Principal Investigators
Dr. Melissa Whitson (she/her/hers)
Dr. Whitson is a Professor of Psychology and the Program Coordinator for the Community Psychology program at the University of New Haven. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Community Psychology at Yale University. Dr. Whitson is an expert in childhood trauma who examines the risk, protective factors, and effectiveness of mental health services for low-income children and families, particularly those exposed to trauma. She provides program evaluation consultation to many local community organizations focused on underserved children, families, and communities
Her research has identified risk and protective factors for low-income and marginalized children and families, who often have a disproportionate number of unmet mental health needs because of lack of availability, lack of insurance, and/or stigma. Dr. Whitson closely studies children who have been exposed to adverse experiences and traumatic events and examines how mental health services have impacted them and their families. Her research aims to increase the effectiveness of the services and to improve the mental health and well-being of these children and families. Dr. Whitson’s research shows that children’s mental health services need to focus not only on the child who presents for services but also on the child’s parents and caregivers, as their stress levels will impact treatment outcomes for the child.
Dr. R. Lillie Macias (she/her/ella)
Dr. Macias is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of New Haven and Research Director of Esperanza United, a national gender-based violence resource center. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology from Georgia State University and completed a clinical fellowship and postdoc through Yale School of Medicine, home to one of the country’s foremost training programs in Clinical-Community Psychology. Her research interests include the adaption and evaluation of culture-specific programs and gender-based violence prevention and intervention at the intersection of Latinx and other underserved communities.
Dr. Macias specializes in trauma-informed, community-based prevention and program development and worked with an interdisciplinary team to develop the Community-Centered Evidence-Based Practice (CCEBP) approach for domestic violence prevention. Her research interests include collective trauma and response and participatory action research (YPAR). As the Research Director of Esperanza United, she acts as a bridge for the University and Esperanza United’s national research team, mentoring students at the undergraduate and graduate levels in culturally competent research and practice. To learn more about Esperanza United’s National Research and Evaluation work, visit https://esperanzaunited.org/en/research/.
Meet some of the CORE Lab Members!
Kelsey McDonnell (She/hers)
Where is home? Woodbridge, New Jersey
Interests: Child development, irritability, ACEs, childhood trauma, and neuropsychology
Alberta Sinani (She/her/hers)
I’m from Kosovo, but I grew up in Austria, Europe.
Interests: – youth development and empowerment – immigrant youth – youth mental health – youth participation
Yasmeen Najjar (She/Her/Hers)
Home for me is Palestine!
I am passionate about many topics in Psychology. However, post-traumatic growth is what interests me the most recently, especially in how to implement interventions that use this concept to help people with disability and children.
The Core Lab in the Community Psychology department is very supportive and helps direct toward your field of interest.
Gauri Birmole (she/her/hers)
Home is Mumbai, India!
My interests include: – LGBTQIAP+ communities – Accessibility – Media Psychology – Quantitative Data Analysis – Test Development and Psychometrics
It is the CP program and its CORE lab that brought me to UNH because I wanted to pursue solution-oriented research and focus on challenging systemic issues.
Amanda Mele (she/her/hers)
Home is Newtown, Connecticut!
My interests are accessibility, mental health, community psychology, assessment and diagnosis, substance use disorders, and policy work. I love the community at University of New Haven!
Conner E Plompen
Alumni
Jen Martin (she/her/hers)
Philadelphia, PA
Housing insecurity, homelessness, rural homelessness, social determinants of health, low-SES effects on mental health and wellbeing, and so much more!
jmart29@unh.newhaven.edu
Hunter Clark (She/Her/Hers)
From Crittenden, Kentucky!
My research so far has been primarily focused on exploring potential relationships between gender, gender biases/sexist ideologies, and how decisions are made in legal contexts. Although most of my work has been in relation to sexual violence, I am looking forward to expanding into gun violence research with my Master’s Thesis, and case file review of juvenile probation cases as a research assistant.
Interests: Juror Decision-Making, Gender-Based Violence, Gender Biases and Sexism, Deception Detection, Case File Review, Juvenile Justice.
University of New Haven and the CORE lab have been extremely supportive in allowing me to explore my research interests, as well as allowing me to collaborate with others. The CORE lab has provided a space where people with varying interests and experiences are able to come together to brainstorm ideas, support one another in their research goals, and attend conferences together.
hclar5@unh.newhaven.edu or hunterbclark17@gmail.com
Marley Herard (she/her/hers)
Where is home? East Haven, CT
Marley’s current research interests surround gender-based violence and social inequities, which coincides with her work with Esperanza United, a culturally specific resource center. She is actively completing a master’s thesis addressing media consumption and intimate partner violence attitudes. Her previous projects have explored many relationships including that between sexual harassment and political affiliation.
Lily A. Hoerner (she/her/hers)
I am from Manchester and Fairfield, CT, but home is Milford!
Interests: Re-entry programs and policies; juvenile justice; at-risk youth; parenting; trauma; trauma-informed care
Neha Sinkar
Michelle Chagnon
Mary Lippa
Olufisayo Kasim
Krista Grajo
Rasheeda O’Connor
Azza Hussein
Julia LeFrancois
Peter van Buren
Juliana Held
Community Partners
Esperanza United
Clifford Beers Foundation
