Research Coordinator
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas, United States
Destiny Rojas, B.A.
Destiny Rojas is a Research Assistant at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where she works under the guidance of Dr. John L. Cooley and Dr. Sean M. Mitchell. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a Minor in Forensics, from Texas Tech University, graduating summa cum laude in May 2024 with a 4.0 GPA.
Rojas is currently involved in research focusing on risk assessment training in primary care providers. She also studies the impact of community violence on youth, including externalinzing behaviors such as aggression, suicidal thoughts, and PTSD symptoms.
As a Research Assistant in the Pathways to Resilient Youth Development (PRYDe) Lab, Rojas has contributed to studies on risk and resilience in justice-involved youth and those with traumatic brain injuries. She also works in the Positive Youth Development Lab and Suicide Risk and Prevention Lab, focusing on adolescent suicide prevention within primary care settings.
Rojas has been involved in multiple conference presentations, including her upcoming presentation at the American Association of Suicidology 58th Annual Conference in April 2025, where she will present on acculturative stress and suicide-related cognitions among Latine Christians. Additionally, she has authored and contributed to several manuscripts under review, including research on pediatric health care providers' attitudes toward youth suicide prevention.
In addition to her research work, Rojas serves as a volunteer crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line, offering one-on-one support and safety planning for at-risk individuals. She has also contributed her time to organizations like Foster A Life, assisting with fundraising and outreach efforts for local foster children.
Rojas has been awarded the Presidential Merit Scholarship, AT&T Scholars Scholarship, and several other academic distinctions throughout her undergraduate career. She is proficient in Spanish, with experience in research methodology, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM East Coast USA Time