Vandana Padmaprakash, B.A.

Bio

Vandana is a master’s student in the Psychology program at San Diego State University. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, where her passion for the field first took root during high school. Her academic and research interests span several areas within psychology, including counseling, educational psychology, and youth development, with a particular focus on supporting low-income and underrepresented communities.

She is especially interested in youth mental health and how systemic factors influence well-being and educational access. Her current thesis explores how school climate toward mental health support relates to student mental health outcomes, including depressive symptoms, stress-related somatic symptoms, and suicidal ideation. She is deeply committed to using psychological research to advocate for stronger mental health systems in schools and to guide low-income youth in accessing postsecondary education opportunities.