Meet our Team!

Dr. Bosse is nurse researcher whose work is focused on the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ populations as well as their experiences in healthcare settings. He is a member of LGBTQIA+ communities and became a nurse to make changes from inside the healthcare system after many years of poor treatment as a patient. He's passionate about making nursing education and research more inclusive and mentoring others who are members of the LGBTQIA+ communities and/or interested in research in this area. 

zahra "river" chevannes is an Afro-Indigenous artist from Brooklyn, NY (land of the Munsee, Lenape, and Canarsie peoples). river is committed to compassion practice, decolonizing mental health, healing justice and the interdependence of individual and collective well-being. Mindful Self-Compassion training has really transformed river's life, and river is grateful for the privilege of sharing these tools with community.

Em is a junior studying psychology at the University of Rhode Island. They are a queer, trans masculine person. Their own journey with mental health created a passion for equitable and accessible mental health care for the LGBTQIA+ community. Em has been a member of Dr. Bosse's research team since the winter of 2025 and is excited to continue working on research centered around the needs of their communities.

Madison is currently pursuing a nursing degree at the University of Rhode Island and is entering her third year as a member of the team! She identifies as a bisexual woman, and throughout her journey of self-discovery, the LGBTQ+ community has played a vital role in helping her find confidence and belonging. This experience has developed her passion for advancing research and awareness around LGBTQ+ health to improve care and outcomes for others in the community.

Colin is a third year Nursing student at the University of Rhode Island. He identifies as a cisgender heterosexual male and has many loved ones who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. He is passionate about this work because he cares about public health and working with underserved communities. His goal is to create a therapeutic environment and deliver equitable care in his future nursing practice.

Jorge Armesto is a bilingual clinical psychologist, yoga therapist, mindfulness instructor, Certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher and teacher trainer who routinely works with diverse populations. Jorge is passionate about the intersection of psychology, mindfulness, spirituality, and body-focused practices. As a gay Cuban-American man, Jorge’s work seeks to understand how multiple sources of oppression and resiliency intersect and inform the lived experiences of individuals, groups, and communities.