Our Team
- ABILITY Research Lab |
- Our Team
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students
Alumni
McKenzie Burns
McKenzie Burns received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and Au.D. Degree from Auburn University. She joined the Ability Research Lab in 2021 and presented a poster entitled "Cultural Similarities and Differences in Functioning and Disability among People with Hearing Loss: Lesson from a HEAR-COMMAND Tool" at Auburn's 2023 Student Research Symposium. The poster was Recognized and Awarded. Her professional goal is to improve children's and their families' quality of life by improving their communication abilities.
Kelleen Wegener
Kelleen Wegener received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Ohio University. Kelleen was involved in a research project to develop an international questionnaire that evaluates hearing loss, communication, and vestibular difficulties. She joined the Ability Research Lab in 2021 and presented a poster entitled “Problems in Functioning Related to Dizziness and Balance Difficulty in Individuals with Hearing Loss in a Biopsychosocial Context Underpinning the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)” at the 2023 American Balance Society Conference. Her professional goal is to continue specializing in vestibular diagnostic testing for patients of all age ranges.
Mahmoud Salah Eldien Mokhtar Hammady
Mahmoud received his Bachelor degree in Medicin and his Master's degree in Audiovestibular medicine at the Audiovestibular medicine unit, at Sohag University Hospitals, Egypt. He joined the Ability Research Lab in 2021 and presented a poster entitled "Disabling Hearing Loss in the Middle East: A Need for a Comprehensive Examination through the Lens of the International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) Model" at the 9th Scientific Conference for Young Researchers in Egypt. His professional goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Audiovestibular medicine and continue specializing in improving the quality of life of individuals with hearing loss.
Lilah Donnelly
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2021
B.S. Mercer University
Research interests: leadership, organizational commitment, organizational culture
Victoria Badalto
My name is Victoria Badolato, and I am currently attending Auburn University's Graduate Program for Speech-Language Pathology. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, I attended Auburn University for my undergraduate education where I received a Bachelor's of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. These two degrees have shaped my perspective as a growing Speech Language Pathologist, and I am eager to use my Spanish as a resource in the work force.
Katelyn Gilson
Katelyn is an undergraduate student majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and minoring in English. Katelyn joined the SNAP lab because of her interest in pediatric Speech-Language Pathology and fluency disorders. After graduation, Katelyn’s plans include obtaining a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Katelyn hopes to one day continue to find solutions for children with disfluencies.
Sharlinda Guillaume
Sharlinda is a post-baccalaureate student at Auburn University and received her bachelor's in biology from Florida Atlantic University. She joined the lab this year and will be assisting as needed. Sharlinda plans on attending the graduate program for speech-language pathology at Auburn University.
Carley Rickman
Carley is an undergraduate student majoring in Pre Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Auburn University. She joined the lab in fall 2022 of her sophomore year. After graduating, she plans to attend graduate school to earn a Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology in hopes to have a career as a speech therapist.
Sophie Spano
Sophie Spano is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences degree at Auburn University. She joined the SNAP lab at the beginning of the 2022/2023 school year. After graduating she plans on pursuing a degree in Speech Language Pathology.
Meghan Stinnette
Meghan Stinnette graduated from Radford University with a B. S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2022. While at Radford, Meghan was able to complete an undergraduate capstone project with the honors department and Dr. Diane Millar on nonverbal communication and body language. Meghan is currently a graduate student studying Speech-Language Pathology at Auburn. She has been apart of the lab since fall 2022.
Prachi Shukla
Prachi has her Master's of Education in school psychology from Indiana State University. She is currently enrolled in the post-baccalaureate program (SLP) at Auburn University. Her clinical interests include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Stuttering and specific learning disorders. She has worked at an ABA clinic as a registered behavior therapist and has experience working with a diverse population. Prachi will be applying to graduate schools during the coming year in hopes of starting school speech language pathology in the fall of 2024.
Anna Pusser
Anna received her B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Science from the University of Memphis. In addition, she received her M.S. in Psychological Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Anna has research experience in prospective memory, visual attention, eye tracking, cognitive offloading, and applying cognition to education. Currently, she is interested in visual attention, memory, and aging in linguistic contexts. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her cat Tater Tot.
Reena Falisi
Reena is from Gainesville, FL and currently pursuing a degree in neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. She played for the Auburn Softball team for two years before medically stepping back, and has plans to attend medical school after graduating in hopes of following a career in dermatology. In her free time, Reena enjoys spending time with her best friend, going on walks with her dog, and is a proud member of the Christian sorority Sigma Phi Lambda.
Adin Rossi
Adin is a senior majoring in neuroscience from Huntsville, Alabama. He hopes to attend medical school after getting his undergraduate degree. He is also involved with the Honors Serves organization, and TigerDev video game development club on campus. In his free time, Adin likes to compose music, draw, and run.
Abby Chomos
Abby is a junior majoring in biomedical sciences with a pre-medicine concentration. Upon graduation, she hopes to attend medical school to one day become a pediatric surgeon. In her free time, Abby enjoys being outside and cheering on the Auburn Tigers at basketball and baseball games.
Douglas Jensen
Douglas Jensen is a Ph.D. candidate in the joint Ph.D. Program in Public Administration & Public Policy at Auburn University. His dissertation research focuses on leadership in the United States Congress. Douglas has personally communicated with the offices of every U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative over the course of his research.
Douglas is an Air Force combat veteran with three deployments and has directly worked with coalition partners or diplomats from France, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Norway, Latvia, Spain, Greece, and Afghanistan, among others.
His experience as an instructor includes Federal Continuity of Government; Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications; and Airborne Communications Officer technical training.
Tracks: American Politics & Policy, Global Politics & Policy
Areas of Interest: Leadership, Political Leadership, American Government, International Relations
Education:
Master of Science in Marine Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
Master of Business Administration, Trident University, Cyprus, CA
Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler Air Force Base, MS
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics and Astronautics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Katherine Steele
Scotlyn Sims
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Research Interests: Work-life balance, DEI, Leadership
Jessie Stirling
Jessie is an undergraduate student majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and minoring in Spanish. Jessie is interested in pursuing clinical Speech-Language Pathology and joined the lab because of her interest in advocating for communication and stuttering. She hopes to obtain her master’s and become a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist.
Joseph Himmler
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Pell City, AL
B.S., University of Alabama at Birmingham
Research Interests: Work-life enrichment, Work-Family conflict, OHP
Joseph is currently a doctoral student in Auburn University's Industrial/Organizational Psychology program. Joseph is a part of the Work-Life and Organizational Effectiveness (WLOE) Lab. His current research is focused on OHP related topics, AI-Human collaboration, and the work-family interface. Joseph attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology.
Tatiana Guevara
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Long Island, NY
B.A., La Salle University
Research Interests: Occupational Health Psychology, Employee Well-being, Stress
Abigail Baker
ABM Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Spanish Fort, AL
Research interests: employee attitudes, motivation and teamwork
Bailey Hunter
ABM Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Fairhope, AL
Research Interests: Work-life balance, Motivation, Workplace relationships
Emily Findlay
ABM Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Madison, AL
Research Interests: Virtual work, leadership and personality
Kenyana Whitehorn
ABM Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Fort Lewis, WA
Research Interests: Work-life quality, training
Kyla Graba
ABM Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Auburn, AL
Research Interests: Leadership, Personnel Selection, OHP
Olivia Eckhardt
ABM Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Altamont, Illinois
Research Interests: employee training and recruitment
Savannah Atkins
ABM Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Research Interests: personnel selection, training and development, and recruitment
Zach Goldman
ABM Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Sandy Springs, GA
Research Interests: Artificial Intelligence in the workplace
Eva Grace Spencer
Eva Grace Spencer is a senior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a Psychology minor. Her other involvements on Auburn's campus include Auburn Dance Marathon, Emerge, and her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta.
Hope Hartley
Hope is a Senior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Her other involvements include Greek life at Auburn, the Honors College, and she is a research fellow in the College of Liberal Arts.
Maddie Moore
Maddie is a junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. She is the social media chair for the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA). She is also a member of the Sign Language Club at Auburn.
Kathrine Cranford
Katherine is a junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and minoring in Human Development and Family Sciences. Her other involvements include being a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and the National Student Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (NSSLHA), an IMPACT Project Coordinator, Project Uplift mentor, and serving as a kids volunteer for Auburn Community Church.
Addison Garrott
Participating in research at Auburn University has been something that I have always wanted to do, and having the opportunity to do so through the SLLAC Lab is such an honor. I chose to participate in SLLAC Lab because I have always loved working with kids! SLLAC Lab is a great way to gain knowledge and experience about speech sound disorders, as well as surround yourself with people who are passionate about advocating for the pediatric age group in the area of literacy.
Clinical and Research Interests:
- Child Language Disorders
- Speech Sound Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sawyer Courington
I chose to join SLLAC Lab because I want to advocate for all children and their own early learning experiences that promote long-term academic achievement.
Clinical and Research Interests:
- Speech Sound Disorders
- Early intervention
- Pediatric feeding and swallowing
- Augmentative and alternative communication
Maggie Eddins
I chose SLLAC to gain more knowledge about pediatric literacy and to meet new people who are passionate about the same thing I am!
Clinical and Research Interests:
- Speech Sound Disorders
- Child Language Disorders
- Articulation
Emily Powell
I chose SLLAC Lab to gain a better understanding of literacy difficulties. I am excited to be an advocate while gaining research experience.
Clinical and Research Interests:
- Articulation
- Structural Deficits
- Speech Disorders
- Phonology
Shelby Knight
I decided to join SLLAC Lab because I want to gain a better understanding of speech sound disorders. I am so excited to contribute to discovering more about these disorders and what we can do to have a positive impact.
Clinical and Research Interests:
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- Language Disorders
- Speech Perception
Lily Mason
Lily Mason is a Junior Undergraduate Student at Auburn University, pursuing a Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences degree. In the Spring Semester of 2024, she became a part of the Ability Research Lab. Lily focuses on exploring the facets of physical, social, and emotional health, with a keen interest in the well-being of audiology patients. Her involvement in the ABILITY Research Lab gives her a unique opportunity to actively participate in projects that align seamlessly with her interests, allowing her to gain valuable hands-on experience. Lily is enthusiastic about broadening her expertise in audiology and actively contributing to interventions that foster healthier aging. Looking ahead, in five years, Lily aspires to complete her 4th year as a Doctoral Audiology Student and embark on her career as a dedicated Audiologist.
Madeline Bellocchio
Madeline Bellocchio is a Doctoral Audiology Student at Auburn University. She received her undergraduate degree at Miami University in Oxford Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She joined the ABILITY Research Lab as a Graduate Research Assistant in 2024. After beginning her first year as a student, she became interested in working on research that focuses on the connection of Auditory, Balance, and Mobility Functions. She is committed to providing older adults with tools that contribute to their overall health and independence. Madeline is currently serving in the Ohio Army National Guard as an Infantry officer. She hopes to one day serve the veteran community as an Audiologist.
Rebecca Dunterman
Rebecca Dunterman received her B.S. and M.S. in Psychology from Western Illinois University. Presently, she is pursuing a Ph.D in the Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences department. Rebecca has research experience in a variety of areas including cognitive aging, visual attention, eye-tracking, and perceptions of aging. Her research here at Auburn University focuses on factors that build cognitive reserve to promote healthy aging. Rebecca enjoys keeping in touch with family and friends in her free time.
Emma Cox
Emma joined the lab in the Fall of 2020 after spending several years as an undergraduate research assistant. Emma graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Auburn, and then spent time working as a puppy developer for Auburn's Canine Performance Sciences. Her research interests include factors impacting detection dog search performance, as well as other predictive factors of success in working dogs.
Adam Davila
Adam joined the lab Fall 2018. Originally from Bristow, Virginia, Adam earned a BS at the University of Mary Washington and an MS from Villanova, studying the functional relationships of abstract concept learning. Adam is also interested in temporal perception as well as working memory. Outside of science, Adam enjoys learning new recipes and has a love/hate relationship with sports, and also has a bad habit of buying far more books than he has time to read.
Jordan Smith
Jordan joined the lab in the Fall of 2019. Jordan graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and then spent time as a research assistant at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center in Philadelphia, PA. Her research interests include the impact of olfactory stimulation during early development in canines as well as other indicators of career success in working dogs.
Peter J. Lusche, M.D.
Peter J. Lusche, M.D., graduated from the University of Southern California School of Medicine, and completed training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the U.S.C. - Los Angeles County Medical Center. For over thirty years, he has dedicated a significant amount of his practice to developing and coordinating community mental health programs for children, including children in protective custody and foster care. For his contributions in clinical and academic practice, program development and community service, he was made a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 2003.
Angelyn Harrell, M.S.
Angelyn Harrell, M.S., is a BCBA who graduated from Auburn University’s ABA Master’s program in 2015. Her expertise includes working with individuals with autism, severe problem behavior, foster youth, and caregiver training.
Jodi Robeson, M.S.
Jodi Robeson, M.S., is a BCBA working with the APMRT. She graduated from Auburn University in 2018. Jodi’s areas of experience include working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders, foster youth, incarcerated adolescents, problem behavior, and staff training.
Heatherly Williford, M.S.
Heatherly Williford, M.S., is a licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst working with the APRMT. She earned her Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and Developmental Disabilities (ABA-DD) from Auburn University in 2015. Her expertise includes the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior in residential treatment facilities, schools, homes and clinical settings, as well as working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders, children and adolescents in foster and adoptive care, curriculum development and implementation, registered behavior technician staff training and parent-caregiver training. Outside of APMRT, her professional interests include the relationship between behavioral treatments and neural dysfunction, neural plasticity of individuals with autism spectrum disorders or trauma backgrounds, and operating an online publication.
Wayde Morse
Education
- BS, University of New Mexico, 1991, Economics & Political Science
- MS, Colorado State University, 1996, Agricultural and Resource Economics
- PhD, University of Idaho, 2007, Conservation Social Sciences (NSF IGERT Fellow)
Research Interests
- Linked social and ecological systems
- Recreation, environmental services and conservation incentive programs
- Landowner decision-making, rural livelihoods and the process of interdisciplinary research
- Research interests are for the US and Latin America
Selected Publications
- Cox, C., W. Morse, C. Anderson and L. Marzen. 2014. Using public participation geographic information systems to identify places of watershed service provisioning. Journal of the American Water Resources Association DOI:10.1111/jawr.12269.
- Cox, C., W. Morse, L. Marzen and C. Anderson. 2014. Applying public participation geographic information systems to wildlife management. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 19:200-214.
- Lowery, D., W.C. Morse and T. Steury. 2014. Exploring Saturation of themes and spatial locations in a qualitative PPGIS study. Society and Natural Resources. 0:1-15.
- Lupoli, C., W.C. Morse, C. Bailey and J. Schelhas. 2014. Assessing the impacts of international volunteer tourism in host communities: A new approach to organizing and prioritizing indicators. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 22(6):898-921.
- Stern, M.J., C.A. Martin, S.A. Predmore and W.C. Morse. 2014. Risk tradeoffs in adaptive ecosystem management: The case of the U.S. Forest Service. Environmental Management, 53(6):1095-1108.
- Stern, M., C.A. Marin, S.A. Predmore and W.C. Morse. 2014. Risk tradeoffs in natural resource planning: the case of the U.S. Forest Service. Environmental Management, 53(6):1095-1108.
- Stern, M. J., S.A. Predmore, W.C. Morse and D.N. Seeholtz. 2014. Project risk in the US Forest Service: Factors predicting appeals of environmental assessments and their outcomes. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 42:95-104.
- Morse, W. C. 2013. Integration of frameworks, theories and models across disciplines for effective Cross-disciplinary communications. In: Enhancing Interdisciplinary Communication. Eds. Stephen Crowley, Sanford Eigenbrode, Michael O'Rourke, and J. D. Wulfhorst. Sage Publications.
- Morse, W. C. 2013. Changing stakeholders and the planning process. In: Urban-Rural Interfaces: Linking People and Nature. Eds. David Laband, Lockaby, B. G., Zipperer, W. C. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI.
- Lowery, D., and W. C. Morse. 2013. A Qualitative method for collecting spatial data on important places for recreation, livelihoods and ecological meanings: integrating focus groups with public participation geographic information systems. Society and Natural Resources. 26:1422-1437.
Erica Ramey, DNP, PMHNP, PMHS
Erica Ramey, DNP, PMHNP is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and an associate professor in the school of nursing at UAB. She completed her doctor of nursing practice at Vanderbilt University and completed her psychiatric nurse practitioner preparation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research and experience focus on child and adolescent mental-health, deprescribing, and drug-gene compatibility.
Deepika Chandel
Deepika Chandel is a Ph.D. candidate in the joint Ph.D. Program in Public Administration & Public Policy at Auburn University. Deepika earned her bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery from India. During her time in India, she worked full-time as a dentist and frequently served nonprofit hospitals that provided free dental services. She also worked with multiple nonprofit entities to take oral health care and hygiene awareness to the grass-root level, provide mass education, and provide affordable professional services to people in rural areas. She received her Masters in Public Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery in the spring of 2016.
Deepika is passionate about being a change agent for healthcare policy. She is also a strong proponent of a proactive versus reactive approach to health policies. Her dissertation examines how the state executive policies and responses influence death rate outcomes in the U.S. during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Track: Public Administration, Nonprofit Organizations & Community Governance
Areas of interest: Public Administration & Policy Adoption, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Nonprofit Management, Research Methodology, State Politics and Policy
Education:
Master of Public Administration, Auburn University at Montgomery, AL
Bachelor of Dental Surgery, CCS University, India
Kate Henvey DeMoss
Kate is a student in the joint Ph.D. program in Public Administration and Public Policy at Auburn University. She holds a MA from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, and a BA in political science from Trinity University, Texas. Serving as a policymaker and researcher in international economics, trade and development for over fifteen years, Kate has worked at the World Bank Group, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of International Affairs and the North American Development Bank.
Track: American Politics & Policy, Global Public Policy
Areas of interest: Trade policy, foreign aid policy, public opinion, political behavior
Education:
Master of Arts, Georgetown School of Foreign Service
Bachelor of Arts, Trinity University
Steven Nelson
Steven Nelson is a Ph.D. candidate in the joint Ph.D. Program in Public Administration & Public Policy. His professional experience spans almost 30 years in the environmental field and includes work as a consultant and contractor in private industry, performing environmental site investigations and cleanups. For the past 25 years he has focused on environmental health and safety management in higher education and currently serves as the Associate Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Auburn University. His dissertation involves comparative state water quality policy to address emerging contaminants. His published work has appeared in Review of Policy Research, The Extractive Industries and Society, and Risk, Hazards, & Crisis in Public Policy.
Track: Public Policy
Areas of Interest: Environmental and natural resources policy, sustainability, and environmental justice.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Southern Illinois University
Master of Business Administration, Georgia State University
Lane Montgomery
Lane Montgomery joined the lab in Fall of 2022. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Lane graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from Auburn University in 2021. After earning her Bachelors, Lane worked as an assistant at the Auburn University MRI Research Center and as a research assistant with Auburn’s Canine Performance Sciences program. Her research interests include the role of procedural memory in working dog success and the neurological structures underlying dogs’ scent memory.
Courtney Collins Pisano
Courtney joined the lab in Fall 2022. Originally from Boston, Courtney graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Neuroscience & Behavior, Biology, and Psychology in Spring of 2022. Her research interests include improving the training and selection of working dogs and indicators of working dog success.
Brittany Branyon
An Alabama native, Brittany Branyon graduated from Auburn University with a BA in Political Science in 2009 and earned a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma in 2013. She is currently a doctoral student in Public Administration and Public Policy at Auburn University where her focus is nonprofit education, civil society, and gender equity. Her passion for the third sector and community engagement drives her work both professionally and academically, as well as beyond campus where she serves on the Associate Board of Directors at Storybook Farm.
Shamyla Taylor
Shamyla Taylor, a graduate of Opelika High School, is studying computer science at Auburn University. She is the illustrator of the coloring book “Plants and Trees at Pebble Hill.”
Jordan Everett
PhD Program Entry Year: 2023
Hometown: Suwanee, GA
B.A., Auburn University
Research Interests: Selection, Training, Onboarding, Socialization, Artificial Intelligence
DuBois Barnes
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2022
B.S. Baylor University
B.S. University of Houston
Research interests: work stress and recovery, work safety, workplace injustice and health, disadvantaged groups and workplace diversity
Julia Barrett
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2022
B.S. Florida State University
Research interests: work-life, work-family, telework
Julia is a doctoral student in the Industrial Organizational Psychology program at Auburn. She is working under Dr. Jesse Michel in the Work-Life Organizational Effectiveness Lab. Her research interests and recent work have centered around work/family, DEI, and quiet quitting. Julia completed her undergraduate studies at Florida State University, where she received a B.S. in psychology and a B.S. in sociology.
Kyle Benbow
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2021
B.A. Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis
M.A. Ball State University
Research interests: organizational and coworker support, workplace incivility, social identity threats, employee silence
Peter Cook
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2020
B.S. Virginia Tech
Research interests: telework, stress, occupational health psychology
Isabelle Couvillion
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2021
B.S. University of Alabama
M.S. University of New Orleans
Research interests: personnel selection
Austin Cunningham
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2019
B.S. Virginia Tech
M.S. Auburn University
Research interests: occupational stress, employee recovery, work-life balance, workaholism
Soonyoung Kim
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2022
B.S. Virginia Tech
Research interests: personnel selection, leadership, artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence
Jingyi Li
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2020
B.S. Soochow University
Research interests: personnel selection, machine learning, vocational interest
Lauren Postier
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2020
B.A. Marquette University
Research interests: work-life dynamics, burnout, telework, psychometrics
Lauren is a Ph.D. student whose research focuses on burnout, scale validation, and the work-family interface. She is a research fellow at the Army Research Institute, where her projects revolve around training and improving learning outcomes. Lauren is passionate about bridging academic insights and practical solutions for enhancing workplace well-being.
Jonah Richardson
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2021
B.A. DePaul University
Research interests: personnel selection, telework, workplace boredom
Faith Shannon
Ph.D. Program Entry Year: 2021
B.S. Spelman College
Research interests: work-family, occupational health psychology, leadership, DE&I
Faith Shannon is a student in Auburn University’s Industrial-Organizational Psychology PhD program. She works under the direction of Dr. Jesse Michel in the Work-Life and Organizational Effectiveness Lab. Her research interests include work-family topics, occupational health psychology, leadership, DEI, and turnover, with her latest project focusing on The Great Resignation. Faith completed her undergraduate studies at Spelman College, where she earned a B.S. in psychology. She hopes to continue researching her areas of interest throughout the remainder of her studies at Auburn.
Tori Holcomb
Tori is a junior at Auburn University from Peachtree City, Georgia, who is majoring in biomedical sciences and neurosciences on the pre-med track. She hopes to continue her time in the LAM lab for several semesters! Tori is involved in many campus organizations including Alpha Epsilon Delta, Active Minds, Women in Science, and her social sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. Fun fact: Tori used to drive a golfcart to school because her city was a golf community!
Madeline McCormick
Madeline is a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences - Pre Medicine, with a minor in Business. She hopes to attend medical school upon graduation in order to become an anesthesiologist. She enjoys going to the beach, spending time with friends and family, and being a Young Life leader in Auburn!
Faith Miller
Faith is a senior majoring in psychology with an interest in neuroscience. She hopes to attend graduate school in the future where she wishes to eventually obtain her Ph.D. and one day lead research in Alzheimer's.
Gracie Mae Hundley
Why did you choose the SLLAC Lab?
I chose the SLLAC Lab because of my interest in working with children with speech sound disorders. I am excited to gain experience in promoting academic achievement and look forward to expanding my knowledge in speech, oral language, and literacy.
Clinical and Research Interests:
- Speech Sound Disorders
- Fluency Disorders
- Dysphagia
Grace Leverett
Grace Leverett graduated with a B.A. in Communicative Disorders from the University of Alabama in 2022. She is now enrolled in Auburn University’s M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program and serves as a graduate research assistant for Dr. Gregory Spray in the SNAP Lab. Prior to coming to Auburn, Grace practiced as a licensed speech-language pathology assistant and treated pediatric clients with a variety of communicative disorders. Her interests within the area include acquired neurological communication disorders, swallowing disorders, and aural habilitation/rehabilitation. Grace is excited to be a part of the wonderful things happening within the SNAP Lab and is eager to add value in any area she can.
Carson Huerta
Carson Huerta graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in Theatre and a B.S. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Embracing the intersection of these two diverse yet complementary fields, Carson seeks to explore how effective communication, both in its study and artistic expression, can empower individuals and enrich lives. His clinical interests include Autism Spectrum Disorder, professional voice, and gender affirming voice care. Carson is currently a graduate student studying Speech-Language Pathology at Auburn University.
Gracyn Holt
Gracyn Holt is a Doctoral Audiology Student at Auburn University. She received her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Education in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She joined the ABILITY Research Lab as a Graduate Research Assistant in 20022-2023. After beginning the program and working with patients in the clinic, she becomes interested in working on research that focuses on the importance of empathy in the field of audiology, especially for audiology patients living with comorbid health conditions affecting their physical health. With the innovation of virtual reality, her project is “A Mile in the Patient’s Shoes Who Are Living with Hearing Loss and Arthritis: Audiologist’s Empathy Through Embodied Virtual Reality.” Five years from now, Gracyn hopes to be working with the Veteran community to serve those who served our country.
Hope Hartley
Hope is an undergraduate student majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Hope joined the SNAP lab because of her interest in fluency disorders and music. After graduation, Hope plans to obtain a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology and go on to become an SLP in the school system.
Lily Dunaway
Lily Dunaway is a Junior Undergraduate Student at Auburn University, pursuing a Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences degree. In the Spring of 2024, she became a part of the Ability Research Lab. She became interested in working on research that focuses on validating hearing tools that can contribute to helping individuals navigate everyday life with hearing impairments/language barriers. Her involvement in the ABILITY Research Lab allows her to explore her interests in the field of audiology and gain further experience while working with a team.
Caroline Tucker
Caroline Tucker is a freshman at Auburn pursuing a degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Family Sciences and Child Development. Outside of research, she is a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and involved in FBO's student college ministry.
Calli McAdams
Calli is a junior at Auburn majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Counseling. She is a member of the Phi Mu Sorority and enjoys volunteering through various organizations on campus!
Lauren Reed
Lauren Reed is a junior at Auburn majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Psychology. Her campus involvements include her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, a campus ministry, and the National Student Speech, Language, and Hearing Association.
Jeffrey Manord
Jeffrey is a graduate student at Auburn University in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. His research interests includechildhood language development, APD, cultural aspects of language, speech perception, and ADHD.
Lola Shields
Lola is a junior in Biomedical Sciences with a Spanish minor. She plans to attend medical school after graduation. She doesn’t yet know what field interests her but is excited to pursue a career that enables her to serve others. Having had a grandmother with dementia, she looks forward to learning about the complexity of the brain. In her free time, Lola can be found reading a book—usually a period piece—watching a movie with her roommates, or spending time with her friends and family!
Katherine Bradford
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Research Interests: Motivation, Work-life balance, and Organizational Culture
Lacey Crews
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Research Interests: OHP, Leadership, Burnout, Training
Nyla Henton
Hometown: Foley, AL
Research Interests: Employee Motivation, Leadership
Virginia Ogden
Hometown: Mobile, AL
Research Interests: Work-life balance, occupational health psychology
Kavari Sanders
Hometown: Auburn, AL
Research Interests: Work-life balance, motivation
Isabella Lehman
Hometown: Warner Robins, GA
B.A., Auburn University (Psychology)
Research Interests: Social motives and intergroup dynamics in the workplace, occupational stress, work/life balance
Isabella is currently a doctoral student in the Industrial Organizational PhD program at Auburn University. She is eager to gain valuable experience, develop industry skills, and cultivate meaningful connections while on her journey through graduate school. She will be working in the Social Motives lab with Jonathan Kunstman. She is excited to discover what contributions she can make in the lab, as well as know how she can collaborate with fellow peers in the research field.
Phillip Nguyen
Hometown: Bowling Green, KY
B.S., Western Kentucky University (Sports Psychology)
M.S., Purdue University Global (Industrial-Organizational Psychology)
Research Interests: Occupational Health Psychology, Employee Well-being, Future of work, Artificial Intelligence
Phillip Nguyen is currently a doctoral student in Auburn University's Industrial-Organizational Psychology program. He is a member of the EMPOWER Lab, working with Dr. Paige Watson and fellow doctoral student Tatiana Guevara. Phillip’s research focuses on occupational health psychology, employee well-being, the future of work, and artificial intelligence. He received his Bachelor of Arts in sports psychology from Western Kentucky University and his Master of Science in industrial-organizational psychology from Purdue University.
Taylor Flinn
Hometown Algonquin, IL
B.S., Coe College
M.S., Illinois State University
Research Interests: Occupational Health Psychology, Recovery, Work Stress, Quantitative Methods
Grace Ann Lacey
Haley Walden
Lydia Smith
Milly Diener
Steve Mcknight
Steve McKnight is a Ph.D. candidate of Public Administration & Public Policy. Before coming to Auburn University, Steve worked at the Brazos County Sherrif’s Office as a policy writer, served as an academic program coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin, and volunteered with Texas Search and Rescue. As a Graduate Research Assistant, Steve has worked on EPA, NSF, and USDA grant-funded research that focuses on creating resilient communities in the face of extreme climate events. Steve teaches undergraduate courses at Auburn in State Government and Local Government. Steve is also a fellow in the NSF Research Traineeship for Climate Resilience at Auburn University. Steve’s dissertation uses a survey of government workers along the Gulf of Mexico to better understand how bureaucrats learn from one another and contribute to community resilience.
Track:
Public Administration, Community Planning
Areas of Interest:
Emergency Management, Community Resilience, Environmental Justice, Social Equity
Education:
Master of Public Service Administration, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Texas A&M University
Elena Roversi
Elena Roversi holds a BA in International Cooperation and Development from the University of Bologna (Italy) and an MA in Gender Studies from the University of Geneva (Switzerland). She also spent six months as an Erasmus student at the Free University of Brussels, and three months at UC Santa Barbara as part of the International Studies Program. Currently, Elena is a Ph.D. candidate in Public Administration and Public Policy at Auburn University, with a focus on Community Planning and Applied Research. Before beginning her doctoral studies, she worked for several years in child protection and gender programming for international organizations such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the World Health Organization in Geneva (Switzerland), and UNICEF in Senegal.
Elena’s research interests center on the gendered dimensions of marginalization, particularly in urban contexts across Europe and the Global South. Her dissertation investigates the experiences of newly arrived refugees in the city of Ferrara, Italy, examining how they navigate perceptions of insecurity in urban public spaces and how they build a community in a situation of marginalization and precarity.
Elena’s diverse fieldwork experience spans Italy, Senegal, and Liberia, where she conducted in-depth interviews, facilitated focus groups, collected qualitative data, and co-designed a short course on qualitative research. As part of her dissertation work, Elena is also co-directing a video ethnography project on the refugees’ homemaking experiences in Italy. She has presented her work at leading conferences, including the Urban Affairs Association, the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, the Association of Collegiate Schools in Planning, and the Annual Association for Research on Civil Society in Africa.
At Auburn, Elena teaches undergraduate courses in Community Planning, including "Urbanization and the City," and is developing a new course on the political, social, and cultural impact of migration on urban spaces. She has extensive experience in gender analysis, nonprofit management, and urban policy, having led international projects focused on child protection, gender inclusion, and community development.
Tracks: Community Planning; Applied Research
Areas of Interest: Forced displacement and urban security; Gender and migration in urban spaces; Feminist political ecology; New Cities and Traditional Communities in Africa.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts in International Cooperation and Development, University of Bologna (Italy)
Master of Arts in Gender Studies, University of Geneva (Switzerland)
Nurun Naher
Nurun Naher is a Ph.D. candidate in the joint Public Administration & Public Policy program at Auburn University. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Binghamton University and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, she worked as a Research Associate at the South Asian Network for Economic Modeling (SANEM), a regional think tank.
At Auburn University, Nurun has served as the sole instructor and supplemental instructor for courses such as: Introduction to Public Administration, Organization Theory, and Foundations of Public Policy. She has published research in Extractive Industries and Society, Public Works Management and Policy, and Social Science Quarterly, with additional manuscripts under review at journals such as Environmental Research: Energy, Environmental Policy, and Governance, Risk, Hazards, and Crisis in Public Policy. Moreover, she has presented her research at conferences organized by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), the Midwestern Political Science Association (MPSA), and the Western Political Science Association (WPSA), focusing on topics like Environmental and Energy Policy, policy adoption and enforcement, and Environmental Justice. In recognition of her academic achievements, she was awarded the Outstanding PhD Student award for the 2024 academic year at Auburn.
Nurun is deeply committed to driving change in Environmental and Energy policy. Her research explores how energy and environmental policies are formulated, enforced, and their subsequent outcomes. For example, her dissertation investigates state pesticide policymaking by analyzing internal state characteristics, external factors, and variables related to state preemption.
Track: Public Administration, Public Policy
Areas of interest: Public Administration, Policy Adoption and Implementation, Environmental and Natural Resources Policy, Environmental Justice, State and Local Government, Research Methodology
Education:
Master of Arts, Binghamton University, NY
Bachelor of Social Science, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Alisha Amin
Alisha holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Dhaka (2018) and a master’s degree in International Studies from North Carolina State University (2021). She is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Administration and Policy at Auburn University, which she began in 2022.
Alisha’s research interests encompass environmental policy, environmental justice, and social equity, with a particular focus on evaluating policy outcomes through the lens of equity and fairness. In addition to her academic pursuits, Alisha is passionate about human rights and has actively contributed to this cause through her volunteer work with World Relief Durham. There, she tutored refugee youth, helping them navigate and adapt to the U.S. school system and culture.
She has previous experience working in the insurance industry in the U.S. and has also gained valuable corporate experience back in her home country, further enhancing her multidisciplinary perspective and skill set.
Track: Public Administration, Global Politics
Area of Interest: Environmental policy, environmental justice and sustainability, social equity, human rights, international organizations.
Education
Bachelors of Economics || University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Masters of International Studies || North Carolina State University, NC.
Xiaodan Zhang
Xiaodan Zhang is a Ph.D. candidate in the joint Ph.D. Program in Public Administration and Public Policy at Auburn University. She earned her Master of Public Administration at Auburn. Prior to her studies at Auburn, she worked full-time in the financial industry. Her dissertation research focuses on state nonpoint source water pollution control. She also teaches the undergraduate course on State Policy and Politics at Auburn.
Tracks:
Public Administration, Applied Research
Areas of interest:
Environmental policy, water quality, nonpoint source pollution control, state policy comparison.
Education:
Master of Public Administration, Auburn University
Bachelor of Business Administration, Jilin University
Lucky Chambers Umezulike
Lucky received his Master’s degree in International Studies and Development Economics from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Ph.D. program in Public Administration and Public Policy at Auburn University. Prior to starting his Ph.D. program, Lucky worked with the British Council and Connected Development (a Nigeria-based nonprofit) as a program manager. He also consulted for various international and national organizations/institutions in Nigeria including the World Bank, Public Services International, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation, International Labour Organization, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth & Sports Development, among others, on program evaluation and development research.
Lucky’s research interests revolve around nonprofit management and accountability, philanthropy and charitable giving, NGOs and international development, and program evaluation. He has presented his research at conferences such as the Southern Political Science Association and the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations & Voluntary Action. At Auburn, he teaches an undergraduate course in nonprofit management.
A member of the International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS), Lucky is one of the recipients of the 2019 Africa Leader Award from the President Barack Obama Foundation, a recognition for emerging leaders across the African continent.
Tracks: Nonprofit Organizations & Community Governance, Applied Research
Areas of Interest: Nonprofit management and accountability; philanthropy and charitable giving; NGOs and international development; program evaluation; structural transformation and industrial policy
Education:
Master of Arts in International Studies and Development Economics, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nigeria
Xuan Wang
Xuan Wang is a Ph.D. student in the Public Administration and Public Policy Program at Auburn University. She earned her double bachelor’s degrees in management and economics from Changzhou University, China. In 2018, she came to the U.S. to finish her joint master’s degree in public administration with Gansu Agricultural University and Troy University. Her work was published in State Politics & Policy Quarterly, and she presented her research to the Southern Political Science Association. She also participated in the White Paper program of the MIT Election Data & Science Lab on Election Official and Poll Worker Recruitment, Training, and Retention. She is currently working on her doctorate dissertation, focusing on the public service motivation of public employees from different departments at local governments in the U.S.
Track: Public Administration & Applied Research
Areas of Interest: Public Administration, Bureaucracy, Election Administration, Public Personnel Management, Public Opinions, and Research Methodology
Education:
Master of Public Administration, Troy University, Troy, AL
Bachelor of Management and Economics, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
Jude Ugwuoke
Jude received his Master of Science in Economics from Auburn University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the Ph.D. Program in Public Administration & Public Policy at Auburn University, where he is completing his dissertation on "Specific and General Regional Analysis of the Impact of Civil Society Density on Education, Political Participation, and Health Outcomes in the United States." Jude is a Graduate Research Assistant and has previously presented at the American Political Science Association (APSA), the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA), and The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) with research topics on DEI, public opinion, and civil society density and political participation. He was honored with the Elinor Ostrom Fellowship at George Mason University for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Track: Nonprofits and Applied Research
Areas of Interest: Civil Society and (Health Sector, Service Provision, and Political Participation), Public Opinion, Environmental Policy, Civil-Military Relations, Human Rights, Economic Development, Political Economy, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI).
Education:
Master of Science in Financial Engineering, WorldQuant University (Ongoing)
Master of Science in Economics, Auburn University
Bachelor of Science in Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Bennet Kwadzo Nyadzi
Bennet Kwadzo Nyadzi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Ph.D. Program in Public Administration & Public Policy at Auburn University. He holds a Master of Philosophy in Public Administration from the University of Ghana, where he was also awarded the Professor Denis Kingsford Greenstreet Prize for the Best Graduating MPhil Student in Public Administration for the 2020/2021 Academic Year. In 2020, Bennet was awarded the prestigious European Union ERASMUS scholarship to study at Mendel University in the Czech Republic. Before joining Auburn, he served as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Ghana Business School.
Bennet’s research interests include public policy and administration, international development, political behavior and institutions, and the third sector. He has presented his work at multiple conferences, including the Midwest Political Science Association, Southern Political Science Association, Southeastern Conference for Public Administration, and Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations & Voluntary Action.
At Auburn, Bennet teaches Global Politics and American Government to undergraduates and has also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for courses in Organization Theory and Public Policy.
Tracks: Global, Nonprofit Organizations & Community Governance
Areas of Interest: Public management; environmental policy; E-government and technology; civil society and democracy.
Education:
Master of Philosophy in Public Administration, University of Ghana
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Central University, Ghana