EDUCATION
Teachers College, Columbia University - New York, NY (Sept. 2022 - Present)
Doctoral Candidate in Counseling Psychology (Comprehensive Exams Passed on 4/3/2025)
Recipient of the Doctoral Fellowship
Counseling Psychology Program Ambassador (September 2024 - Present)
Counseling & Clinical Psychology Departmental Senator, TC Student Senate (Sept. 2023 - Present)
Columbia University PhD Council, Teachers College Representative (Jan - December 2024)
New York University, Silver School of Social Work - New York, NY (Sept. 2016 - May 2018)
Masters Degree in Social Work
Member of Phi Alpha Honors Society
Recipient of Merit-based Scholarships
Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey – New Brunswick, NJ (Sept. 2012 - May 2016)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in Political Science
Graduate of Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program
Recipient of Scarlet Scholarships, Recipient of Dean’s Scholarships
Studied abroad for two semesters at Ewha Women’s University, South Korea (Fall 2013, Spring 2014)
DOCTORAL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Psychology Extern at Columbia Day Program, Columbia University Irving Medical Center - New York, NY (July 2024 - June 2025)
Facilitating weekly group counseling sessions with CDP patients. Groups facilitated include: DBT Skills Group Counseling, CBT Skills for Depression Group Counseling, ACT Skills Group Counseling, BIPOC Process Group Counseling, Process Group Counseling
Conducting individual therapy with two CDP patients utilizing treatment modalities based on patients’ treatment needs including but not limited to individual DBT skills support as well as psychodynamic explorative support.
Receiving weekly clinical supervision from licensed psychologists Dr. Elizabeth Ellman, PsyD, Dr. Jared O’Garro-Moore, PhD, and Dr. Shayne N. Ragbeer, PhD.
Doctoral Student Clinician at Dean Hope Center, Teachers College Columbia University - New York, NY (Sept 2024 - May 2025)
Enrolled in the neuropsychology assessment clinical practicum and conducting two full neuropsychological assessment batteries to provide full reports that include measures of neuro-cognitive functioning (WAIS-IV, CVLT-3, Trail Making Test, Logical Memory subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale-IV, Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure) and mood (BAI, BDI, PCL-5).
Receiving weekly direct clinical supervision from licensed neuropsychologist, Dr. Marykathryn Pavol, PhD.
Doctoral Student Clinician at Dean Hope Center, Teachers College Columbia University - New York, NY (Sept 2023 - July 2024)
Conducted individual psychodynamic therapy with individual caseload of 2-4 clients for the community training clinic as psychology doctoral student trainee
Prioritized paperwork involved in case management including but not limited to client contact logs, progress notes, intake reports, and treatment plan reviews in order to maintain organized and updated client charts.
Conducted two full psychological assessment batteries to provide a full report that included measures of neuro-cognitive functioning (WAIS-IV), achievement (WIAT-IV), attention and executive functioning (CPT3, CAARS2, CVLT3 D-KEFS) emotional and behavioral functioning (BASC-3) and personality and mood (BAI, BDI, PAI) as well as projectives (TAT).
Received weekly direct clinical supervision from licensed clinical psychologists Dr. Yesel Yoon, PhD, (psychotherapy) and Dr. Wei Motulsky, PhD (assessment) and worked under guidance of clinic director, Dr. Dinelia Rosa, PhD
PRE-DOCTORAL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AS CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Clinical Team Lead/ Therapist at Asian American Recovery Services (AARS) / Healthright360 - San Francisco, CA (Nov 2019 - April 2020)
Led a team of substance abuse counselors in implementing the agency’s transition into California’s Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) Program by conducting clinical assessments, updating diagnoses as needed, and taking the lead in putting together appropriate clinical documentation to meet DMC compliance
Worked with a caseload of both mental health and substance abuse clients, providing individual psychotherapy and/or substance abuse counseling deemed appropriate for the specific needs of the clients.
Utilized multiple evidence-based approaches during individual sessions such as Motivational Interviewing, CBT, DBT, mindfulness and client-centered talk therapy
Facilitated various treatment groups including CBT/Relationships, a Writing Support Group, as well as a Recovery Management group to provide evidence-based treatment in a supportive group environment
Provided case management for clients in need of social services including help with Medi-Cal reverification, seeking aid with Housing resources, as well as collaborating with other healthcare professionals to provide optimal, client-centered coordinated care
Behavioral Health Clinician at Mental Health Service Corps – New York, NY (Oct 2018 – Jul 2019)
Deployed to the Dual Recovery Services Program at Lower East Side Service Center
Conducted individual therapy for chemical outpatient treatment center clients implementing approaches such as CBT, motivational interviewing (MI), mindfulness and client-centered talk therapy
Implemented regular urine toxicology screens in order to provide task-centered treatment for clients
Facilitated various treatment groups such as Open Processes, Clean & Sober, Recovery & Creativity, and Women’s Group to bring appropriate group treatment to clients within the program
Collaborated with various city agencies including MMTP, Manhattan Treatment Court, ACS, HRA and outside psychiatrists and medical professionals to coordinate appropriate care for clients
Clinical Social Work Intern at Union Health Center – New York, NY (Sep 2017 – May 2018)
Conducted short-term counseling and therapy sessions for medical center patients implementing approaches such as CBT, motivational interviewing, mindfulness exercises, and client-centered talk therapy
Provided social services for patients with tasks ranging from maintaining communications with insurance agencies, assisting patients with insurance billing inquiries and educating patients on optimal insurance and billing options
Collaborated with primary care physicians and health specialists to provide client-centered collaborative care
Social Work Intern at Henry Street Settlement, Department of Senior Services – New York, NY (Sep 2016 - May 2017)
Conducted intake interviews via phone and physical home visits in order to screen potential clients for both the Meals on Wheels and Senior Companion Program.
Managed a caseload of diverse clients and routinely checked in with their biopsychosocial needs in order to connect them to the appropriate social services and referrals as necessary
Spear-headed efforts to engage senior centers all around the five boroughs of Manhattan in order to promote the Senior Companion Program’s services
Trained new senior volunteers at orientations by teaching topics such as efficient communication, emergency preparedness and mental health implications of older populations
HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
Graduate Teaching Assistant at Teachers College, Columbia University - New York, NY (Sept 2022 - Present)
Provided academic and administrative support to a number of Counseling Psychology faculty through multifaceted means including, but not limited to:
Collaborated with the professor on designing the structure of weekly lectures
Led weekly in-person lab sessions and facilitated role-play dyads for the purpose of practicing counseling and provided in-vivo counseling coaching.
Provided detailed weekly feedback to students to encourage skill building, insight into the role of diversity in counseling environments, and to assist in building internalized confidence.
Graded and provided detailed written feedback on weekly assignments as well as for Assessment Reports, papers, Midterm Exams and Final Exams
When appropriate, provided course feedback for students utilizing the Teachers College Professional Counseling Performance Evaluation (PCPE)
Provided administrative support to professors including managing Canvas and communicating with students
Supported Courses:
Counseling Skills II (CCPJ5372)
Masters Level Assessment in Counseling Psychology (CCPJ5060)
Foundations of Counseling Skills (CCPJ 5371)
Group Counseling (CCPJ 5025)
Consultation (CCPJ 4165)
Microaggressions in Institutional Climates (CCPJ4050)
Theories of Counseling (CCPJ4064)
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Lab Coordinator and Doctoral Researcher at Social Cognition and Career Lab, Teachers College, Columbia University - New York, NY (Sept 2022 - Present)
Led by Dr. George Gushue, the lab is housed in the department of Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. We are a group of passionate researchers and students interested in what motivates individuals to act without prejudice, how clinicians make perceptions of clients based on identifying information, group dynamics, and career development of both adolescents and adults.
Working directly with PI, Dr. George V. Gushue, to support lab’s ongoing research including: in-person and online recruitment efforts, editing existing manuscripts, submitting IRB amendments, and putting together research presentations and posters for national conferences
Lead Research Coordinator at Promoting Research Initiatives in Substance Use and Mental Health
(PRISM) Collaborative, Washington State University - Seattle, WA (Remote Site) (Nov 2020 - June 2022)
Project: Hired on to join the Individualizing Incentives Study, a NIH RO1-funded 5 year clinical trial assessing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a contingency management (CM) treatment for alcohol use disorder among individuals recruited from a community mental health center who have a co-occurring serious mental illness
Lead study recruitment and project coordination efforts by implementing strategies for participant screening, conducting interviews and implementing interventions to assess for eligibility and recruitment
Acted as site liaison to all five sites of the Sound Behavioral Health Clinics in King County, Seattle to further establish community partnership
Spearheaded strategy to deepen study partnership with Sound Capitol Hill site and succeeded in acquiring physical space to conduct in-person appointments at a third site in Seattle for recruitment purposes
Collected data with structured interviews and qualitative interviews and entered and managed data in Sharepoint, Excel, and REDCap
Trained to administer the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Test and Manakin Test to collect cognitive measures
Handled urine samples to run Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) tests on Thermo-Fisher Indiko Urinalysis Machines
Maintained good relationship with and assisted in remaining in good standing with Institutional Review Board (IRB) via routinely submitting study protocol amendments and submitting other relevant routine and annual documents to assist in study continuing to remain compliant to IRB regulations
Provided additional support to the Phosphatidylethanol-Based Contingency Management for Housing (PEth) Study
Trained providers from a variety of settings (inpatient/ outpatient healthcare settings/ jails/ fire departments/ etc.) on the nuts and bolts of Contingency Management as a member of PRISM’s CM Training Implementation Team.
Worked directly with the Principle Investigator Dr. Michael McDonell
Graduate Research Assistant at NYU Silver School of Social Work - New York, NY (Sep 2016 - May 2017)
Hired on as a research assistant to conduct qualitative data analysis obtained from needs assessment interviews from citizens of Del Carmen, Philippines to assist in global poverty studies research
Conducted literature reviews on certain themes/topics of relevance such as poverty, women’s health, education, etc.
Worked directly with the Principle Investigator Dr. Robert Hawkins
Volunteer Research Coordinator at NYU Silver School of Social Work - New York, NY (Nov 2017 - Dec 2017)
Project: Student Intentions to Implement Evidence Based Assessment
Recruited participants via coordinating with NYU professors and presenting the study to students in various classroom settings across campus.
Coordinated and conducted data entry and data management
Worked directly with the Principle Investigator Dr. Victor Lushin
Research Assistant Intern at Rutgers’ Collaborative Center for Community-Based Research and Service - Piscataway, NJ (Aug 2015 - Dec 2015)
Partnered with the New Brunswick Recycling Commission to take part in the recycling enforcement and education plan of the City of New Brunswick.
Conducted and engaged in research policies to model individual programs and ultimately help local recycling organizations become more effective in serving their communities.
Research includes historical and conclusive research for the intersection of homelessness and domestic violence, healthy food access to New Brunswick residents, among various other topics.
PUBLICATIONS & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Shin, R.S., Bensmiller, N., Endale, T., Snow, O. (to be presented 2025, August 8). Radical Care as Political Resistance: Disruption through Model of Care Work in Student-Led Protests [Poster]. American Psychological Association (APA) 2025 Annual Conference. Denver, CO. United States.
Bensmiller, N., Endale, T., Shin, R.S., Snow, O. (2025, May 30). Disruption through Care Work: Radical Care in Student-Led Protest Movements [Think Tank]. Inaugural Conference on Critical Social Justice (ICCSJ) in Psychology. Vancouver, Canada.
Xu, O.Y. & Shin, R.S. (2024, October 4-5). Deconstructing Model Minority Discourse [Courageous Conversations Workshop]. Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) 2024 Convention. Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
Gushue, G., Gomez, S., Shin, R.S., Godinez, J., Troyka, M. (2024, August 8-10). Developing Critical Consciousness in Psychology Training: Two Models of Motivation [Poster]. American Psychological Association (APA) 2024 Annual Conference. Seattle, WA, United States.
Endale, T., Bensmiller, N., Shin, R.S., Snow, O. (2024, July 27). Care as Political Warfare: The Role of Peer-Based Support in Sustainable Protest Movements [Workshop]. Psychology for Peace & Justice 2024 Virtual Conference. Virtual.
Gushue, G., Shin, R.S., Gomez, S., Liu, L., Kim, M. (2023, August 3-5). Motivational Factors and the Development of Multicultural Self-Efficacy [Poster]. American Psychological Association (APA) 2023 Annual Conference. Washington, D.C., United States.
Keshtkar, M., Shin, R.S., Kordas, G., King, P., Beck, R., Jett, J., Parent, S., Ries, R., McPherson, S., Chaytor, N., Roll, J., & McDonell, M. (2021, December 9). Impact of COVID-19 on Individuals with Co-Occurring Alcohol Use Disorder and Serious Mental Illness: A Pilot Study [Poster]. American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP). Virtual.
HONORS & LEADERSHIP
Recipient of the Provost’s Grant for Conference Presentation and Professional Development - New York, NY (November 2024)
Selected to receive the prestigious Provost’s Grant for presenting major research at a national conference
Counseling Psychology Program Ambassador - New York, NY (September 2024 - Present)
Providing administrative assistance to the EdM and Doctoral Program Directors along with assisting in tasks associated with the Counseling Program in general
Coordinating and helping plan program events such as social events, fieldwork informational sessions, graduation events, training workshops
Participating in Orientations, Open Houses, and other recruitment activities.
Attending every program meeting and communicating program information to doctoral/masters students
Providing program information to prospective students via email, phone, etc.
Helping update web page and/or various social media pages as needed as well as program materials
Assisting with gathering and preparing accreditation materials
Assisting Fieldwork/Placement Coordinator as needed
Assisting with the general functioning of related programs and certificates
Teachers College Representative on Columbia University PhD Council - New York, NY (January - December 2024)
Selected to represent Teachers College PhD students’ interests, experiences and concerns at large within the Columbia University system of schools
Counseling & Clinical Psychology Departmental Senator on Teachers College Student Senate - New York, NY (Sept. 2023 - Present)
Voted in by student body as the Departmental Senator representing the Counseling & Clinical Psychology Department in TC Student Senate for the academic year of Fall 2023 - Spring 2024.
Spearheaded and drafted a new legislation on “Option for Open Oral Dissertation Defense '', which was then presented to the Senate floor and passed with majority vote.
Working with the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Vice Dean in order to draft a memorandum to draft Senate legislation into policy addendum at Teachers College.
Conference Presenter at 2017 New York University Social Justice & Diversity Grant Conference – New York, NY (April 2017)
Chosen as one of six presenters from a large pool of applicants in order to share presentation: “The Impact of Culture on Notions of Mental Health & Mental Illness: One Daughter’s Story”
Summary of Presentation: This presentation was about my experience growing up as an Asian American with a passion for psychology and mental health and the lessons I’ve learned in the journey regarding the delicate nature of conversations on mental health and social justice in intergenerational Asian families.
School of Arts and Sciences Honors Scholar from Rutgers University, City of New Brunswick - New Brunswick, NJ (May 2016)
Graduated as an honors scholar from the highly competitive SASHonors Program by completing the Honors Colloquium, Four Honors Courses, demonstrating Global Language Proficiency and submitting an Honors Capstone Project.
Melvin Boone Award for Community-Based Research and Service at Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey - New Brunswick, NJ (April 2016)
Granted award for conducting useful research for the city of New Brunswick’s New Brunswick Environmental Commission (NBEC)’s recycling program