Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences, University of San Diego

Faculty Affiliate, Africana Studies Minor

Dr. Berkley joined the department in Fall 2021 as a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow and teaches upper-division courses in developmental psychology. These include: Childhood and Adolescence, Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood, Adulthood and Aging, Close and Intimate Relationships (Senior Seminar), and Black Families.

Berkley's research examines how family relationships and sociocultural contexts shape development across the lifespan. His work focuses on strength processes that support adolescent and young adult health and well-being.

Areas of Interest

• Black and Latinx families: Ethnic-racial socialization, racial discrimination, colorism

• Youth and Emerging adults: Identity, educational trajectories, sociopolitical development

• Stepfamily Dynamics: Childrearing practices, coparenting relationships

Masie Abbiati (she/her) is currently a senior majoring in Psychology. Masie joined the REMP lab in Fall 2025. 

While in the lab, Masie is conducting a literature review titled “True Crime and Racial Perceptions: How True Crime Media in the U.S. Constructs Racialized Narratives of Black Men and Crime.” Her work examines how media portrayals shape public perceptions and reinforce racial bias.

Masie is interested in forensic psychology and will be interning as a criminal investigator with the Office of the Public Defender in Spring 2026. She values the opportunity to independently design and pursue a research project that aligns with her academic interests and career goals. 

Alex Griffin (she/her) is master's student specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of San Diego.  She received a Bachelor’s in Psychology and minor in Philosophy at the University of San Diego in 2023.  Alex joined the REMP lab in Fall 2022. 

While in the lab, Alex's projects include "Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Coping Strategies for Black Women," which specifically focused on using intersectional approaches to understand the effectiveness of coping strategies mitigating the negative effects of microaggressions. She is also a Co-PI with Dr. Berkley on the current projects "Socialization and Campus-Related Experiences of Black College Students," "Intergenerational Transmission of Cultural Values among First-Generation Collegiate Women of Color."

Alex's goals are putting research into practice through education, training, and promotion of inclusivity and intersectionality in her clinical mental health counseling practices. She plans on pursing either a Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology PhD. 

Marisa Kamin (she/her) is a senior majoring in Psychology and Sociology and minoring in Philosophy at the University of San Diego. Marisa joined the REMP lab in Fall 2024.  

While in the lab, Marisa’s project includes a literature review for her independent study.  This project aims to explore the relationship between parental racial identity and child self-esteem in Asian American undergraduates. In doing so, Marisa seeks to understand how family racial socialization and identity dynamics shape individual self-esteem and perception within the Asian American community. 

Marisa hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy to provide underprivileged and marginalized families with access to inclusive mental health care that supports the emotional well-being of both parents and children.

Irianna Morales (she/they) is a senior double-majoring in Psychology and Ethnic Studies at the University of San Diego. Irianna joined the REMP lab in Fall 2024.

While in the lab, Irianna's independent project that focuses on how growing up in intergenerational households has influenced mental health-seeking behaviors for Filipino American young adults. They plan to highlight the cultural values within Filipino American households and look at the impact of cultural conflict between generations. 

Irianna plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology, with the goal to make mental health services more accessible for marginalized and underprivileged communities. 

Yen Shiferaw (he/him) is a junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Business Administration at the University of San Diego. Yen joined the REMP Lab in Summer 2025. 

While in the lab, Yen’s project includes "Playing Through Pressure: A Qualitative Study on Joy in Undergraduate Athletes of Color". This study explores how undergraduate athletes of color define, express, and sustain joy while navigating institutional pressures and interpersonal challenges within collegiate athletics. By examining themes such as racial identity, emotional well-being, and culturally grounded resilience strategies, Yen aims to highlight how joy can function as a form of resistance and identity-affirmation. His work emphasizes the need for more humanizing, joy-centered approaches to supporting athletes of color in higher education environments.

Yen plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology and is passionate about bridging research, education, and mental health advocacy to support the well-being of historically marginalized communities.