Melanie A. Rosler, B.A.

Melanie was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Her mother is from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and her father from Lima, Peru. Melanie obtained a dual Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Florida (USF) in psychology and English in 2016. Upon graduation, she led several initiatives in Dr. Marc Karver’s Alliance and Suicide Prevention Lab. One such effort involved La Guía de Familia, an adaptation of a Spanish version of a family guide for Latinx youth suicide prevention. Melanie is interested in identifying health disparities and targeting those disparities through culturally competent means to reduce/improve health-related outcomes for minority populations. In 2019, she began persuing a Master of Social Work at USF, where she continues to focus her efforts toward helping the Latinx community. As a bilingual Latina, Melanie interns at an outpatient health clinic serving low SES minorities in the Tampa Bay area, many of which are members of the Latinx community. At her internship, she focuses on delivering culturally competent care to Latinx individuals of all ages with a wide range of needs, from mental health services to resource connection. After completing her MSW degree, Melanie hopes to continue her clinical work toward licensure and eventually aims to pursue either a master’s or Ph.D. in Public Health. When Melanie is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and discovering new Latinx restaurants in the Tampa Bay area.

Marian Ruiz, B.A.

Marian was born in Havana, Cuba and moved to the United States when she was six years old. She attended Miami Dade Honor's College and ultimately graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with a B.A in Psychology in 2020. During her time as an undergraduate, she volunteered with a number of organizations to promote youth mental health awareness. Marian became involved in Dr. Karver's Alliance and Suicide Prevention Lab during her junior year of college. Her research interests surround suicide prevention and improving the recognition and treatment of mental illness, specifically for populations that are vulnerable to mental health disparities. La Guía de Familia project has offered her an opportunity to contribute to her community and help families overcome the many challenges that come with relocating in a new country.

Keven R. Espinet

Keven was born and raised in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He is currently a sophomore at the University of South Florida (USF) majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology with the intention of pursuing a career as an oncologist. Keven is interested in using his medical degree to bring care to people in need, especially underserved and minority communities, while bringing his mental health background into the medical setting. Keven is also a leader in the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, one of the largest student organizations in USF. Keven’s passion for serving the community has led him to work hard to help the Latinx community, beginning with La Guía de Familia project. In his free time, Keven enjoys writing, photography, and managing social media accounts.

Thalia Crespo

Thalia was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba and moved to the United States when she was six years old. She is currently a sophomore at the University of South Florida pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Raised in Tampa, Florida, it has always been a priority for Thalia and her family members to celebrate and embrace their Cuban roots while also adapting to the American culture. She is now collaborating on La Guía de Familia in hopes of helping other Latinx individuals successfully navigate the differences between American and Latinx cultures and the barriers these differences may cause.

Jenny Salach, B.A.

Jenny was raised in Merritt Island, Florida. Her mother was born in Paute, Ecuador, and her father in Chicago, Illinois. Jenny developed an interest in mental health research during her studies at the University of South Florida, where she obtained a B.A. in Psychology and Statistics. This interest progressed into a passion for improving systems of mental health care through implementation science, focusing on improving accessibility of care to underserved and high-need communities, while closing gaps in outcomes for ethnic and racial minorities. Jenny has a great appreciation for the strengths of the Latinx community. She looks forward to building upon them while helping families of teens who are at risk of suicide through the development of La Guía de Familia.