Faculty Profile

Associate Professor
Psychology
rlashare@buffalo.edu

• PhD, Clinical Psychology, SUNY Buffalo, 2011

• Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
  

Throughout my academic career, I have been fortunate to have exceptional teachers and mentors who have encouraged creativity, emphasized strong critical thinking, and perhaps most importantly exemplified genuine enthusiasm for their work. My mentors have played a pivotal role in my career development, but also on a more personal, human level. I did my graduate work here at UB and am now faculty here—I want to provide the same supportive training environment to trainees that I have experienced and what better place to do that than here! A true mentoring relationship doesn't end with a degree or graduation, nor does it always need to be formal. I have mentors in my life I refer to as my academic "big brothers and sisters"—some of those folks are not in the same field but have firsthand experience with navigating academic life. I am also inspired by the people I mentor and enjoy learning from them. I believe that we don't get through this life—academic or otherwise—alone and it's all about finding the right people along the way.

I was a primary caregiver for both of my parents before they died. It was simultaneously the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life. A year after they died, my daughter was born and I found myself in a new caregiving role. In the midst of all this, I was putting together my dossier for my promotion. I am happy to discuss issues related to how we manage all the different priorities in our lives.