Posted Sept. 5, 2019 – The University of Houston College of Education recently welcomed two new staff members – a research coordinator and a postdoctoral fellow. Both are working in the Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences Department.

Daniela Arenas hails from Mexico and is interested in educating the Latinx community about mental and behavioral health issues. Michael Matta hails from Italy and specializes in psychological assessment, test development and psychometrics.

Learn more about them in the following Q&A.

Daniela Arenas

Latino & Behavioral Health Research Team
LABHRT Research Coordinator
Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences

Education: B.S., kinesiology, University of Houston 

Most recent job: clinical research coordinator, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

What drew you to UH? As an alumni, I have always admired the University’s diverse and welcoming culture. I am proud to be a part of the University’s mosaic of different backgrounds and languages.

What are your research interests/areas of expertise? My research interests include educating the Latinx community about mental and behavioral health issues. As a research coordinator, I want to be able to participate in community outreach events and help in engaging Latinx adults with limited resources into effective tobacco-cessation treatments.

Can you share a little about your background? I am a native Mexican, first-generation college graduate with 10 years of experience in the clinical field and health research. In my spare time, I enjoy meditating, journaling and spending time with my family and my four dogs.

What’s your dream job? My dream job would consist of helping people, a 10-minute commute, free Chipotle and “puppy” breaks.

Currently watching on Netflix and/or reading… I enjoy watching psychology-based documentaries on Netflix. And episodes of “The Office.”

Follow her on Twitter @daniromodiaz9.

Michael Matta

Postdoctoral Fellow
Program: School Psychology
Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences

Education: B.S., psychological science, University of Milano Bicocca; M.S., clinical psychology, UMB; Ph.D., clinical psychology, UMB

Most recent job: Postdoctoral research associate at Northeastern University

What drew you to UH? A job interview that went really well!

What are your research interests/areas of expertise? Psychological assessment, test development and psychometrics.

Can you share a little about your background? I am from Milan, Italy, and a first-generation college student. Still trying to explain what a Ph.D. is for to my mom. In the last two and a half years, I have worked in four different American universities, but this is my first time in this part of the country. I almost wrote South, but I changed it because I want to get along with all Texans.

What’s your dream job? College professor. As a child, I used to play with my stuffed animals pretending to be their teacher. So I can say that it has always been my dream job.

Currently watching on Netflix and/or reading: “13 Reasons Why” (third season), and I have just bought “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” by Yuval Harari.

–By Ericka Mellon

–Photos courtesy of staff members