoring her French skills, listening to entertaining audiobooks and socializing with peers.


Graduate Research Assistant

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