Maria Anastasiades

Fifth Year Doctoral Student

Kelsie Harding

Fourth Year Doctoral Student

My research interests include the psychological implications of chronic/terminal illness diagnoses, autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, ADHD, and anxiety. I am particularly interested in a young pediatric population and early intervention services. My past research has also explored the use of technological components in attempts to circumvent stigma and time constraints of traditional mental health services.

Vincent Fitch

First Year Doctoral Student

My interests are concerned with healthful living, well-being, and the implementation of exercise in previously sedentary populations. Likewise, I am interested in the interactions among individuals pursuing these lifestyles from both psychological and sociological perspectives. With an extensive background in physiology, another interest includes the integration of mind and body constituting the idea of Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). My most recent experience includes working this past summer as a behavior coach implementing CBT/DBT at a wellness camp.

Heather Cygan

First Year Doctoral Student

Heather is a first-year doctoral student interested in psychophysiology. Specifically, her interests lie in the biology of fear, stress, and anxiety. Her research interests include the heart-rate variability, the processing of stimuli in people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, as well as mental health in the LGBTQ community. Past research has included the effects of stress on decision making and influences of social dominance orientation and attitudes toward immigrants on jail sentencing.

Sarah Vitale

First Year Doctoral Student

Sarah is a first year doctoral student interested in clinical pediatric psychology. Her past research explored the effectiveness of maternal strategies on toddlers’ affect. She continues her work in this field by working to integrate emotion regulation skills into therapy for anxious youth.

Sheree Ash

Fifth Year Doctoral Student

Sheree is a fourth year student interested in health psychology. Of particular importance is her desire to help others establish and maintain health eating behaviors and well as exercise programs for increased wellness. Her research interest are diverse, including the mind-body connection, spirituality, mindfulness, and stress management.

Christian Klepper

Fourth Year Doctoral Student

Christian is a fourth year student interested in clinical child, adolescent and pediatric psychology. Specifically, she is interested in ADHD, anxiety, and emotion regulation as well as mindfulness, anxiety sensitivity, parent/child interactions, and integrated behavioral health care.

Christina Mayfield

Second Year Doctoral Student

Christina is a second year student interested in the relationship between anxiety and health. She has particular interest in further understanding the relationship between re-injury anxiety and an athlete’s ability to return-to-sport. Additionally, she is interested in how social support buffers the lasting effects of re-injury anxiety and other anxiety-related disorders.

Christine Mullen

Fifth Year Doctoral Student

Christine Mullen, M.A., is a fifth year graduate student in the Clinical Medical Psychology program at Mercer University School of Medicine. She received her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida. Christine has published peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters on several topics including: applied neuropsychology, chronic health conditions, and cognitive impairment. She has experience with a variety of clinical populations through her work at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute, Emory University Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, and Shepherd Pathways. She has training in psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for numerous purposes including acquired brain injury, degenerative disorders, and left ventricular assist device, spinal cord stimulator, and bariatric recipient selection and post-treatment monitoring. Training also includes cognitive rehabilitation and psychotherapy for diverse diagnoses in adults. She is the co-founder and president of the Neuropsychology Interest Group at Mercer University and is currently the campus representative for Division 38 and APAGS ACT.

Anna-Leigh Powell

Second Year (+) Doctoral Student

I am interested in the link between mental and physical health, specifically the complex relationship present between cardiac disease and depression. My research goals involve studying the effects of breathing training on depression severity as well as the assessment of heart health in depressed individuals using physiologic measures such as heart rate variability.

Renato Popovic

Second Year Doctoral Student

My research interests lie in the field of neuropsychology, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases. I am also interested in looking for neurochemical or neuroanatomical causes to the development of neurological diseases. I would also like to delve into neurological trauma and efficacy treatment methods.

Carly Salzberg

First Year Doctoral Student

Carly Salzberg is a first-year doctoral student interested in health psychology, specifically eating disorders and it’s comorbidities. She also has interests in anxiety and stress management. She is currently working on the social anxiety and exercise project and a mindfulness project. Her past research includes studying children with learning disabilities and autism, as well as, research on a drug rehabilitation program.