Nicole Schwab

Hometown: Washington, DC
Hobbies: Being outdoors, hiking, playing video and board games, attempting to cook, and spending time with family, friends, and my cat
Education:
  • BA in Psychology, with Minors in Cognitive Science and Studio Art, from Georgetown University
Advisor: Dr. Amy Peterman
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Psychosocial and contextual factors of stress, resilience, and health behaviors, as well as disparities in mental and physical health care and outcomes. 


Sneha Dhanavanthri Muralidhara

Hometown: Bengaluru, India
Hobbies: Gardening, hiking, watching movies
Email: sdhanava@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.Sc in Psychology from Bangalore University, India
  • B.A. in Psychology, Sociology and Economics from Bangalore University, India
Advisor: Dr. Sara Levens
Program: General
Research Interests:

Lifestyle risk factors such as physical activity, unhealthy diet and smoking and its relation to cognition and emotion regulation


Kimberly Ecker

Hometown: Gramado, Brazil
Hobbies: Running, watching movies, exploring local events and restaurants.
Email: kecker@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.S. in Counseling and Human Development from the University of Rochester, NY
  • Bachelor degree in Psychology from UFCSPA, Brazil
Advisor: Dr. Ryan Kilmer
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Children and families, trauma, grief, resilience, post-traumatic growth(PTG), ethnic minority groups


Kate Hoyle

Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Hobbies: Cooking, gardening, knitting, pottery
Email: khoyle22@uncc.edu
Education:
  • BA in Art & Visual Culture and Psychology at Appalachian State University
Advisor: Amy Peterman
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

The interaction between low SES, unstable housing, homelessness, health outcomes, and quality of life. 


Maegan (Mae) Mack

Hometown: Rincon, GA
Hobbies: Upcycling, thrifting, gardening, cooking, climate advocac
Email: mmack13@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Psychology from College of Coastal Georgia, Summa cum laude
Advisor: Dr. Ryan Kilmer
Program: Community
Research Interests:

Positive youth development using strength-based approaches, protective factors for at-risk youth, effects of prosocial activities, and mentoring on empowerment and resilience in youth  


Kirby Magid

Hometown: Dallas, TX
Hobbies: Hiking, yoga/Pilates, traveling, walking and spending time with my dog
Email: kmagid@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Crime, Law, and Society from College of Charleston
  • M.A. in Social and Personality Psychology from the University of Manitoba
Advisor: Dr. Amy Canevello
Program: General
Research Interests:

Interpersonal dynamics in close relationships and their impact on health and well-being; coping, adjustment, and support for adults with chronic illness; health policy focused on improving long-term care, caregiver support, and social determinants of health.


Daniel Perkins

Hometown: Pittsburgh PA
Hobbies: playing guitar and collecting records
Email: dperki15@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University
  • B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh
Advisor: Dr. Levens
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Applying Social Psychology approaches to understand and predict healthy/unhealthy behaviors, such as exercise or smoking.


Sophie Pringle

Hometown: Irmo, SC
Hobbies: any outdoor activities, exploring new restaurants, coloring
Email: springl2@uncc.edu
Education:
  • BA in Psychology from Winthrop University
Advisor: Dr. Webb
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Eating disorders specifically in women of color, weight bias, and weight stigma. 


Kristen Van Swearingen

Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Hobbies: yoga, paddle boarding, trying new restaurants, watching reality-competition TV, listening to podcasts
Email: kvanswea@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. Psychological Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • B.S. Psychology, High Point University
Advisor: Dr. Sara Levens
Program: General
Research Interests:

How negative emotions impact maladaptive health behaviors, such as binge drinking or disordered eating.


Chloe Woodling

Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Hobbies: Playing with my dogs, hiking, kayaking, traveling, watching a good Netflix show, and drinking coffee
Email: cwoodlin@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. in Clinical Psychology, M.S. in Quantitative Psychology from Ball State University
  • B.A. in Psychology from the University of Redlands, Magna Cum Laude
Advisor: Dr. L-R
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Institutional betrayal; disparities in healthcare; integrated care; trauma-informed care; chronic illness


Maria Alessi

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Hobbies: Hiking, running, camping
Email: malessi@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. Psychology from University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • B.S. Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh
Advisor: Dr. Jeanette M. Bennett
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Carolina's Rehabilitation
Research Interests:

How mindfulness buffers psychological and physiological stress reactivity; individual-level predictors (e.g. trait self-compassion, trait mindfulness) of acceptability and efficacy of 3rd wave therapy approaches; clinical applications of psychoneuroimmunology for the treatment of co-occurring mental and physical illnesses. 


Lia Bauert

Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Hobbies: I enjoy reading the most popular fiction books, playing disc golf, and taking long walks with my dog.
Email: lbauert@uncc.edu
Education:
  • Bachelors of Science in Public Health, Nutrition Concentration, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Advisor: Dr. Virginia Gil-Rivas and Dr. Jennifer Webb
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

investigating the efficacy and accessibility of technology-based interventions for treating eating disorders by utilizing community-driven research methods. My hope is employing community-driven research will lead to new pathways for increased accessibility and acceptance of digital interventions in traditionally underserved populations.


Grace Carter

Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Hobbies: Exploring new places, hanging out with family and friends, listening to podcasts, and going on walks
Email: tcarte55@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Psychology (Highest Honors), Child Development (Highest Honors), and Political Science from Vanderbilt University
Advisor: Dr. Kilmer
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

The dissemination, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based practices in community settings


Michelle Chen

Hometown: Coral Springs, FL
Hobbies: Movies/TV shows, videogames, exercising, playing with my cat
Email: mchen38@uncc.edu
Education:
  • MA in Clinical, Counseling, and Applied Psychology from Penn State Harrisburg
  • BS in Psychology with minors in Medical Sociology and Music from University of Central Florida
Advisor: Dr. George Demakis
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: South Charlotte Va Health Care Center
Research Interests:

Neuropsychology, cognitive sequelae of medical and psychological conditions


Kendall Clay

Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Hobbies: Rock climbing, lifting, running, rollerblading, playing soccer, listening to music, watching movies
Email: kclay14@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from UNC Chapel Hill
  • B.A. in Psychology from Duke University
Advisor: Dr. Amy Peterman
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Subjective class identity and perceived scarcity, socioeconomic disparities of health, malleability of class identity, chronic illness


Austin Coates

Hometown: Berlin, MD
Hobbies: Skiing, hiking, scubadiving, yoga, cooking, and video gaming
Email: ccoates7@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University
  • B.S. in Psychology with Honors from Lehigh University
Advisor: Dr. L-R
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Elizabeth Family Medicine and Biddle Point Family Practice
Research Interests:

Child and adolescent trauma and resilience, sexual assault, and psychophysiological interventions for at risk youth


Haley Cooper

Hometown: Wichita, KS
Hobbies: Curating playlists, drawing portraits, playing basketball
Email: hcooper8@uncc.edu
Education:
  • BA in Psychology from the University of Kansas
Advisor: Dr. Case
Program: Community
Research Interests:

Racial and gendered health disparities, integrated healthcare settings, place-based health initiatives


Daniel Dickie

Hometown: Orlando, FL
Hobbies: Being outdoors, cooking, traveling, watching soccer, reading, board and video games, and hanging out with friends
Email: ddickie@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. Psychology from University of Central Florida
Advisor: Dr. L-R & Dr. McAnulty
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Trauma, consent, IVP, substance abuse, sexual violence


Mia Ersoff

Hometown: Miami, Fl
Hobbies: Staying active outdoors, eating and baking sweets, watching documentaries, and traveling as much as I can to learn about different cultures.
Email: mersoff@uncc.edu
Education:
  • Florida State University Major in Communication and Psychology, Summa Cum Laude
Advisor: Dr. Kilmer
Program: Community
Research Interests:

Education, evaluation of early childhood and prevention programs, and improving systematic injustices


Lena Etzel

Hometown: Hannover, Germany
Hobbies: Running, cooking, socializing, listening to podcasts, weather/storm tracking, swimming
Email: letzel@uncc.edu
Education:
  • MA in Psychology from UNC Charlotte
  • BA in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from Queens University of Charlotte
Advisor: Dr. Webb and Dr. Demakis
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center - Neuropsychology
Research Interests:

Clinical neuropsychology; the role of cognitive resources in supporting adjustment following life-changing experiences; normative and pathological processes of cognitive aging

 


Maggie Gigler

Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Hobbies: Running, reading, and watching Pittsburgh Penguins hockey and movies about organized crime
Email: mgigler@uncc.edu
Education:
  • BA in Psychology with Honors, cum laude from Wake Forest University
Advisor: Dr. L-R
Program: Clinical
Internships/Assistantships: Pre-doctoral internship at Emory School of Medicine
Research Interests:

Promoting health equity through integrated care; health communication in integrated care settings; influence of internalization of stigma on treatment-seeking behaviors


Shaina Glass

Hometown: Waxhaw, NC
Hobbies: Reading, exercise, videogames, cooking, spending time with family and friends
Email: sglass7@uncc.edu
Education:
  • Undergraduate Certificate in Game Design and Development from UNC Charlotte
  • B.S. in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from UNC Charlotte
Advisor: Dr. Markant
Program: General
Research Interests:

I am interested in the cognitive aspects of mental health, cognitive training, and creating and improving treatments and prevention programs. I am also interested in improving the accessibility of treatments through gamification


Sophie Hirsch

Hometown: Leipzig, Germany
Hobbies: Taking yoga and strength classes; Trying new foods; Playing with my quarantine puppy, Buster
Email: shirsch8@uncc.edu
Education:
  • BA in Psychology; BS in Exercise Science from Catawba College
Advisor: Dr. Jane Gaultney
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: UNCC Counseling Center (CAPS)
Research Interests:

Sleep quality and behaviors; Inflammation; Mindfulness practices, down syndrome


Bridget Jules

Hometown: Baldwin, NY
Hobbies: Travelling, hiking, yoga, movie watching, spending time with people I love
Email: bjules1@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.A. Psychology and Spanish Language and Literature from Binghamton University
Advisor: Dr. L-R
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: UNCC Counseling Center (CAPS)
Research Interests:

Intimate partner violence, consent, risk factors to sexual perpetration of violence, trauma informed care


Jodie Lisenbee

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Hobbies: Live music, boating, hiking, snowboarding, puppies
Email: jlisenbe@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Psychology and Human Development from the University of California at Davis
  • M.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Advisor: Dr. Webb & Dr. Gil-Rivas
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Maternity Center, Atrium Health: Inpatient counseling with antepartum, labor and delivery, and postpartum patients Elizabeth Family Medicine, Atrium Health: Individual and group outpatient counseling with pregnant and postpartum patients
Research Interests:

Maternal and perinatal health, doula care, psychosocial influences on childbirth outcomes, clinical treatments for perinatal mood disorders

 

 


Iris McMillan

Hometown: Hassloch/Pfalz, Germany
Hobbies: HIIT training, running, binge-watching the newest TV shows, listening to investigative journalism podcasts
Email: ifraude@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. in Psychology from UNC Charlotte
  • BSc. in Psychology with distinction from Alpen-Adria Universität Klagenfurt
Advisor: Dr. L-R
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Levine Children's Center for Gender Health at Teen Health Connection
Research Interests:

Use of quantitative methods to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in dating violence research and social/behavioral science more broadly; identity-based dating violence systematically impacting sexual and gender minority youth; promotion of relational health across multiple levels of the bioecological model

 
 

Dana Miller

Hometown: Chambersburg, PA
Hobbies: Photography, Travel, Music, and spending time with my husband and 3 ferrets
Email: dmill164@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
  • B.S. in Psychology (Neuroscience option) at Penn State
Advisor: Dr. Demakis
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Neuropsychology, Neuropsychological assessment of neurodegenerative disorders, Forensic neuropsychology


Alexis Mitchell

Hometown: Abingdon, VA
Hobbies: exercise, exploring new walking/hiking trails, baking new recipes, making travel plans, live music, documentaries, cuddling and playing with my dogs
Email: amitch83@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Psychology, Summa cum laude from UNC Charlotte
Advisor: Dr. Sara Levens
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Atrium Health Union Family Practice
Research Interests:

affective (e.g., positive affect, positive reappraisal) and cognitive (e.g., future thinking) mechanisms underlying health behavior change, mindfulness and emotion regulation, inclusive health promotion approaches, positive psychology approaches to increasing physical activity

 
 

Jan Mooney

Hometown: San Mateo, CA
Hobbies: listening to podcasts, reading scary stories, catering to my dog's every whim
Email: jmoone14@uncc.edu
Education:
  • MMFT, Pfeiffer University-RTP
  • BA from the University of California at Berkeley
Advisor: Dr. Webb
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant Psychology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
Research Interests:

embodiment; interoceptive awareness; pregnancy; postpartum; mindfulness; eating behaviors; interactions with healthcare/legal/policy systems and their contribution to health and well-being

 
 

Ameante Payen

Hometown: Jamaica, Queens, New York
Hobbies: Reading, Spending time with family and friends, Volunteering, Traveling, Dining Out
Email: apayen@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.A. Queens College City University of New York
  • M.A. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Advisor: Dr. Bennett
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

The effects of stress and inflammation on cognition, the clinical use of biomarkers in neuropsychological testing


Pedram Rastegar

Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Hobbies: Playing sports, video games, hiking
Email: prastega@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Psychology
Advisor: Dr. Peterman & Dr. L-R
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Violence exposure and resiliency; mental health and Muslim Americans


Fallon Richie

Hometown: Auburn Hills, Michigan
Hobbies: Running, traveling, hiking, & baking
Email: frichie@uncc.edu
Education:
  • BA in Psychology from Hope College
Advisor: Dr. L-R.
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Atrium Health Carolinas Rehab
Research Interests:

Health equity, integrated healthcare systems, institutional betrayal, intimate partner violence

 
 

Rachel Siegal

Hometown: Westborough, MA
Hobbies: Hiking, running and reading a good book!
Email: rsiegal@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Advisor: Dr. Ryan Kilmer & Dr. Jim Cook
Program: Community
Research Interests:

Using community-based participatory research approaches in the design, implementation and evaluation of programs to improve community well-being and inform action across multiple levels of the bioecological model


Leslie Snapper

Hometown: Ashland, MA
Hobbies: hiking, bike riding, lifting, yoga, reading, a good cup of coffee, photography, caring for plants, and spending time with my husband and our dog
Email: lsnapper@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Psychology (Neuroscience track) from Boston College
  • M.A. in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Advisor: Dr. Peterman & Dr. Scott
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Research Interests:

My research interests are fairly broad and are focused around promoting health and wellbeing, particularly related to mental health and integrated behavioral healthcare. Some of my more specific interests include physical activity promotion, understanding and improving health communication, medically unexplained symptoms and ethical implications for psychologists as well as medical providers, and mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions.


Rose Soliemannjad

Hometown: San Jose, CA
Hobbies: Swimming, Hiking, Candle-making, Traveling, Writing, and Spending time with my dog!
Email: rsoliema@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Health Psychology from Santa Clara University
  • B.A. Pre-medicine, English from Santa Clara University
Advisor: Dr. Ryan Kilmer
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

The intersection between health and mental health among diverse youth populations experiencing adversity; resilience; integrated care; intervention and prevention efforts within academic and community-based settings; sleep.


Alexa Sotiroff

Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan
Hobbies: Painting, Yoga, Cooking, Hiking, Documentaries/Podcasts
Email: asotirof@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.A. in Psychology at the University of Michigan
Advisor: Dr. L-R
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:
Violent behavior, factors that influence behaviors and attitudes towards deviant behavior, forensic psychology

Jasmine Temple

Hometown: Richmond, VA
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Yoga, Exploring Nature, Dog Mom Activities, Binge-Watching Crime Docs, Game Nights
Email: jtempl10@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. in Psychological Sciences from James Madison University
  • B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University
Advisor: Dr. Erika Montanaro
Program: Community
Research Interests:

Reducing sexual health disparities, health risk behavior intervention, community based participatory research


Annalise Tolley

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Hobbies: Cycling, running, anything outdoors, travel, cooking/consuming delicious food
Email: atolley1@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. biology, minor psychology from Elon University
Advisor: Dr. Victoria Scott
Program: Community
Research Interests:

Mitigating racial health disparities through top-down policy change and bottom-up community empowerment. Promoting health equity through integrated care, asset-based community development, and community-based participatory research. Evidence-based interventions rooted in critical race public health praxis.


Tran Tran

Hometown: Saigon, Vietnam
Hobbies: Dancing, cooking, and watching true-crime documentaries
Email: ttran97@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.A. in Psychology and Theater & Dance at Dickinson College
Advisor: Dr. Gil-Rivas & Dr. Webb
Program: Clinical
Research Interests:

Eating disorders among ethnic minorities, and multicultural counseling competencies


Rachel Uri

Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Hobbies: Spending time outdoors, cooking new recipes, playing with my cat Marley
Email: ruri@uncc.edu
Education:
  • BA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Advisor: Dr. Gil-Rivas & Dr. Webb
Program: Clinical
Current Practicum Placement: Myers Park Internal Medicine (Atrium)
Research Interests:

poverty-related stigma, eating behaviors within the context of poverty and deprivation, the impact of food insecurity on mental health, type II diabetes


Clysha Whitlow

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Hobbies: Nexflix, volunteering, working out, cooking and trying new restaurants (I love to eat!)
Email: cwhitl37@uncc.edu
Education:
  • M.A. in General Psychology at NC Central University
  • B.A in Psychology at East Carolina University
  • B.S in Rehabilitation Services at East Carolina University
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Case
Program: Community
Research Interests:

Physical and mental health disparities, root causes of health inequities, community-based participatory research and evaluation, place-based initiatives, and the connection between stress, coping mechanisms, and racism.


Philip Zendels

Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Hobbies: Board Games, cooking, sleeping, listening to music
Email: pzendels@uncc.edu
Education:
  • B.S. in Biological Sciences, Neurobiology Concentration, B.A. in Psychology from North Carolina State University, 2018
Advisor: Dr. Gaultney
Program: General
Research Interests:

Sleep Hygiene, Chronicity, Physiological sleep outcomes, Cognitive sleep outcomes