Graduate Students
IreLee Ferguson (1st Year @ UVM)
I am passionate about developing more accessible interventions for adults with anxiety, specifically digital interventions with a focus on improving engagement and reducing attrition. Relatedly, I am interested in investigating factors that maintain anxiety disorders that can easily translate to accessible and scalable interventions. I also am passionate about researching and developing mental health interventions that are culturally appropriate for underserved populations and how this relates to implementation science.
In my free time I love spending time with friends and family, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, being outside, listening to chill/sad music, watching TV, practicing yoga, going to the gym, and reading.
I am passionate about developing more accessible interventions for adults with anxiety, specifically digital interventions with a focus on improving engagement and reducing attrition. Relatedly, I am interested in investigating factors that maintain anxiety disorders that can easily translate to accessible and scalable interventions. I also am passionate about researching and developing mental health interventions that are culturally appropriate for underserved populations and how this relates to implementation science.
In my free time I love spending time with friends and family, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, being outside, listening to chill/sad music, watching TV, practicing yoga, going to the gym, and reading.
Juliana Restivo Haney (3rd Year @ WVU)
I am broadly interested in improving mental health care for new mothers during the perinatal period through understanding risk factors, improving prevention/screening programs, and increasing awareness of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders during the perinatal period. I am currently planning to research the prevalence of anxiety, OCD, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder during a subsequent pregnancy after experiencing a previous pregnancy loss. I am also passionate about multicultural mental health and increasing access to and awareness of evidence-based psychological treatments for vulnerable and underserved populations in areas with historically limited access to mental health care.
In my free time I like to cook new recipes, spend time by the ocean/lake, try new restaurants, binge watch TV comedies and dramas, watch hockey/baseball/football games, and spend time with my husband, family, and friends!
I am broadly interested in improving mental health care for new mothers during the perinatal period through understanding risk factors, improving prevention/screening programs, and increasing awareness of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders during the perinatal period. I am currently planning to research the prevalence of anxiety, OCD, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder during a subsequent pregnancy after experiencing a previous pregnancy loss. I am also passionate about multicultural mental health and increasing access to and awareness of evidence-based psychological treatments for vulnerable and underserved populations in areas with historically limited access to mental health care.
In my free time I like to cook new recipes, spend time by the ocean/lake, try new restaurants, binge watch TV comedies and dramas, watch hockey/baseball/football games, and spend time with my husband, family, and friends!
Anishka Jean (4th Year @ WVU)
I am interested in understanding transdiagnostic risk factors that could help explain the development and maintenance of anxiety-related disorders, with a focus on perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety sensitivity. Relatedly, I am also interested in the role of perfectionism in the maintenance of social anxiety disorder. In addition, I am interested in ways to increase access to evidence-based treatments to underserved populations.
In my free time, I love to (stress) bake, spend time with my cat, Sushi, chase sunsets, watch reality TV, and listen to 80s music! I'm also working on growing my record collection.
I am interested in understanding transdiagnostic risk factors that could help explain the development and maintenance of anxiety-related disorders, with a focus on perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety sensitivity. Relatedly, I am also interested in the role of perfectionism in the maintenance of social anxiety disorder. In addition, I am interested in ways to increase access to evidence-based treatments to underserved populations.
In my free time, I love to (stress) bake, spend time with my cat, Sushi, chase sunsets, watch reality TV, and listen to 80s music! I'm also working on growing my record collection.
Grace Wheeler (4th Year @ WVU)
My research interests involve the treatment of anxiety disorders with cognitive-based treatments, such as cognitive bias modification interventions. I am particularly interested in exploring emotion recognition in anxiety, and developing interventions to target incorrect emotion recognition.
In my free time, I enjoy being outside, hiking, watching the latest British crime miniseries, and finding dogs (and cats!) to pet.
My research interests involve the treatment of anxiety disorders with cognitive-based treatments, such as cognitive bias modification interventions. I am particularly interested in exploring emotion recognition in anxiety, and developing interventions to target incorrect emotion recognition.
In my free time, I enjoy being outside, hiking, watching the latest British crime miniseries, and finding dogs (and cats!) to pet.
Kaley Potter (4th Year @ WVU)
I am interested in moderating and mediating variables in personality disorder severity, interpretation bias and modification in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and the role of inner monologue activity in psychopathology severity. Additionally, I am interested in developing efficacious and evidence-based treatment options for ASPD and working with forensic populations.
In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, being outside, and spending time with my lovely cohort, friends, family, and cat.
I am interested in moderating and mediating variables in personality disorder severity, interpretation bias and modification in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and the role of inner monologue activity in psychopathology severity. Additionally, I am interested in developing efficacious and evidence-based treatment options for ASPD and working with forensic populations.
In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, being outside, and spending time with my lovely cohort, friends, family, and cat.
CAT Lab Graduates:
Kelsey Evey (Postdoc at Durham VA)
I am interested in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. Specifically, I am interested in how cognitive factors such as thought-action fusion, perfectionism, and responsibility maintain OCD and related disorders. I am also interested in understanding how these mechanisms operate in the context of treatment. Lastly, I am interested in creating and disseminating evidence-based interventions through mobile technology, specifically smartphone apps.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends, and shopping. I also enjoy traveling whenever I can! I am an avid lover of ice cream! Even greater than my love of ice cream, is my love of cats, which makes being part of the CAT lab even more amazing!
I am interested in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. Specifically, I am interested in how cognitive factors such as thought-action fusion, perfectionism, and responsibility maintain OCD and related disorders. I am also interested in understanding how these mechanisms operate in the context of treatment. Lastly, I am interested in creating and disseminating evidence-based interventions through mobile technology, specifically smartphone apps.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends, and shopping. I also enjoy traveling whenever I can! I am an avid lover of ice cream! Even greater than my love of ice cream, is my love of cats, which makes being part of the CAT lab even more amazing!
Gabriella Ponzini
(Psychologist at Durham VA)
Dr. Ponzini earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University and completed her predoctoral internship at the Durham VA. Her expertise is in the research and treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive and related disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Ponzini has special interests in increasing the accessibility of exposure-based psychotherapies at VA, reducing stigma towards mental illness, and engaging Veterans and providers in the implementation of screening and treatment practices at VA.
(Psychologist at Durham VA)
Dr. Ponzini earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University and completed her predoctoral internship at the Durham VA. Her expertise is in the research and treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive and related disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Ponzini has special interests in increasing the accessibility of exposure-based psychotherapies at VA, reducing stigma towards mental illness, and engaging Veterans and providers in the implementation of screening and treatment practices at VA.
Amber Billingsley, Ph.D.
(Assistant Professor and Director of Training Clinic at U. of Kentucky)
I am an assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Kentucky. Additionally, I serve as the director of the Jesse G. Harris Jr. Psychological Services Center, which is the training clinic for our clinical psychology doctoral students. My interests lie primarily in teaching and supervision, particularly as it pertains to clinical practice. I have additional clinical expertise in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and OCD, and especially enjoy providing clinical supervision to students working with these patient populations. In my teaching and supervision, I emphasize the importance of evidence-based practice and ensure that the training I provide is solidly grounded in psychological science. It is my hope that by providing students with a strong theoretical foundation in behavioral and cognitive-behavioral principles, I will play an important role in the dissemination of evidence-based practice by fostering future generations of clinical scientists and practitioners.
(Assistant Professor and Director of Training Clinic at U. of Kentucky)
I am an assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Kentucky. Additionally, I serve as the director of the Jesse G. Harris Jr. Psychological Services Center, which is the training clinic for our clinical psychology doctoral students. My interests lie primarily in teaching and supervision, particularly as it pertains to clinical practice. I have additional clinical expertise in the assessment and treatment of anxiety and OCD, and especially enjoy providing clinical supervision to students working with these patient populations. In my teaching and supervision, I emphasize the importance of evidence-based practice and ensure that the training I provide is solidly grounded in psychological science. It is my hope that by providing students with a strong theoretical foundation in behavioral and cognitive-behavioral principles, I will play an important role in the dissemination of evidence-based practice by fostering future generations of clinical scientists and practitioners.
Mira Snider, Ph.D.
(Postdoc at Lurie Children's Hospital)
My research is primarily focused on the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based practices in community treatment settings. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how specific implementation strategies such as training and feedback can improve evidence uptake by treatment providers and clients and how these strategies can be targeted to increase the adoption, fidelity, and sustainability of evidence post-implementation. Additionally, I am interested in understanding the core components underlying evidence-based treatments and how these components can be leveraged to optimize the delivery of mental health care.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, playing video games, and learning new languages. I am also an avid consumer of documentaries and Bollywood musicals.
(Postdoc at Lurie Children's Hospital)
My research is primarily focused on the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based practices in community treatment settings. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how specific implementation strategies such as training and feedback can improve evidence uptake by treatment providers and clients and how these strategies can be targeted to increase the adoption, fidelity, and sustainability of evidence post-implementation. Additionally, I am interested in understanding the core components underlying evidence-based treatments and how these components can be leveraged to optimize the delivery of mental health care.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, playing video games, and learning new languages. I am also an avid consumer of documentaries and Bollywood musicals.
Cierra Edwards, Ph.D.
(Clinical Psychologist at Richmond VA)
Broadly, my research interests involve understanding the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. I am particularly interested in developing treatments specific to postpartum onset anxiety and OCD. In addition, I am interested in healthcare utilization and how anxiety influences behavior with providers (e.g., health anxiety, blood-injection-injury phobia, dental fear). I am also passionate about increasing accessibility to mental health care through the use of technology. The dissemination potential of cognitive bias modification for interpretations (CBM-I), virtual reality, and internet delivered CBT is incredibly exciting. I am interested in studying the efficacy of these and similar treatments as they apply to anxiety disorders and OCD.
For my daily units of fun, I like to spend time with my husband and daughter. I also enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy novels, staying current on world news, and consuming political satire.
(Clinical Psychologist at Richmond VA)
Broadly, my research interests involve understanding the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. I am particularly interested in developing treatments specific to postpartum onset anxiety and OCD. In addition, I am interested in healthcare utilization and how anxiety influences behavior with providers (e.g., health anxiety, blood-injection-injury phobia, dental fear). I am also passionate about increasing accessibility to mental health care through the use of technology. The dissemination potential of cognitive bias modification for interpretations (CBM-I), virtual reality, and internet delivered CBT is incredibly exciting. I am interested in studying the efficacy of these and similar treatments as they apply to anxiety disorders and OCD.
For my daily units of fun, I like to spend time with my husband and daughter. I also enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy novels, staying current on world news, and consuming political satire.
Undergraduate Students
Current Research Assistants (at WVU):
Laura Alcalde
Shelby Roesler
Megan Quinlan
Laura Alcalde
Shelby Roesler
Megan Quinlan
Research Assistant Alumni:
Jordan Taylor, Caroline Clark, Charlotte Jones, Charlie Boone, Ayah Aldebyan, Malachi Davis, Emily Budik, Grace Sullivan, Manar Hesino, Sabrina Siegan, Hattie Murphy, Lauren Swarr, Lindsey Montgomery, Kaitlyn Donalson, Amanda Lewis, Lauren Gerrard, Kira Henson, Brittany Rinehart, Hannah Decanio, Belle Camerlin, Miranda Signorelli, Julean Bender, Erin Brancheau, Emma Pino, Sarah Segear, Sarah Ghabra, Logan Moore, Taylor Stark, Ilona Carenbauer, Madison McCormick, Annika Glitzer, Miranda Shupp, Kat Koval, Madeline Price, Regina Biafore, Olivia Gandee, Angelyn Gemmen, Jazmine Singletin, Hannah Salway, Zubaira Khan, Alexis Lohm, Amanda Caloccia, Trinity Shaver, Jessica Durann, Lora McDonald, Joshua Dolin, Victoria Bonafield, Jimmie Austin, Alexandra Gold, Daniel Smith-Fichter, Morgan Kaiser, Julie Bullock, Lacey Sawyers, Dillan Curry
Jordan Taylor, Caroline Clark, Charlotte Jones, Charlie Boone, Ayah Aldebyan, Malachi Davis, Emily Budik, Grace Sullivan, Manar Hesino, Sabrina Siegan, Hattie Murphy, Lauren Swarr, Lindsey Montgomery, Kaitlyn Donalson, Amanda Lewis, Lauren Gerrard, Kira Henson, Brittany Rinehart, Hannah Decanio, Belle Camerlin, Miranda Signorelli, Julean Bender, Erin Brancheau, Emma Pino, Sarah Segear, Sarah Ghabra, Logan Moore, Taylor Stark, Ilona Carenbauer, Madison McCormick, Annika Glitzer, Miranda Shupp, Kat Koval, Madeline Price, Regina Biafore, Olivia Gandee, Angelyn Gemmen, Jazmine Singletin, Hannah Salway, Zubaira Khan, Alexis Lohm, Amanda Caloccia, Trinity Shaver, Jessica Durann, Lora McDonald, Joshua Dolin, Victoria Bonafield, Jimmie Austin, Alexandra Gold, Daniel Smith-Fichter, Morgan Kaiser, Julie Bullock, Lacey Sawyers, Dillan Curry
