Zanned Rodriguez 

receives the

Ted Jones Excellence in Professional Psychology Award 

Zanned Rodriguez is a first-generation student pursuing a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at UTK. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.S in Psychology from Florida State University in 2019. She also holds a minor in Child Development and a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) Certificate. Prior to graduate school, she worked at the Florida Center for Reading Research, at Florida State University, and at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. Since arriving at UTK, she sought opportunities to enhance her clinical training and provide clinical services to underserved populations. She is currently involved in two research programs: Imagining Possibilities and Strengthening Underserved Communities by Cultivating Engagement and Supporting Scholars. Zanned believes that the family is the nucleus of society and that we can mitigate the development of mental illness later in life if we attempt to understand problems at an early stage and provide evidence-based and culturally-informed interventions. As a future clinical psychologist, Zanned aspires to provide underserved families with the resources needed to overcome stressful or traumatic experiences.

KAPA funding will be used to support Zanned's training in Culturally Modified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).  She will attend a four-part virtual training that provides an overview of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as cultural enhancements to TF-CBT for Hispanic children and families, screening and assessment in TF-CBT, instruction and practice on how to implement the treatment components, and strategies for recognizing and addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress. 

Congratulations, Zanned!

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Rebecca Skadberg, M.A., M.B.A.

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