Build Exito

Meet Our Staff and Faculty

BUILD EXITO Leadership

Thomas Keller
Principle Investigator
kellert@pdx.edu

Dr. Keller is Principle Investigator of EXITO and he co-directs the Administrative and Institutional Development Cores of the project. He is the Duncan & Cindy Campbell Professor in the PSU School of Social Work and Director of the PSU Center for Interdisciplinary Mentoring Research. His research focuses on understanding the development and influence of youth mentoring relationships and evaluating efforts to enhance mentoring program effectiveness.

Cynthia Morris
Co-investigator
morrisc@ohsu.edu

Dr. Morris is the Co-Director of EXITO and she co-directs the Research Enrichment Core. She is Interim Director of the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute; and Assistant Dean in Charge of Admissions in the School of Medicine at OHSU. She is Vice Chair and Professor of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology with research focused on nutritional interventions in pregnancy and chronic disease. In addition, she researches clinical trial methodology and optimizing clinical research methods.

Co Investigators

Jen Lindwall
Associate Director, CIMR
lindwall@pdx.edu


Jen Lindwall is a senior research assistant for BUILD EXITO.  Prior to her position at PSU, she spent 10 years working in the youth development field as a practitioner, trainer, and program evaluator.  She has a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology Department from PSU and her research interests focus on underrepresented and first-generation college student experiences, particularly in STEM fields.

Karlyn Adams-Wiggins (EXITO)
Assistant Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology
karlyn@pdx.edu


Karlyn Adams-Wiggins (Ph.D., Rutgers University; B.A., Lafayette College) is an educational and developmental psychologist; Karlyn leads the Identity in Sociohistorical Context (ISC@PDX) research team. Karlyn’s research focuses on the intersection of academic achievement motivation and identity, with a specific focus on how marginal identities are constructed in social interactions in science learning environments. This involves two major strands: 1) achievement motivation from a situative perspective in science learning environments and 2) Black/African diaspora youths’ construction of identities in sociohistorical context. Across projects, Karlyn employs a critical and sociohistorical psychology lens in service of addressing social justice aims. Karlyn is passionate about mentoring and is especially interested in first-generation college student and student of color experiences.

Lisa Marriott (EXITO)
Co-Investigator
marriott@ohsu.edu

Lisa is an Associate Professor in the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health.  She joined EXITO in 2017 to work with students in Enrichment as they explored biomedical pathways of interest.  Lisa studies workforce development using health informatics and qualitative approaches.  She has trained in the fields of neuroscience, physiology & pharmacology, and science education.  She is passionate about interprofessional education for supporting student training.

 

Shandee Dixon (U-RISE, EXITO, PLUS)
EXITO PLUS Enrichment Lead and Career Mentor, CIMR RLC Coordinator, CIMR Research Training Curriculum 
shandee@pdx.edu

Dr. Dixon is an Associate Scientist on the Workforce Development Team at the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (OCTRI) and the Assistant Director of Cancer Research Career Enhancement (CRCE) at the Knight Cancer Institute. Previously as a scientist at the OHSU Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center (CEDAR) she founded the CEDAR Health Inequities Committee focused on building awareness around the impact systemic health inequities have on early detection and treatment of cancers, and was awarded an OHSU Northwest Native American Center of Excellence-TEDMED Fellowship as an Indigenous Health Scholar.  She holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Michigan, and prior to her role as a scientist at CEDAR, she was an OHSU Fellow for Diversity and Inclusion in Research (OFDIR) in the Microbiology and Immunology Department. As a first-generation college student herself, Dr. Dixon is leveraging her current position to advocate for support and inclusion of other aspiring scientists from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. In her spare time, she is pursuing a Masters in Public Health degree with an emphasis in Health Management and Policy at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health.

For EXITO and related programs, Dr. Dixon will be working on EXITO PLUS Enrichment/Career Mentoring, CIMR RLC Coordination, and CIMR Research Training Curriculum (U-RISE Induction, and BUILD Immersion)

Student Support

Aaron Raz Link (EXITO)
Project Coordinator
alink@pdx.edu


Aaron Raz Link has been an academic faculty member, an education program coordinator, and a mentor for students from underserved communities. Over the years, he's worked with graduate programs, four-year undergraduate programs, two-year colleges, community organizations, a social service agency, and public institutions for science education. He holds an MFA in nonfiction writing and an MA in the History of Science, and is a graduate of the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. When not at work helping us all learn more from each other, he writes essays on science and society.

Becky Miller (U-RISE, EXITO)
Senior Research Assistant
ramiller@pdx.edu


Becky joined EXITO in 2018 to help support recruitment and outreach efforts. She also works at the Regional Research Institute on projects to enhance support networks and Independent Living Programs for young people with lived experience in foster care. She has an M.S. in Post-secondary, Adult & Continuing Education and a background instructing songwriting and youth rock camps through the Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls and My Voice Music. 

Carlos Quatela (U-RISE, EXITO, PLUS)
Academic Advisor
cquatela@pdx.edu


Carlos is the son of South American Immigrants, a First Generation American and College Graduate, and has been working with college students for fifteen years. He holds an MS in Educational Leadership and Policy, with a research focus on supporting First Generation College Students through servant leadership philosophy and transition theory. As BUILD EXITO’s Academic Advisor and Co-Chair of the Scholar Success Committee, he supports scholars in navigating the nuances of the university environment. Whether you're degree planning, applying for financial aid or graduate school, registering for classes or writing a resume - he's here to support you through the process.

Operations and Coordination

Arjun Viray (U-RISE, EXITO, PLUS)
Communication Specialist 
iarjun@pdx.edu

Arjun joined BUILD EXITO in 2016 as a Cohort 1 Scholar. As a scholar, they conducted research about green roofs on hospitals in Dr. Olyssa Starry’s lab. Arjun’s role in EXITO has shifted from Scholar to Peer Mentor and now Communication Specialist. They received their B.S. in environmental science in 2019. In their free time, Arjun enjoys going on runs, working in their garden, and biking around Portland.
 

Caitlyn Beals (U-RISE, EXITO)
Project Coordinator
cbeals@pdx.edu

Caitlyn joined BUILD EXITO in 2016 as a Project Coordinator to support recruitment, mentoring, Pilot Projects, and reporting work. She has an M.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy from PSU and a certificate in Project Management from PSU’s Center for Executive and Professional Education. Her expertise is strategy, administration, coordination, and implementing complex projects in a higher education setting. 

Cassandra Ramirez (EXITO & EXITO PLUS)
CIMR Student Services Coordinator & EXITO PLUS Program Manager 
https://buildoperations.youcanbook.me/ 
ramirez3@pdx.edu


Cassandra Ramirez is the CIMR Student Services Coordinator and EXITO PLUS Program Manager at Portland State University. As Student Services Coordinator, she works on CIMR’s student programs including Summer Research Academy, Kickoff, End of Year Celebration, Trainee, and Scholar Onboarding, RLC Fair, recruitment, etc. Through the EXITO PLUS program, she assists BUILD EXITO BIPOC Alumni whose academic or career goals were impacted by COVID. She also serves as the Data Officer for the CIMR Scholar Success Committee at PSU. She has a B.A in Criminology and Criminal Justice from PSU.

Kay Logan (U-RISE, EXITO, PLUS)
Mentoring Coordinator
kay.logan@pdx.edu


Kay Logan coordinates the PSU Center for Interdisciplinary Mentoring Research (CIMR). CIMR brings together researchers across scientific disciplines and institutions to examine mentoring across the life course, including mentoring for youth, college students and employees.

Mae Culbertson (EXITO, PLUS)
Project Coordinator
maria4@pdx.edu

Mae first joined EXITO to help coordinate New Scholar Orientation (now the Summer Research Academy). In addition to SRA, she is a part of the Recruitment and EXITO PLUS coordination teams. In her non-work time, Mae enjoys reading, camping and gardening. 

Dissemination and Evaluation

Roselie Agulto
Research Data Analyst I

agulto@ohsu.edu 

Updated on: January 4, 2024