Solange Arias
Solange Arias is a junior at Hunter College, majoring in Clinical Psychology and a minor in Sociology. As a McNair Scholar she is committed to research that prioritizes culturally conscious mental health interventions.
During the SUMR/GEAR UP program, Arias is contributing to two research projects. With Dr. Rebecca Brown, she supports a longitudinal study examining cognitive decline in middle-aged adults by integrating environmental and genetic data to explore risk factors and potential policy implications. In collaboration with Dr. Emily Ko, she is working on a mixed-methods project addressing gynecologic cancer disparities. Her role emphasizes community-based strategies, including helping develop outreach tools, supporting survivor-led education initiatives, and creating resources to improve awareness of survivorship and early detection.
Beyond her summer research, Arias is a research assistant at Columbia University’s Center for Behavioral Health and Youth Justice, where she works on a NIDA-funded project aimed at improving opioid intervention strategies for youth. She previously supported drug harm reduction research at Hunter College focused on gender and ethnic minorities. Her clinical experiences include interning at Lenox Hill Hospital’s psychiatric unit, volunteering with Mount Sinai’s delirium services, and offering postpartum support to new mothers. On campus, she serves as President of the Psychology Club and holds a leadership role in student government, where she advocates for increased access to mental health resources and wellness programming.
Arias plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, using her lived experience, research training, and clinical insight to deliver effective, culturally rooted mental health care for marginalized communities. When she’s not in class or the lab, Arias enjoys watching Formula 1, trying out new restaurants, and learning languages.