CSCH Affiliates

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Rebecca Acabchuk

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Psychological Sciences

Mindfulness-based programs to improve mental health, resilience & self-compassion: Diverse populations & athletes

Keywords: BCTs, concussion, mental health, meta-analysis, mindfulness

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessHealth EducationHealth ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Jorge Agüero

Associate Professor

Economics and El Instituto

Focused on socioeconomic factors affecting school learning and health behaviors in developing countries

Keywords: developing countries, Health behaviors, school learning, Test

Family EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and Services

Mariana Alfonso Fragomeni

Assistant Professor

Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

I am an urban designer and climatologist focused on heat vulnerability, human health, and climate-oriented design

Keywords: heat vulnerability, human bioclimatology, urban design

Community InvolvementHealth EducationPhysical Environment

Tatiana Andreyeva

Associate Professor

Agricultural and Resource Economics, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Focused on economic policies to improve food choices and prevent chronic disease and obesity

Keywords: child care, child nutrition programs, fiscal policy, obesity

Nutrition Environment and Services

Nneka Arinze

Recent Graduate

Educational Leadership (Neag)

My research concerns the influences on youth sport and physical activity participation, particularly among girls

Keywords: adolescent, girls, Physical Activity, relationships

Physical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Abiodun Atoloye

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

I am a public health researcher with interest in the connection between food environment and nutrition outcomes

Keywords: Behavior, Food Access, Food Environment, Spatial Analysis

Community InvolvementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Environment

Joel Behar

Medical Psychotherapist

Independent mental health practitioner

Independent mental health practitioner committed to discovering and utilizing most effective SEL tools in practice

Keywords: Creative, Inspiring, Translational, Youth/family advocacy

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Patricia Bellamy-Mathis

Assistant Director for Programming and Partnerships

Educational Leadership (Neag), UConn Husky Sport

The impact of Sport Based Youth Development on elementary school students’ health and wellness, as well as school-wide climate & culture

Keywords: Climate/Culture, Social Work, Sport-Based Youth Development

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Margaret Bennett

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Indiana University, Kinsey Institute

Health & Interpersonal Communication Researcher focusing in affectionate and sexual communication

Keywords: health communication, Interpersonal communication

Health EducationSocial and Emotional Climate

S. Megan Berthold

Associate Professor and Director of Field Education

School of Social Work

Focused on the human rights and well-being of torture survivors, refugees, and asylum seekers

Keywords: child migrants, human rights, refugees, torture survivors

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social Services

Aliza Boritz

Graduate Student

Educational Leadership (Neag)

Liza is a PhD student in education focusing on health policy and is staff in the Office of Undergraduate Research

Keywords: College Health, Health Education, health policy, Women's Health

Health Education

Jeana Bracey

Associate Vice President of School and Community Initiatives

Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut

Dr. Bracey’s expertise is in school mental health, juvenile justice diversion, and systems development

Keywords: community partnerships, mental health, schools

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Melissa Bray

Professor

Educational Psychology (Neag)

Professor Bray’s research interests are in the area of mind body health interventions, mainly for cancer and asthma

Keywords: Asthma, Cancer, Interventions, Mind Body Health

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesHealth EducationPhysical Education and Physical ActivityPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Alaina Brenick

Assistant Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences

Expert in experience of, reasoning about, and response to bias-biased victimization and soc-ecological intervention

Keywords: Bias-based victimization, Intergroup relations, intervention

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Margaret Briggs-Gowan

Associate Professor

Psychiatry, UConn Health

I am on the faculty at UConn Health and study the mental health of young children.

Keywords: biobehavioral, mental health, trauma, young children

Family EngagementHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Douglas Brugge

Professor, Chair

Public Health Sciences, UConn Health

I head the Department of Public Health Science and conduct research on environmental health

Keywords: air pollution, Cardiovascular Health, CBPR, Environmental Epi

Community InvolvementHealth EducationPhysical Environment

Jeffrey Burke

Associate Professor

Psychological Sciences

I study the disruptive behavior disorders and factors that affect service engagement by parents and families

Keywords: Chronic Irritability, Disruptive Behavior, Help-seeking

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Lisa Butler

Associate Research Professor

Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP)

Maternal-Child and Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment and Child Nutrition and Development in sub-Saharan Africa

Keywords: child health, HIV, maternal health, Media, mHealth

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Jacqueline Caemmerer

Assistant Professor

Educational Psychology (Neag)

Interested in social, family, & cognitive influences on achievement, assessment, quantitative methods

Keywords: Academic Achievement, assessment, quantitative analysis

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Rebecca Campbell-Montalvo

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Curriculum and Instruction (Neag)

Focused on linguistic, racial, and ethnic group K-12 school equity and underrepresented engineering undergraduates

Keywords: Anthropology, Engineering Undergrads, Equity, K-12 Education

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Eileen Carter

Assistant Professor

School of Nursing

I am a health services researcher with interest in implementation science and antibiotic stewardship

Keywords: antibiotic resistance, implementation science, mixed-methods

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth Services

Nicole Casbarro

APRN, FNP-C and Doctor of Nursing Practice Candidate

Community Health Center, Inc., UConn School of Nursing

School Gardens Wellness programs, Fruit and Vegetable Intake in school age children, childhood obesity

Keywords: childhood obesity, Food Justice & Insecurity, School Gardens

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth Services

Jenn Cavallari

Associate Professor

Public Health Sciences, UConn School of Medicine

Professor at UConn Health with focus on protecting worker well-being through epidemiology and intervention research

Keywords: epidemiology, Interventions, stress, worker well-being

Employee WellnessPhysical Environment

Sandra Chafouleas

Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Neag Endowed Professor

Educational Psychology (Neag)

Dr. Chafouleas serves as CSCH Co-Director, with primary expertise in school mental health and behavior assessment.

Keywords: Data-Based Decision Making, School Mental Health, WSCC

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Clewiston Challenger

Associate Professor of Practice

Rutgers University, Graduate School of Education

Professor of Practice in the School Counseling and Counseling Psychology program; CACREP Coordinator

Keywords: College Adjustment, College Transition, Sense of Belonging/Inclusion, Student Athletes

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Rocio Chang

Assistant Professor

Psychiatry, UConn Health

Focused on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of psychological trauma in children, adolescents and adults

Keywords: coping, developmental trauma, emotional dysregulation, PTSD

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Rachel Chazan Cohen

Associate Professor and Director of Early Childhood

Human Development and Family Sciences

Dr. Chazan Cohen studies how early childhood programs support children’s development and family well-being

Keywords: early childhood programs, infants/toddler, Parenting, Policy

Family EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Sijia (Sonia) Chen

Graduate Student

Agricultural and Resource Economics

Ph.D. student researching policy, social-economic and environmental impacts on birth outcomes and child health

Keywords: environment, Health Disparity, Infant Health, mental health

Family EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivityPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Casey Cobb

Professor of Educational Policy

Educational Leadership (Neag)

Examines education policies and their implications for educational equity

Keywords: Desegregation, Equity, leadership, Policy, School choice

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Melissa Collier-Meek

Assistant Professor

UMass Boston, Counseling and School Psychology

Assistant Professor at University of Massachusetts Boston focused on intervention fidelity assessment and support

Keywords: implementation science, intervention fidelity

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessSocial and Emotional Climate

Eileen Condon

Assistant Professor

School of Nursing

Understanding and preventing childhood adversity and toxic stress

Keywords: child health, Health Equity, Parenting, resilience, stress

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Xiamei Cong

Professor and Director

School of Nursing and Center for Advancement in Managing Pain

Focused on bio-behavioral pain and stress assessment and management, brain-gut-microbiome mechanism in health

Keywords: genomics, neurodevelopment, pain, self-management, stress

Family EngagementHealth EducationHealth Services

Joanne Conover

Professor

Physiology and Neurobiology

Keywords: developmental neurobiology, neurogenesis, stem cell biology

Health Education

Kristen Cooksey Stowers

Assistant Professor

Allied Health Sciences

I study how to achieve equitable macro- and micro-level food environments through policy and community engagement

Keywords: Food Environments, Food Insecurity, Health Equity, Policy

Community InvolvementHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and Services

Deborah Cornman

Associate Director & Associate Research Professor

Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP)

Foster multidisciplinary collaborations as InCHIP Associate Director and conduct health behavior change research

Keywords: Health Behavior, Intervention Development, Treatment Adherence

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessHealth EducationHealth Services

Shayna Cunningham

Assistant Professor

Public Health Sciences, UConn Health

My research focuses on social determinants of health impacting maternal child health outcomes

Keywords: CBPR, health disparities, implementation science, MCH

Community InvolvementHealth EducationHealth Services

Brooke Davey

Assistant Professor, Fetal and Pediatric Cardiologist

University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Connecticut Children's

My focus is to identify social determinants of health impacting clinical outcomes in congenital heart disease

Keywords: Congenital cardiology, health disparities, Social determinants

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Ido Davidesco

Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences

Educational Psychology (Neag)

Engaging students in investigations of their own brain health and wellness

Keywords: Health Education, Neuroscience, STEM education

Community InvolvementHealth Education

Shardé Davis

Assistant Professor

Communication

Dr. Davis’s research examines how Black women’s complex identities influence their communication with others

Keywords: Gender, Identity, intergroup/interpersonal dynamics, Race

Community InvolvementHealth EducationSocial and Emotional Climate

Johanna deLeyer-Tiarks

Assistant Professor

Adelphi University, School Psychology Program, Derner School of Psychology

I research self-modeling, mind-body health, and virtual reality interventions to promote positive outcomes

Keywords: LGBTQ, Mind Body Health, Minority Stress, Transition Planning

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Erin DeMaio

Graduate Student

Educational Psychology (Neag)

Focused on implementing new ways to promote student success while creating a healthy, positive school climate

Keywords: child health, Climate/Culture, Help-seeking, School Services

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Laurie Devaney

Instructor

Kinesiology

Focused on cervical spine and upper extremity injury prevention, assessment, and best practice management

Keywords: Cervical spine, injury risk, measure, overhead athletes

Health ServicesPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Jennifer Necci Dineen

Associate Professor in Residence

Public Policy

Survey methodologist with experience surveying children, parents/guardians, educators, and medical professionals

Keywords: public opinion, stakeholder attitudes, surveys

Community InvolvementEmployee WellnessSocial and Emotional Climate

Lindsay DiStefano

Professor

Kinesiology

Focused on promoting youth physical activity by preventing musculoskeletal injury and developing physical literacy

Keywords: physical literacy, sports injuries, youth athletes

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Shaun Dougherty

Associate Professor

Vanderbilt University, Public Policy &
Education

Dr. Dougherty’s research focuses on the impacts of educational policies and programs on student outcomes

Keywords: Education Policy, Public Policy, quantitative analysis

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Valerie Duffy

Professor

Allied Health Sciences

Professor focused on taste, food preference, healthy eating, and obesity prevention in cross-disciplinary research

Keywords: food preference, healthy eating, obesity, prevention, taste

Community InvolvementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and Services

Alicia Dugan

Assistant Professor

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, UConn Health

I am an Assistant Professor at UConn Health and my research focuses on worker health, stress, and work-life balance

Keywords: Interventions, stress, work-life balance, worker health

Community InvolvementEmployee WellnessSocial and Emotional Climate

Carrie Eaton

Assistant Professor / Director, Simulation-Based Education

School of Nursing

Director of Simulation Education

Keywords: Disordered Eating, Eating Disorders, OB Nursing

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivityPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Caitlin Elsaesser

Associate Professor

School of Social Work

Dr. Elsaesser’s work focuses on the correlates and consequences of traumatic experiences among adolescent youth

Keywords: adolescence, community violence, cyberbullying, trauma

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Justin Evanovich

Assistant Clinical Professor / Managing Director, Husky Sport

Educational Leadership (Neag)

Leadership of campus-community partnership and service-learning courses centering equity and justice through sport

Keywords: College Student Development, Sport-Based Youth Development

Community InvolvementHealth EducationPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Megan Feely

Assistant Professor

School of Social Work

Megan Feely is a social work professor who specializes in the study of child maltreatment prevention

Keywords: child maltreatment prevention, child well-being

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth Services

Michele Femc-Bagwell

Associate Professor in Residence

Educational Leadership (Neag)

Engaged scholarship focuses on family and community engagement in schools

Keywords: community, family, teacher/ leadership stress and wellness

Community InvolvementEmployee WellnessFamily Engagement

Eleanor Fisk

Graduate Student

Human Development and Family Sciences

Graduate student researching the processes of and community and policy influences on early childhood development

Keywords: child policy, Early care and education, school readiness

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Julian Ford

Professor and Director

Psychiatry, UConn Health, Center for Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorder and Center for Trauma Recovery &
Juvenile Justice

Clinical and epidemiological research on complex PTSD

Keywords: PTSD, trauma

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Alice Forrester

CEO

Clifford Beers Clinic

CBC is a family integrated mental health clinic that provides office based as well in the community services

Keywords: adverse childhood experiences, family, integrated, trauma

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationSocial and Emotional Climate

Tammy Freeberg

Vice President

The Village for Families &
Children

Organizational strategy and development focused on behavioral health, child welfare, and family strengthening

Keywords: child and family services, program development

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Kim Gans

Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences

Studies interventions in home, work, school, childcare and community settings to prevent obesity in diverse groups

Keywords: Diversity, family, Interventions, nutrition, Physical Activity

Community InvolvementEmployee WellnessFamily EngagementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivityPhysical Environment

Adrian Garcia-Sierra

Assistant Professor

Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Development of infants’ and adults’ speech perception and its relationship to social/linguistic input and language

Keywords: Bilingualism, language development, Speech processing

Family EngagementHealth EducationPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Nicholas Gelbar

Associate Research Professor

Educational Psychology (Neag)

Dr. Gelbar is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology

Keywords: 2e, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disabilities

Counseling, Psychological and Social Services

Golda Ginsburg

Professor

Psychiatry, UConn Health

Professor of Psychiatry researching assessment and interventions for youth with anxiety & related difficulties

Keywords: anxiety, school-based, treatment

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily Engagement

Jessica Goldstein

Principal

Boulevard Research Partners LLC

Program evaluator and technical writer with expertise in assessment and early childhood education

Keywords: Data-Based Decision Making, K-12, Strategic Communications

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Patricia Grace-Farfaglia

Clinical Associate Professor

Sacred Heart Univeristy, Health Sciences

Director MS in Clinical Nutrition at Sacred Heart University, and UConn adjunct; research is diet and disease

Keywords: ehealth, GI disease, MS, nutrition, Wellness

Health EducationNutrition Environment and Services

Damion Grasso

Associate Professor

Psychiatry, UConn Health

A licensed clinical psychologist with research and clinical expertise in trauma-related disorders

Keywords: childhood adversity, posttraumatic stress, violence exposure

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Sharon Gray

Associate Extension Educator

UConn Extension, Hartford County

Nutrition, food, and fitness to underserved youth and families in Hartford county using applied research/evaluation

Keywords: fitness, food insecruity, nutrition, youth development

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Bernard Grela

Associate Professor/ Associate Department Head

Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Associate Professor in SLHS with a focus on language impairments and reading disabilities

Keywords: language & reading impairments

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth Services

Aislyn Griffin

IRB Coordinator

Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Opps for Institutional Review Board & Human Research Protection Program, with an interest in global health research

Keywords: gender rights, global health, human research protection

Community InvolvementHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and Services

Jessica Guite

Associate Professor in Residence

School of Nursing, and Office of Health Strategy, State of Connecticut

Dr. Guite is a healthcare innovator, pediatric psychologist and clinical researcher.  Her expertise and interests include behavioral health, management of chronic pain and health conditions, family-based intervention and healthcare policy

Keywords: behavioral change mechanisms, disability, pain, stress

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Linda Halgunseth

Associate Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences

Research examines parent-child interactions across ethnic groups in the U.S.

Keywords: Children of Immigrants, Latino Parenting

Family EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Roeland Hancock

Assistant Research Professor

Psychological Sciences, Brain Imaging Research Center

Associate Director at the Brain Imaging Research Center focused on individual differences in language and reading

Keywords: EEG, fMRI, Language Processing, Neurolinguistics

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social Services

Ofer Harel

Professor

Statistics

Professor & Director of admissions, Department of Statistics. A biostatistician, applied statistician

Keywords: Biostatistics, missing data, observational studies, RCT

Jennifer Harris

Senior Research Advisor, Marketing Initiatives

Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Jennifer Harris studies the impact of food marketing on health, focusing on children, teens and parents

Keywords: Food marketing, health disparities, public health nutrition

Community InvolvementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Sara Harvel

Graduate Student

Curriculum and Instruction (Neag)--Social Studies and Human Rights

I’m interested in refugee acculturation, human rights education, belonging, teacher education, social studies

Keywords: Belonging, Controversial Issues, Immigrants, refugees

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Wendy Henderson

Professor and Director

School of Nursing, Center for Nursing Scholarship and Innovation

My background is as a Clinical and Translational Scientist with expertise in human, animal and cellular models

Keywords: Gastroenterology, Genomic, Hepatology, nutrition, pediatrics

Community InvolvementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and Services

Fumiko Hoeft

Professor and Director

Psychological Sciences and Brain Imaging Research Center

Expertise including, neuroimaging, learning, reading, dyslexia, gene-environment interaction, and resilience

Keywords: dyslexia, learning, neuroimaging, reading, resilience

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Alexander Hogan

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Pediatric Hospitalist dedicated to improving the quality of care given to children with asthma

Keywords: Asthma, Hospital Medicine, pediatrics, Quality Improvement

Family EngagementHealth Services

Jessica Hollenbach

Director of the Asthma Center, Assistant Professor

Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics (UConn Health)

Reducing health disparities by designing, evaluating, and implementing effective community-based asthma programs

Keywords: Asthma, health disparities, pediatric, school nurses

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesPhysical Environment

Abagail Horton

Graduate Student

Human Development and Family Sciences

My research interests focus on promoting positive social and emotional development in youth

Keywords: executive functioning, Interpersonal relationships, youth

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Matthew Hughey

Professor

Sociology

Professor Hughey examines the relationship between racial inequality and collective understandings of race

Keywords: Identity, Media, Organizations, Politics, Race

Physical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Amy Hunter

Assistant Professor

Public Health Sciences, UConn Health

Injury epidemiologist with a research focus on mitigating incident and recurrent child maltreatment

Keywords: ACES, Child maltreatment, Injury Prevention, Public Health

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Gio Iacono

Assistant Professor

School of Social Work

Focused on developing and evaluating LGBTQIA+ youth mental health interventions

Keywords: LGBTQIA+ youth mental health, mindfulness, resilience

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social Services

Emily Iovino

Postdoctoral Scholar

Collaboratory on School and Child Health

Postdoctoral Scholar supporting health and well-being in caregivers of children with developmental disabilities

Keywords: Behavior Interventions, Caregivers, Education Policy

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Oliver Johnston

Postdoctoral Fellow in Clinical Psychology

Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center

Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow specializing in disruptive behavior disorders across the lifespan

Keywords: callous-unemotional traits, oppositional defiant disorder

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Devin Kearns

Associate Professor

Educational Psychology (Neag)

I design and test reading programs for students with reading disabilities including dyslexia

Keywords: dyslexia, instruction, intervention, reading, SpEd

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Kate Killion

Graduate Student

Allied Health Sciences

Interested in equitable healthy food access and evidence-based nutrition programming throughout the lifespan

Keywords: Child Nutrition, Food and Nutrition Education, Health Equity

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Environment

Jessica Koslouski

Postdoctoral Scholar

Collaboratory on School and Child Health

Implementation of trauma-informed teaching practices and school mental health supports for students and educators

Keywords: School Mental Health, teachers, trauma-informed practices

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Shabnam Lainwala

Assistant Clinical Professor

Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Focused on nutrition and growth and long term growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants

Keywords: growth, neurodevelopment, nutrition, preterm

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and Services

Maria LaRusso

Assistant Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences

Expertise includes youth social-emotional development, behavioral challenges, health issues, & school interventions

Keywords: Child development, PANS/PANDAS, schools, youth mental health

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Elaine Choung-Hee Lee

Associate Professor, Director

Kinesiology, Human Performance Laboratory

Expert in stress biomarkers and research on stress resiliency and longevity related to exercise/environmental stress

Keywords: adaptation, resilience, training/recovery, transcriptomics

Community InvolvementHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Leah Lessard

Postdoctoral Fellow

Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Focused on how relational and contextual factors affect the schooling experiences of socially marginalized youth

Keywords: Achievement, adolescence, Peer Relations, School Context

Health EducationPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Kathryn Libal

Associate Professor

School of Social Work, Human Rights Institute

Professor Libal works on human rights frameworks as applied to social policy, child welfare, and humanitarianism

Keywords: children's rights, forced migration, human rights, refugees

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social Services

Carolyn Lin

Professor

Communication

Studies the content, uses and effects of digital/social/mobile media & strategic/risk/environmental communication

Keywords: Social/Mobile Media, Strategic/Risk Communication & Campaigns

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Margaret Lloyd Sieger

Assistant Professor

School of Social Work

Parental substance use disorders in child welfare

Keywords: child welfare, foster care, Parental substance abuse

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily Engagement

Caitlin Lombardi

Assistant Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences

Dr. Lombardi examines the roles of family, early care, and education for promoting children’s early development

Keywords: Child development, Early care, Education, Parenting, Policy

Community InvolvementEmployee WellnessFamily EngagementPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Alysse M. Loomis

Assistant Professor

University of Utah, College of Social Work

Research focused on understanding and mitigating the impact of early childhood adversity, particularly within early childhood settings such as preschools

Keywords: early trauma, Self-regulation, Trauma-informed schools

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Ruth Lucas

Assistant Professor

School of Nursing

Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing focused on mother-infant health and nutrition

Keywords: biobehavioral measurements, Breastfeeding, genetics

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and Services

Hao-Jan Luh

Assistant Professor

Eastern Illinois University, School Psychology Program

Hao-Jan Luh’s research interests include implementation science and social emotional behavioral support.

Keywords: classroom management, implementation science, international students in school psychology, LGBTQ, social emotional learning

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Jesse Mala

Asistant Professor

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, School of Exercise and Sport Science

Assistant Professor that explores sport programs on executive functions, and academic outcomes in youth

Keywords: executive functions, poverty, Sport-Based Youth Development

Community InvolvementPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Jennifer Manganello

Professor

University of Albany, School of Public Health

Jennifer Manganello is a health communication professor who does research on health literacy and media influences

Keywords: ehealth, health communication, health literacy, Media

Health Education

Lisa Marcinkowski June

Graduate Student

Educational Leadership (Neag)

I am a PhD Candidate in Adult Learning. My research is about the learning processes of adults visiting museums

Keywords: Adult Learning, Constructivism, Free-Choice Learning, Museums

Community Involvement

Helene Marcy

Program Manager

Collaboratory on School and Child Health

Focused on connections across research, policy, and practice arenas relevant to school and child health

Keywords: community partnerships, poverty, survey research

Community InvolvementFamily Engagement

Caroline Mavridis

Assistant Research Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences

Dr Caroline Mavridis is an Assistant Research Professor (HDFS) focused on self-care of parents and family workers

Keywords: employee training, evaluation, self-care, stress

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee Wellness

Jennifer McGarry

Professor, Executive Director of Husky Sport

Educational Leadership (Neag)

Individual level impacts of SBYD on pre-adolescents and the reciprocal impact on college student mentors

Keywords: Gender and Race, Sport, Sport Based Youth Development (SBYD)

Community InvolvementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Rory McGloin

Associate Professor

Communication

Exploring the use of virtual exer-gaming technology and its ability to promote physical activity among youths

Keywords: immersion, Interactive and virtual exer-gaming, realism

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Timothy McKay

Graduate Student

Human Development and Family Sciences

Research Assistant to Dr. Ryan Watson; my research focuses on gender minority youth health and well-being

Keywords: Gender, LBGTQ, Non-binary, Sexual minority, Transgender

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Sarah McKee

Graduate Student

Human Development and Family Sciences and Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Graduate student focused on developmental approaches to preventing childhood obesity

Keywords: childhood obesity prevention

Nutrition Environment and Services

Erin Mead

Assistant Professor

UConn Health Center School of Medicine

Focused on risk factors for tobacco use and polyuse in young people, and tobacco regulatory science

Keywords: Polyuse, Regulatory Science, Tobacco, Vulnerable Populations

Health Education

Amy Mobley

Associate Professor

University of Florida, Health Education and Behavior

Associate Professor focused on nutrition education and obesity prevention

Keywords: nutrition education and behavior, obesity prevention

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and Services

Cristina Mogro-Wilson

Associate Professor

School of Social Work

Strengthening Latino families through parenting, focusing on fathers, and the resiliency of the Latino culture

Keywords: culture, fatherhood, Latinos, Parenting, substance use

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily Engagement

Christin Munsch

Associate Professor

Sociology

Christin Munsch is a sociologist who examines the social psychological mechanisms that perpetuate inequality

Keywords: family, Gender, social psychology, work, work-life balance

Employee WellnessFamily EngagementPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Jon Phillips

Assistant Professor

School of Social Work

Research explores interprofessional collaboration in the child welfare system and other people-serving systems

Keywords: child welfare, Interprofessional collaboration, Social Work

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessFamily EngagementHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Carol Polifroni

Professor

School of Nursing

Professor in School of Nursing with research focus on joy and meaning in nursing and workforce diversity

Keywords: health policy, meaning and joy, workforce diversity

Community InvolvementEmployee WellnessHealth EducationHealth ServicesPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Rebecca Puhl

Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences and Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

My research broadly addresses weight-based bullying, bias, and discrimination experienced by children and adults

Keywords: bullying, discrimination, obesity, weight stigma

Health ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Kerri Raissian

Associate Professor

Public Policy

Focused on child and family policy analysis, specifically promoting child well-being and reducing family violence

Keywords: children and families, quantitative analysis, social policy

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth Services

David L. Richards

Associate Professor of Human Rights and Political Science

Human Rights Institute / Political Science

Focused on understanding legal frameworks protecting human rights; also measurement of human rights respect

Keywords: Children, human rights, law, methods, violence against women

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Gloriana Rodriguez Arauz

Associate Professor

University of Costa Rica, Psychology Department

My research focuses on the cultural influences in families’ eating behaviors, physical activity and well-being

Keywords: culture, eating behavior, well-being

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and Services

Ari Romano-Verthelyi

Graduate Student

Psychological Sciences

Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology with a focus on behavior disorders, schools, and Latino mental health care

Keywords: Behavior Disorders, Latina/os, School-Based Interventions

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily Engagement

Christina Ross

Assistant Professor

School of Nursing

Sexual & reproductive health promotion among youth of color in foster care to lower STI/STD & unintended pregnancy

Keywords: Sexual & reproductive health equity, Youth in foster care

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Beth Russell

Associate Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences

Associate Professor focused on self-regulation in normative and special populations, using a family systems lens

Keywords: Health/wellbeing, Parent child relationships, Self-regulation

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Lisa Sanetti

Professor

Educational Psychology (Neag)

Professor of school psychology focused on educator wellness and implementation science

Keywords: educator wellness, implementation science

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessSocial and Emotional Climate

Melissa Santos

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division Chief of Pediatric Psychology, Clinical Director of the Pediatric Obesity Center

Connecticut Children's

Research is focused on improving obesity treatment outcomes by tailoring treatment to comorbidities

Keywords: Comorbidities, Health Equity, mental health, Pediatric Obesity

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Marlene Schwartz

Professor and Director

Human Development and Family Sciences and Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Dr. Schwartz specializes in school wellness and nutrition programs, food insecurity, and federal food policies

Keywords: Food Insecurity, Nutrition in Food Programs, School Wellness

Nutrition Environment and Services

Richard Sosis

James Barnett Professor of Humanistic Anthropology

Anthropology

Richard Sosis is an anthropologist whose research focuses on the evolution of religion and cooperation

Keywords: cooperation, demography, ecology, religion, ritual

Social and Emotional Climate

Sudha Srinivasan

Assistant Professor

Kinesiology

Research on developmental disabilities across the lifespan and interventions to improve health-related outcomes

Keywords: Assistive Technology, Children, disability, Rehabilitation

Community InvolvementPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Angela Starkweather

Professor &
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

School of Nursing

Focused on using omic methods to identify the mechanisms of chronic symptoms and develop targeted interventions

Keywords: genomics, metabolomics, microbiome, stress, symptoms

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Stacey Stearns

Program Specialist

UConn Extension

Focused on the intersection of communication and agriculture (projects include GMOs and local food)

Keywords: Agriculture, Communication, GMOs, Local Food

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Sandro Steinbach

Assistant Professor

Agricultural &
Resource Economics

I conduct collaborative and interdisciplinary research at the crossroad between health economics and data science

Keywords: data science, environmental pollutants, health economics

Health ServicesPhysical Environment

Elizabeth Talbott

Professor of Education and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development

William &
Mary, Curriculum and Instruction

Use of evidence in education and health care for young people with behavioral & mental health disabilities

Keywords: assessment, mental health, special education

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Casey Thomas

Graduate Student

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, School of Public Health

Ph.D. Candidate studying the role of schools in preventing or perpetuating inequities among youth populations

Keywords: Adolescents, Children, Health, schools, Social Justice

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesHealth ServicesPhysical EnvironmentSocial and Emotional Climate

Rebecca Thomas

Graduate Student

Psychological Sciences, Clinical Psychology

Focused on studying the early detection of ASD and the implementation of innovative parent-mediated interventions

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, early detection and intervention

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily Engagement

Alexandria Tomkunas

Graduate Student

Human Development and Family Sciences

Passionate about education equity and children’s social, emotional, and behavioral well-being

Keywords: School & community interventions, School discipline, SEL

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Wendy Ulaszek

Associate Research Professor

School of Social Work and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Focused on implementation of organizational change & leaders

Keywords: leadership, mental health, org change, readiness to change

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Jeffrey Vanderploeg

President &
CEO

Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut

Policy, system development and practice initiatives in pediatric health care and children’s behavioral health care

Keywords: Behavioral Health, Early Childhood, Pediatric Primary Care

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Jaci VanHeest

Associate Professor, Director of Public Health Learning Community

Educational Psychology (Neag) and Kinesiology

Focuses on the impact of play on bioenergetic, fitness and academic parameters in children and adults

Keywords: academics, bioenergetic, endocrine, exergaming, play

Family EngagementPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Kristina Wagstrom

Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering Education

Chemical &
Biomolecular Engineering

Studying the impacts of air pollution on human and ecosystem health

Keywords: air pollution, air quality, environment, exposure, modeling

Community InvolvementPhysical Environment

Emily Wakefield

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Conneticut Children's Medical Center, Division of Pain and Palliative Medicine and Pediatric Psychology

Emily Wakefield is a pediatric psychologist focused on pain disbelief and stigma in adolescents with chronic pain

Keywords: Adolescents, child health, chronic pain, Stigma

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesHealth EducationHealth Services

Xiaojing Wang

Assistant Professor

Statistics

Assistant Professor of Statistics at University of Connecticut focused on Bayesian Statistics and its applications

Keywords: Latent Variable Models, Time Series Data Analysis

Nicole Watkins

Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychology

Wesleyan University, Psychology Department

Examines interpersonal predictors of internalizing behaviors in adolescents and emerging adults

Keywords: family structure, internalizing, Interpersonal relationships

Community InvolvementFamily Engagement

Ryan J. Watson

Associate Professor

Human Development and Family Sciences

Dr. Watson explores the health and well-being of sexual and gender minority (i.e., LGBTQ) children and adolescents

Keywords: family, Health, LGBTQ, sexuality

Community InvolvementHealth EducationHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Timothy Watt

Teacher

East Hartford Public Schools

Teacher focused on creating a positive, supportive and enriching classroom environment

Keywords: Discourse, restorative practices, trauma, workshop

Community InvolvementFamily EngagementSocial and Emotional Climate

Katie (Katrina) Webber

Graduate Student

Communication

PhD student researching relational/communication/identity outcomes and social support for weight stigma, body image, and fatphobia

Keywords: body image, Health, interpersonal, social support, weight stigma

Community InvolvementCounseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Sarah Willen

Associate Professor

Anthropology

Medical anthropologist interested in the health impact of social inequities & efforts to promote health justice

Keywords: deservingness, flourishing, Health Equity, human rts, SDoH

Community InvolvementHealth EducationHealth ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Emily Winter

Graduate Student

Educational Psychology (Neag)

Passionate about the intersections between eating disorders, student athletes, and mind body health in schools

Keywords: Eating Disorders; Mind-Body Health; Sport Psychology

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesHealth EducationHealth ServicesPhysical Education and Physical Activity

Torri Ann Woodruff

Graduate Student

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Interested in counseling and the application of family-centered care for children who are D/deaf or hard of hearing

Keywords: Audiology, Family-Centered Care

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily Engagement

Mahri Wrightington

Education Consultant

PD Monster

Education consultant focused on systems change in the areas of Behavior, SEL, and Trauma-Informed Practices

Keywords: IEPs, social emotional learning, Student Behavior, trauma

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesEmployee WellnessSocial and Emotional Climate

Ran Xu

Assistant Professor

Allied Health Sciences

Expertise includes quantitative methods and systems science, with applications in health and other social sciences

Keywords: ML, Quantitative Methods, Social Networks, Systems Science

Community InvolvementEmployee WellnessFamily EngagementHealth EducationNutrition Environment and ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

Anna Young

Graduate Student

Communication

Researching media effects, communication campaigns, health, and misinformation, behavioral outcomes

Keywords: children and media, media campaigns, misinformation

Community InvolvementHealth EducationHealth ServicesNutrition Environment and ServicesSocial and Emotional Climate

William Zempsky

Professor of Pediatrics and Nursing/ The Francine L. and Robert B. Goldfarb-William T. Zempsky, MD Endowed Chair for Pain and Palliative Medicine

Conneticut Children's Medical Center

Clinical care and research in adolescent chronic pain focused on interdisciplinary interventions

Keywords: chronic pain, pain self-management, web-based, youth

Counseling, Psychological and Social ServicesFamily EngagementHealth EducationHealth ServicesPhysical Education and Physical ActivitySocial and Emotional Climate

Yuping Zhang

Associate Professor

Statistics

Developing statistical methods to address scientific problems in genomics, systems biology, and complex diseases

Keywords: machine learning, network analysis, statistical genomics