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Hannah Apostolou
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Expertise: “Cognition and Brain Structure Loneliness”
I am a fourth-year graduate student in the geropsychology concentration. I am originally from Michigan and received my B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, at the University of Michigan. I am interested in how social factors contribute to changes in brain structure and cognitive outcomes.
Mentor(s): Ian McDonough and Lindsey Jacobs
Michael R. Buxton
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Michael’s main research interests involve prevention and treatment of substance use and suicidality in older adults, professional geropsychology training and practice, and intersectionality, identity, and transitions in later life. Michael is a PhD student in the Clinical Geropsychology program at The University of Alabama. He was born and raised in England but moved to Florida several years ago. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a BS in Aging Sciences and Behavioral Healthcare. After graduating, he worked in the department of Mental Health Law & Policy at USF and was involved with a NIMH-funded behavioral activation study for depression in older adults. Since moving to Alabama, Michael has been involved with several projects with mentors Dr. Rebecca Allen and Dr. Lindsey Jacobs. Apart from interests in aging research, Michael is a big foodie and enjoys a good sense of humor.
Mentor: Dr. Rebecca Allen
Phatt Thaitrong
Registered Dietitian College of Human Environmental Sciences Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management
Research Interests: Human Nutrition; Geriatric Nutrition, Gerontology, Nutrition Management, and Chronic Diseases; Public Health, Community, and Public Health Nutrition; Heath, Mental, and Spiritual Wellness
I am an international student from Thailand. I am also a registered dietitian. I am particularly interested in working with the aging population. As the aging population is rapidly increasing, it is important to understand the process of aging and develop the best nutrition and health care for them to “age” into good health. My passion about aging and nutrition made me want to gain more in-depth education and experience in geriatric nutrition. I am interested in older adults, dementia, geriatric nutrition, and qualitative research studies.
Mentor: Dr. Joy Douglas
Regina George
Doctoral Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: Quality of care in nursing homes, care giving
Regina George is a doctoral student in the Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program at the University of Alabama. Her research interests include quality of care in nursing homes, care giving, and creativity and aging.
Mentors: Dr. A. Lynn Snow, Dr. Michelle Hilgeman
Shayne Lin
Ph.D. Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: Neuropsychological assessment and neurobiological underpinnings of dementia
Shayne Lin is currently a fourth-year clinical psychology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Alabama, who specializes in clinical geropsychology. Shayne’s primary research interest focuses on the neuropsychology and neuroscience of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Shayne will be moving onto a clinical neuropsychology internship at University of Missouri for training in neuropsychological assessment for older adults.
Mentors: Rebecca Allen; Ian McDonough
Sorour Sarihi
PhD student College of Human Environmental Sciences Human nutrition
Research Interests: neurodegenerative diseases, nutritional interventions, and dietary patterns
I had my master’s degree in Nutrition from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. I am a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist with experience and training in medical nutrition therapy in Iran and have worked as a chief dietitian at general hospitals.
Mentor: Dr. Amy c Ellis
Tim Ly
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interest: Cognition, medical decision-making, cultural and contextual factors influencing cognitive aging trajectories
I am currently a graduate student in clinical geropsychology working with Dr. Rebecca Allen. My research interests involve understanding how different cultural and contextual factors influence cognitive aging trajectories across the lifespan, how these factors influence medical decision-making in later life, and how to integrate these factors into developing culturally salient and sensitive interventions for an increasingly diverse older adult population.
Mentor: Rebecca S. Allen
Valerie E. Luskey
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: Valerie’s main interests involve serious mental illness, capacity, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in older adults.
Valerie E. Luskey, B.S., is a graduate student in the Clinical Geropsychology program at the University of Alabama. Before coming to Alabama, she worked at the Minneapolis VA in research investigating treatments for veterans with PTSD, and she worked at the Cajal Institute examining the link between social hierarchy and the CA2 region of the hippocampus. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2016. Valerie has a love for Alabama’s nice weather, her plants, and her cat, Enoch.
Mentors: Lindsey Jacobs and Rebecca Allen
Heaven Cauble
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: decision-making, risk-taking, Alzheimer’s Disease, health and cognition
Heaven Cauble is a second-year doctoral student in the Cognitive Psychology concentration working with Dr. Sheila Black. She received her BS in psychology with a minor in biology from the University of Alabama in 2021. Her primary research interests include decision-making, Alzheimer’s Disease, and the effects of health on cognition in older adults. She is also interested in health disparities and cognition across cultures. Outside of research, she enjoys traveling, DIY projects, and cheering on the New Orleans Saints!
Mentor: Dr. Sheila Black
Alissa McIntyre
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: Cultural health disparities, rural health disparities, lifespan health factors, intersectionality of culture and historical background
Alissa McIntyre is a third year Clinical Psychology doctoral student, emphasizing in Geropsychology. Alissa was born in Curacao and raised in Kansas. She received her undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama in 2021. Outside of research, Alissa enjoys UA football season, trying new foods, and finding new recipes to experiment with.
Mentor: Dr. Rebecca S. Allen
Sophia Geisser
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: sleep and dementia, music/dance/yoga as a psychotherapeutic protocol, assessing care partner burden, mindfulness, identifying racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in end-of-life care/palliative care, and creating practical and inclusive tools to promote health equity. Sophia is a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program (Gero) at The University of Alabama (PI Dr. Lynn Snow).
Sophia graduated from Binghamton University with a BS in Integrative Neuroscience and a BA in Theatre: Dance. There, she did research in The Lenzenweger Lab of Experimental Psychopathology (sexual violence victimization, personality characteristics, BPD, and SAD) and in The Jant Lab of Cognitive Development and Learning (parent-child interactions and children’s cognitive abilities). Sophia was a Research Project Coordinator at the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research at Rutgers University. She did research with PI’s Dr. Darina Petrovsky (Calming Music Personalized for Sleep Enhancement in PeRsons living with Dementia (CoMPoSER) and Dr. Elizabeth Luth (Enhanced Dementia Instruction and Tool in Home Hospice Care (EDITH-HC).
Mentor: Dr. A. Lynn Snow
Erick Carranza
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Expertise: Erick’s main interests involve Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in older adults with chronic pain management, clinical training, and identifying how therapists can incorporate family caregivers into patient treatment systems.
Erick Carranza, M.A., is a graduate student in the Clinical Geropsychology program at the University of Alabama. Before moving to Alabama, Erick completed his master’s degree back home in Los Angeles, CA. He worked as a Clinic Co-coordinator as part of Cal State Northridge’s Assessment Clinic while serving the San Fernando Valley community as a graduate intern in the Mood & Anxiety Clinic. In his free time, Erick enjoys going to the gym, exploring local restaurants or staying home to play video games with friends.
Mentor(s): Dr. Lindsey M. Jacobs and Dr. Rebecca S. Allen
Ashley Fromenthal
Graduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Expertise: Life satisfaction/subjective well-being in older adults, feelings of loneliness and burden in palliative care, and caretaker resilience
Ashley is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Geropsychology program at The University of Alabama. She received her B.S. and M.S. at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette where she studied life satisfaction in older adults based on the components of self-determination theory. Outside of research, Ashley loves to spend time with her rabbit, hike with friends, and cook up some Cajun food for her cohort!
Mentor(s): Dr. Rebecca S. Allen
Undergraduate Students
Blake Peeples
Undergraduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Blake is a senior at the University of Alabama, and he is graduating with a BS in Psychology with a minor in Advertising/Public Relations. He is also graduating with honors as a member of the Honors College. In addition, Blake is a student-athlete for the Swim and Dive team. He was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduation, Blake hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a geropsychology focus. Blake’s specific research interests center around the well-being of older adults and those who care for them with application to memory disorders, health disparities, the LGBTQ+ community, obesity, and hoarding disorder.
Ben Thompson
Undergraduate Student College of Arts & Sciences Psychology
Research Interests: The treatment of traumatic brain Injury and or intellectual disability to improve quality of life, prevention and treatment of substance use, relationships, and holistic mental wellness.
I am a senior undergraduate student here at UA. I was born and raised in northeast Alabama, and I have always had a passion for psychology. I hope to graduate with my B.S in psychology with a minor in Sales and Criminology in May of 2024. I aspire to leave a positive impact on this world, and I firmly believe that active participation in research is a great way to achieve that goal. Outside of my interests in research I enjoy golfing, anything to do with food or music and watching Alabama football.
Research Mentors: Dr. Rebecca Allen and Dr. Darren George