Lab Director
Merrisa Lin, Ph.D.
I am an Assistant Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Fairfield University. I received my Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Connecticut. I study how diverse cultural and linguistic experiences shape the ways people navigate the social world. Much of my work aims to promote multicultural competence, amplify marginalized voices, and foster more inclusive environments where people feel respected and understood. My passion for research is rooted in my experiences growing up and living in Taiwan, the U.S., Hong Kong, and Germany. I enjoy learning about people’s unique stories and integrating those insights into my own growing perspectives. A fun fact about me is I speak four languages!
“The diversity of human beings fascinates me, and I am constantly learning from differences.”
Google Scholar | LinkedIn | Curriculum Vitae | Fairfield Faculty Page
Research Students
Ruth Salazar
Graduate Student
I am a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. I am a bilingual individual who grew up in an immigrant household, navigating my identities as both a U.S. citizen and an Ecuadorian citizen. Experiencing the constant negotiation between these two identities shaped my worldview and sparked my interest in how language and culture influence a person’s identity, behavior, and mental health. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career as a therapist working with immigrant children and their families, where I hope to address the growing need for culturally responsive, justice-oriented, and effective mental health care.
“I want to understand how language influences an individual’s personality and behavior, while remaining open-minded to the diverse cultures and perspectives that shape people.”
Caitlin Fitzpatrick
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am an undergraduate biology major at Fairfield University with minors in Health Studies, Psychology, and Italian Language. I am interested in how culture, identity, and social context influence human behavior. I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, which strengthened my interest in cross-cultural differences between societies. I am also a certified nursing assistant pre-medical student and hope to integrate insights from cross-cultural psychology into my future clinical work to promote culturally responsive, empathetic, and effective patient care.
“I’m interested in how people’s backgrounds shape their experiences, and I learn so much from the variety of ways we see the world.”
Tristan Donnelly
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am an undergraduate at Fairfield University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in History. I am interested in how diverse cultures influence child behavior and development. I love being active and playing any sport; my favorites include skiing in Vermont and playing basketball. I am also a camp counselor during the summer and hope to gain insights from research to better connect and understand every camper with an open mind and empathetic attitude.
“Learning about different cultures reminds me that, at our core, we are all equal human beings, shaped by unique experiences that make us different and bring us together.”
Keira Furey
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am a junior at Fairfield University majoring in English and Psychology. My research interest is how other people's backgrounds affect how they interact with and perceive others from different backgrounds. A fun fact about me is that I am a member of the Fairfield Women's Lacrosse Team.
"I am inspired by how language can carry culture and shape how we see and experience the world.”
Sophia Imrichova
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am an undergraduate student at Fairfield University double major in Psychology and Sociology. As a first-generation college student, my academic experiences have shaped my interest in understanding how my identity and interpersonal relationships influence human behavior and mental health. Raised in a bilingual household, I grew curious as to how identity formation correlates with a sense of belonging and understanding of social groups. Outside of the lab, I am interested in various somatic based therapies, pharmacological aspects to mental health treatments, and am an avid creative writer.
"I aim to better understand the diverse experiences that shape each individual and contribute to work surrounding empathy and culturally responsive mental health care."
Clare Leonard
Undergraduate Research Assistant
I am an undergraduate student of psychology at Fairfield University with an interest in developmental psychology, continuously enhancing an understanding how individuals grow in response to influences and changes in their environment. I am interested in observing the differing communicative approaches of individuals of diverse backgrounds. In addition to being a lab assistant, I am a member of FUSA working as a Programmer for the Class of 2029, and an active member of FUDE’s Irish Dance team.
Research Student Alumni
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Annabelle Purvis
Emma Van Wickler
Collaborators
At the Culture and Language Lab, we welcome collaborations and are always excited to expand our network. If you are interested in connecting, please feel free to reach out!
Nairán Ramírez-Esparza, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
University of Connecticut
Jacqueline M. Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
University of Utah
Alexandra Paxton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
University of Connecticut
Andrea Matos, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Ying-Yi Hong, Ph.D.
Choh-Ming Li Professor of Marketing
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Diego Pascual y Cabo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Hispanic Linguistics
University of Florida
Pen-Chi Chiang, Ph.D.
Professor of Environmental Engineering
National Taiwan University
Natalie Shook, Ph.D.
Professor of Nursing
University of Connecticut
Minh Duc Pham, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Columbia University
Kim Chaney, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
University at Buffalo, SUNY
Xun Zhu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Communication
University of Kentucky