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LAB MEMBERS
Dr. Juan Rios
Rios Lab Director
Juan Rios holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Southern Connecticut State University) and Masters of Social Work (Rutgers University), and a Doctorate degree in Social Work (Rutgers University).He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Sex Offender treatment specialist, Certified Hypnotherapist, EMDR therapist and TEAM CBT therapist. He also holds a certificate of Non-profit Leadership (Fordham University) and Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Dr. Rios is currently a full-time faculty professor at Seton Hall University. He has served as the Director of the Master of Social Work program at Seton Hall University. Prior to joining Seton Hall University, he was a part time lecturer at Rutgers University and ranked adjunct lecturer at New York University.His engaged scholarship has focused on the trauma narratives of Latinx migrant women. He has conducted research with undocumented children in the United States around the effectiveness of Mindfulness in the classroom. He has facilitated international research intervention with migrant children in schools in China and authored various publications on the positive effects of holistic interventions in classroom. He has also served as a research fellow at the Huamin China Foundation at Rutgers University and provided trainings and lectures nationally and internationally on philanthropy, social justice, trauma, men and masculinity and mindfulness. His research has studied the traumatic effects of migration and issues surrounding masculinity and depression. Most notably, his publications on Mental Health and Policing have reached national platforms and raised important questions around wellness and safety.
Dr. Amml Hussein
Director of Research
Dr. Amml Hussein is the Director of Research at the Council on Social Work Education where she promotes quality in research curricula across methods and paradigms in undergraduate and graduate programs. A seasoned social worker, educator and researcher, Dr. Hussein brings more than 13 years of service experience in diverse practice domains including teaching research methodology, instructional design, private group practice, utilization management, and psychiatric crisis stabilization. Dr. Hussein serves as a peer mentor for the National Science Foundation and has served on numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion panels.
Some of her research interests include integrating anti-oppressive and empowerment models into curriculum, social and emotional predictive models, developing mentoring models to support early-stage faculty and researchers, and pathways for diverse faculty to tenure lines in academia. Dr. Hussein has experience chairing conference symposia and teaching paper panels for the Eastern Psychological Association. Dr. Hussein also lectures at Rutgers School of Social Work where she teaches Undergraduate and Graduate students in several courses including Research Methods and Human Behavior in the Social Environment.
Dr. Hussein earned her doctorate in educational leadership and administration at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Her master’s degree in clinical social work was completed at the Rutgers School of Social Work with a certificate in violence against women and children. Dr. Hussein graduated from the honor's program with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies and social work and a minor in psychology from the Rutgers School of the Arts and Sciences. Her work has been recognized by the United States Senate and General Assembly with a Citation for Leadership and Academic Excellence.
Allyssa Ghans
Research Assistant
Allyssa Ghans was born in Newark, New Jersey but spent most of her formative years in Virginia Beach. Throughout her adolescence she always felt that the hardships she would encounter would prove to be instrumental in her future and knew it would help others going through similar situations. Her purpose in life was cemented in her mind to help others and stopped at nothing to achieve her goals. As an avid lover of animals, she initially felt her calling was to become a veterinarian as she understood the unique connection between people and their pets. While a Freshman at Radford University she changed her trajectory to Anthropological Sciences where she would find her calling in forensic sciences. With this change she wanted to be able to give a voice to the voiceless and help solve criminal cases to help families find their peace. During her senior year of her undergraduate degree, the world would face unprecedented times as the deadly Covid-19 virus wreaked havoc around the globe. She would receive her final call to action: Social Work.As a current Master of Social Work student at Seton Hall University, she continues to impact the lives of others. Her area of expertise is currently focusing on the mental and behavioral health of adolescents with an emphasis on intellectual and developmental disabilities. With a background of anthropological sciences, she has conducted and presented prior research projects and is excited to continue doing research at the Rios Lab.
Priscilla Carmona
Lab Member
Priscilla Carmona is co-owner of SCORES Reentry and will has graduated from the School of Social Services at Fordham University in December 2019. Currently, she is a Licensed Social Worker and has dedicated her life to service those impacted by incarceration and addiction. SCORES Reentry was created on the basis of second chances, providing each individual impacted by incarceration and addiction with services that include employment, mentorship, case management and advocacy. Priscilla understands firsthand the impact of being involved in the criminal justice system, and when she was 19 years old faced insurmountable consequences of being an unsupervised, delinquent and abandoned youth. One particular detective advocated strongly for her, helped her get back into school and firmly mentored her, even when she did not think she wanted it. Priscilla is an advocate on both micro and macro levels, providing direct client services as well as collaborating with political and community stakeholders for laws that will change the face of reintegration. In all, Priscilla is proud and honored to be a voice for those who are not heard. She believes in the power of the human family, as we are each called to protect the human rights and social justice of all.
Stephanie Iannuzzelli
Lab Member
Stephanie Iannuzzelli was born in Norhtern New Jersey. Throughout her life, she has found a great deal of passion and dedication to helping people and wanting to work in the helping profession. Being a heavy activist in the community, within organizations and in her education, she has been driven to success and wanting to help better someone's experiences. Stephanie currently holds a B.S.W. which was obtained from Kutztown University in May 2022. As a current Master of Social Work Student at Kutztown, she is continuing to expand her education, work with other individuals and learn to be the best social worker she can be. Stephanie is excited to be a member of the Rios Lab and is excited t help expand research opportunities and bring in her knowledge in order to do so.