Tsering Choedhar is a rising senior at Boston College, double majoring in Biology and Applied Psychology and Human Development, with a concentration in Human Services and Health Sciences. She is deeply passionate about working at the intersection of trauma, culture, and mental health, and is committed to providing compassionate, culturally responsive care, especially for displaced and marginalized communities. Her Tibetan heritage and involvement in mental health advocacy have been central to shaping this commitment.
This summer, Tsering worked under the mentorship of Dr. Bernadine Waller in the DIVAA Lab, analyzing and understanding the emergency shelter experiences of Black women intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors’ and their help-seeking processes. She developed her research skills through qualitative coding of transcripts informed by standpoint epistemology and thematic analysis using constructivist grounded theory. Tsering also contributed to a forthcoming publication by drafting the results section and conducted a literature review on sustainable health interventions in Black churches and Iglesias, which supported the development of an abstract. She is deeply grateful to Dr. Waller and to have been part of a project so rooted in advocacy, healing, and community impact.
Tsering is incredibly grateful for this internship experience, which has equipped her with valuable skills and meaningful connections. The mentorship she received, along with insights from seminar speakers, affirmed her decision to pursue a career in clinical social work and psychology, where she hopes to continue applying the knowledge and insight she gained through this transformative opportunity.