{"id":19,"date":"2022-04-20T12:28:51","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T12:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/core-lab\/?page_id=19"},"modified":"2026-08-03T16:40:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T16:40:42","slug":"our-lab","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/core-lab\/our-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Our Lab Members"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Principal Investigators<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Melissa Whitson <\/strong>(she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. R. Lillie Macias<\/strong> (she\/her\/ella)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\/.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Current Students<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Aaliyah Amidon<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Ledyard, Connecticut<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interest:<\/span> researching substance use and addiction, school program evaluations, community-based program implementation, and youth early intervention programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

aamid1@unh.newhaven.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caleb Bodden<\/strong> (he\/him\/his)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Semire Erkugur<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Calley Lewis<\/strong> (she\/they)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nazli Litkouhi<\/strong> (she\/her)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Iran<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interest:<\/span> The effectiveness of psychotherapy, interventions, and prevention for mood disorders, causes of personality disorders, and the psychological mechanisms underlying symptoms, trauma assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, culturally responsive mental health services, community-based mental health initiatives, bi-directional mind-body relationship, psychosomatic disorders: physical symptoms with psychological origins, neuropsychology: the effects of traumatic brain injury and neurodevelopmental disorders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNH\u2019s focus on community psychology and culturally responsive practice helps me deepen my understanding of U.S. culture and diverse communities. This perspective complements my background in core psychology concepts and supports my research on psychotherapy and community-based mental health interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

nlitk1@unh.newhaven.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rida Najib<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maxwell Swift <\/strong>(they\/he)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Mogadore, Ohio<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interest:<\/span> I am passionate about increasing the well-being of the gender minority community. While that includes so many components, I found a particular interest in sexual education as a prevention for gender-based violence and sexual violence. I’m also interested in the medicalization and pathologization of trans bodies and the construction of gender within gender non-conforming folks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MACP’s CORE lab has given me support, mentorship, and resources to engage in research I am interested in and that allows me to develop and enhance my skills and knowledge. I would never have felt confident about pursuing a position in a research lab or applying to a PhD program without their support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

maxwell_f_swift@outlook.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farhana Taposi<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Trujillo<\/strong> (she\/her<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Ecuador<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interest:<\/span> My research interests focus on\u00a0psychological and gender-based violence against women, with particular attention to the experiences of immigrant populations and the social risks they face. I am especially interested in how psychological forms of abuse, such as coercion, control, and emotional manipulation, intersect with structural inequalities like immigration status, language barriers, and cultural isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a university club that offers support, listens to students, and encourages them to explore their interests and goals is an incredibly helpful way to foster professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

aamid1@unh.newhaven.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alumni<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

**please note email addresses may not reflect current primary contact**<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robyn Moran<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Tolland, Connecticut<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interests: Community mental health, principles of prevention and promotion, empowerment, and resilience, community-oriented research<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rmora6@unh.newhaven.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kayla Chappell<\/strong> (she\/they)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Franklinville, NJ<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interests: Religion and Intimate Partner Violence, Gender’s potential impact on legal decisions, Jury Decision making, Immigration Status Biases<\/p>\n\n\n\n

kchap3@unh.newhaven.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Md Shafiqul Islam <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Bangladesh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interests: mental health well-being, community evaluation <\/p>\n\n\n\n

misla21@unh.newhaven.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conner E Plompen<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Eva Ott Hill<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Prajita Basnet <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kelsey McDonnell<\/strong> (She\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Where is home? Woodbridge, New Jersey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interests: Child development, irritability, ACEs, childhood trauma, and neuropsychology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kmcdo4@unh.NewHaven.edu<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alberta Sinani (She\/her\/hers)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I’m from Kosovo, but I grew up in Austria, Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interests: – youth development and empowerment – immigrant youth – youth mental health – youth participation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

asina2@unh.newhaven.edu<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yasmeen Najjar<\/strong> (She\/Her\/Hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home for me is Palestine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Core Lab in the Community Psychology department is very supportive and helps direct toward your field of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

yasmeen.alnajjar99@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gauri Birmole<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Mumbai, India!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My interests include: – LGBTQIAP+ communities – Accessibility – Media Psychology – Quantitative Data Analysis – Test Development and Psychometrics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

gbirm1@unh.newhaven.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amanda Mele<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Home is Newtown, Connecticut!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My interests are accessibility, mental health, community psychology, evaluation, substance use disorders, and policy work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

meleamanda1@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jen Martin<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Philadelphia, PA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Housing insecurity, homelessness, rural homelessness, social determinants of health, low-SES effects on mental health and wellbeing, and so much more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

jmart29@unh.newhaven.edu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hunter Clark<\/strong> (She\/Her\/Hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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From Crittenden, Kentucky!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interests: Juror Decision-Making, Gender-Based Violence, Gender Biases and Sexism, Deception Detection, Case File Review, Juvenile Justice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> or hunterbclark17@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marley Herard <\/strong>(she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Where is home? East Haven, CT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

mhera1@unh.newhaven.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lily A. Hoerner <\/strong>(she\/her\/hers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I am from Manchester and Fairfield, CT, but home is Milford!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interests: Re-entry programs and policies; juvenile justice; at-risk youth; parenting; trauma; trauma-informed care<\/p>\n\n\n\n

lilyanhoerner@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neha Sinkar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Michelle Chagnon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mary Lippa<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Olufisayo Kasim<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Krista Grajo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rasheeda O’Connor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Azza Hussein<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julia LeFrancois<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Peter van Buren<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Juliana Held<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Community Partners<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 … <\/p>\n

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