Profiles for all current students in the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, organized by cohort, are provided below.
Jonathan Applebaum
Hometown: Rye Brook, NY
Education: New York University BS (2020); New York University, MA (2022)
Research Interests: treatment efficacy for children, adolescents and young adults who are diagnosed with ADHD, barriers to treatment, risk and protective factors that contribute to reaching developmental milestones in adolescents with ADHD
Clinical Interests: employing a myriad of treatment modalities such as CBT and DBT to children, adolescents, and young adults who are diagnosed with ADHD as well as additional internalizing and externalizing disorders, peer-led interventions, implementation of interventions to support executive functioning and emotion regulation skills across the lifespan
Mentor: Elizabeth Chan
Email: applebaumj1@montclair.edu
Swetha Ayinala
Hometown: Austin, TX
Education: University of Texas at Austin, BS (2025)
Research Interests: behavioral and emotional dysregulation in youth, early childhood adversity and neurodevelopment, developmental pathways of externalizing behaviors
Clinical Interests: child and adolescent psychopathology, evidence-based interventions for youth with externalizing disorders, neuropsychological assessment
Mentor: Pevitr Bansal
Email: ayinalas1@montclair.edu
Caroline Candy
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Education: University of Michigan, BA (2023)
Research Interests: neural correlates underlying co-occurring psychopathology in autistic youth and how they may change in response to intervention
Clinical Interests: implementation of neurodiversity affirming interventions that support social connection for autistic youth
Mentor: Erin Kang
Email: candyc1@montclair.edu
Gabrielle Jamieson
Hometown: Bradley Beach, NJ
Education: University of Scranton, BS (2025)
Research Interests: help-seeking and treatment engagement among young people of color, mental health stigma reduction, mental health impacts of racial discrimination, social norms and behavior change, promoting social justice
Clinical Interests: child and adolescent psychopathology, culturally responsive school-based interventions, evidence-based treatments for internalizing disorders
Mentor: Sally Grapin
Email: jamiesong1@montclair.edu
Diego Leon
Hometown: Santa Rosa, CA
Education: Santa Rosa Junior College, A.A. (2022); San Diego State University, B.A. (2025)
Research Interests: intersection of language and cognition, language processing, bilingualism, vocabulary development and comprehension, cognitive development, developmental disorders
Clinical Interests: clinical assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, evidence-based treatment and intervention, focus on early detection and supporting developmental outcomes
Mentor: Laura Lakusta
Email: leond10@montclair.edu
Ritika Merai
Hometown: Clifton, NJ
Education: Rutgers University, BA (2023)
Research Interests: suicide prevention among racially/ethnically minoritized youth, culture and family influences, digital mental health and access to care
Clinical Interests: child and adolescent psychopathology, depression and suicidality, evidence-based and culturally sensitive care for racial/ethnic minority youth and families
Mentor: Jazmin Reyes-Portillo
Email: merair1@montclair.edu
Karlie Rice
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
Education: Indiana University, BA (2020); Roger Williams University, MA (2022)
Research Interests: juvenile justice, parole decision making, violent criminal behavior, forensic assessment
Clinical Interests: forensic mental health assessment, treatment for Justice involved youth, risk assessment, competency evaluations
Mentor: Tina Zottoli
Email: ricek10@montclair.edu
Lily Stavisky
Hometown: Reisterstown, MD
Education: Hofstra University, BA (2022)
Research Interests: parenting factors that contribute to the development, maintenance, and treatment of internalizing disorders in youth; development and dissemination of parenting interventions for treating internalizing disorders in youth
Clinical Interests: evidence-based and culturally sensitive interventions for children and adolescents with internalizing disorders; child and adolescent psychopathology
Mentor: Jeremy Fox
Email: staviskyl1@montclair.edu
Samantha Zakrzewski
Hometown: Clifton, NJ
Education: Montclair State University, BA (2023) and MA (2024)
Research Interests: cognitive development, spatial abilities, gamification, interventions for individuals with developmental disabilities
Clinical Interests: neuropsychological assessment, cognitive rehabilitation, child and adolescent psychopathology
Mentor: Jennifer Yang
Email: zakrzewskis1@montclair.edu
Maria Camilla Estelle
Hometown: Highland Falls, NY
Education: Fordham University, BS (2017); New York University, MA (2022)
Research Interests: neural correlates for memory and attention, cognitive changes post-injury or disease, sociocultural factors in brain-behavior relationships
Clinical Interests: neurorehabilitation after brain injury or disease, cognitive-behavioral remediation, neuropsychological assessment
Mentor: Joshua Sandry
Email: estellem1@montclair.edu
Tierney Huppert
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Education: Seattle University, BA (2017); Drexel University, MS (2024)
Research Interests: sentencing, alternatives to incarceration, wrongful convictions, reentry, criminal justice policy reform
Clinical Interests: forensic mental health assessment, severe mental illness, treatment for justice-involved individuals
Mentor: Tarika Daftary-Kapur
Email: huppertt1@montclair.edu
Drew Melancon
Hometown: Dayton, OH
Education: Montclair State University, BA (2022) and MA (2024)
Research Interests: how social media impacts intense emotions during adolescence, such as relapse urges or suicidal ideation/self-injury urges
Clinical Interests: forensic mental health assessment, neuropsychological assessment, child and adolescent psychopathology, and evidence-based interventions for youths with CD and ODD
Mentor: Pevitr Bansal
Email: melancond1@montclair.edu
Arabella Peters
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Education: Emory University, BA (2022)
Research Interests: utilizing EEG measures to elucidate differences in autism spectrum disorder (ASD); investigating brain-behavior relationships in ASD through the use of biomarkers in tandem with clinical assessment
Clinical Interests: employing evidence-based approaches like CBT to tailor interventions in adolescents on the autism spectrum; development and implementation of emotional regulation skills in neurodevelopmental disorders
Mentor: Erin Kang
Email: petersa6@montclair.edu
Safia Elyounssi
Hometown: Arlington, MA
Education: Suffolk University, BS (2020)
Research Interests: early childhood adversities, peer and mentor support, symptoms of anxiety, externalizing behaviors, emotional development
Clinical Interests: school-based interventions, early intervention, child and adolescent psychopathology
Mentor: Samantha Coyle-Eastwick
Email: elyounssis1@montclair.edu
Priya Saha
Hometown: Queens, NY
Education: Hunter College, BA (2018); Montclair State University, MA (2024)
Research Interests: assessing parental support and its impact in the development and maintenance of internalizing disorders in youth; development and implementation of culturally sensitive school-based interventions; understanding mental health barriers in underrepresented youth
Clinical Interests: implementation of culturally sensitive treatments; evidence-based interventions for youth with internalizing disorders
Mentor: Carrie Masia
Email: sahap3@montclair.edu
Kimberly Echevarria
Hometown: Cliffside Park, NJ
Education: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, BA (2021); Montclair State University, MA (2023)
Research Interests: adolescent/adult legal decision making and legal competencies, guilty plea decision making, false confessions, contributing factors to wrongful convictions, criminal justice policy reform
Clinical Interests: risk assessment, competency evaluation, forensic mental health assessment, expert testimony, adolescent and adult psychopathology and criminal behavior
Mentor: Tarika Daftary-Kapur
Email: echevarriak1@montclair.edu
Tali Filstein
Hometown: Avon, CT
Education: Colgate University, BA (2021)
Research Interests: development of social cognition (theory of mind, communicative language processing, and emotional intelligence); examination of factors influencing phenotypes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopment disorders
Clinical Interests: evidence-based interventions for youths with ASD and their families to improve quality of life and family relationships
Mentor: Laura Lakusta and Erin Kang
Email: filsteint1@montclair.edu
Lauren Fleming
Hometown: Doylestown, PA
Education: Tulane University, BS (2020)
Research Interests: identifying risk and protective factors to the development of internalizing disorders in youth; influence of parenting styles and the parent-child relationship on development, maintenance, and treatment of internalizing symptoms
Clinical Interests: implementing evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions for youth with internalizing disorders; family systems; school and community-based interventions
Mentor: Jeremy Fox
Email: flemingl5@montclair.edu
Elana Gabriel
Hometown: Pembroke Pines, FL
Education: University of Central Florida, BS (2022)
Research Interests: mental health and rehabilitation in justice-involved individuals, recidivism and reentry, interpersonal violence
Clinical Interests: forensic evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation for justice-involved individuals
Mentor: Chris King
Email: gabriele1@montclair.edu
Mikayla Haas
Hometown: Glen Ridge, NJ
Education: Rutgers University-Newark, BA (2020)
Research Interests: pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders, brain-behavior relationships, cognitive development, pediatric neurological disorders, cognitive rehabilitation, intervention development, neuropsychology
Clinical Interests: intervention development, neuropsychological assessment, pediatric rehabilitation research
Mentor: Jennifer Yang
Email: haasm2@montclair.edu
Miguel Murillo
Hometown: Hackensack, NJ
Education: Montclair State University, BA (2018); Montclair State University, MA (2022)
Research Interests: treatment outcomes for justice-involved individuals, correctional psychology legal and risky decision making, juvenile justice
Clinical Interests: treatment for justice-involved individuals, forensic mental health assessment, risk assessment
Mentor: Chris King
Email: murillom4@montclair.edu
Beverly Placide
Hometown: Nyack, NY
Education: The Pennsylvania State University, BA (2021)
Research Interests: impacts of social scripts in informing help-seeking behaviors, social support networks, and resilience of young Black women and adolescent girls
Clinical Interests: adapting current interventions and disseminating the existing ones to facilitate building personal bonds and resiliency for young Black women and adolescent girls
Mentor: Sally Grapin
Email: placideb1@montclair.edu
Amy So
Hometown: East Brunswick, NJ
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison, BS (2020)
Research Interests: prevention and treatment of adolescent and young adult depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors; implementation of culturally sensitive, evidence-based interventions and prevention programs in community settings
Clinical Interests: evidence-based interventions for preventing and treating adolescent depression; youth suicide prevention; promoting mental health care access for historically underrepresented youth
Mentor: Jazmin Reyes-Portillo
Email: soa1@montclair.edu
Talita Ahmed
Hometown: Cary, NC
Education: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, BS (2019)
Research Interests: development and dissemination of school-based interventions, role of peer mentorship in predicting academic and mood disorder outcomes, sociocultural attitudes and stressors related to adolescent mental health
Clinical Interests: implementation of culturally sensitive treatments, community-based interventions for historically underrepresented youth, internalizing disorders
Mentor: Samantha Coyle
Email: ahmedt11@montclair.edu
Francois Ban
Hometown: New York, NY
Education: Carnegie Mellon University, BS (2017); Columbia University, MPH (2019)
Research Interests: disordered eating pathology, weight stigmatization, and body image; the intersection of cultural, environmental, and societal risk factors and its influence on weight and eating disorders
Clinical Interests: interventions for disordered eating and weight/eating disorders, marginalized young adult populations, addiction, cognitive-behavioral therapy
Mentor: Shannon O’Connor
Email: banf1@montclair.edu
Caroline Freden
Hometown: Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Education: University of Texas at Austin, BS (2019)
Research Interests: dissemination and implementation science research that aims to increase public awareness of, and understanding for, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among the general public; examination of gender differences in the presentation and diagnosis of ASD
Clinical Interests: neurodevelopmental conditions; increasing accessibility to tailored interventions via school and community delivery
Mentor: Erin Kang
Email: fredenc1@montclair.edu
Allison Hollender
Hometown: Short Hills, NJ
Education: Washington University in St. Louis, BA (2021)
Research Interests: neurocognitive development; brain-behavior relationships in autism spectrum disorder; neurodevelopmental disorders
Clinical Interests: evidence-based interventions that improve quality of life for youth with neurodevelopmental disorders; neuropsychological assessment
Mentor: Erin Kang
Email: hollendera1@montclair.edu
Zuzanna Myszko
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Education: Ramapo College of New Jersey, BA (2019)
Research Interests: implementation of interventions for neurodivergent youth, neurodivergence in the workplace, with a focus on autism, leaders, and followers
Clinical Interests: interventions for autistic and other neurodivergent individuals that improve quality of life
Mentor: Laura Lakusta
Email: myszkoz1@montclair.edu
Lily Steedman
Hometown: Albany, CA
Education: The New School, BA (2015); John Jay College of Criminal Justice, MA (2022)
Research Interests: processes and prevention of sexual violence, forensic evaluations and interviewing, psychopathy (“successful” and behavioral management)
Clinical Interests: forensic mental health assessment and treatment for justice-involved individuals (adults and adolescents), group based interventions
Mentor: Jason Dickinson and Nicole Lytle
Email: steedmanl1@montclair.edu
Liora Steinberg
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Education: Yeshiva University, BA (2020); Teachers College, Columbia University, MA (2022)
Research Interests: impact of early environmental stressors on the development of internalizing disorders in children and adolescents; risk and protective factors in the development of adolescent psychopathology
Clinical Interests: evidence-based interventions and treatments for children with internalizing disorders; child and adolescent psychopathology
Mentor: Samantha Coyle
Email: steinbergl6@montclair.edu
Julia Stratton
Hometown: Hockessin, DE
Education: University of Delaware, BA (2019); Montclair State University, MA (2022)
Research Interests: plea deals, wrongful convictions, legal and risky decision-making, criminal justice policy reform
Clinical Interests: forensic mental health assessment, risk assessment, expert testimony, and treatment for justice-involved individuals
Mentor: Tina Zottoli
Email: strattonj2@montclair.edu
Jennifer Barbosa
Hometown: Harrison, NJ
Education: Seton Hall University, BS (2017); Montclair State University, MA (2019)
Research Interests: infant and early childhood development; interplay between parental stress, parent-child interactions, and infant/child development
Clinical Interests: parent-infant/child attachment/relationships, family therapy
Mentor: Laura Lakusta
Email: barbosaj4@montclair.edu
Aliya Birnbaum
Hometown: Stuart, FL
Education: University of South Florida, BA (2017); John Jay College of Criminal Justice, MA (2020 & 2021)
Research Interests: adolescent legal decision making, juvenile justice policy reform, race in the legal system, parental involvement in youth legal decision making
Clinical Interests: treatment of justice-involved juveniles, rehabilitation of problematic behaviors, forensic mental health assessment, child and adolescent psychopathology
Mentor: Tina Zottoli
Email: birnbauma1@montclair.edu
Mary Isaac Cargill
Hometown: Vinton, VA
Education: University of Virginia, BA (2021)
Research Interests: differences in the presentation of autism across different races, genders, sexualities, and cultures; perceptions of autism and stigma reduction
Clinical Interests: early intervention for autism; development of specialized interventions to improve the quality of life of people with autism
Mentor: Erin Kang
Email: cargillm1@montclair.edu
Melissa Escobar
Hometown: Placentia, CA
Education: California State University, Long Beach, BA (2019) and MA (2021)
Research Interests: identifying risk and resilience factors that contribute to the development and expression of internalizing disorders in youth; development of culturally sensitive interventions in school and primary care settings; development of culturally sensitive interventions for Latinx youth and families; Latinx youth mental health; mental health disparities
Clinical Interests: implementation of culturally sensitive interventions for youth and families; culturally sensitive assessments; minority mental health
Mentor: Carrie Masia
Email: escobarm2@montclair.edu
Peter Goldie
Hometown: Palo Alto, CA
Education: New York University, BS (2019); University of Pennsylvania, MSEd (2021)
Research Interests: systemic oppression, intersectionality, queerphobia, allyship, qualitative and mixed methods research
Clinical Interests: internalizing disorders among adolescents and adults, queer/LGBTQ+ populations, culturally responsive therapy, affirmative therapy
Mentor: Sally Grapin
Email: goldiep1@montclair.edu
Stephanie Grinshpun
Hometown: Short Hills, NJ
Education: Lafayette College, BS (2021)
Research Interests: interventions for adolescents with intellectual disabilities
Clinical Interests: early intervention and early assessment for autism spectrum disorder; neurodevelopmental disorders
Mentor: Jennifer Yang
Email: grinshpuns1@montclair.edu
Emily Judd
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Education: SUNY Binghamton, BA (2012); University of Rochester, MBA (2019)
Research Interests: utilization of digital health technology to improve access to treatment; social media and mental health; implementation and evaluation of culturally sensitive, evidence-based intervention and prevention programs in school settings; suicide prevention
Clinical Interests: treatment of anxiety and depression in adolescents and young adults
Mentor: Jazmin Reyes-Portillo
Email: judde1@montclair.edu
Daria Lasc
Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
Education: University of California Irvine, BS (2019)
Research Interests: cognitive development, development of evidence-based assessment and intervention for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, role of parent-child relationships in treatment outcomes
Clinical Interests: neuropsychological assessment, child and adolescent psychopathology
Mentor: Jennifer Yang
Email: lascd1@montclair.edu
Hannah Thomas
Hometown: Fort Washington, MD
Education: Franklin & Marshall College, BA (2017); Catholic University of America, MA (2021)
Research Interests: optimizing evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents; parenting styles and parental influences on youth; risk and protective factors in the development of internalizing disorders in children and adolescents
Clinical Interests: internalizing disorders in children and adolescents, evidence-based interventions that improve social competence and emotion regulation, mindfulness and acceptance
Mentor: Jeremy Fox
Email: thomash1@montclair.edu
Sana Vora
Hometown: Langhorne, PA
Education: Drexel University, BS (2020)
Research Interests: rehabilitative services for justice-involved individuals, traumatic brain injury (in community and forensic settings), competency and violence risk assessment, psychopathy
Clinical Interests: forensic mental health assessment and treatment for justice-involved individuals and individuals with traumatic brain injury
Mentor: Chris King
Email: voras2@montclair.edu
Avi Kalver
Hometown: Morristown, NJ
Education: Brandeis University, BA (2018)
Research Interests: onset and treatment of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults
Clinical Interests: culturally sensitive treatment of internalizing disorders for child, adolescent, and young adult populations; evidence-based interventions
Mentor: Carrie Masia
Email: kalvera1@montclair.edu
Danielle Rette
Hometown: New Egypt, NJ
Education: Haverford College, BS (2018)
Research Interests: sociodemographic and dyadic early risk and protective factors of the development of child and adolescent depression and anxiety; examining the influence of father-child relationships on childhood depression
Clinical Interests: child, adolescent, and young adult mental health; culturally sensitive evidence-based interventions and treatments for internalizing disorders
Mentor: Jazmin Reyes-Portillo
Email: retted1@montclair.edu
Nardin Yacoub
Hometown: Reading, PA
Education: Penn State University, BS (2017); Chestnut Hill College, MS (2020)
Research Interests: identifying early behavioral biomarkers of autism; studying the role of language in predicting neurodevelopmental disabilities; cognitive flexibility; intellectual disabilities in minorities
Clinical Interests: clinical assessment and intervention for autism spectrum disorder; child psychopathology; bilingual pediatric populations; implementing clinical interventions in immigrant and underserved communities
Mentor: Jennifer Yang
Email: yacoubn1@montclair.edu
Tristin Faust
Hometown: Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Education: Rowan University, BA (2017); Montclair State University, MA (2019)
Research Interests: adolescent and adult legal decision making, juvenile legal competencies, false confessions, and pathways to incarceration
Clinical Interests: forensic mental health assessment, treatment for justice-involved individuals and military personnel
Mentor: Tina Zottoli
Email: faustt1@montclair.edu
Ghowash Irshad
Hometown: Islamabad, Pakistan
Education: Bahauddin Zakariya University, M.Phil (2015)
Research Interests: Effective therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation of children with intellectual disabilities; psychosocial distress among parents of special need children
Clinical Interests: Evidence-based interventions for child and adult psychopathology in multicultural populations
Mentor: Jeremy Fox
Email: irshadg1@montclair.edu
Nora Portillo
Hometown: Boston, MA
Education: University of Massachusetts Boston, BA (2018)
Research Interests: mental health disparities, development of culturally informed evidence-based treatment, examining how intersecting marginalized identities (in particular race/ethnicity, immigration status, SES) and experiences of discrimination impact youth development
Clinical Interests: minority mental health, Latinx immigrant populations, child and adolescent psychopathology, family systems, developmental disabilities
Mentor: Sally Grapin
Email: portillon1@montclair.edu
Taylor Walls
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Education: Duke University, BA (2015); Teachers College, Columbia University, MA (2019)
Research Interests: affective mechanisms underlying adolescent anxiety and suicidality, emotion regulation
Clinical Interests: internalizing and externalizing disorders in children/adolescents, evidence-based suicide risk assessments
Mentor: Jeremy Fox
Email: wallst1@montclair.edu
