Jose Rosario

José R. Rosario is a doctoral candidate completing his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Clark University under the mentorship of Dr. Esteban Cardemil. His research examines the individual and collective implications of hate-based violence among BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Both in research and practice, José believes in acknowledging the role of systemic oppression in distress, the nuances of intersecting identities, and centering how minoritized communities come together to resist and find strength. José aims to ensure that his scholarship informs nuanced ways to support individuals and communities in processing identity-based trauma. He works to uplift the strength embedded in BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities while engaging in activism to call for affirming mental healthcare. Before graduate school, José founded The Phoenix Empowered, a Rhode Island-based nonprofit dedicated to amplifying the mental health stories of minoritized community members to recognize identity-based harm and foster community. Through The Phoenix Empowered, José provides training and education on the impact of identity-based harm on mental health to inform more inclusive behavioral health policies and practices across various sectors. He also serves as a disaster responder for the American Red Cross and is a certified expressive arts facilitator.