Graduate Student Awards: Read about our national and university graduate student awards here.

Doctoral Students

Ndidi Amutah, a third year Maternal and Child Health doctoral candidate, is originally from Trenton, NJ. She completed her undergraduate education at Rutgers University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in African Studies. She then attended George Washington University where she received her Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from the School of Public Health and Health Services. Ndidi's current research interests include maternal mortality and morbidity, health disparities, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS in ethnic minority populations. While earning her Master's degree, Ndidi worked as a research intern at the Baltimore City Health Department, and studied asthma among children living in the city. She also investigated workplace injuries in immigrant adolescents and presented this work to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Upon earning her doctorate, Ndidi envisions working for an agency like USAID or the World Health Organization, where she can implement and evaluate national and international maternal and child health programs, particularly focusing on regions in sub-Saharan Africa. In her spare time, Ndidi enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, traveling, shopping, and reading.

Lisa Benson, a third year Maternal and Child Health doctoral candidate, earned Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Psychology from Brigham Young University and completed a Master's in Family Science at UMCP. While earning her Master's, Lisa worked on research projects related to the physical and mental health of rural families and food stamp nutrition education, and her thesis explored the influence of placement disruption on posttraumatic stress experienced by children in foster care. She currently teaches FMSC 332, Children in Families, and plans to complete her doctoral work in 2009.

Amanda Berger is a second year Family Science doctoral student, originally from the D.C. area. She graduated with a B.S. in both Psychology and Cognitive Studies from Vanderbilt University. She also earned a M.A. in Counseling from George Washington University. Amanda was a substitute teacher in Fairfax County for K-12, Special Ed, and Gifted classes; taught “Challenges of Daily Living” at the School Without Walls in D.C.; and taught undergraduate classes at the University of Georgia in Academic and Career Planning. She also has worked as a counseling intern at the Community Counseling Services Center at George Washington University and was a school counseling intern in Fairfax County and D.C. Public Schools. Amanda's current research interests include gender-sensitive therapies, and career and lifetime development of couples, families, and individuals. She enjoys cooking, watching TV, crossword puzzles, and coffee.

Nicolle Buckmiller, a fourth year Family Science doctoral candidate, is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. She earned both her Bachelor's degree in Marriage, Family and Human Development and her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University. Nicolle's Master's thesis investigated the influence of DSM-IV diagnoses for psychotherapy on patients' use of health care. Her current research interests center around family, couple, and parent-child relationships, fathering, and foster care. She is also interested in the transitions that military families make during reunions and separations. Nicolle currently teaches FMSC 330, Family Theories and Patterns, and supervises student therapists in the MFT program. When she's not studying and researching, Nicolle enjoys spending time with her husband, visiting historic sites along the East coast, playing tennis, and enjoying the outdoors.

Regina Davis, a second year Maternal and Child Health doctoral student, earned her Master of Public Health degree from The George Washington University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Howard University. She currently manages a $5.9 million dollar capacity building initiative for the American Public Health Association. Prior to APHA, Regina worked on health education efforts for the federal government; a multimedia health information service for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation; and one of the first U.S. studies to investigate the prevalence of uterine fibroid tumors. She also served as a Public Health Service Fellow in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. Regina’s research interests include women’s reproductive health and adolescent sexual responsibility. In addition to school, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, reading, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

Ada Determan, a first year Maternal and Child Health doctoral student, is originally from Arlington, VA. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia and her M.P.H. in Health Promotion-Disease Prevention from George Washington University. Ada has worked for a public health consulting firm on issues related to substance abuse and treatment, for a research center focused on diabetes interventions and complications, and for the federal government on program areas focused on improving the health of underserved populations.Ada’s current research interests include hearing loss in children, quality improvement in health systems, and the effects of policies on maternal and child health. During her free time, Ada enjoys spending time with her husband and two children (ages 2 & 5), getting together with friends, attending area festivals and events, playing outdoors, and occasionally making it to the gym for Zumba.

Lauren Doamekpor is a first year Maternal and Child Health Ph.D. student from Ghana. She was born in Jerusalem and grew up on the island of Cyprus. She earned her B.A. in Biology from Brandeis University in Massachusetts and her M.P.H. in Maternal and Child Health from The George Washington University. Laurén has always been interested in health research and has had the opportunity to work in a variety of different settings. She has worked at Brigham and Women’s hospital conducting clinical research on circadian rhythms and cardiovascular health and also has experience working in Ghana at the University of Ghana’s Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER) on various needs assessments and program development projects. Most recently, Laurén worked with the Health Policy Department at GWU on issues surrounding immunization policy, women’s reproductive health, and implementation plans for D.C. Medicaid and sister agencies. Her current research interests include the social determinants of sexual and reproductive health, particularly with respect to decision making and autonomy. Laurén’s special interests include all reality television shows, traveling, foosball, and she is a budding master chef who enjoys cooking in her spare time. .

Laura Evans, a third year Family Science doctoral candidate, received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware where she majored in Psychology and minored in Women’s Studies. She earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from UMCP. During her undergraduate career, Laura participated in a research study on adolescent-parent attachment in which she became interested in stress biomarkers, including cortisol. She also worked with survivors of sexual assault, providing crisis counseling and participating in medical advocacy projects. While completing her Master’s degree, Laura was involved with the Couples Abuse Prevention Program, and taught undergraduate students how to code couple behavior patterns. She used this data and information from couples receiving therapy to complete her master’s thesis, “Partner Positive Behavior and Recipient Satisfaction in Mild to Moderately Abusive Couples as Moderated by Attachment Style.” Currently, Laura is investigating how couple relationship context influences the perception of positive behaviors received from one’s partner. In addition to her interests in couple relationships, Laura is interested in how stress and trauma influence parenting, and how family relationships influence coping and recovery from stressful and traumatic events. She has specific interests in treating sexual trauma and eating disorders. Upon completion of the doctoral program, Laura hopes to continue conducting research, teaching, and working with clients.

Patty Fanflik is a third year Family Science doctoral candidate and a native of Maryland. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University, a Master's of Science in Human Development and Family Science from Kansas State University, and a Master's of Arts in Sociology from Southern Illinois University. Patty spent six years as deputy director of the Office of Research and Evaluation at the National District Attorneys Association/American Prosecutors Research Institute. In this role, she served as senior researcher for studies designed to document promising practices and programs among local and state prosecutors, as well as to assess the impact of emerging crime issues on the criminal justice system. Recent studies she worked on include: the examination of prosecutor-led reentry initiatives for formally incarcerated persons; the effectiveness of sexual assault nurse examiner programs; human trafficking; and victim responses to sexual violence and how juries interpret victim behaviors. She was also invited to the United Arab Emirates as a member of an international team of researchers to assess criminal justice practices. Patty's research experience has included large-scale national surveys, experimental and quasi-experimental investigations, and qualitative case studies. She is also a trained marriage and family therapist and is currently volunteering at the Sexual Assault Center at Prince George’s Hospital Center to assist victims during forensic exams and court proceedings. Her research interests include the interface of law and mental health issues, family and individual coping strategies following violent crime; family violence, and forensic interviewing in cases of child sexual abuse. Outside of school and work, Patty loves traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and having fun outdoors with her dog, Piggy.

Nicole Finkbeiner is a second year Family Science doctoral student from Levittown, PA. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a B.S in Psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies. She earned a M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Maryland College Park. Nicole has worked at Saint Mary’s County Detention Center, serving as a liaison between incarcerated individuals and various criminal justice organizations. This past summer she worked on nutrition education research with Family Science faculty. Nicole’s current research interests include couple relationships, family violence, gay fathering, and sexuality. When not working or studying, she enjoys watching the Philadelphia Eagles, reading, watching movies, spending time with her friends and boyfriend, and going to dueling piano shows.

Megan Fitzgerald, a fourth year Family Science doctoral candidate, earned her Master's degree in Family Science from UMCP. Prior to beginning graduate school, Megan worked as a researcher on several projects, including substance abuse among women, arrestees, and juveniles; immigrant families; and the Safe Start Initiative with the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Megan's Master's thesis explored cultural values, acculturation, and parental involvement as predictors of Latino youth engagement in extracurricular activities. Her current research interests include substance abuse prevention, ethnic families, and family violence. Megan teachers a required undergraduate Family Science course, FMSC 383, Delivery of Human Services to Families.

Lindsey Hoskins, a fourth year Family Science doctoral candidate, received her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in our department in 2005 and her B.S. in Family Science and Human Development from the University of Arizona in 2002. As an undergraduate, Lindsey planned on pursuing a Master's degree in genetic counseling, but her plans changed when she participated in a semester-long study abroad program at the Centre for Counseling and Psychotherapy Education in London, England, and became interested in marriage and family therapy as a career goal. Lindsey developed a further passion for teaching when she worked as a high school science and math teacher in the spring of 2003. She is excited about the combination of therapy and academia that her dual graduate degrees will afford her. Lindsey especially enjoys working with young couples and families dealing with or at risk for disease. Her research interests include social support and communication in families with hereditary cancer syndromes and mental health outcomes related to living with genetic risk for serious illness. Currently, Lindsey has a fellowship at the Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute. There, she is conducting her dissertation research on young women with BRCA 1/2 mutations (which predispose women to breast and ovarian cancer at young ages), investigating how knowledge of a positive mutation status at an early age influences the formation and maintenance of couple relationships, decisions about childbearing, and risk-reducing surgeries. Her work has been published in several scholarly journals and she has been invited to speak at national conferences on this topic. Lindsey works under the direction of Mark Greene, MD, Chief of the Clinical Genetics Branch at the National Cancer Institute.

Katie Hrapczynski, a second year Family Science doctoral student, is originally from Malvern, PA. She graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Psychology, a Certificate in Human Development, and a minor in Sociology. She earned a M.S. in Couple and Family Therapy at the University of Maryland College Park. Katie has won a Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, N.I.C.H.D. She also worked as a Residential Leader at the Good Shepherd Center in Baltimore and as a research assistant at the University of Delaware. Her current research interests include family and individual transitions, adoption, foster care, parent-child relationships, and attachment. Outside the University, she loves music and drama, working out, and spending time with family and friends.

April McDowell is a third year Family Science doctoral candidate. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies from UNC-Greensboro and her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from UMCP. During her undergraduate career, April worked as a research assistant on a longitudinal study investigating continuity in parent/young adult relationships published in the Journal of Families Issues in 2008. She also worked with a campus-based volunteer organization to teach low-income Mexican-American families how to use basic English language skills to access local community services. As a Masters student, April worked with Dr. Kevin Roy to code qualitative life history interviews from several fatherhood datasets. Her Masters thesis focused on men's perceptions of social support from their partners during incarceration and community reentry, and how these perceptions shaped their co-parenting and intimate partner relationships. As a doctoral student, April is working with Dr. Jaslean LaTaillade on a variety of research projects focused on Black and multiracial couples in the U.S. She combined the findings from her Masters thesis with her current work to give a symposium presentation at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in Philadelphia in November of 2007. Currently, her primary research interests include social support within American families affected by chronic illness, and couple relationships within Black and multiracial families.

Ui Jeong Moon is a first year Family Science Ph.D. student from Korea. She earned her B.A. in Home Economics and Child Welfare & Studies from Sookmyung Women’s University, in Seoul, Korea. She earned her Masters in Education, Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin. She has worked as a research assistant on a project about Chinese immigrant families at the University of Texas and as a social worker in Korea. Her current research interests include child and adolescent development, academic achievement, well-being, and health in immigrant families.

Liz Davenport Pollock, a fifth year Family Science doctoral student, received her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in our department in 2006 and her BA in Political Science and History from Rice University in 2004. Liz planned on pursuing a career in politics and worked at the White House where she realized that what she loved about politics were the stories about people and the relationships. After spending two terms studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Lizcame to the University of Maryland to pursue her Master's and PhD with her passion for relationships and health already developed. While completing her PhD, Liz has enjoyed being a therapist specializing in adolescents and their families and enjoys running a therapeutic recreation program that combines psycho-educational workshops and outdoor adventures. Liz has especially enjoyed her teaching experiences in the Department and hopes to find a future career where she can combine her passion for therapy, research and teaching. Her research interests are health and relationships, body weight, obesity, overweight and families, andhealth disparities. Liz is currently working on her dissertation at the Uniformed Services University Center for Health Disparities in their Human Performance Laboratory examining African American family dynamics and stress. In addition, she has her personal training certification from the American Council on Exercise and enjoys working out and helping others achieve their goals.

Angela Pinzon is a fourth year doctoral candidate. She has a MD degree from Unversidad del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia (1997) and a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University (2000). She did her medical internship in child psychiatry. Since 2002 she is a tenure-track professor at the Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, where she will return upon graduation. Angela has also been the Editor of the “Revista de Ciencias de la Salud” (Colombia), and worked as a Research Assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Her research interests include child health, child abuse, child labor and children’s rights. She received a Fulbright Faculty Development Grant for her doctoral study at the University of Maryland and last year she received first prize in the 2006 Biennial Competition of Pediatrics in the Americas (a program to stimulate physician research on child health in Latin America). She enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters, Maria and Helena.

Elise Resnick is a third year Family Science doctoral student and hails from Cleveland, Ohio. She received her bachelor’s degree in screenwriting from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1998 and her Masters in Marital and Family Therapy from UMCP in 2008. Elise worked at the Advisory Board Company in Washington, DC, as a Research Specialist, completing strategic research for hospitals and health systems worldwide. She also worked at the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) as the manager of their policy department at the national headquarters in Arlington, VA. She worked on federal legislation advocating for the rights of those with mental illnesses. Elise was drawn to the mental health field, and she liked the idea of working with families and couples from a systems perspective. During her time in the program, Elise has enjoyed learning therapeutic techniques and models, seeing a wide range of clients, and spending time with her classmates. Elise has been married for five years to Jaime, and they live in Silver Spring. She enjoys traveling, shopping, cooking, and watching reality TV.

Kate Riera, a fourth year Family Science doctoral candidate, is originally from New Jersey. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Master's in Psychological Services; she earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Spanish from Muhlenburg College in Allentown, PA. Kate's current research interests include ethnic families, interracial couples, parenting, and adolescent pregnancy. She is currently working with Dr. Braun, FMSC Associate Professor, on Project FRESH, a research study investigating low-income children's consumption of fruits and vegetables. Kate has taught FMSC 332, Children in Families since the Spring of 2008. Upon earning her doctoral degree, Kate hopes to seek a position in academia. When not researching and teaching, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters (ages 2 and 5), gardening, and cooking.

Barbara Jones Singer, a second year Maternal and Child Health doctoral student, is originally from Annapolis, MD. In her undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland College Park, she earned a B.S. in Community Health Education. She also earned a M.S.P.H. in Maternal and Child Health and a MSW in Health and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents, at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Barbara has worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the office of Refugee Resettlement, and at the Health Resources and Services Administration. Her current research interests are adolescent health, sexual decision-making, and prevention of HIV and STIs. Outside of academia, she likes to do Yoga, and she likes gardening.

Jocelyn Smith is a second year Family Science doctoral student, and she is originally from Norristown, PA. She earned a B.A. in Psychology at Hampton University in Hampton, VA. After, she earned a M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland College Park. She had prior work experience as a scholar researcher at N.I.M.H. Career Opportunities in Research. She has worked as a clerical/administrative assistant and as a Family Therapist for the private practice of Sonja Williams in Largo, MD. She also worked as an Electronic Records Administrator for AAMFT in Alexandria, VA. Her research interests are African American family systems, African American parenting/fathering, A.A. couple relationships, and A.A. parent-child relationships. Jocelyn’s hobbies include spending time with family and friends, reading, and watching reality TV.

Kate Speirs, a fourth year Family Science doctoral candidate, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College and her Master's degree from the University of Connecticut. Her current research interests include motherhood and child care. Since Fall 2006, Kate has worked with Dr. Roy, an FMSC assistant professor, using ethnographic data from Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Study, specifically investigating low-income mothers' decisions about child care and the transitions they must endure to receive adequate child care. This summer, Kate is also working with Drs. Anderson and Braun , both FMSC professors, on a grant proposal about childhood obesity and children's consumption of fruits and vegetables. After graduation, Kate hopes to use her degree to earn a position at a research or public policy think tank. Outside of school, she enjoys running, hiking, playing tennis, and reading.

Tiffani Stevenson, a first year Family Science doctoral student, is a graduate of the CFT Masters program. She is from Fruit Heights, Utah, and she graduated with honors from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she assisted in research exploring the link between immigration and heart health, and she also conducted research for her honors thesis which investigated the theoretical implications of a theistic approach to psychotherapy. She spent 4 months in Romania where she conducted qualitative research and provided therapy for institutionalized children with developmental disorders, and 18 months in Venezuela where she worked as a missionary helping families and individuals with both spiritual and temporal needs. Upon graduating with her degree, Tiffani hopes to go abroad to help families, while also continuing to do research about spirituality and therapy. Outside of school, Tiffani enjoys singing, playing the guitar and piano, practicing yoga, running, outdoor activities, and spending time with people she loves.

Colleen Vesely, a fourth year Family Science doctoral candidate. earned her Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Science from Colorado State University and her Master's degree in the same subjects from the University of Connecticut. Colleen's current research interests focus on immigrant families and specifically, how Central American parents’ create and secure social capital for their children and families. Colleen recently conducted a small qualitative study of 10 Central American women who currently live in the DC Metro area, to explore the experiences of motherhood in the context of immigration to a large metropolitan area. Colleen hopes to continue related qualitative research in her dissertation. Additionally, Colleen is utilizing the New Immigrant Survey to quantitatively explore issues of education and health among immigrant families. Colleen remains involved in research led by Dr. Kevin Roy, utilizing the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine the association between parental involvement during adolescence and young adulthood, and young adult sons’ outcomes related to education and employment. Outside of the University, Colleen remains active with the Montgomery County, Maryland affiliate of Habitat for Humanity where she serves as a family partner to new Habitat homeowners. Also, Colleen teaches English for Students of Other Languages (ESOL) through Linkages to Learning in Silver Spring, to parents living in Montgomery County. After earning her doctoral degree, Colleen hopes secure a position as a faculty member at an academic institution where she will continue her work with immigrant families. When she's not studying and doing research, Colleen enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, running, reading, and hiking.

Damian Waters, a first year Family Science doctoral student, is a graduate of the Couple and Family Therapy masters program. He graduated with his Bachelor's degree from Georgetown University. While there, he had the opportunity to work as a hotline counselor, providing clinical support for people who were in crisis and/or feeling suicidal. After graduation, Damian pursued his interest in counseling as a New York City Teaching Fellow, in which he was able to work with emotionally disturbed high school students in the Bronx. Damian's current clinical interests focus on African American families, particularly fathers. Eventually, he aspires to be a faculty member at a university where he can pursue new research on African American fathers' interactions and involvement with their children. He hopes to use findings from this research to develop programs and initiatives that would encourage low-income fathers to become actively involved in their children's lives. Outside of school, Damian remains busy as an active member of his church, reading about early church history, teaching GED classes, cooking, and studying Brazilian Jujitsu.

Kranti Vora, a second year Maternal and Child Health doctoral student, is originally from India. She earned a M.D. in Obstetrics and Gynecology at B. J. College in Ahmedabbad, India. She then attended Johns Hopkins School of Public Health where she earned a MPH. Kranti’s current research interests include the effects of policies and health systems on maternal and child health. She has worked with the government and management institutes as a clinician. In her free time she likes traveling and reading. She also loves spending time with her 20 month old daughter.

Couple and Family Therapy Students

Kathryn Beck is a first year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from West Chester, Pennsylvania. She earned a B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in Education, from Cornell University. She previously worked as a peer counselor in the Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Services (EARS) program at Cornell University. Her clinical interests include working with children in play therapy models. In her spare time, she enjoys running, the beach, baking, the Denver Broncos, and her kitten and dog, Reesie and Suki.

Adam Brekenridge is a first year Couple and Therapy masters student from Annapolis, Maryland. He earned a B.S. in Communication Studies from Towson University. He has previously worked as a Youth Pastor, as well other varied work experiences. His current research interests revolve around communication within marriage and romantic relationships. His special interests include photography- he owns his own photography business!

Jessica Brenneman is a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from York, Pennsylvania. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Millersville University. She previously worked as a sexual assault advocate and peer educator for the YWCA and a milieu manager in a partial behavioral healthcare program working with children who have disruptive behavior disorders. Jessica’s research interests include feminist family therapy and theory, family violence, gender roles in relationships, and behavior disorders in children. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, cooking, organic farming and being outdoors, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and exploring new places.

Rachel Chazen, a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student, is originally from North Potomac, Maryland. She earned a B.S. in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University. Rachel worked as an intern at the Center for Marriage and Family Therapy and was a Child Mentor for the Children’s Home Society in Tallahassee, FL. Her research interests include adolescence and parent-child relationships. Rachel enjoys being creative, taking photographs and making collages.

Emily Tinling Cook is a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from Montgomery Village, Maryland. She earned a B.A. with Highest Honors in Psychology from Emory University, and wrote her Honors Thesis on relations between parent-adolescent conflict and relationship quality. She plans to continue to the UMCP Ph.D. program in Family Science. Emily is also a Research Administration Assistant at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. She has an interest in researching the impact of deployment on military families and military couple issues. Emily enjoys hikes with her dog Piedmont, traveling, sunshine, and spending time with her husband and friends.

Tracie Cox is a first year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from Alachua, Florida. She earned a B.A. in Social Psychology from Florida Atlantic University. She has worked as an Orientation and Welcome Leader at Florida Atlantic University and as a store model at GITI. Her research interests include communication in marital relationships as compared to dating and cohabitating couples. She is also interested in researching barriers to communication. Her special interests include running, reading, sewing, crochet, and she enjoys dance and theater.

Ciara Dresser is a first year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from Jacksonville Beach, Florida. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She has worked as a crisis counselor at Wellplace, where she performed debriefings for railroad employees who had been involved in critical incidents, and assisted with a suicidal crisis line, as well as a substance abuse hotline. She has also been a clinical intern at The Acadia Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Bangor, Maine. Her research interests focus on Latino families. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, sailing, martial arts, traveling, and speaking Spanish.

Jennifer Fang is a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from State College, Pennsylvania. Jennifer plans to continue in the UMCP Ph.D. program in Family Science. She earned a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State and served as a research assistant in the Emerging Adulthood Project, Family Relationships Project: Helping Examine African-American Relationship Traits. Jennifer is interested in researching interracial couple relationships, extended family and kinship relationships, military families and couple relations upon return from deployment, Family Intervention programs and policy, couple conflict resolution techniques, and work and family balance strategies. In her free time, she enjoys ballroom dancing, both socially and competitively, photography, shopping, reading, and outdoor walks.

Dawnyea Jackson is a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student. She earned a B.S. in Family Science from UMCP and is originally from Baltimore, Maryland. Dawnyéa previously worked as an abortion counselor at the Planned Parenthood of Maryland. She was also a writing consultant and a research intern for the Washington Center for Psychiatry. Dawnyéa’s research interests include interracial couples and the parenting of biracial and multiracial children. Her hobbies include shopping, reality T.V., going to nice restaurants, spending time with friends and her little sister, and supporting Barack Obama.

India James-Gaskins is a first year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from Shaker Heights, Ohio. She earned a B.A. in Sociology from Hampton University. She previously worked at an internship with a Crisis Counselor at a public high school in Virginia, where she was responsible for counseling students and for facilitating group enrichment sessions and mediations. Her research interests include the resiliency of African American males in higher education, the relationship between family socialization and gender disparities in education with African Americans, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her special interests include drug and alcohol rehabilitation, criminology, and a wide range of documentaries.

Kirsten Jimerson, a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student, is originally from North Potomac, MD. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington in VA with a B.S. in Psychology. Kiri has had prior work experience as an intern for Family Preservation Services in VA and as a Behavioral Therapist for children with autism. Her current research interests are strengthening families and the effects of divorce on the individualsinvolved. In her free time, Kiri likes playing her guitar, playing field hockey, working out, traveling- especially to Spanish speaking countries, babysitting, and spending time with her family and friends. Additionally, she has studied abroad in Ecuador and Peru and had a lovely summer being a live-in nanny for a family in the Hamptons.

Leanne Juzaitis, a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student, is originally from Los Alamos, New Mexico. She earned two B.A. degrees from University of California, Davis in Psychology and History. Leanne has worked as a behavior therapist for children with autism and is interested in working with families who have a member with special needs. Leanne is also interested in low income parent education. She enjoys traveling, experiencing new things and places, reading, music, history, people, and animals.

Adam G. Lowe is a first year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from Burke, Virginia. He earned a B.S. in Psychology with a cognitive science focus and a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from James Madison University. Prior to coming to UMD, Adam worked at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. His research interests include communication between couples, sex therapy, and adolescent issues. Adam enjoys playing guitar, watching movies, seeing the Nats play, reading, writing and traveling.

Lauren Messina is a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student. She is originally from New Rochelle, NY, and she graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Communications. She has worked as an Advertising Account Coordinator at EHC Communications Inc. and as a counselor at a behavioral therapy day camp for children with ADHD. Her research interests include parenting skills training and classes, the dynamics of households with fulltime working parents, and sex education and pregnancy prevention programs. In her free time she loves traveling, good food, organic living, and kickboxing.

Ashley Eberhart Munger is a first year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from southwestern Pennsylvania. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Grove City College. She previously worked as a research intern at an intensive trauma therapy center, and she participated in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates at Oklahoma State University. Ashley’s research interests include poverty, feminist theories, violence, and mental health. In her spare time, she enjoys literature, running, yoga, and traveling with her husband.

Erin Leeland Nes, is a second year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from Houston, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Spanish and American Studies. Erin volunteered as an intake and referral specialist for the Montgomery County Commission for Women Counseling and Career Center. Her research interests include Latino families, substance abuse issues, feminist theories, and families of people who have experienced Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Erin enjoys traveling with her husband, spinning, reading novels, spending time with her pug Rosa, and trying new restaurants with friends.

Spencer Northey is a first year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from Charlotte, North Carolina. She attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology and Drama. She has previously worked as a research assistant at the UNC Center for Developmental Sciences and as a residential treatment counselor at Concern of Durham. Her therapeutic interests include creativity in therapy and creative relationships. Her special interests include music, theater, and environmentalism

Brittany Rzepkowski is a second year Couple and Family Therapy Student from Severna Park, Maryland. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from East Carolina University and worked as a teaching assistant in the Psychology department. Brittany also has experience as a nanny. Her research interests include couples and intimacy and marriage counseling. Brittany enjoys scrapbooking, spending time with her family, reading and cheering the Baltimore Ravens to victory.

Kara Savory is a first year Couple and Family Therapy masters student from Burtonsville, Maryland. At the University of Maryland she earned a B.A. in Sociology and a B.S. in Family Science. While working on her undergraduate degree, Kara was involved with the Couples Abuse Prevention Program, conducting research and coding couple behavior patterns. Over the past year she has worked with Montgomery County CASA, where she volunteered as an advocate in the legal system for abused and neglected children. Her research interests include the impact of deployment on military families and domestic violence issues within the couple. She is also interested in couples and intimacy, as well as extended family relationships and fathering. She loves yoga, traveling, spending time at the beach, being outside and vacationing at her family home in Maine. She also enjoys reading novels, spending time with her family, friends and boyfriend, as well as cheering on Capitals Hockey and Maryland and Redskins football.

Sherylls Valladares is a first year Couple and Family Therapy Student. She was born in Honduras, but was raised in Los Angeles, California. Sherylls earned her B.A. in Pyschology and Spanish from Pomona College in Claremont, California. She worked as a research assistant at Child Trends in Washington, DC, a nonprofit research organization that focuses on outcomes for children. Her current research interests include how couple interactions and sibling relationships buffer conflict in families. She is also interested in therapy with Latino families and the ways in which culture influences therapy processes and outcomes. In her spare time, Sherylls enjoys watching movies, reading magazines, cooking, going for mini-adventures on the weekends, spending time with her boyfriend and friends, and visiting family when possible.

Kailee Yost is a second year Couple and Family therapy masters student. She is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and earned a B.A. in Psychology from Ohio University. Kailee spent two years working in rural Appalachian elementary schools administering surveys to children with and without behavior disorders. She also served as a research assistant in the Youths Experiencing Success in School (Y.E.S.S.) lab at Ohio University. Kailee’s current research interests include domestic violence, psychopathology in families, intimacy in couples, and ADHD. She enjoys music, reading, hiking, being outdoors, animals, spending quality time with her friends and family and following the Steelers.