HOME / PEOPLE /

Chelsea Evanna Boccagno

Chelsea Evanna Boccagno

PhD Candidate
Bisexual | Pronouns: she/her/hers
cboccagno@g.harvard.edu
Chelsea Evanna Boccagno

What does identifying (or not identifying) with the BGLTQ community mean to you?

Identifying with the BGLTQ community, for me, is about not only acceptance, but celebration. Our identities deserve to be seen (to the extent that we feel comfortable doing so, and want to do so) and embraced. We deserve to feel safe and loved. Outlets like these can allow people to see that they are not alone in their journey, and that their identity is indeed loved.

How, if at all, has your identity shaped your academic and/or professional journey?

As someone who conducts identity research, I have been fascinated for years by how our society influences our identity development and our identification with labels. This interest was partially sparked by my experience in my undergraduate college, Vassar College. Vassar fortunately promoted openness and identity exploration constantly, and also had a large BGLTQ population. The openness I experienced in college not only cemented my research interest in identity, but also facilitated my ability to embrace who I am (in and out of academia). Through college and beyond, I have worked to crystallize my sense of self. Additionally, I continue to wonder how much of who I am--and how much of my relationship to who I am--is based on what and who are around me. The interplay between identity and society is part of the human experience, and I'm grateful I get to explore this in my own dissertation research.
 

 What advice would you give to yourself when you were an undergraduate?

It's okay to slow down sometimes--life will only get busier, and maintaining your youth (via sound sleep, for one!) is critical for mental and physical health down the road. Take that Thursday night off--you can make up for it later. Also: it's okay if there is not a well-defined label out there for what and whom you like. Labels can be powerful and comforting; however, they are also limited. Keep searching, but for yourself--not others. You are fluid: remember that impermanence is scary, but also inevitable--and beautiful.

What support can you provide to current undergraduate BGLTQ students who are hoping to enter into your field?

I would love to chat about tips for getting involved with scientific research (particularly, in social psychology, social neuroscience, and clinical science). I can also speak about ways to get involved in healthcare (particularly, mental health treatment and related non-profit organizations). With respect to our BGLTQ identity, I can speak to tips for navigating scientific and clinical waters that are (often inadvertently) straight-centric.

What are your areas of expertise?

Research: Clinical science; identity/self-concept research; emotion regulation research; self-injurious behaviors (e.g., self-cutting, binge drinking). Clinical: Delivering evidence-based treatment to individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder, Hobbies: Rugby, distance running, pilates, baking, documentaries on detective work (an interest sparked in quarantine!)

Identity