Research Experience
Many students are interested in working with faculty on research while they are in the program. We welcome this, but research involvement is not required for MHC students. It is entirely optional. Because the University of Miami is a research oriented institution, all the faculty have ongoing research teams, and we publish our work regularly. We welcome the involvement of MHC students in this research. It is likely that such involvement will be on a voluntary basis, but sometimes the position evolves to include payment (depending on the investigator’s financial resources). Please see the list of faculty interests below. If a research team’s focus interests you, please email the faculty member and ask if you can join their team. If you have questions, please direct them by email to the Program Director.
COUNSELING FACULTY
LYDIA P. BUKI, Associate Professor l.buki@miami.edu
Ph.D., 1995, Arizona State University
Lydia P. Buki, Ph.D., is Associate Professor and Director of Training of the Counseling Psychology doctoral program. She earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University in 1995. She joined the University of Miami in January 2013, with previous appointments at the University of Illinois and Colorado State University.
Dr. Buki’s research focuses on the psychosocial, cultural, individual, and institutional factors that contribute to mental health and cancer disparities in medically underserved Latina/o populations. Having grown up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she applies her bilingual and bicultural skills to work with the Latina/o population in the U.S. Dr. Buki uses qualitative and quantitative methods to answer various research questions. More recently, with her collaborators she completed a national survey in Uruguay on the influence of knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions, on breast cancer screening behaviors. In 2011, she published a co-edited book with Dr. Lissette Piedra titled Creating Infrastructures for Latino Mental Health.
Dr. Buki has served the profession in numerous roles and has worked extensively with federal agencies as well as with the APA. She is the Past Editor of The Counseling Psychologist, has been Associate Editor of the journal Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, and was a founding member of the DHHS Office on Women’s Health, Minority Women’s Health Panel of Experts. Her research has been funded by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, she has been active in governance at the APA, having served on the Committee of Women in Psychology and the Board of Professional Affairs.
Through the years, Dr. Buki has received numerous awards for research, teaching, leadership, and service. She is a Fellow of the APA Divisions 17 and 45.
BLAINE FOWERS, Professor bfowers@miami.edu
Ph.D., 1987, University of Texas at Austin
Blaine Fowers joined the University of Miami faculty in 1990, served as the Director of Training of the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology from 1997 to 2005, and as EPS Department Chairperson from 2005 until July 2009. He was the program coordinator for the master’s program in Counseling from 2005 to 2007 and during the academic year 2023-2024. He served as an assistant professor at the University of New Mexico before coming to Miami.
In his role as a teacher, Fowers provides instruction in research methods, social bases of behavior, and ethics for counselors.
Fowers is the author of the books Phronesis: Retrieving Practical Wisdom in Psychology, Philosophy, and Education, The Science of Virtue: A Research Framework; The Evolution of Ethics: Human Sociality and the Emergence of Ethical Mindedness, Human Flourishing: Unavoidable Frailties and Necessary Virtues, Finding Virtue in Psychology, Re-envisioning Psychology, and Beyond the Myth of Marital Happiness. He has given many keynote and invited addresses domestically and abroad. His primary scholarly interest is in the ethical dimension of psychology. Fowers is particularly interested in the interplay of virtues, practical wisdom, cultural ideals, and human flourishing in psychological practices and ordinary life. In a series of articles, chapters, and books, he has applied this framework to the study of marriage, multiculturalism, evolution, and psychotherapy to better understand the nature of human thriving. His current scholarly projects focus on elaborating and investigating eudaimonic theory (Aristotle’s understanding of human flourishing) and its proposal that the pursuit of characteristically human goods such as knowledge and justice are central activities in human flourishing.
Fowers is a licensed psychologist, Fellow of the APA Division 24 (Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology), and member of Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology). He serves on several journal and book editorial boards.
DEBBIESIU LEE, Associate Professor debbiesiu@miami.edu
Ph.D., 2005, Arizona State University
Debbiesiu L. Lee joined the University of Miami faculty in August 2006. Lee’s research focuses on examining how individuals (racial and ethnic minorities, LGBT) cope with discrimination and the impact of discrimination on mental health, physical health, education, and employment outcomes. She explores issues related to racial and ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity development, as well as multicultural competence development and training. In her publications, Lee advocates for the use of nontraditional methodologies in multicultural research. Her articles have appeared in the Journal of Counseling Psychology, The Counseling Psychologist, Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, and Psychotherapy. She co-edited a book titled Contemporary Parenting: A Global Perspective.
Dr. Lee has been an Associate Editor of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. She also serves on the editorial boards of four APA journals (Journal of Counseling Psychology, Asian American Journal of Psychology, the Psychology of Men and Masculinity, Psychotherapy). Since arriving at UM, she has taught courses focused on multicultural issues in counseling and psychology, vocational psychology and career counseling, clinical practicum, and supervision in counseling psychology. Dr. Lee is a member of the APA and a Fellow of APA Minority Fellowship Program.
MAITE MENA, Research Assistant Professor mmena@miami.edu
Psy.D., 2000, Nova Southeastern University
Dr. Maite Mena is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Research Assistant Professor. She has extensive experience in working with minority populations experiencing health disparities and in implementing programs and evaluating their outcomes. Specifically, Dr. Mena has collaborated in developing and testing a culturally informed family therapy for minority populations (CIFFTA) focusing on families affected by substance abuse and co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and families affected by cultural issues. Her research interests include vulnerable populations, primarily Hispanic youth and their families in the areas of mental health disorders, substance abuse disorders, HIV and sexually risky behaviors, gender differences, and cultural stressors. Dr. Mena works collaboratively with a community organization which focuses on reducing health disparities in the Hispanic community. As a result of her work in the community, Dr. Mena received an award for Excellence in Partnership from the community organization in 2013. Her research interests include vulnerable populations, primarily Hispanic youth and their families in the areas of mental health disorders, substance abuse disorders, HIV and sexually risky behaviors, gender differences, and cultural stressors.
GUERDA NICOLAS, Professor nguerda@miami.edu
Ph.D., 1998, Boston University
Originally from Haiti, Nicolas obtained her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Boston University. She completed her predoctoral training at Columbia University Medical Center and her postdoctoral training at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University, Department of Child Psychiatry. She is a licensed psychologist and focused her practice in the area of children, family, and community well-being. Prior to coming to University of Miami, she held faculty positions at Boston College as well as the College of Saint Elizabeth in New Jersey.
As a multicultural (Haitian American) and multilingual psychologist (Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole), her research is reflective of her background and interests. Her current research projects focus on developing culturally effective mental health intervention for people of color, with a specific focus on immigrant children, adolescents, and families. In addition, she conducts research on social support networks of Caribbean populations with a specific focus on Haitians, spirituality and adolescents, and social support and mental health of Blacks. She has published books, articles, and book chapters and delivered numerous invited presentations at national and international conferences in the areas of women’s issues, depression and cultural interventions, social support networks of ethnic minorities, and spirituality. She and a colleague currently have a contract with Palgrave publisher to publish a series of books focusing on Pan African Psychologies.
Dr. Nicolas is an active member of the APA, having served on divisional committees for Division 12, 17, 35, and 45. In addition, she has been a member of several APA committees including the Committee on International Relations in Psychology, Strategic Planning Committee, and the Committee on Early Career Psychologists. In addition to APA, she has been an active member of the Caribbean Studies Association, the Haitian Studies Association, and the Caribbean Alliance of National Psychological Associations (CANPA). She served as president of the Haitian Studies Association, the Psychology of Black Women of Division 35, and the Section of Ethnic Minorities of Division 12. Currently she serves as the Secretary General of CANPA. She is the recipient of multiple awards including the 2018 APA Humanitarian Award.
