Meet The CIRS Staff
CO-DIRECTORS
Dr. Evans is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology at Ohio University and Co-Director of the Center for Intervention Research in Schools. His research interests are school based treatment development and evaluation for adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related problems. He developed the Challenging Horizons Program which is a school based treatment program for middle and high school youth with ADHD. Dr. Evans has maintained federal research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and Institute for Educational Sciences to support this work for several years. Dr. Evans is the Editor-in-chief of the journal School Mental Health and is on the editorial board of other related journals. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Ohio and works with graduate students interested in clinical child psychology.
Steven W. Evans, Ph.D
Co-Director Center for Intervention Research in Schools
Distinguished Professor of Psychology
evanss3@ohio.edu
Click here to see Dr. Evans' CV
Dr. Julie Sarno Owens is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Co-Director of the Center for Intervention Research in Schools (CIRS). Her research focuses on the development of classroom interventions for youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related problems; the assessment of effectiveness and feasibility of classroom interventions under typical school conditions; and the identification of factors that facilitate teachers’ high quality implementation of these interventions. Her work has been continuously funded by local, state, and national grants, including the Institute of Education Sciences and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is an Associate Editor for School Mental Health and on the editorial boards of five journals. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Ohio and a Presidential Research Scholar at Ohio University. Dr. Owens mentors graduate students in the clinical child psychology specialty area, and mentors undergraduates students interested in a variety of child-focused specialty areas (e.g., school psychology, school social work, school counseling).
Julie Sarno Owens, Ph.D.
Co-Director Center for Intervention Research in Schools
Professor of Psychology
owensj@ohio.edu
Click here to see Dr. Owens' CV.
FACULTY
Dr. Allan’s research interests focus on the development and measurement of attentional processes in early childhood and how these processes relate to important aspects of child development. Dr. Allan’s research thus far has examined the underlying structure and effective measurement of attention, impulsivity, and inhibitory control in preschool children. She has also conducted a number of multi-method studies demonstrating the early linkage between specific components of self-regulatory processes and the attainment of early academic skills in preschoolers.
Dr. Allan’s current research projects focus on 1) examining the underlying structure of attention and how it relates to other self-regulatory constructs (e.g., working memory, impulse control) in early childhood, 2) improving the early identification of ADHD, and 3) developing an understanding of how deficits in attention and other self-regulatory processes are associated with early academic performance. She also has an interest in developing and evaluating school-based interventions that target early childhood behavior problems in ways that facilitate both behavior change and early school success.
Darcey Allan, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology
alland@ohio.edu
Click here to see Dr. Allan's CV.
Berkeley Franz is a medical sociologist whose research and teaching focus on health disparities, substance misuse, community and population health, health policy, and community-based engagement. She is currently assistant professor of Community-based Health at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Athens, Ohio and Heritage Endowed Career Development Faculty Fellow in Population Health Science, Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O., Research Endowment. She holds adjunct appointments in the Departments of Classics and World Religions and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Ohio University. She is passionate about providing research mentorship related to diversity and inclusion in health care, the integration of social determinants of health into the health care system, expanding treatment for substance use disorders and related trauma among children, and the use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Dr. Franz currently directs a project related to the programs that U.S. Children’s Hospitals initiated to address social and behavioral health needs in their communities. Students are welcome to pursue research using these data or collect novel primary data related to health disparities and public health.
Berkeley Franz, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Community-based Health
franzb@ohio.edu
Click here to see Dr. Franz's CV
Sam is currently an associate professor in the School of Visual Communication at Ohio University. In the 14 years he has been there, he has designed and launched several interactive multimedia courses and two international study abroad programs. Sam has taught classes in web design, web animation, motion graphics, 3D modeling, audio/video production and print design. He has collaborated on special projects with The School of Interior Architecture and The School of Media Arts and Studies, which resulted in student work that was displayed in The Chicago Art Institute and recognized internationally by the media. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Sam is the faculty advisor for The Ohio University Multimedia Society and serves as a liaison between the faculty and Ohio University Information Technology department.
Sam has more than 15 years of experience in the professional realm as a photographer, web and print designer. His work includes fashion, documentary, commercial and fine art photography, print design, web design, web consulting, video production and motion graphics. His work has appeared in places such as Time and Foam Magazines, as well as on PBS. He has worked for clients which include Rocky Boots, GigBot.com, Lineberger Cancer Center, Marietta Memorial Hospital, David Hostetler as well as others.
Girton teaches courses in Desktop Publishing, Web Design, Web Animation, Motion Graphics, Audio/Video Production and 3D Modeling. He has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography from Ohio University. Girton was selected for the University Professor award for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Sam Girton, MA
Dawn Graham’s areas of teaching and research interest include creativity and mental health, community psychology, rural health and policy change. Current projects include qualitative research on integrated health care in rural settings across the United States. Dr. Graham has been involved in multiple studies involving the impact of compassion fatigue for health care professionals working with underserved patients and practices part time at Ohio University’s Hudson Health Center. Dr. Graham’s current research spans across global, national and local initiatives in various projects. A current university-sponsored research project includes a qualitative exploration of how working on interdisciplinary teams impacts provider-to-patient care in rural settings across the United States. In addition, Dr. Graham is working with colleagues from the College of Health Sciences Professions and Global Studies to measure the impact of study abroad experiences in southern Africa. She is continuing research with colleagues from the Heritage College Department of Primary Care to determine basic knowledge of diabetes with college faculty. In addition, Dr. Graham is working with colleagues within the medical school's Department of Social Medicine on a developing curriculum to provide trauma-informed care education to local primary care providers. She is also the instructor of record for the Heritage College's Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum.
Dawn Graham, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Social Medicine
grahamd@ohio.edu
Identities can be derived from many sources, including membership in social categories (e.g., race/ethnicity, religion, gender) and personal characteristics (e.g., opinions, beliefs). The overarching goal of Rios’ work is to better understand how individuals respond to threats to social and personal identities, with a particular focus on majority versus minority identity.
Rios has two primary areas of research within this tradition. In the first, she studies the factors that influence majority group members' (e.g., White/European Americans') perceptions of threat from and attitudes toward minority groups, and vice versa. Much of her work in this area examines reasons that majority group members may see multiculturalism - the recognition and celebration of diversity - as threatening, and ways to reduce these feelings of threat. Additionally, Rios studies the causes and consequences of stereotyping/prejudice among religious majorities (e.g., negative stereotypes about Christians' scientific abilities) and minorities (e.g., negative stereotypes about atheists' morality and trustworthiness), both within the U.S. and cross-culturally.
In another area of research, Rios studies people's motives to adopt and express minority versus majority opinions. Although historically, research in social psychology has emphasized tendencies toward conformity, she has examined the circumstances under which individuals seek to distinguish themselves from others, as well as how they do so (e.g., speed of opinion expression, whether they voice their opinions forcefully or in a way that acknowledges opposing views). She is also interested in other expressions of uniqueness beyond minority opinions, such as creative performance.
Kim Rios
Associate Professor of Psychology
rios@ohio.edu
Click here to see Kim Rios' faculty page at Ohio University
Dr. Wymbs completed his doctoral studies in clinical psychology at the University of Buffalo, SUNY and his clinical internship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Afterwards, he was appointed to postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Seattle Children's Research Institute. Dr. Wymbs' clinical research primarily focuses on studying the association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and familial/interpersonal relationship dysfunction. Specifically, he has investigated causal relations between child ADHD and interparental discord as well as associations between ADHD and intimate partner violence in young adults. Dr. Wymbs seeks to develop and test novel family-based treatments for children and adults with ADHD, including interventions for children with separated or divorced parents. Additionally, Dr. Wymbs intends to evaluate and target mechanisms underlying intimate partner violence among young adults with ADHD, including alcohol abuse and negative urgency.
Brian Wymbs, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
wymbs@ohio.edu
Click here to see Dr. Wymbs' CV.
Dr. Wymbs is an Assistant Professor of Primary Care in the Department of Family Medicine in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University. Her research interests are treatments for youth with externalizing and internalizing problems and their families. She has specific interests in the delivery of evidence-based interventions, especially parent interventions, in primary care, school, and community settings for children with disruptive behavior problems, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She is also interested in understanding ways to improve the patient-provider relationship and engage patients and families in evidence-based treatments delivered in primary care. She has additional interests in enhancing the engagement of families in evidence-based treatments for children with ADHD and related problems, and has recently used models from health economics and marketing research to study parents’ and other consumers’ preferences for different evidence-based treatment programs. Dr. Wymbs has a specific interest in studying and working with families who are traditionally "hard-to-reach," including those facing a variety of psychosocial and environmental stressors (e.g., financial stress, single-parent status, limited access to mental health care). Dr. Wymbs’ clinic interests are in children, adolescents, and families with severe behavioral and emotional problems, such as comorbid ADHD, eating disorders, and parental depression. Dr. Wymbs has participated in federally funded research for the past 15 years, has been the recipient of grant funding from private agencies, and has published in peer-reviewed journals. She is a clinical psychologist and works with graduate and medical students interested in clinical child and pediatric psychology.
Frances Wymbs, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Primary Care - Department of Family Medicine at HCOM
Click here to see Dr. Wymbs' CV.
CENTER MANAGEMENT
Susan "Susie" Schroer received a B.A. in Psychology and Journalism from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. After graduation, she joined AmeriCorps and completed two years of service with a non-profit in Utah that provided outdoor recreation activities for individuals with disabilities. After her AmeriCorps service, Susie continued to live in Utah where she designed, created, and facilitated a variety of adaptive recreation and sports programs for individuals with disabilities including: a rock climbing program for youth on the Autism Spectrum, kayaking programs for individuals with spinal cord injuries, a baseball league for youth with developmental disabilities, working with youth-at-risk, and an archery program for Veterans with substance abuse conditions, mental health disorders, and physical disabilities. In 2018 she moved to Athens with her wife and spent the 2018/2019 school year working at the Beacon School as the Adapted Physical Education Teacher. Susie is also a technical classifier for USA Paralympic Track and Field. In her spare time Susie enjoys spending time with her wife and exploring new hiking trails, playing with their three dogs, and taking care of their chickens and three-legged bunny.
Susan Schroer
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Lindsey Battaglia is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Ohio University. Lindsey graduated from The Ohio State University in 2020 with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Human Development and Family Science, as well as a Distinction in Research. Prior to attending Ohio University, Lindsey worked as a Research Associate for the Pittsburgh Girls Study at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic where she studied women and children’s health and development in Pittsburgh, PA. She is currently interested in studying how early life stress can influence the development and treatment of disruptive behaviors in children. Outside of school, Lindsey enjoys spending time with friends and family, and binge watching her favorite TV shows.
Kayla is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Ohio University. She graduated from Ohio Northern University in 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Applied Statistics. As an undergraduate, Kayla worked as a research assistant in ONU’s Behavioral Neuroscience Research Lab under the guidance of Dr. Phillip Zoladz. She also completed a Fulbright-Mitacs Globalink internship at the University of British Columbia in Dr. Kiley Hamlin’s Centre for Infant Cognition. Kayla’s current research interests are focused on emotional regulation and communication differences in adults with ADHD. In her spare time, Kayla enjoys hiking, rock climbing, cooking, singing, and spending time with her cat, Cosmo.
Tessa is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Ohio University. Tessa graduated from the University of Maryland in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Chemistry. Prior to attending OU, Tessa worked as a research assistant with Dr. Brooke Molina at the University of Pittsburgh, researching diversion in young adults with ADHD. She also gained clinical experience working at Camp Baker, a summer treatment program for children with ADHD and other related disorders. Her current research interests are risk factors for the development of ADHD and disruptive behaviors, with a particular interest in parenting. In her free time, Tessa enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, playing board games, and hanging out with friends.
Hannah is a first-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Ohio University. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Family Science from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2019. Prior to attending OU, she spent two years as a clinical research coordinator at a psychology practice in Maryland researching the effectiveness of a school-based intervention for youth with psychosocial difficulties. She also gained clinical experience as a paraprofessional behavioral specialist at Camp STAR, a summer treatment program for youth with ADHD. Her current research interests include school-based interventions for youth with ADHD and improving the cultural relevance of interventions for youth from marginalized communities. In her free time, Hannah enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors, running, and spending time with her friends and family.
Elizabeth is a Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate at Ohio University. She received her BS in Psychology with concentrations in Neuroscience and Health Care Delivery from Roanoke College in 2015 and her MA in Clinical Psychology from Appalachian State University in 2018. Elizabeth's research interests include the evaluation and implementation of school-based interventions, particularly for youth with ADHD and co-occurring psychopathology. She is also interested in understanding factors affecting the academic and social functioning of adolescents with ADHD and co-occurring psychopathology.
Elizabeth Capps, M.S.
Carolyn Campbell is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at Ohio University. Carolyn graduated from Bucknell University in 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology, Mathematics, and Women's & Gender Studies. As an undergraduate, Carolyn researched the accessibility of LGBTQ+ affirming mental health information on college counseling center websites under the supervision of Dr. Jasmine Mena in the Multicultural Health Psychology Lab. She also gained clinical experience working at APEX Summer Camp, a summer treatment program for children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other related disorders. Her current research interests are emotional dysregulation and school-based interventions targeting behavioral problems in youth with ADHD. Her hobbies include cooking, playing guitar, bouldering, and watching the greatest football team in the world, the Buffalo Bills.
Madeline is a graduate student in the clinical psychology doctoral program at Ohio University. Her research interests include improving early assessment techniques and optimizing evidence-based treatment for children with ADHD. She is also interested in understanding the neuropsychological characteristics of children with ADHD. Madeline graduated from Emory University in 2018 with a B.S. in neuroscience and a double major in psychology. Prior to attending Ohio University, she spent two years as a research assistant at Children's Mercy Hospital's ADHD Specialty Clinic and gained clinical experience working as a Program Coordinator for Children's Mercy Hospital's Summer Treatment Program. Madeline's hobbies include playing sports and staying active, binge-watching her favorite shows on Netflix, using her bullet journal as both a creative outlet and organizational tool, and spending time with her family and friends.
Kelsey Eackles is a first year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology. She graduated from West Virginia University in 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology. Her research interests include examining behavioral problems in early childhood, studying evidence-based interventions for said problems, and exploring ways we can improve the dissemination and implementation of treatments into undeserved populations. Kelsey's hobbies include being outdoors, bingeing anything and everything on Netflix, and spending time with friends and family.
Kelsey Eackles, BS
ke045518@ohio.edu
Elise Everly is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at Ohio University. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BA in Psychology in 2018. Prior to attending Ohio University, Elise worked on the implementation of a school-based intervention program focused on the reduction of bullying for the Center for Research on Aggression and Victimization at the U of A. Her research interests include the development and implementation of effective intervention and prevention programs for youth with behavioral problems as well as the impact of impaired contextual factors. Elise’s hobbies include baton twirling, being outdoors, cake baking and decorating, along with scrap booking or anything crafty.
Elise Everly, BA
Emily Glatt is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Ohio University. Emily graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Nutrition and Food Sciences in the fall of 2020. As an undergraduate, Emily was a research assistant under the supervision of Dr. Amy Stamates in the Health and Alcohol Related Problems (HARP) Lab. Emily is interested in the developmental period between early childhood and adolescence and the close familial processes children experience during this time. One of Emily’s main goals is to contribute to research that creates more advantageous prevention and intervention programs for school age children with ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. In her free time, Emily enjoys being outdoors, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, being around animals, and watching sunsets.
Sierra is a Clinical Psychology graduate student at Ohio University. Her research interest involves how a child with a diagnosis of ADHD impacts family functioning as well as the stress levels of the parents and the parent-child relationship. Sierra graduated with her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Child Development from Oklahoma State University in 2021. She spent her undergraduate years involved in numerous activities that focused on improving and implementing services for high-risk families and individuals with intellectual disabilities. When she has free time, Sierra enjoys spending time with her dog, Porter, reading things that are not textbooks, and spending time outdoors.
Yuika Iwai is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Ohio University. She graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Prior to attending Ohio University, Yuika spent two years as a project manager for the Child Development Lab at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, researching ways to optimize instructional materials to increase attention and learning in early elementary school-aged children. Her research interests are in school-based interventions for children with ADHD and improving peer relationships for children with ADHD. In her free time, Yuika enjoys solving crossword puzzles, baking, and binge-watching a variety of TV shows.
Adam Jones is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at Ohio University. His research interests are focused on executive functioning performance in children with ADHD, as well as bettering early detection of ADHD. Adam graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology and a Minor in Biological Sciences. Following that, Adam spent two years at Cincinnati Children’s Center for ADHD where he assisted in research centered around emotional regulation, social skills, and executive functioning in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. In his free time, Adam enjoys playing bass guitar, hiking, and running Dungeons and Dragons campaigns with friends.
Adam Jones, BS
Hannah Kassab is a fourth-year doctoral student on the child track of the Clinical Psychology Program at Ohio University. She graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Psychology and a Certificate in Clinical Science in 2017. Hannah’s research interests include investigating contextual and individual factors that may affect implementation outcomes of school-based interventions for children and adolescents with ADHD.
Hannah Kassab, BS
Mary Lee is a third year graduate student in Clinical Psychology. She graduated with a Psychology degree from the University of Kentucky in 2018. Her research interests include children with behavioral problems and evidence based interventions for those problems, including school-based interventions. Her hobbies include being outdoors, watching movies of all kinds, and hanging out with her family. She also enjoys snuggling and playing with her cat, Killer.
Mary Lee, BS
Emma is a clinical psychology graduate student in the doctoral program at Ohio University. Her research interests are focused on the evaluation of evidence-based interventions for adolescents and youth with ADHD and evidence-based assessment. Emma earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kansas in 2015. Prior to attending Ohio University, Emma gained clinical experience for two years as a Program Coordinator at Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Summer Treatment Program. In the Center for Intervention Research Schools, she has acted as Camp Boost Co-Clinical Supervisor for the past two summers and is currently the Project Coordinator for Computer-Assisted Behavior Intervention (CABI) project. In past years, she has served as Project Coordinator for the Individual Formative Assessment of Behavior (IFAB) and Making Socially Accepting Inclusive Classrooms (MOSAIC) projects. Her hobbies include playing with her two dogs named Beyoncé and Arthur, pretending to enjoy kale smoothies, scoping out delicious gluten-free restaurants, and telling people her hobby is running.
Emma Rogers, B.A.
Graduate Student
Center for Intervention Research in Schools
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
er670616@ohio.edu
Hannah Grace is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at Ohio University. She graduated from Regent University in 2021 with a B.S. in Psychology and a concentration in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. Her research interests include supporting children with ADHD through school-based interventions and determining the barriers that exist for teachers in delivering these interventions. In her free time, Hannah Grace enjoys baking, playing instruments, spending quality time with family and friends, and taking long walks outdoors.
Levi is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Ohio University. He received his BS in Psychology with a minor in Music Theory & Composition from Drexel University, and his MS in Counseling & Clinical Health Psychology from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). Levi's clinical background involves work with intellectual disability in the community and inpatient psychiatric stabilization. He also worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator through Pennsylvania State University studying the intersection of parenting, sleep, cognition, and child maltreatment in Philadelphia homes. Levi's current research interests involve understanding transactional emotion dysregulation and behavioral disinhibition in families of children with ADHD and ODD, and in particular, how behavioral antecedents such as sleep and exercise may influence those dynamics. His hobbies include arranging and singing contemporary A Cappella music, practicing Aikido, shooting pool, hiking/camping, and playing ultimate frisbee.
Levi Toback, MS
Valerie Velasco is a Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate at Ohio University. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology. Before joining CIRS, Valerie worked for the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center at the Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN) where she gained experience working on research and intervention projects involving the child welfare system. She also graduated from the CCAN Interdisciplinary Training Program, a course designed to provide the content, concepts, and skills for an interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of child abuse and neglect
Valerie’s research interests involve the examination of the differential effects and risk factors of child maltreatment on long-term outcomes. She is also interested in the evaluation of interventions involving children and families impacted by violence like child maltreatment, intimate partner/ interpersonal violence, and family and community violence.
When she’s not studying or doing research, you might find Valerie practicing yoga, binge watching TV with her partner, searching for coffee drinks that are equal parts tasty and highly caffeinated or showing off her photo collection of her pets - Boo Radley, Frederick Douglass, and Lincoln.
Danny is a first-year clinical psychology graduate student in the doctoral program at Ohio University. His research interests are focused on exploring the effect exercise has on ADHD, and in particular, developing novel interventions for youths with ADHD using different types of exercise. He received his BS in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati. Following that, Danny spent two years at Cincinnati Children's Center for ADHD where he conducted research examining the magnitude and time-course effects of abrupt methylphenidate cessation. His hobbies include working out, playing soccer, and slaying monsters in various Dungeons and Dragons campaigns.
Sarah Winchell is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Ohio University. She is a former preschool teacher who was drawn into child psychology by the children who struggled to form friendships and get along with peers in school. Sarah earned a B.A. in psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. After graduation, she worked as a research assistant in the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. Sarah is especially interested in school-based interventions to foster self-regulation and social emotional development among preschool children. In her free time, Sarah enjoys puzzles and games, pub trivia, and singing karaoke.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
Azadeh is a research scholar under the supervision of Dr.Steven W.Evans in the center of intervention research in school (SIRS) at Ohio University. She graduated from Isfahan University (an Iranian public university) with a Ph.D. in psychology in 2022. Azadeh worked for several Consulting and Psychological Services Centers in Iran prior to attending Ohio University. Her clinical background encompasses work with ADHD children and adolescents, and her current research interests are ADHD-related research, school-based intervention programs for children and adolescents, and school mental health programs. Spending time outdoors, camping, and playing with her little son and dog are some of the things Azadeh enjoys doing in her free time.
Azadeh Bakhtiari, Ph.D
Visiting Scholar and Research Associate
ab173122@ohio.edu
Kristen Bortle, M.A., LSW is a Senior Research Associate with the Classroom Behavioral Support (CBS) project for the Center of Intervention Research in Schools (CIRS) at Ohio University. Kristen graduated from the University of Dayton with a B.A. in Social Work and from Ohio University with an MPA. She has experience providing evidence-based mental health and behavioral interventions to parents, teachers, and students in her work throughout Ohio. She has cultivated partnerships to deliver social emotional programs to Newark City schools. Her experience includes working as a coach/teacher mentor for the Head Start CARES National Research project. In addition to her direct work in communities and schools, her background includes creating and providing training, budget and grant writing, and managing non-profit capital campaigns.
Kristen Bortle, M.A., LSW
Sr. Research Associate
bortle@ohio.edu
Dr. Cara Dillon is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with Ohio University's Center for Intervention Research in Schools (CIRS). Her research interests include developing supports for teachers to perform evidence-based interventions and maintaining intervention fidelity post-training. Dr. Dillon is a graduate of University of Cincinnati's School Psychology program, and she enjoys working in behavior management within schools. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a licensed School Psychologist in Ohio.
Cara Dillon, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate
dillonc2@ohio.edu
Nikki graduated from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in 2000, B.S.J., with concentrated study in sociology and political communications.
Beginning in 1999, Enright worked as an editor, writer or photographer in such places as O.U.’s media services, at a D.C.-based political newswire, a D.C.-based nonprofit, and for an Ohio weekly newspaper. From 2007 to 2018, Enright switched gears and began working with at-risk youth, specifically with youth offenders, serving as a program director for a court-based restitution recovery/community service program. Enright also directed the CASA (court-appointed special advocate) program in Perry County.
Nikki Enright, B.S.J.
Sr. Research Associate
enright@ohio.edu
Dassiell Medina, M.S. is the Senior Research Associate under the Classroom Behavioral Support (CBS) project for the Center of Interventions Research In Schools (CIRS) at Ohio University. He graduated from Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, FL with his B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Human Resources Management. He has research and clinical experience working with children and adolescent mental health within the community and school-based settings. As an undergraduate, he gained clinical experience working as a Summer Treatment Program (STP) Adolescent Counselor, administering several behavioral treatments with adolescents with ADHD. After graduating, he worked as a Senior Research Associate for the Effectiveness of MI Enhanced Family-Based Behavior Therapy for Adolescents with ADHD project. He was responsible for all research activities and operated within the community collaborating with a multitude of culturally diverse families and school personnel. After, he worked as a Research Coordinator under the Biosignatures of Executive Function and Emotion Regulation in Young Children with ADHD project. In this role, he managed all project activities and worked with pre-school-aged children diagnosed with ADHD to track emotional responses to varied behavioral and neuropsychological tasks. His interests include ADHD, school-based interventions, and child psychopathology as it relates to parent-child relationships.
Dassiell Medina, MS
Senior Research Associate
dmedina@ohio.edu
Alison Pence-Ward is a School Mental Health Consultant for the Center for Intervention Research in Schools (CIRS) at Ohio University. Alison holds a master’s degree in social work from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Otterbein University. During her 13 years of service in schools, she has designed and implemented evidence-based Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) programs in her roles as a social worker and math educator. She has trained faculty, built teacher-based teams, and developed data tracking and reporting systems to measure and monitor outcomes for restorative practices, social emotional learning, and academic growth. Alison has a passion for the social and academic success of every child and works to help schools improve their student services’ capacity for response to intervention (RTI). Her areas of expertise include social and emotional learning, the development and promotion of positive school culture, positive behavioral interventions and supports, and restorative practices. She brings her areas of expertise in education and mental health to the CIRS team as they develop and implement the Beacon Project.
Alison Pence-Ward, MSW, LSW
School Mental Health Consultant
penceward@ohio.edu
Alyssa Poskarbiewicz, B.A. serves as a Research Associate for the Center of Intervention Research in Schools (CIRS) at Ohio University. Alyssa graduated from Ohio University with her bachelor's in psychology. She has direct service experience with adolescents with emotional, behavioral and developmental challenges and with children on the autism spectrum. Alyssa has worked on both the CARS and CHP projects. Currently, she is working with the CBS project.
Alyssa Poskarbiewicz, BA
Research Associate
biederma@ohio.edu.
John graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a B.A. in Psychology and Public Health. John has experience working with underrepresented children and families, first as a summer intern at Temple University's Infant and Child Lab and then as an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Maryland's Bullying Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Lab. In addition to his work within mental health research, John co-founded a nonprofit organization, Different, Just Like Me, that is devoted to the creation of a mentorship network for transracially adopted children.
John Seipp, BA
Full-time Research Associate
seippj@ohio.edu
LM Sheffield is a collaborative, education partner and servant leader with over two decades of P-12/higher education, not-for-profit, and organizational leadership experience. She is dedicated to engaging and equipping next generation learners and leaders through empathy, creativity, compassion, humor, and inquiry-based communication.
Sheffield brings a rich and varied background in building relationships, designing schools, shepherding professional learning communities, and facilitating start-ups, turnarounds, and strategic initiatives. In P-12 and higher education settings, she has served in teaching, coaching, and executive leadership roles charged with implementing innovative curricula, Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound [ELOB], experiential/social-emotional learning, literacy and leadership development, and the Standards for Professional Learning. Her extensive experience includes coaching and consulting for numerous state, regional, federal, and international projects, where she has helped shape education policy.
Sheffield holds undergraduate degrees in English and Architectural Design & Preservation, graduate degrees in teaching, elementary education, and leadership from Ursuline College, professional teaching and education leadership licensure from the Ohio Department of Education, and postgraduate certifications in executive leadership and coaching from Cornell University.
LM Sheffield, M.A., M.Ed.
Research Associate
sheffield@ohio.edu
ALUMNI
Kari Benson graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in Experimental Psychology in 2015 and completed her Master's in Clinical Psychology at Ohio University in 2017. Her research focuses on evaluation of clinical interventions and factors that impact outcomes for children and families with the goal of identifying mechanisms of action and new targets for treatment.
Kari Benson, MS
kb099114@ohio.edu
Christine received her B.S. and M.A. degrees from James Madison University. She received her Ph.D. from Ohio University under the mentorship of Dr. Steve Evans in 2014. Christine completed her clinical internship with the University Of Washington School Of Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital and completed a pediatric psychology postdoctoral fellowship with the University Of Louisville School Of Medicine, Norton Children's Hospital. She is currently employed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology with a courtesy appointment in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine. She serves full time in the Pediatric Gender Clinic and is actively involved in the training program and provides supervision and lectures to psychology students/interns/fellows, psychiatry fellows, and medical fellows/residents/interns. Areas of clinical and research interest include coping with chronic illness, non-compliance, and supporting LGBTQ youth.
Christine Brady, Ph.D.
bradyce@gmail.com
Nora Bunford earned her B.A. degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from Southern Illinois University Carbondale; her M.S. degree in Clinical/Counseling Psychology from Illinois State University; her M.A. degree in Philosophy from Eötvös Loránd University; and her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology from Ohio University, with predoctoral internship at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Nora is currently a Group Leader at the Lendület Developmental and Translational Neuroscience Research Group for the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology.
Her research primarily focuses on the etiology, neurobiological underpinnings, manifestations, and multi-method/informant measurement of emotion dysregulation associated with neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders. She is further interested in the relation among emotion dysregulation and negative outcomes such as functional impairment, substance abuse, and risky sex; as well as the way in which basic findings on these relations inform the development and evaluation of preventions and treatments for adolescents.
Nora Bunford, PhD
nb243610@ohio.edu
Heather was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She earned her undergraduate degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and her Master's and Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Ohio University.
Heather's research interest include risk-taking behaviors and attention concerns in adolescents and emerging adults. Clinical interests include providing evidence-based care to college student and veteran populations.
Heather Davis Gahagen, Ph.D.
hd3749211@ohio.edu
Anne Dawson has earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology (Child Psychology specialization) at Ohio University. Anne’s research interests include investigating the dyadic relationships between children and their significant contexts (families, teachers, peers, schools) and the way these relationships influence development, specifically within the context of children with disruptive behavior disorders. Additionally, Anne is interested in how these contextual factors and interactions influence adherence and encourage implementation of evidence-based treatments and interventions for children with disruptive behavior disorders.
Before moving to Ohio for graduate school, Anne earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Virginia.
Anne is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Anne Dawson, Ph.D.
ad367311@ohio.edu
Dr. Theresa Egan is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Management of ADHD at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Theresa Egan earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology doctoral program from Ohio University. Her research interests included teacher preferences for school-based services for youth with disruptive behavior disorders, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of school-based interventions for children and adolescents with ADHD and co-morbid disorders. Theresa earned her undergraduate degree from James Madison University in 2009 and her master’s degree in Clinical Health Psychology from Appalachian State University in 2012. Prior to attending Ohio University, Theresa worked as a clinical research coordinator at ASU and was responsible for the development and implementation of a school-based behavioral health model to provide services to high school students. Within her training at Ohio University, she has worked on federally funded grants providing school consultation to teachers, conducted psychological assessments as part of interdisciplinary teams in hospital settings, and taught several undergraduate courses.
Theresa Egan, Ph.D.
theresa.e.egan@gmail.com
Dr. Alex Holdaway is a Research Psychologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. His research interests include the development, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based interventions for families of youth with attention and behavior concerns. He is currently employed on a PCORI-funded grant examining the effectiveness of enhanced parent training for low-income and minority families of youth with ADHD when delivered at their child’s primary care office. Alex earned his B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008, completed his pre-doctoral internship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham/Birmingham VA Training Consortium, and received his PhD from Ohio University in 2017. He completed two post-doctoral research fellowships: one at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a second at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He completed his graduate work in CIRS under the mentorship of Julie Owens.
Alex Holdaway, PhD
holdawaya@email.chop.edu
Graduated from Northeastern University in 2013 with a BS in Behavioral Neuroscience. Upon graduation, Chelsea moved back to her hometown in Northeastern Connecticut where she has been working as a research assistant at a day and residential school for children with developmental disabilities. Her research interests include the influence of parent and teacher preferences on the implementation and effectiveness of school-based interventions for ADHD.
Chelsea Hustus, BS
ch051414@ohio.edu
Samantha Kempker is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Ohio University. She is interested in the development and evaluation of interventions for youth with externalizing disorders and those at-risk of substance use disorders, including a special interest in the cost-effectiveness of these programs. Samantha received her BS in Psychology from Missouri University of Science and Technology and her MA in Clinical Psychology from Sam Houston State University. Prior to beginning her education at Ohio University, Samantha gained a wide breadth of clinical and research experience working with justice-involved youth, adults in forensic psychiatric settings, and offspring of parents with bipolar disorder.
Samantha Margherio (Kempker), MA
Dr. Stephen Marshall has a full-time private practice in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He specializes in treating adults and youth with OCD, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and depression using CBT, ERP, ACT, parent management training, and organization skills training. He came to Boston for his predoctoral internship at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he also stayed on for two postdoctoral clinical fellowships. In addition to private practice, he works as a consultant and group therapist at The Pavilion at McLean, and he helps supervise and train interns at the hospital.
Stephen Marshall, Ph.D.
samarshall@mclean.harvard.edu
Clifton is a doctoral student in the Child Clinical Psychology Program. His research interests include the development and evaluation of school-based interventions for children with ADHD and comorbid disorders. In addition, he is interested in examining factors that contribute to the selection, implementation, and adherence to effective mental health interventions by school personnel. Clifton earned his B.S. in Psychology from Louisiana State University in 2008 and his M.A. in Psychology from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2012. He has also worked in the Louisiana Public School System as a research coordinator for the Teaching Research Institute and a Case Manager for children with behavior disorders.
Clifton Mixon, Ph.D.
cm408811@ohio.edu
John Monopoli is a graduate student in the clinical psychology doctoral program at Ohio University. His research interests include the development of ADHD, as well as forms and functions of aggression and impulsivity. John earned his B.A. in psychology from Dickinson College in 2011, and his M.A. in psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2013. Prior to OU, he worked on the development and implementation of school-based interventions for aggression and bullying at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
John Monopoli, MA
wm081414@ohio.edu
Christie is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at Ohio University. Her research interests center around improving interventions for adolescents and adults with ADHD. Christie is especially interested in how the subjective experience of living with ADHD can shape individuals’ thoughts and beliefs and the role of these cognitions in helping or hindering effective treatment. Christie earned her BA in Communication Studies with a minor in Psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2015.
Christie Thiessen, BA
ct050915@ohio.edu
Dr. Raisa Ray is a clinical child psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. Her clinical activities include psychological evaluations for learning, intellectual, behavior, mood, and anxiety concerns, as well as outpatient therapy for youth ages 6 to 18 years. Additionally, Dr. Ray teaches one of the ADHD Academy educational workshops for parents. She is also one of the faculty members involved in the hospital’s psychology internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs. Her research has involved the investigation of risk factors and developmental assets which can be used to enhance case conceptualization and intervention designs. Her studies have particularly focused on issues pertaining to social functioning of youth with ADHD.
Raisa Ray, Ph. D.
ap839211@ohio.edu
Gina Sacchetti is a first year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at Ohio University. She is interested in exploring relationship dysfunction in adolescents and young adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Specifically, she intends to examine intimate partner violence within this group of individuals as well as methods for improving conflict resolution and prevention of partner violence. Gina earned her undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University in 2012 and her master’s degree in Clinical Science from the University of Northern Iowa in 2014. Prior to her education at OU, she completed clinical work which involved the treatment and assessment of children with disruptive behavior disorders and adults with severe psychopathology at two Mental Health Institutes in Iowa.
Gina Sacchetti, MA
gs412513@ohio.edu
Joanna received her B.S. from Virginia Tech in 2007 and M.A. from James Madison University in 2009. She received her Ph.D. from Ohio University under the mentorship of Dr. Steve Evans in 2015. Joanna completed her clinical internship with the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Behavioral Medicine Center at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She is also the Director of Behavioral Medicine Consultation-Liaison Service at the University of Virginia Health System. She also serves as a Program Leader for the Behavioral Emergency Response Team at the University Virginia Health System.
Joanna Sadler Yost, Ph.D.
jsy2x@virginia.edu
Verenea Serrano, PhD
vs198311@ohio.edu
Dr. Craig Spiel received his B.S. from Brigham Young University and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Ohio University under the mentorship of Dr. Steven Evans. Craig completed his clinical internship with the University of Oklahoma Health Science Consortium in 2016. He now works as a Primary Care Psychologist for Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, UT.
Craig Spiel, Ph.D.
cspiel@gmail.com
Sean is a student in the clinical child psychology program. His research interests include interventions for children and adolescents with ADHD and comorbid disorders. Specifically, Sean is interested in parent-child interactions and how characteristics of these interactions can influence evidence-based treatments and interventions. Sean earned his B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2014.
Sean Tams, BS
st544613@ohio.edu
Dr. Hughes earned her Masters (2010) and Doctoral (2014) degrees at Ohio University, under the mentorship of Dr. Julie Owens. She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology (2008) from Wittenberg University. She completed her clinical internship at West Virginia University School of Medicine, Charleston. She is currently employed as a Senior Psychologist at the Charleston Area Medical Center, Family Resource Center, working with a variety of adolescent and adult clients. She is also involved in clinical work through Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program and the Children’s Advocacy Center, and active in the Peer Support program, providing mental health and crisis support to staff of the hospital system. Dr. Hughes is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at West Virginia University, School of Medicine. She is actively involved in the pre-doctoral psychology internship program, and directs the Women’s Health rotation. Areas of research interest include parent-child relationships, reduction of health-risk behaviors, underserved populations, and the impact of trauma and loss.
Jennifer Storer Hughes, Ph.D.
Jennifer.Hughes@camc.org
Yuko earned a B.A in Psychology at UCLA and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology at California State University, Fullerton. She has worked as a clinician in various settings: elementary schools, a community counseling center, and a drug/alcohol rehabilitation facility before entering the Ohio University Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology. She was involved in multiple research projects at OU: intervention integrity for teacher’s implementation of Daily Report Card as a part of Y.E.S.S. program, the contribution of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo to the level of impairment the sustainability of Y.E.S.S. program in Logan school district, and mechanisms of positive bias in children with ADHD. Yuko is currently at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, providing mental health services for children with mental disorders and developmental disabilities and conducting research on assessment and intervention for ADHD in an interdisciplinary setting.
Yuko Watabe, Ph.D.
yw184109@ohio.edu
Allison completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology in 2016. Her research interests focus on the development and evaluation of interventions for youth with disruptive behavior disorders that can be implemented in school or camp settings. Allison earned her B.A. in Psychology and Classical Studies from Wesleyan University in 2007. Before coming to Ohio University Allison worked as a research coordinator at the ADHD Clinical Research Center at UIC and served as the program director for Camp STAR, a summer treatment program for youth with ADHD. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and as a Clinical Psychologist in Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Allison Zoromski, Ph.D.
Allison.Zoromski@cchmc.org
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