Education Background
BA – 1997 St. Bonaventure University
MA – 1997 St. Bonaventure University
PhD – 2009 Fordham University
Post-Doctoral Certificate – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Courses Taught
- Introduction to Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
Research Interests
My current research interests primarily center on two main areas: 1) substance use and risk behavior among vulnerable populations, and 2) mental health among mothers with young children. These two areas intersect in my work that looks at alcohol use among mothers with young children. Of particular current interest is the lived experiences of mothers with young children, their overall well-being, parental efficacy, support networks, and access to mental health care.
In addition to these two main topics, I have worked with colleagues and students interested in studying the developmental period of emerging adulthood. In particular, this work has investigated the relationship between social media use, academic performance, and identity development among emerging adults.
Publications
(students in boldface)
Brooks, K, Seruya, F., & Trenz, R.C. (under review). Mothers with serious mental illness: A scoping review. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health.
Massimo, A; Rodriguez, M.; Martinez-Torteya, C.; Brooks, K., Seruya, F.; & Trenz, R. (under review). A scoping review of interventions addressing the mental health and parenting outcomes of Latina mothers living in the United States. Journal of Community Psychology.
Sanchez, K; Wiley, P.; Nicholson, J.; Brooks, K.; Seruya, F.; & Trenz, R. (under review). Parenting self-efficacy and maternal mental health: The implications of cultural considerations for family-focused practice. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Seruya, F. M.., Dondorf-Brooks, K , Trenz, R.C., & Lewis, A.N. (2024). A descriptive look at women of color with children affected by stroke. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 90, 64-72.
J. Zavala, J., Trenz, R. C., Tzanis, D., Malette, C., & Monsalve, N. (2023). The impact of social media use for news on academic performance in undergraduate college students. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking, 6(3), 657-661. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2022.0303.
Trenz, R. C. (2020). The effect of expressive writing on sexual risk behavior among college women. Journal of American College Health. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.181875
Trenz, R. C. Seyura, F. M., & Dondorf-Brooks, K. (2020). Predictors of employment among underrepresented women and TANF recipients that completed vocational rehabilitation services. Accepted in Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 53 (2), 249-256. DOI:10.3233/JVR-201101
Dondorf-Brooks, K, Seyura, F., Stanton-Koko, M. & Trenz, R. C. (2020). Parenting with a disability: A descriptive analysis of socioeconomically disadvantaged women in vocational rehabilitation. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 51(2), 134-145.
Conference Presentations (last 5 years; students in boldface)
*indicates faculty mentor on student project
Sidle, S., Trenz, R.C., & Manzi, A. (2025, October 15). Small teaching, big impact: Small steps toward using metacognition and growth mindset teaching strategies at Mercy for big change. Faculty Seminar Day, Dobbs Ferry, NY.
Medina, A. K. & Trenz, R. C. (2025, August 22). Investigating Positive Parental Behaviors and Mental Health Among Children During Early Childhood. Poster presented at the 5th annual Yale Postgraduate Symposium, New Haven, CT.
Trenz, R., Zavala, J., Wiley, P., & Mercado, A. (2025). Correlates of binge drinking among mothers from a nationally representative sample [Oral presentation]. APHA 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo, Washington, D.C., United States.
Wiley, P., Khan, M., Chen, Y., Trenz, R., Elliot, L., and Bennett, A. (2025). Social support and non-fatal opioid overdose risk: Exploration in difference by depression [Poster presentation]. 87th Annual CPDD Scientific Meeting, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Seruya, F., Trenz, R., & Brooks, K. (2025). Mothers with Serious Mental Illness: A Scoping Review [Poster presentation]. The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Conference, Washington, D.C., United States.
Aitza Cruz, S, Khan, B., Baez, A., Catellar, A., Infante, J., Lujan, N., Alonso Garcia, C., Trenz, R. C., and Zavala, J. (2025). How social media self-presentation predicts ruminative identity in the context of anxiety [Poster presentation]. The Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York City, New York, NY, United States.
Wiley, P., Khan, M., Chen, Y., Trenz, R., Elliot, L., and Bennett, A. (2025). Social support and non-fatal opioid overdose risk: Exploration in difference by depression [Poster presentation]. The Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York City, New York, NY, United States.
Baez, A. Davila-Gonzalez, A., Mercado, A., Nugra, J., Ramirez, E. Wiley, P. & Williams, J. (2024, April). Narratives of Drug Dependence Implementation Science Scholars at Mercy University [Poster presentation]. Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference, Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States.*
Mercado, A. (2024, April). Correlates of maternal binge drinking in a nationally representative sample [Poster presentation]. Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference, Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States.*
Wiley, P., Mercado, A., Pimentel, V., Quizhpi, J., & Simpson, A. (2024, March). Correlates of psychological distress in minority mothers in the United States [Poster presentation]. Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States.*
Mercado, A., Baez, A., & Davia-Gonzalez, A. (2024, March). Correlates of maternal binge drinking in a nationally representative sample [Poster presentation]. 10th Annual New York City Epidemiology Forum, New York University, New York, NY, United States.*
Trenz, R. (2024, March). Growth mindset & metacognition in practice [Symposium]. Lunch & Learn Teaching Circle, Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States.
Trenz, R. (2024, February). Correlates of mental health among mothers from underrepresented groups in the United States [Symposium]. Research Salon, Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States.
Dondorf-Brooks, K., Trenz, R., & Seruya F. (2022, April). Perceived cognitive challenges after stroke among women who are parents [Poster presentation]. New York State Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NYSSLHA) Convention, Westchester, NY, United States.
LaFond, K., Hankins, J., & Butler, E. (2022, April). Sexual health knowledge as a moderator of risk behavior among college students [Poster presentation]. Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States.*
Hankins, J., LaFond, K., Butler, E. & Jaijairam, N. (2022, March). Sexual health knowledge as a moderator of risk behavior among college students [Poster presentation]. Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York City, NY, United States.*
Trenz, R. C., Zavala, J. & Calistro, T. (2021, April). Social media self-presentation positivity and ruminative identity among emerging adults [Symposium]. Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, Virtual Meeting.
Trenz, R. C. (2021, August). The effect of expressive writing on sexual risk behavior among college women [Poster presentation]. American Psychological Association, Virtual Meeting.
Babilsky, A., Cardona, T., Garana, A., Jaijairam, N., Linzo, P., Lopez, E., Palma, M., Peters, L., Morales, S., Simmons, J., & Vaszquez, T. (2021, March). Sexual health knowledge of risk behavior among college students. Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference, Virtual Program, Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY, United States.*
Trenz, R. C. (2021, March). A 2 X 2 mixed between-within subjects design [Symposium]. SSBS Data Blitz, Mercy College, Virtual Program.
Zavala, J., Trenz, R. C., Tzanis, D., & Monsalve, N (2021, March). Relationship for using social media for news, academic performance, and epistemic perspectives. Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Virtual Program.
Monsalve, N. & Trenz, R. C. (2021, March). Self-esteem in college females and the “Beautiful Me” program: What is the impact? [Poster Presentation]. Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Virtual Meeting.
STEM Summer Research Academy (June, 2020). Social media use, identity development and anxiety among emerging adults [Platform presentation]. Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States.*
Fraser, G., Hernandez, C., Monsalve, N., Samuel, T., & Warmbrand, E. (April, 2020) A secondary data analysis of parenting after stroke among women with children [Poster presentation]. Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference, Virtual Meeting.*
Trenz, R. C. (March, 2020). When order matters. Using what you don’t know to study smarter [Symposium]. Title III STEM Grant, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States.
Malette, C., Zavala, J., & Trenz, R. (2020, March). Does epistemic thinking predict social media use? [Poster presentation] Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, United States.
Menendez, P., Zavala, J., & Trenz, R. (2020, March). Are epistemic perspectives related to checking credibility of a source? [Poster presentation]. Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, United States.
Tzanis, D., Pineiro, T., Zavala, J., & Trenz, R. (2020, March). The role of epistemic perspectives and social media use on academic performance [Poster presentation]. Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, United States.