GROWTH LAB MEMBERS
Incoming 2023 Advisees
Michael Davidson
Research Interests: Trauma recovery in marginalized populations; minority stress; ethnic minority individuals who also identify as members of sexual and/or gender minority groups; discrimination experienced by transgender and gender diverse individuals; resilience.
Clinical Interests: Mental health care of LGBTQ+ individuals; trauma; anxiety; depression; OCD; dissociative disorders.
Concentration: Counseling Psychology and School Psychology
Current Career Goal: I would like to become a licensed psychologist, specializing in trauma recovery and the issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. I would also like to develop a curriculum for an LGBTQ+ studies program.
Selfcare Activities: Meditation, spending time in nature and with loved ones.
Favorite Hobby: My favorite hobby is drumming.
Research Interests: Trauma recovery in marginalized populations; minority stress; ethnic minority individuals who also identify as members of sexual and/or gender minority groups; discrimination experienced by transgender and gender diverse individuals; resilience.
Clinical Interests: Mental health care of LGBTQ+ individuals; trauma; anxiety; depression; OCD; dissociative disorders.
Concentration: Counseling Psychology and School Psychology
Current Career Goal: I would like to become a licensed psychologist, specializing in trauma recovery and the issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. I would also like to develop a curriculum for an LGBTQ+ studies program.
Selfcare Activities: Meditation, spending time in nature and with loved ones.
Favorite Hobby: My favorite hobby is drumming.
Jaekyeong Ko
Research Interests: The effects of discrimination on mental health and career decision process among sexual and/or gender minority groups; Career development in marginalized populations; Psychology of Working Theory; Intersectionality
Clinical Interests: Career Counseling; Psychological well-being among sexual and/or gender minority individuals; Strength; Person-centered; CBT
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: I am actively considering the path to either becoming a licensed psychologist or a professor. Regardless of the direction I choose, my overarching goal is to give a positive effect on mental health among minority populations especially LGBTQ+ youth. I want to develop career group counseling programs for LGBTQ+ college students.
Selfcare Activities: Spending time with loved ones, Jogging, Going on a picnic, Eating delicious food
Favorite Hobby: My favorite hobby is watching hero movies (such as Captain Marvel).
Research Interests: The effects of discrimination on mental health and career decision process among sexual and/or gender minority groups; Career development in marginalized populations; Psychology of Working Theory; Intersectionality
Clinical Interests: Career Counseling; Psychological well-being among sexual and/or gender minority individuals; Strength; Person-centered; CBT
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: I am actively considering the path to either becoming a licensed psychologist or a professor. Regardless of the direction I choose, my overarching goal is to give a positive effect on mental health among minority populations especially LGBTQ+ youth. I want to develop career group counseling programs for LGBTQ+ college students.
Selfcare Activities: Spending time with loved ones, Jogging, Going on a picnic, Eating delicious food
Favorite Hobby: My favorite hobby is watching hero movies (such as Captain Marvel).
Jacob Perez
Research Interests: Development of resilience in marginalized individuals living with chronic pain or illness, adoptee mental health in multi-racial families, and the role of community-building in mental health for LGBTQ+ individuals
Clinical Interests: Affirmative psychotherapy, interpersonal process, exposure response prevention, co-occurring ADHD/anxiety disorders
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: To make new advancements in psychological research & become a professor.
Selfcare Activities: Making playlists, ice skating, walking in nature, gaming, and watching Studio Ghibli films
Favorite Hobby: Attending concerts
Research Interests: Development of resilience in marginalized individuals living with chronic pain or illness, adoptee mental health in multi-racial families, and the role of community-building in mental health for LGBTQ+ individuals
Clinical Interests: Affirmative psychotherapy, interpersonal process, exposure response prevention, co-occurring ADHD/anxiety disorders
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: To make new advancements in psychological research & become a professor.
Selfcare Activities: Making playlists, ice skating, walking in nature, gaming, and watching Studio Ghibli films
Favorite Hobby: Attending concerts
Incoming 2022 Advisees
Asia Henry
Research Interests: Gender differences in mental health, suicide prevention, mental health in African American and multiracial individuals, cults and deprogramming.
Clinical Interests: Trauma, anxiety, mental health disorders with psychotic features, Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: To obtain full licensure as a psychologist and practice as a therapist, eventually opening my own practice providing in-person and Telehealth services.
Selfcare Activities: Traveling, napping, playing with my dog, trying new foods, watching Love Island UK
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: The pandemic taught me that life can take unexpected turns. I have to remain flexible so that I can adapt to situations in the blink of an eye. It also taught me that life is short and doing what makes you happy, every day, is extremely important.
Research Interests: Gender differences in mental health, suicide prevention, mental health in African American and multiracial individuals, cults and deprogramming.
Clinical Interests: Trauma, anxiety, mental health disorders with psychotic features, Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: To obtain full licensure as a psychologist and practice as a therapist, eventually opening my own practice providing in-person and Telehealth services.
Selfcare Activities: Traveling, napping, playing with my dog, trying new foods, watching Love Island UK
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: The pandemic taught me that life can take unexpected turns. I have to remain flexible so that I can adapt to situations in the blink of an eye. It also taught me that life is short and doing what makes you happy, every day, is extremely important.
Ahavah Davis
Research Interests: I'm interested in the difference of overall well being and mental health of athletes who attend a HBCU vs a PWI, specifically in regards to their access to various resources, and holistic mental health care
Clinical Interests: Minorities, athletes, mindfulness, anxiety, depression, resilience
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: I want to work in a college/university's athletic department as a counselor/sport psychologist
Selfcare Activities: going for walks and to the gym, reading, cooking, manicures/pedicures, j journaling/prayer
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: The pandemic taught me the importance of spending time outdoors with nature trails and parks. It also taught me that information is everywhere and you can learn something new everyday.
Research Interests: I'm interested in the difference of overall well being and mental health of athletes who attend a HBCU vs a PWI, specifically in regards to their access to various resources, and holistic mental health care
Clinical Interests: Minorities, athletes, mindfulness, anxiety, depression, resilience
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: I want to work in a college/university's athletic department as a counselor/sport psychologist
Selfcare Activities: going for walks and to the gym, reading, cooking, manicures/pedicures, j journaling/prayer
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: The pandemic taught me the importance of spending time outdoors with nature trails and parks. It also taught me that information is everywhere and you can learn something new everyday.
Incoming 2021 Advisees
Nicholas Reese (Lab Coordinator and Project TIME Lead RA)
Research Interests: Exploring mental health outcome disparities disproportionately affecting African American males.
Clinical Interests: Intellectual, personality, and attention/executive functioning assessment in minority populations
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: To attain full licensure as a psychologist and garner tenure track entrance into the professoriate.
Selfcare Activities: Physical fitness, Meditation, Chess, Spending time with loved ones
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: To remain continuously mindful, grateful, and positive in the face of life’s many uncertainties.
Research Interests: Exploring mental health outcome disparities disproportionately affecting African American males.
Clinical Interests: Intellectual, personality, and attention/executive functioning assessment in minority populations
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: To attain full licensure as a psychologist and garner tenure track entrance into the professoriate.
Selfcare Activities: Physical fitness, Meditation, Chess, Spending time with loved ones
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: To remain continuously mindful, grateful, and positive in the face of life’s many uncertainties.
Lyds Sherman
Research Interests: Transgender discrimination, Gender euphoria and dysphoria, microaggressions, intersectionality, LGB research
Clinical Interests: Forensic psychology, the judicial system, individuals with acute mental difficulties
Concentration: Counseling
Current career goal: Assessments in forensic psychology/judicial system and neurodevelopmental disabilities (ADHD, ASD, LD), along with supervising doctoral students in clinical skills
Selfcare activities: Walking, spending time with my cats/friends/family, listening to music
Something the pandemic taught me: My experience was different than most due to being an essential worker. I focused on time management and using mindfulness meditation to ease anxiety. Additionally, relying on the community around you to support you through difficult times.
Research Interests: Transgender discrimination, Gender euphoria and dysphoria, microaggressions, intersectionality, LGB research
Clinical Interests: Forensic psychology, the judicial system, individuals with acute mental difficulties
Concentration: Counseling
Current career goal: Assessments in forensic psychology/judicial system and neurodevelopmental disabilities (ADHD, ASD, LD), along with supervising doctoral students in clinical skills
Selfcare activities: Walking, spending time with my cats/friends/family, listening to music
Something the pandemic taught me: My experience was different than most due to being an essential worker. I focused on time management and using mindfulness meditation to ease anxiety. Additionally, relying on the community around you to support you through difficult times.
Edwin Tang
Research Interests: Depression, suicide prevention, interpersonal relationships, mental health of Asian Americans
Clinical Interests: Depression, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: Become a professor at a university
Selfcare Activities: Reading novels, watching TV shows, playing video games
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: Cherish the moments you are spending in-person with family and friends
Research Interests: Depression, suicide prevention, interpersonal relationships, mental health of Asian Americans
Clinical Interests: Depression, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: Become a professor at a university
Selfcare Activities: Reading novels, watching TV shows, playing video games
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: Cherish the moments you are spending in-person with family and friends
Incoming 2020 Advisees
Khyati Verma
Research Interests: Impact of discrimination and prejudice on mental health of racial and ethnic minorities, racial microaggression, imposter syndrome in minority adolescents, impact of school environment in development of racial identity and resilience, and bystander intervention.
Clinical Interests: Adults and adolescents with trauma and anxiety disorders
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: Research focused academia
Selfcare Activities: I try to decompress by going on regular evening runs, enjoying guilt-free Netflix, painting, and trying out new recipes.
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: Self-discipline and work-personal life balance.
Research Interests: Impact of discrimination and prejudice on mental health of racial and ethnic minorities, racial microaggression, imposter syndrome in minority adolescents, impact of school environment in development of racial identity and resilience, and bystander intervention.
Clinical Interests: Adults and adolescents with trauma and anxiety disorders
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Current Career Goal: Research focused academia
Selfcare Activities: I try to decompress by going on regular evening runs, enjoying guilt-free Netflix, painting, and trying out new recipes.
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: Self-discipline and work-personal life balance.
Other GROWTH Lab Members
Kyla Booker (PURPOSE Fellow)
Research Interests: Underrepresentation within STEM related fields
Concentration: Chemical Engineering
Current career goal: MD-PhD physician-Scientist
Selfcare activities: Exercising
Favorite hobby: Watching college football
Research Interests: Underrepresentation within STEM related fields
Concentration: Chemical Engineering
Current career goal: MD-PhD physician-Scientist
Selfcare activities: Exercising
Favorite hobby: Watching college football
Witney Talabert (She/her)
Research Interests: Trauma, Race, Microaggressions, Identity, Perfectionism, Personality Disorders
Clinical Interests: Anxiety, Depression, Domestic Violence, Growth, Trauma-informed care, Women's issues, Black men/women
Concentration: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Current Career Goal: Complete my master's and one day in the future pursue a PhD
Selfcare Activities: Meditation, journaling, aromatherapy (candles and incense), listening to music, watching TV, playing with my pet cat, playing games, and trying food places around Tallahassee
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: I learned the importance of mindfulness and being present. Mindfulness allows you to be present and connect with your body. As humans, we are always on the go and we forget to slow down and be in the present.
Research Interests: Trauma, Race, Microaggressions, Identity, Perfectionism, Personality Disorders
Clinical Interests: Anxiety, Depression, Domestic Violence, Growth, Trauma-informed care, Women's issues, Black men/women
Concentration: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Current Career Goal: Complete my master's and one day in the future pursue a PhD
Selfcare Activities: Meditation, journaling, aromatherapy (candles and incense), listening to music, watching TV, playing with my pet cat, playing games, and trying food places around Tallahassee
Something the Pandemic Taught Me: I learned the importance of mindfulness and being present. Mindfulness allows you to be present and connect with your body. As humans, we are always on the go and we forget to slow down and be in the present.