PhD Student
Angela Matijczak is a first-year PhD student at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work. Angela earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology, with a double minor in sociology and Latin American studies, from the University of New Haven in 2017. She then worked as a lab manager for two years at the Innovative Interactions Lab at Yale University, where they collaborated on research projects that investigated the influence of dogs on child socioemotional development and the benefits of dogs on stress in adults and children.
During her first year at VCU, Angela served as a project coordinator for a collaborative study with Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) on childhood exposure to animal cruelty and its influence on children’s mental health. This project was under the auspice of the Children, Families, and Animals Research (CFAR) Group, led by Dr. Shelby McDonald.
Now, Angela continues their work with the CFAR team by serving as the project coordinator for the LGBTQ+ Youth Supports Study. This research project investigates supports and stressors experienced by LGBTQ+ youth and how these supports and stressors relate to mental health and wellbeing. Broadly, Angela’s research interests focus on risk and protective factors for LGBTQ+ youth. Based on her prior research experiences, Angela is particularly interested in the role of pets in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth and how pets may influence dynamics between LGBTQ+ youth and their family members.
Angela cites their dog, Penny, as a constant source of inspiration and support.