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Director
Dr. Michiyo Hirai
Dr. Hirai is a Professor of Psychology at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Her research focuses on the consequences of traumatic life events, the role of psychosocial and cognitive variables in the association between traumatic experiences and consequences, and the development of technology-assisted brief cognitive-behavioral interventions for posttraumatic stress and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Hirai earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Keio University, Japan and completed her MS and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Virginia Tech.
Dr. Hirai was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis, downhill skiing, reading, listening to music, and exploring new food experiences.
Graduate Student
Josh Luna
Graduate Research Assistant: Joshua Luna is a graduate student who is majoring in clinical psychology at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). His current research focuses on the complex mechanisms by which adverse childhood experiences impact adulthood psychopathology, ethnic differences of said relationship, and other culturally unique syndromes (ex. Hikikomori).
Joshua Luna received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at UTRGV. He aspires to be Licensed Psychological Associate in the state of Texas by 2025, and continue education for a Ph.D. at an APA accredited university for clinical psychology. He enjoys travelling, video games, and going to the movies. He plans on revisiting Japan and Korea; as well as visiting Iceland and Europe for the first time.
Graduate Student
Ruby Tijerina
Ruby Tijerina is a graduate student, pursuing her master's degree in clinical psychology at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Ruby earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UTRGV. Her thesis project investigates the therapeutic potential of fantasy literature for women who have been experiencing psychological symptoms stemming from interpersonal conflicts. Alongside this thesis project, she is examining the associations among interpersonal trauma, posttraumatic stress symptoms, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and coping strategies. Ruby is dedicated to becoming a licensed psychological associate and pursuing a career as a clinician to support the RGV community. Furthermore, she aims to pursue a potential doctorate degree in clinical psychology.
Ruby was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas. She enjoys arts & crafts, baking, reading, and spending time with her family.