Background

Rocio Chang-Angulo, Psy.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UConn Health and is a researcher, teacher, and clinician who focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of psychological trauma in children, adolescents and adults. Her research focuses on developmental, chronic, and complex trauma.

Born and raised in Peru, Chang-Angulo immigrated to the United States and the Hartford area at age 19 and began furthering her education with the help of cherished mentors. Throughout her educational path—an associate’s degree at Capitol Community Technical College, a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Trinity College and finally a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Hartford—Chang-Angulo’s mentors guided her along. “I met the most giving people at Capital Community College,” says Chang-Angulo. “I met counselors and faculty members who really welcomed me and who really oriented me and guided me through the whole educational system that was completely different than the system in Peru. Throughout my education I met key people that helped me academically to learn more about the system and learn more about what I needed to do in order to keep on moving forward.”

Chang-Angulo credits these mentors for inspiring her to want to give back to the community. “They made me more committed to help anybody who is asking for some guidance because I had very good role models,” she says.

Chang-Angulo is currently giving back through her work in trauma. She is Co-PI for two Centers that are part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network: the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice and the Center for Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorders. “I have the opportunity through the network, to connect with a lot of colleagues who are doing wonderful work and who are bringing a lot of innovation into the trauma work,” says Chang-Angulo. She has worked on creating and adapting curriculums about the impact of trauma in the lives of children, families and in communities.

Chang-Angulo is also a psychologist that works with both children and adults in marginalized communities. Because her first language is Spanish, she works with monolingual Spanish speaking clients and created the first Latino clinic at UConn Health. In addition to treating patients, Chang-Angulo works with medical, dental, and graduate students at UConn Health and brings her personal experience into teaching. “I bring an awareness of what is it like to be an immigrant and an awareness of the challenges and opportunities that people might experience when they come from households with immigrant parents,” says Chang-Angulo.

Involvement with CSCH

Chang-Angulo has been working and living in the Hartford community since coming from Peru and this has influenced her ability to form community partnerships. She believes CSCH’s focus on team science and community partnerships is key. “I have the opportunity to do a lot of networking in different communities and different neighborhoods,” Chang-Angulo says. “I am very grateful to have the opportunity to work with colleagues who are really committed to bring the voices of the people who we serve into the front of what they do. We try to bring the voices of the people who we serve into the treatment that we provide and also into the research that we conduct.”

Fun Facts

Chang-Angulo likes to travel with her family. She loves to learn about new cultures and customs.

Undergraduate Researcher Jannell Brown interviewed Rocio Chang-Angulo and Director of Programs & Communications Helene Marcy wrote this profile.