Meet Our Current Students

Jordan Amor

Hometown: 

Danville, IN

IU Advisor: 

Dave Shriberg

Research Interests: 

School/Class-Wide Interventions, Pre-Service Teacher Perceptions of SPED, Teacher Well-being, Consultation

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Running Marathons, Coaching Middle School Cross Country, and Disney

Future/Career Goals: 

School-based, Well-being Consultation, and Adjunct Lecturer

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

The people!

Britany Beauchesne

Hometown: 

Sanford, ME

IU Advisor: 

Maryellen Brunson McClain

Research Interests: 

Neurodevelopmental disabilities, autism assessment, and female presentation of autism symptoms

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Traveling, trying new restaurants and breweries, and being with my friends and family

Future/Career Goals: 

Becoming a licensed psychologist and focusing on autism assessment, diagnosis, and intervention

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

My classmates

Parker Beckman

Hometown: 

Fishers, IN

IU Advisor: 

Scott Bellini

Research Interests: 

Examining accessibility issues in early diagnostic testing for neurodevelopmental disorders, exploring disparities in autism identification, and investigating effective behavior interventions for maladaptive and self-injurious behaviors.

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

I enjoy cooking spicy food, tasting new beers, traveling, and immersing myself in nature.

Future/Career Goals: 

Becoming a licensed psychologist, working for a medical center with neurodivergent youth, and later opening my own private practice.

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

I value the program's strong sense of community and our shared commitment to social justice.

Jac'lyn Bera

Hometown: 

Price, UT

IU Advisor: 

Maryellen Brunson McClain

Research Interests: 

Rural mental health, access to diagnostic and therapeutic services, and marginalized/minority mental health access

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

I love cooking, camping, theatre, and spending time with my dog Ever!

Future/Career Goals: 

Work in a rural community clinic as a licensed psych providing services to under resourced communities

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

My peers!

Alexa Brownell

Hometown: 

Richmond, VA

IU Advisor: 

Maryellen Brunson McClain

Research Interests: 

Early identification and intervention of autism, culturally responsive autism assessment and practices

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Hot yoga, traveling without an agenda, cooking with new ingredients, thrifting, live music in the summer

Future/Career Goals: 

Research and clinical practice

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

The program’s interdisciplinary approach—students can minor in any department within the university, which allows for unique collaborative research and networking opportunities.

Gwen Davis

Hometown: 

Ann Arbor, MI

IU Advisor: 

Maryellen Brunson McClain

Research Interests: 

Accessible autism diagnosis, executive functioning deficits with Autism and ADHD, equitable assessment, and gender and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Crocheting, hiking, music

Future/Career Goals: 

Working in a clinic with autism and other neurodevelopment disorders.

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

The community! The student community is very strong and supportive.

Jack Komer

Hometown: 

Middletown, OH

IU Advisor: 

Heather Ormiston

Research Interests: 

School-Based Mental Health, Trauma-Informed Care, LGBTQ+ Youth, Crisis Interventions

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Board & Card games, Hiking, Cycling, Collecting Vinyl Records, Science Fiction

Future/Career Goals: 

Future faculty engaging in school-based mental health and LGBTQ+ youth mental health research and training

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

The ability to specialize through the PhD minor system to get advanced training in Counseling techniques and theories.

Hanna Lim

Hometown: 

Cape Town, South Africa

IU Advisor: 

Scott Bellini

Research Interests: 

Culturally responsive educational practices

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Cooking, singing, swimming

Tiondra Little

Hometown: 

Chicago, IL

IU Advisor: 

Dave Shriberg

Research Interests: 

Identity Development, Perceptions of Self, Social Belonging, and Societal Expectations for Multiracial Youth; Social-emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Well-being of Multiracial Youth; Parenting Styles in Mixed-Race Households

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Discovering new foods and restaurants, watching movies and listening to music, spending time with family and friends

Future/Career Goals: 

Work in schools as a school psychologist and consult with community members, become an independent contractor or start a group practice, and teach as an adjunct professor

Andrea Lopez

Hometown: 

Madison, WI

IU Advisor: 

Maryellen McClain

Research Interests: 

Culturally-responsive assessment and intervention, autism and other neurodevelopment disabilities, increases access to care for minoritized children especially Spanish-speaking Latine children

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Walking/hiking with my dog, concerts, reading, watching lots of soccer

Future/Career Goals: 

Make a positive impact for Spanish-speaking Latine children with neurodevelopmental disabilities... still exploring different career options

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

Commitment to social justice and the welcoming environment created by students and faculty

Elizabeth McPherson

Hometown: 

Edwardsville, IL

IU Advisor: 

Heather Ormiston

Research Interests: 

Equitable access to mental health services; systemic change; socially just practices within MTSS

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

I enjoy swimming, lifting, and cycling, in addition to Bachelor watch nights and exploring events in Bloomington!

Future/Career Goals: 

In my professional career, I hope to work in academia producing feasible solutions that support the mental health needs of students and staff in school systems.

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

I appreciate the community that IU has within the program! My fellow cohort members, as well as my advisor and research lab members, are great support systems that make school and life more manageable.

Liz Melfi

Hometown: 

Cleveland, OH

IU Advisor: 

Dave Shriberg

Research Interests: 

Social justice, equitable evaluation practices

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Trying new restaurants, decorating my apartment, DIY projects

Future/Career Goals: 

Working in a school as a school psychologist

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

My classmates AKA friends!

Karina Mojica

Hometown: 

Chicago, IL

IU Advisor: 

Dave Shriberg

Research Interests: 

Mental health interventions, intervention implementation, Latinx/é youth mental health, language acquisition and development

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

Baking, journaling, reading for fun :)

Future/Career Goals: 

Undecided—A mix of being a school psych (in school settings) and working in community colleges

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

My cohort :)

Jazlyn Rowan

Hometown: 

Louisville, KY

IU Advisor: 

Dave Shriberg

Research Interests: 

My research interests are focused on social justice advocacy, culturally adapted mindfulness-based interventions, and policies, practices, and procedures impacting life trajectories of Black and Brown students.

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

I enjoy watching movies, discovering new music, talking with family, and scrapbooking.

Future/Career Goals: 

My future career goals surround consultation and collaboration with educational and community stakeholders.

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

My favorite thing is the community that the graduate students help to foster!

Ciara Thomas

Hometown: 

Homewood, IL

IU Advisor: 

Dave Shriberg

Research Interests: 

Nondiscriminatory assessment and practice, best practice in assessment, disproportionality in autism as it relates to Black youth, neurodevelopmental disorders.

Hobbies/Personal Interests: 

I love reading and all things reality tv. Spending time with friends and family also refill my cup.

Future/Career Goals: 

Neuropsychology

Favorite Thing About the Program: 

I love that everyone from students to advisors are so supportive! I also appreciate how individualized your journey can be.