Let me come back from the trenches and talk about something I’ve been thinking about for a long time: racialized exclusion… Because I’ve been trying to find language for some of the things I’ve experienced this year.

Crossed the stage and got hooded by Dr. Brea M. Banks, my academic advisor, dissertation chair, and one of my biggest inspirations. T-minus 2 months until it’s officially Dr. Concepción Cabán… though my babies at the clinic have already decided I’m Dr. Lou🤍

Activists in NYC projected a message on the side of Jeff Bezos’ $120 million penthouse ahead of the Met Gala. “Shame on you, Jeff Bezos.”

MOTHER

New publication 🚨 This piece steps outside of my traditional psychology work and reflects a passion I’ve had the privilege to explore through the Latinx Studies program at ISU. rdcu.be/fgVmH

I think we sometimes underestimate how much inequity in training shows up as silence. As lack of investment. As watching others be shaped while you’re left to self-construct. I literally study this… Still didn’t prepare me for what it feels like to live it (over and over).

While working in this institution I’m reminded daily how privilege is often invisible to the people who benefit from it the most. And when someone tries to add perspective, the response is usually dismissal, silence, or a subtle reminder of “place.”Prestige doesn’t erase inequality. I’m tired.

Today a presenter asked all midwesterns to raise their hands and YALL I almost did…. Which Is wild because past me would be OFFENDED to be considered midwestern bc I’m very much from Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican, Rita Moreno, Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin - person

Nueva columna de opinión en El Nuevo Día

I see folks debating Gaga’s part, but before cutting to her, Benito said “mira, esto es lo que tú querías?” (“look, is this what you wanted?”) and then showed an English-speaking white woman in a Latino-coded show. Not random. That was commentary on whose culture usually gets centered.

I’ve been so sentimental since the Benito Bowl. Today a care coordinator told me her husband is from the Virgin Islands and they cried the whole show. “No one who hasn’t lived this really understands.” That’s what representation does. It lets you feel seen.

Benito built a classroom, a memorial, and a protest on a football field. If that makes people uncomfortable, good. Art isn’t supposed to keep the empire comfortable.

Among everything I’ve learned, this job has officially taught me how to talk on the phone. I used to hate it. Now I still hate it… but I call parents daily and somehow end up enjoying it 🤣

The name is Mamdani M A M D A N I

Hace unos meses envié una columna de opinión al periódico de El Nuevo Día. No tuve conocimiento de su publicación, pero por aquí se las dejo. Titulada “El autismo no es una epidemia. La exclusión sí” 24/abril/2025 www.elnuevodia.com/opinion/desd...

THIS right here is what gives me hope and also makes me sad on days when this medical system drowns you, pushes you to push back, and teaches you to quiet your instincts. I won’t. The system is brutal. I feel like teaching kept my compass set to dignity, community, and real healing. Deep breaths

Being in a hospital setting reminds me how much I loved being a “professor” this past year - mentoring & supervising people

Love clinic work. LOVEEEE kids. Love interacting with families. Nothing can beat the satisfaction of helping people. AND… I need a job just doing research and teaching. This is a “I’m ready but dreading this upcoming year”

Grades are done✅ bittersweet, rewarding…. What an amazing semester with all of my students. They were the best 😭♥️

Why am I almost in tears while writing the feedback for my SSP ?????????

Yesterday might’ve been my last time teaching for who knows how long, and that’s a hard pill to swallow. Teaching just makes sense to me. I know it’s where my passion is, and I really hope I get to do it in the near future…

Another massive power outage in Puerto Rico. Two in less than four months

today i sat across from a white person who said students losing visas isn’t a big issue bc “only 200 got kicked out.” he called ICE raids “asking students to leave.” then said some have “stolen data.” i reminded him that stealing is a crime. that calling international students criminals is violent.

New experiences: falling going UP the stairs. I’ve fallen down the stairs and that resulted in a broken angle. This time resulted in a broken ego and lost pretzel. At least I’m consistent and just keep falling. Four months- four falls so far 🫡

Spring break can’t come fast enough but I know it won’t be long enough 😭 (it also means I’m closer to leaving BloNo and that’s too sad to think about😂😭)

Match day for me? How? I barely JUST started my PhD (at least that’s how it feels like) I’m not ready to leave my BloNo family just yet 😭

Lots of praise to my students who took time to continue reading on eugenics, the current state of the dpt of education and came ready to class to discuss, vent and get angry. They spoke about organizing and revolution. Beautiful. Grateful for them 👏🏽

So far here’s a list of companies reinforcing their commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Apple Costco Bank of America Delta JP Morgan Marriott Microsoft Procter & Gamble Goldman Sachs American Airlines Southwest Airlines United Airlines Catholic Health

Power outage in Puerto Rico: the whole island lost power. LUMA Energy - private power company that manages the transmission and distribution of electricity in 🇵🇷, has stated it could take 72+ hours to restore it. About 3% of the island (tourist side/east) now has power. New Year’s Eve in the colony

General power outage in almost all Puerto Rico. More tan 440K households without power. Government says it may take all day &/or a couple of days to get power back. This is NOT a rare occurrence in the island. However, it is a first to receive a new year in complete darkness

It’s finally “cold” over here in my hometown in Puerto Rico🇵🇷. Beautiful and breezy 70😂 imma miss this when I’m back in freezing IL 🥲

The health care system is 💩. I have no health insurance in 🇵🇷 but need to visit a pulmonologist. The doctor doesn't have an appointment until March, but when I emphasized that I don't have insurance, a slot magically appeared for next week.The cost of the visit starts at $300.

Finally submitted grades 😭 Now to do all the other stuff

No, because the universe really doesn’t want me to go home this year 🤡

Repost and participate if eligible!

Like to play Tabletop RPGs, like D&D or Pathfinder? My PhD student is conducting a study on people's motives & experiences in these games. Feel free to share with your fellow gamers!

i hope i die warmed by the life that i tried to live — Nikki Giovanni

Virginia Tech professor and poet, Nikki Giovanni, has died at the age of 81.

Sit down - be uncomfortable- - cough my lungs out- intense pain/cry a little - stand up - walk - pain - sit down - repeat.

December 2023/January 2024 I was battling some type of sickness that almost didn’t allow me to propose my dissertation. This December (this week) I defended with unknown bronchitis and cough-induced rib injure (that I just found out about). Is it safe to say that diss almost took me out twice?

Got to defend my dissertation this week! Extremely grateful for my committee who, in my eyes, is the best team to existence. Grateful for my support system, still processing all the people that showed up for me and loved on me that day.

Congrats on a successful defense, future Dra. Concepción Cabán!! Immensely proud of you. As it has often been the case when you’ve accomplished major milestones, I left your meeting feeling so very impressed with your drive & commitment to this project. Job well done @lourdesconcepcion.bsky.social!!

Grad student: I think this draft is ready for your read PI, after a quick skim: awesome, looking great I'll dig in now PI, after an hour: I'm moving these sections around and revamping the discussion PI, after several hours: I have made this paper into a boat and launched it into the moon

Until abortion is legal in every state, lets require men to get a mandatory vasectomy until they are proven emotionally mature, financially responsible and ready to be a father. Wait, what do you mean regulations on men's bodies make you uncomfortable?

A whole semester of pestering my students with my name and how to address me, and they still write “Doctor”, “Lurdes”, “Conception” “Coban” and all their variations *screams*

It’s absolutely unreal the amount of times I’ve been sick this year like wth 🥲

Suing Kendrick for having a superior diss track is something Kendrick would say Drake does in a diss track

I've created a Black In Psychology Starter Pack to highlight the excellence of Black psychologists, #psychology trainees, psych organizations, & prospective students. Let me know, if you'd like to be added! 👨🏾‍🏫👩🏾‍🏫🧠 Help me spread the word by reposting 🙏🏽 go.bsky.app/KbrZvB8 #BlackSky #PsychSky #SciSky