Aidan Kraus
Aidan Kraus (they/them) is a Doctorate of Education student at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, earning a degree in Counseling with a Specialization in Sport Psychology. Aidan graduated from Smith College and earned a degree in American Studies with a focus in the Psychology of Sport. They are particularly interested in how the mental health of student-athletes is influenced by collegiate athletics which stemmed from their interests in diversity and access among this population of college students. Further, their professional interests extend to creating more inclusive spaces for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals within athletic competition. Currently, Aidan spends their time working with collegiate student-athletes as a mental performance consultant within the Boston area and is involved in multiple research projects within BU Wheelock College focusing on sport, youth advocacy, and inclusion and diversity. Further, Aidan will be working as a Clinical Counseling Intern at Regis College Counseling Services over the next year
Alyssa Ciniglio
Alyssa Ciniglio (she/her) is a second-year Counseling Psychology master’s student at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Development. Alyssa graduated from CUNY Hunter College with a degree in Clinical Psychology and Sociology. Upon graduating, she became a research lab manager for the Hunter Psycho-Oncology Lab and program coordinator for an NCI-funded summer research program, STANDOUT, both of which sparked her interest and passion for working with college students. Currently, alongside her role as a graduate research assistant, Alyssa co-facilitates a support group for first-generation students and is beginning her internship at Boston University’s Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) with her clinical goal of promoting accessible, inclusive, and affirming care. Alyssa’s research interests focus on furthering the understanding of LGBTQIA+ and TNB adolescent and young adults’ experiences and identity development through a strengths and resilience-based approach. She aims to highlight and explore various protective factors within their experiences, such as schools and peer connections, to promote and advance how counselors, health care providers, educators, and government officials can provide support and advocacy. Alyssa is pursuing applying to PhD programs to further her research endeavors and clinical experiences.
Ely Hochfelder
Ely Hochfelder (they/them) is a junior studying International Relations at the Boston University Pardee School of Global Studies. They concentrate on the cultural anthropology and regional politics of Latin America and have double-minors in Spanish and Portuguese. Ely is particularly interested in the development of queer and trans communities in Latin America and how these communities incorporate self-expression and bodily autonomy as a means of resistance. As a queer and trans person from rural Massachusetts, Ely's experience has inspired them to connect with global LGBTQ+ communities to understand how queer and trans people across the world have more in common than not. During Summer 2025, Ely traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where they conducted an original independent ethnographic project sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at Boston University. Their ongoing project seeks to understand how the Brazilian military dictatorship shaped how transfeminine Brazilians engage with self-expression online and in-person as an antifriction device in conservative societies. As a research assistant, Ely hopes to provide a unique perspective on trans and non-binary mental health and apply what they learn from the Project AVANT team to their personal research.