Emily Thornton
Year in the Program: 6th Year
Research Interests: I am interested in positive psychology, personal development processes, and health outcomes related to managing stress.
Where I’m from: Chattanooga, TN
Prior Schooling: Undergraduate at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga – BS in Psychology, BS in Economics, BA in English and American Language and Literature
What I like to do for Self Care: I enjoy working out (spin class, yoga, boxing), and I am a huge Marvel movie fan. I also love backpacking and having game nights with friends!
Ning Tang (she/her/hers)
Year in the Program: 6th Year
Research Interests: Well-being of Asian international students and immigrants, culturally informed care for Asian and Asian American, and Post-traumatic change
Where I’m from: Taiwan
Prior Schooling: National Taiwan Normal University and University of Missouri-Columbia
What I like to do for Self Care: Watching movies or TV shows, doing yoga and aerial yoga, walking in nature, traveling, taking care of house plants, and going on a food adventure.
Migyeong Jang
Year in the Program: 7th Year
Research Interests: My research interests include international student experience, Personal Growth Initiative, LGBTQ+ experience in Asian and Asian American populations, and intersectionality.
Where I’m from: Busan, South Korea
Prior Schooling: Emory University
What I like to do for Self Care/in my free time: I love trying out new ice cream places!
Ginelle Wolf
Year Graduated: 2023
Dissertation Topic: “Examining the potential role of cognitions, shame, empowerment, and institutional courage in the relationship between sexual victimization and both post traumatic stress and posttraumatic growth”
Where I’m from: Los Angeles, California
Prior Schooling: Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania What I’m doing now: Working at Health Quest Innovative Therapies in Charlotte, NC
What I like to do for Self Care: I enjoy playing volleyball, soccer,
doing yoga, and going on hikes!
Stephen Antonucci, PhD
Year Graduated: 2020
Dissertation Topic: “Mentalization Linking Borderline Personality Features to Internalized Violence: A Conditional Process Model
Internship Placement: Federal Correctional Complex- Allenwood
What I’m doing now: Federal Correctional Complex- Allenwood
Caitlin Martin-Wager, PhD
Year Graduated: 2020
Dissertation Topic: “The Impact of Feminist Identity and Weight Bias on Body Image Disturbance in Treatment-Seeking Women with Eating Disorders”
Internship Placement: Minneapolis VA Healthcare System
What I’m doing now: Assistant Professor at the University of Montana
Stephanie Dykema, PhD
Year Graduated: 2017
Dissertation Topic: Black women’s wellness and gendered-racial identity
What I’m doing now: Licensed clinical psychologist in group private practice in Chicago, IL
Naomi M. Drakeford, Ph.D.
Year graduated: 2017
Dissertation topic: The Strong Black Woman stereotype and psychological distress (directed by Dr. Suzette Speight)
What I’m doing now: Case Western Reserve University (starting Fall 2019)
Elizabeth J. Russell, Ph.D.
Year graduated: 2015
Dissertation topic: College women’s feminist identity and their male romantic partners’ conformity to masculine norms
What I’m doing now: Associate professor at Winona State University
Elena S. Yakunina, Ph.D.
Year graduated: 2012
Dissertation topic: Asian international students’ intentions to seek counseling
What I’m doing now: Staff psychologist at the SUNY-Buffalo counseling center
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Undergraduate Lab Alumni:
Christopher J. Ha
Hometown: Akron, OH
Work in the Growth lab: Assisting Ginelle Wolfe in the development of an emerging adult masculinity ideology
Diamond Brown
Hometown: Elyria, OH
Work in the Growth lab: Research assistant working to understand the relationship between well-being, meaning and campus climate under Dr. Weigold and Emily Thornton
What I’m doing now: Ph.D. student in counseling psychology at the University of Akron
Career goals: become a therapist, work with families and children in Black communities
Olivia Hatfield
Hometown: Gahanna, Ohio
Work in the Growth Lab: Undergraduate research assistant looking at stress in relation to meaning and well-being.
What I’m doing now: Ph.D. student in counseling psychology at the University of Kentucky
Taylor Marino
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
Work in the Growth Lab: Assisting Ginelle Wolfe in a study examining attitudes toward feminism, conformity to feminine norms, and personal growth initiative
Career goals: I am planning to apply to I/O Psychology graduate programs so that I can pursue a career in that field.
Shuning Tang
Hometown: Weihai, Shandong, China
Work in the Growth Lab: I am currently working on a research outline for the Institutional Review Board and am assisting in conducting an exploratory factor analysis on a new scale
Career Goals: To be a joyful part-time bilingual counselor!
Kayla Maximovich
Hometown: Orrville, OH
Work in the Growth Lab: Working in the growth lab last semester and again this semester has been an excellent experience. Ginelle and I are researching the relationships between attitudes toward feminism and conformity to feminine norms with personal growth initiative. Last semester, I connected findings from existing literature to develop our rationale for our proposal to the IRB. Ginelle and I located various relevant scales and measures that we could use to collect information from participants. I then became certified through the CITI and put measures into Qualtrics. After the IRB approved our study, it was put on SONA. We are currently eager to gather data and more information throughout this semester. In the meantime, I will go back to the literature as we work on the introduction and method sections of the paper. We are excited to analyze our findings as more data comes in this semester.
Career Goals: After graduation, I plan to apply to Counseling Psychology programs that match my interests. My goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. I’m currently unsure whether I will open my own practice or wind up in academia or both. For now, I’m learning as much as I can and enjoying the ride!