MFT/Art Therapy Students Receive Mission Integration Research Scholarship for Altadena Fire Healing Project

LMU College of Communication and Fine Arts proudly recognizes a team of graduate students from the Marital and Family Therapy/Art Therapy program-guided by faculty mentor Nancy Choe -as recipients of the LMU Mission Integration Graduate Research and Creative Projects Scholarship for their community-centered research on the emotional and psychological effects of the Altadena fire. Graduate student researchers Natasha Daniels, Bentara Cabanayan, Zoe Bell, Rudy Falagán, Rebecca Lauffenburger, Jane Tse, and Jessica Ramirez were awarded a $5,000 grant in support of their mission-driven project.

The team's research uses participant-generated photography and narrative storytelling to illuminate the often-unseen impacts of the Altadena fire on individuals and communities. By empowering participants to visually document their experiences, the project brings forth perspectives frequently overlooked in disaster-recovery contexts and fosters opportunities for healing through creative expression and agency.

Choe reflected on how the students addressed the research with care and rigor. "Their focus reflects a shared understanding that this work carries real responsibility. As a fire survivor myself, I know how easily the experiences of those affected by the LA fires in early 2025 can be reduced to headlines or statistics. Trauma narratives are often simplified. Our research team is working intentionally against that. We are documenting the nuanced, individual stories of people impacted by the fires, not only to honor their lived experiences but to learn from them as mental health practitioners," Choe said.

The research will guide the creation of a framework for creative arts therapists who support people and communities affected by climate-related trauma, Choe explained. "By collecting and presenting photographs and participant captions, we aim to convey both the ongoing challenges of recovery and the resilience that many fire survivors demonstrate over time. Our goal is to contribute meaningful insight that strengthens trauma informed, arts-based responses to climate disasters," she said.

Each year, graduate students from across LMU are invited to apply for the Mission Integration Graduate Research and Creative Projects Scholarship. Proposals are reviewed for their potential impact, alignment with LMU's mission to serve faith and promote justice, project feasibility, and scholarly merit. The committee prioritizes interdisciplinary approaches, strong faculty-student collaboration, and projects with potential for publication, conference dissemination, or external funding.

This marks the third consecutive year that a research group led by Choe has received this university-wide award. The project she advised in 2024-25 explored the relationship between multiple sclerosis and the transformative role of artmaking, examining how creative processes shape artists' lived experiences, influence their practices, and intersect with systemic barriers faced by women and gender-expansive individuals living with MS. Choe noted that the research team-Kelly Sheridan, Emily Rose, Marissa Barajas, Max Welmond, Rowena Luminarias, Madeleine Brown, Jennifer Gutierrez, and Anna Liza Evangelista-engaged deeply in every phase of the study. "They were able to clearly observe how individual creative processes can serve as powerful tools for healing and transformation. Gaining a deeper understanding of how art functions therapeutically will help them better advocate for both their future clients and the broader field of art therapy," Choe said.

LMU College of Communication and Fine Arts celebrates the achievements of these student researchers. Their contributions reflect the college's dedication to uplifting marginalized voices and advancing artmaking as a powerful tool for understanding and human connection.