Meet the Team!

RESEARCH ADVISOR

Dr. Marlesha Bell

Ph.D., BCBA

I am a tenure-track faculty member at Cal State University, Northridge. I teach at the undergrad and graduate level. I advise and mentor students to develop research and clinical skills. In my free time, I like to take walks, lift weights, tend to my plants, and eat good food. 

GRADUATE RESEARCHER

Kezia Setiawan

B.A., RBT, 2nd-year MS-ABA student

Hi! My name is Kezia Setiawan, and I am a second-year graduate student in the CSUN MSABA program. My research interest lies in culturally responsive treatment and training and correlation of nutrition and behavior. When I can, I enjoy playing pickleball and doing spontaneous activities. 

GRADUATE RESEARCHER

Tahra Hunter

B.A., 2nd-year MS-ABA student

Hello! I’m a current graduate student of M.S Applied Behavioral Analysis program at California State University, Northridge. I received my bachelors from CSUN in 2024 and decided to jump in head first into graduate school immediately after.  My current research interest is gun violence prevention in home and in public spaces. My current interests are dinosaurs, shipwrecks, and anything Disneyland related. My favorite food is probably a tie between Toscana soup and poke!  

POST BACCALAUREATE RESEARCHER

Andrea Hernandez

B.A., RBT

Andrea graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, in 2023 and is currently pursuing post-baccalaureate studies in the Changing Pathways lab. She hopes to pursue Clinical Psychology and is interested in the socio-cultural and socio-economic factors that influence individual well-being, particularly within marginalized communities and children.  Driven by a genuine curiosity to learn, she is ready to take on new challenges and become a well- rounded research assistant. 

POST BACCALAUREATE RESEARCHER

Yasmine Cruz

B.A., incoming 1st-year MS-ABA student

Hi there! I graduated from CSUN with a B.A in Psychology, in the Fall of 2024. I currently work with neurodivergent adults, assisting in teaching them a variety of life skills. I’m passionate about pursuing a career in ABA and I will be starting up in CSUN’s MS-ABA program in the Fall semester of 2025! My current research interests involve ‘Active Shooter Responding Training’, as I work alongside Tahra to explore previous literature. In my free time I like to go to the movie theaters. My hobbies consist of collecting comic books, manga, CD’s, and DVD’s.

POST BACCALAUREATE RESEARCHER

Vanessa Gracia Lara

B.A. in Psychology

Vanessa Gracia Lara is currently a post bachelor research student Psychology student who graduated from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a focus on working in neurodiverse populations.  

Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Vanessa’s background stems from Puerto Rico and Peru. This background naturally informed her awareness of the ways culture and identity intersect with everyday systems and structures.  

Vanessa’s research interest’s focuses on practical ways to improve how services are delivered across diverse populations, culturally responsive practices, accessibility tools, and how implicit bias shows up in everyday decision-making in various settings.  

Outside of academics, Vanessa enjoys making jewelry, thrifting clothes, and collecting miniature items. 

POST BACCALAUREATE RESEARCHER

Sam Richter

B.A. in Psychology

Sam Richter earned a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Northridge, in Fall 2025. With clinical experience as a Behavior Technician working with young children with autism, he has developed strong skills in applied behavior analysis and individualized treatment support. In addition to his clinical work, Sam volunteers as a coach with the Special Olympics, leading teams in soccer, floorball, and track and field. He is currently taking a gap year to gain further research and clinical experience before applying to graduate programs in Clinical Psychology. Sam’s long-term goal is to specialize in the treatment of chronic pain conditions using evidence-based psychological interventions.

Alumni

PACIFIC ALUMNI

Prerana Atreya

M.A., BCBA

After four long years of dedicated work, Dr. Bell’s first research lab student will bid us a farewell. Prerana Atreya will be starting her Ph.D. in ABA at the University of South Florida in Fall 2025 under the advisement of Sarah Bloom. 

My research interests include teaching children consent skills, functional assessments and prevention of problem behavior, engaging in culturally responsive practices, and caregiver training. In my free time, I love to read and spend time with my family and friends! Oh—and I LOVE to travel and find good food everywhere I go!