JAMES J. GARCA, M.S.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Professional Address:
Department of Psychology
University of North Texas
1155 Union Circle #311280
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Email: JJG0136@UNT.EDU (preferred)

EDUCATION
2011 - Present
Spring 2014
2006 - 2010

University of North Texas, Denton, Texas

3.81 GPA
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), Clinical Health Psychology [APA-Accredited]
University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
3.76 GPA
Master of Science, Psychology
California State University, Northridge
3.56 GPA
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

RESEARCH
Graduate Research Assistant (Fall 2011-Present)
UNT Psychophysiology Laboratory & North Texas Heart Study at the University of North Texas, funded by the National
Institutes of Health, National Health Heart Lung and Blood Institute(NHLBI), R01 Grant Denton, TX.
Supervisor: John M. Ruiz, Ph.D
Masters thesis (completed Spring 2014): Racial/ethnic differences in hospital utilization for cardiovascular-related
events: Evidence of a survival and recovery advantage for Latinos?
Doctoral Dissertation (expected completion: Fall 2015): Racial/ethnic differences in subclinical atherosclerosis and
inflammatory biomarkers: The North Texas Heart Study
Graduate Research Assistant Appointments
Spring 2015
Graduate Research Assistant, North Texas Heart Study, UNT Psychophysiology Laboratory
Fall 2014
Graduate Research Assistant, North Texas Heart Study, NHLBI R01 Grant
Summer 2014
Graduate Research Assistant, North Texas Heart Study, NHLBI R01 Grant
Spring 2014
Graduate Research Assistant, North Texas Heart Study, NHLBI R01 Grant
Fall 2013
Graduate Research Assistant, North Texas Heart Study, NHLBI R01 Grant
Summer 2013
Graduate Research Assistant, North Texas Heart Study, NHLBI R01 Grant
Spring 2013
Graduate Research Assistant, North Texas Heart Study, NHLBI R01 Grant
Spring 2012
Graduate Research Assistant, University of North Texas, UNT Psychophysiology Laboratory
Project Coordinator (Fall 2009 to Summer 2011)
Adult Behavioral Medicine Laboratory, funded by the National Institutes of Health/Mental Health (R24, SC3) at
California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA
Supervisor: Luciana Lagan, Ph.D

PUBLICATIONS
Accepted/In-press:
1. Ruiz, J. M., Hamann, H. A., Lewis, S., Prather, C. C., Garcia, J. J., & Santini, N. O. (2014). Racial/ethnic
differences in 12-month in-hospital survival and hospital utilization trends: Evidence for a Hispanic survival
and recovery advantage. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 2(2), 92-102. doi: 10.1037/lat0000015

2. Ruiz, J. M., Hamann, H. A., Garcia, J. J., & Craddock Lee, S. J. (2014). The psychology of health: Physical
health and the role of culture and behavior in Mexican Americans. In Y. Caldera and E. Lindsey (Eds.),
Handbook of Mexican American Children and Families: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Routledge Press
3. Lagan, L., & Garcia, J. J. (2013). The mental health impact of computer and internet training on a multi-ethnic
sample of community-dwelling older adults: Results from a pilot randomized controlled trial. International
Journal of Biomedical Sciences, 9 (3), 135-147.
In preparation (draft available):
1. Garcia, J.J., & Ruiz, J.M. (In preparation, doctoral dissertation). Racial/ethnic differences in subclinical
atherosclerosis and biomarkers: One size does not fit all.
2. Garcia, J.J., Ruiz, J.M., Kepinski, I.T., & Neumann, C.S. (In preparation). An interpersonal comparison of trait
psychopathy and aggression.
3. Ruiz, J.M., Garcia, J.J., & Campos, B. (In preparation). Current status of the sociocultural hypothesis of Latino
health resilience.
4. Lagana, L., Garcia, J.J., & Ioakim, B. (In preparation). Social determinants of self-report health in an ethnically
diverse sample of older women: Do older Latinas report better health?
Unpublished (manuscript available):
1. Garcia, J.J., & Ruiz, J.M. (master thesis). Racial/ethnic differences in hospital utilization for cardiovascularrelated events: Evidence of a survival and recovery advantage for Latinos?

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
1. Garcia, J.J. Ruiz, J.M., Kepinski, I.T., & Neumann, C. They just dont care: Using the interpersonal circumplex
to examine psychopathy and aggression. Poster presentation accepted at the annual UNT Psychology
Department Research day (2013).
2. Garcia, J.J, Uchino, B. M., Goans, C., Smith, T. W., Smyth, J. M., Taylor, D. J., Allison, M., Ahn, C., & Ruiz, J.
M. Ethnic/racial differences in social support and levels of c-reactive proteins in the North Texas Heart Study.
Poster presentation accepted at the annual Society of Behavioral Medicine Conference in San Antonio
(April 2015).
3. Bain K.M., Ruggero, C.J., Ruiz, J.M., Callahan, J.L., Rodriguez, C., Garcia, J.J., Purser, M., & Kepinski, I.T.
(2013). Positive Biases in Visual Attention Associated with Hypomanic Personality Traits. Poster
presentation to the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention,
Nashville, TN

TEACHING
Graduate Student Instructor Appointments (syllabi available upon request)
Summer 2014
Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas, Experimental Methods in Psychology lab
Summer 2013
Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas, Experimental Methods in Psychology lab
Spring 2013
Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas, Experimental Methods in Psychology lab
Fall 2012
Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas, History and Systems in Psychology
Spring 2012
Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas, Experimental Methods in Psychology lab
Fall 2011
Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas, Experimental Methods in Psychology lab
Fall 2011
Teaching Assistant, University of North Texas, General Psychology II

DOCTORAL CLINICAL PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE

Feb 2014- Present:

DR Associates of North Texas

Doctoral Practicum Student, Plano, Texas
Setting: Private practice & Medical clinic/Hospital

June 2014-May2015

Injury :: 1 Clinics of Texas

Doctoral Practicum Student, Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas
Setting: Medical clinic/Hospital, CARF-Accredited

Aug 2011 - May 2014 University of North Texas, Psychology Clinic

Doctoral Practicum Student, Denton, Texas
Setting: Department Clinic
POST-BACC EXPERIENCE
April 2010-July 2011 Hillview Mental Health Center (MHC)
Community Mental Health Counselor (CMHC, para-professional) Pacoima, CA

OTHER SKILLS and ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Completed the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) (Febrary 2013)
Trained in carotid intima-media thickness scoring protocol used by several multi-site studies (e.g., Multi-Ethnic Study
of Atherosclerosis or MESA) by Matthew Allison, MD, MPH, University of California at San Diego School of
Medicine, Preventative Division
Trained in collection and scoring of impedance cardiography by Mindware Technologies LTD
Trained in data collection of ambulatory blood pressure, North Texas Heart Study
Presented at the Annual Clinical Training Didactics on Using ACT for chronic pain: Practical Implications in a
rehabilitation setting, Injury::1 Clinics of Texas (February 2015)
Trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD by MUSC and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Trained in Evidence-Based Behavioral Practices (EBBP) [9- hour course] as part of the Evidence-Based Practices of the
National Library of Medicine funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Continuing Education in Cardiac Psychology [9- hour course] by the American Psychological Association

Psychotherapeutic Orientation: Integrative/Eclectic

Specific techniques: Cognitive-Behavioral, Acceptance and Commitment, Motivational Interviewing
Fluent in: Spanish, English (reading, written and spoken language)

SCHOLARLY AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

2015-Present
2014-2015
2014-2015

Manuscript Reviewer
Translational Issues in Psychological Science
APAGS Basic Psychological Research Grant Diversity Chair & Reviewer
Focus Reviewer
APAGS-CARED Training Grant Reviewer
Chair & Reviewer

2014-2015

APAGS Student Bill of Rights Working Group

Committee Member

2014-2016

American Psychological Association [APAGS]

Committee for the Advancement of Racial and Ethnic
Diversity [CARED]
APA Advisory Group to the Alliance of National
Psychological Associations for Racial and Ethnic
Equity

Subcommittee Chair

2014-2015

Student Advisory Board Member

2014-2015
2014-2015
2014-2015

APAGS Diversity and Inclusion Working Group

Committee Member
UNT Graduate Association of Students in Psychology Social Co-Chair
National Multicultural Conference and Summit
Student Planning Committee Member

2014-2014

APA Convention 2015

Collaborative Proposal Peer Reviewer

2014-2014

Society of Behavioral Medicine- Racial, Ethnic and

Cultural Factors in Health

Proposal/Abstract Peer Reviewer

2014-2014
2013-2013
2013-2014

National Multicultural Conference and Summit

Division 45 APA Conference
Society for the Psych Study of Culture, Ethnicity, &
Race

Proposal/Abstract Peer Reviewer

Proposal/Abstract Peer Reviewer
Student Committee Liaison

American Psychosomatic Society

2013-Present
Student Member
Society of Behavioral Medicine
2013-Present
Student Member
American Heart Association- Atherosclerosis Division Student/Trainee Member
2013-Present
SACNAS
2013-Present
Student Member
Society for Personality and Social Psychology
2011-Present
Student Member
Society for
Health Psychology, APA Division 38
2011-Present
Student Affiliate
Personality and American Psychological Association
Health
2010-Present
Student Affiliate
Social
Psychology,
American
Los Angeles County Psychological Association
2010-Present
Student Member
Psychology
APA
Division
38
Psychological
Angeles
California
Latino
Psychological
Association
2010-Present
Mental Health Affiliate
Student
Affiliate
Association
Psychological
California
Western
Psychological
Association
2010-Present
Student Member
Member
Student
Association
Latino Affiliate
Western
Member
Student
SERVICE-RELATED
EXPERIENCE
Psychological
Member
Association
Student Advisory Board Member (2014-2015)
Mental
Advisory
Group to the Alliance of National Psychological Associations for Racial and Ethnic Equity
StudentHealth
Affiliate
Member
Subcommittee Chair (2014-2016)
American Psychological Association [APAGS] Committee for the Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Diversity
[CARED]
Student Planning Committee Member (2014-2015)
National Multicultural Conference and Summit [NMCS]
Social Co-Chair (2014-2015)
University of North Texas Graduate Association of Students in Psychology (GASP)
Student Committee Liaison (2013-2014)
APA Division 45: Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, & Race
Student Presenter (2010-2011)
CSU Northridge Graduate School Preparation Seminar, Northridge, CA
Psi Chi Executive Board Member (2009 to 2010)
CSU Northridge Department of Psychology, Northridge, CA

AWARDS
2011 Present
2014

Graduate Assistantship Tuition Scholarship, University of North Texas (4-year funding)

Distinguished Student Travel Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine