Meet the Lab

I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a B.S. in psychology before earning my M.A. in Clinical psychology from Western Carolina University. After my Masters, I got licensed and practiced for three years, serving rural and under-served populations in Appalachia. I went back to school and got my PhD in Counseling psychology from the University of Kansas (RCJH!). I’m an avid board gamer, outdoor adventurer, and beer brewer.

Brittney graduated, with honors recognition, from Florida Gulf Coast University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she processed intakes as a Client Care Coordinator and provided Applied Behavior Analysis services to children and adolescents as a Registered Behavior Technician. Brittney’s research interest is examining the etiology of PTSD and associated comorbidities. She is also interested in suicide prevention among those with PTSD. Lastly, she is interested in issues surrounding mental health stigma and military population’s use and willingness to seek treatment. Brittney sees her career in clinical practice. Brittney enjoys outdoor activities, such as fishing, hiking, and canoeing. She is an animal lover and advocate, currently owning two cats and a rabbit.

Nicole focuses their research on LGBTQIA+ engagement and access of mental health resources as well as treatment outcomes and engagement. They specifically focus on the experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming people. In keeping with their interest in mental health treatment outcomes, Nicole also researches the interpretation, utilization, and outcomes of psychological assessment with the LGBTQIA+ community. Beyond their PhD, Nicole is pursuing a career in academia at a research university in which they can pursue their passion for mentorship, teaching, and research. 

Keegan received his B.S. in Psychology from Montana State University in 2019. As an undergraduate, he worked in two developmental psychology labs with mentored research focused on autonomic regulation of anxiety and aggression in emerging adults. Keegan’s professional service included assisting with treatment plan development for justice-involved Veterans in specialty court. His current research interests include investigating predictors of treatment seeking behaviors for justice-involved persons with mental illness and risk assessment. In his free time, Keegan enjoys biking, hiking, and spending time with his wonderful dog.

Sarah earned a Dual B.A. in Psychology and Criminology at Texas Tech University in 2019. After graduating, Sarah worked in a local prison teaching a Life Skills program to justice-involved persons on probation. Sarah’s current research interests include improving treatment effectiveness and assessment accuracy for justice-involved persons, particularly with mental illness. Sarah is also interested in detecting symptom misrepresentation and justice-involved veterans. She sees her career in clinical practice. In her free time, Sarah enjoys visiting her family, hiking, and spending time with her cat.

Bryce graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2021 where he worked in a lab studying emotional intelligence and psychometrics. In addition, he worked in a behavioral addiction’s lab as a McNair Scholar where he authored his first manuscript for publication. Bryce’s research interests are focused around using behavioral, epidemiological, and neurobiological methods to assess factors that contribute to the development of PTSD and co-occurring psychiatric disorders among U.S. military Veterans. In his free time Bryce enjoys drawing, painting, and 3D designing.

Megan earned a B.S. in psychology from Ball State University in 2019 and complete dual master’s degrees in Clinical and Quantitative Psychology from Ball State University in 2021 where she worked with Dr. Tayla Lee. Her thesis investigated the nomological network of compulsivity. She is interested in pursuing clinical and research activities related to assessment, dimensional models of personality and psychopathology, clinical utility, and underserved populations. In her free time, Megan enjoys being an overly involved dog-mom!

Luke has a masters in clinical neuropsychology and has dedicated his career to helping Veterans and Active-Duty personnel with those issues. Luke is also a Veteran himself.

Becca is a Clinical Psychology graduate student working under the mentorship of Dr. Adam Schmidt. Becca graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice, and went on to complete her master’s degree in forensic psychology at the George Washington University. Becca’s research interests focus on the relationship between risk and protective factors in juvenile offending, and the reliability and validity of forensic assessments. She hopes to further research psychology and law in an academic setting. In her free time, Becca enjoys playing piano, cooking, and watching sports

Derek received his M.A. in Family Science & Human Development from Montclair State University in 2018. After graduating, Derek moved to Texas and worked in crisis response for community mental health. He is currently working on his doctorate with Dr. Rogers in Human Development and Family Sciences, where he is interested in sibling interactions, adolescent development, and the influence on mental health on relationships. Derek enjoys landscaping, working on home projects, spending time with friends, and has a cat, fish, and 4 chickens.