Graduate

BCS PhD Students

Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 Cohort
Michelle Beekman

B. Michelle Beekman
B.A. in Psychology, University of South Florida

Research Areas: Reducing Mental Illness Stigma; Contact-Based Stigma Reduction; Developing and Evaluating Stigma-Reduction Programs

Michelle earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology at the University of South Florida in 2016 and in 2017 was accepted to the University of Florida’s Behavioral and Community Sciences PhD Program. She is also an instructor of record at USF, teaching the course Behavioral Health and The Family. Michelle’s current research areas of interest revolve around the reduction of various forms of mental illness stigma through contact-based strategies. More specifically, through This Is My Brave (thisismybrave.org), a powerful contact-based stigma reduction program that works to reduce various forms of stigma through storytelling by individuals with lived experience. Through her research, she hopes to contribute to a shift in the current adverse culture that surrounds mental illness to become a more accepting and empathetic culture where those with mental illness(es) feel welcomed rather than ostracized or discriminated against. 

Personal Hyperlink: http://kristinkosyluk.weebly.com/meet-the-team.html

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/beekman-michelle.pdf

Deveny Ching

Deveney Ching
M.A. in Rehabilitation and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of South Florida
Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Gerontology, University of South Florida

Research Areas: Reintegration of Veterans after Traumatic Brain Injury, Chronic Pain after TBI, Return to work after disability

Deveney Ching focuses on the rehabilitation and community reintegration of individuals after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the long-term effects of disability. Deveney carries a number of specialty certifications to work effectively with individuals with TBI and their families/caregivers. She is Certified as a Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and a Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST) which allows her to be knowledgeable about the short and long-term needs of persons with TBI and their families.

Deveney assists on a number of Traumatic Brain Injury and vocational rehabilitation grants including: Characterization & Treatment of Chronic Pain After Moderate to Severe TBI, Long-term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium - Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (LIMBIC-CENC), Striving to Work and Overcoming Employment Barriers Among Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury, and Achieving Competitive Customized Employment through Specialized Services (ACCESS). 

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/ching-deveney.pdf

Noé Erazo

Noé Erazo
M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Massachusetts Boston
B.A. in Communications, minor in Spanish, University of Houston

Research Area: Bilingualism and biliteracy

Mr. Erazo is a graduate research associate at the Rightpath Research and Innovation Center. With support and mentorship from Hispanic leaders, Erazo became the first person in his family to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree. He has served the Hispanic community in many capacities, including working as an English-Spanish interpreter at a pediatric rehabilitation center. As a steppingstone, Erazo was recruited to coordinate a statewide project in Texas that worked with hundreds of public schools and Head Start programs for the School Readiness Curriculum Based Measurement System (SRCBM) study. His successful work on this study continues in Florida where he works with Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs to develop English and Spanish language assessments. Erazo’s long-term goals include conducting research in bilingualism, biliteracy, and educational disparities among minority children.

Personal Hyperlink: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/cfs/faculty-staff/erazo-n.aspx

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/erazo-noe.pdf

 

John Martin
B.A. in Experimental Psychology; Minor in Sociology, University of South Carolina

Research Areas: Transition-Age Foster Care Youth and Self-Determination Development

John Martin is a full-time graduate student at the University of South Florida who earned his undergraduate degree in Experimental psychology from the University of South Carolina. John’s current interest centers around the development of Self-Determination within vulnerable youth, specifically those in social systems like foster care. John hopes his research will provide evidence for the support of Self-Determination development in environments that maybe more restrictive.

Fall 2018 Cohort
Erica Anderson

Erica Anderson
M.S. in Counseling, Bethune-Cookman University
B.S. in Psychology, University of Tampa 

Research areas: Minority health and mental health disparities; Access to Mental Health Services; Comorbid behavioral health disorders; and Evaluating Mental Health Programs

Erica Anderson, M.S. is a dual PhD/MPH student. She is in her third year in the Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph.D. program, and is a first-year student in the MPH program with a concentration in Behavioral Health at the University of South Florida. Her research interests are in culturally relevant mental health services, physical and mental health disparities, and integrating non-traditional health workers (i.e. Community Health Workers) into the behavioral healthcare system. Erica earned her B.S. in Psychology with a Minor in Philosophy from the University of Tampa, and an M.S. in Counseling with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health from Bethune-Cookman University. She was awarded a McKnight Doctoral Fellowship from the Florida Education Fund. Currently, she is a reviewer for the Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research and works on an internal grant funded project aimed at reducing the stigma of mental illness in the African American community. Presently, Erica is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI) and has experience working with a diverse client population, providing psychotherapy in a variety of treatment settings. Outside of school, she serves as a mentor with the Hillsborough Education Foundation, Take Stock in Children Program and is actively engaged in community service projects.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/anderson-erica.pdf

Leigh Ashley

Leigh Ashley
Graduate Research Associate
M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis, the University of South Florida (graduate)
B.A. in psychology, the University of South Florida (undergraduate) 

Research Areas: Positive Behavior Support, peer-mediated intervention, and supported inclusion.

Leigh Ashley is a graduate associate for Dr. Lise Fox in the Department of Child and Family Studies. She works under Dr. Fox with the OSEP-funded National Center for Pyramid Model Innovation (NCPMI). The goals of NCPMI are to assist states and programs in their implementation of sustainable systems for the implementation of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Sociaotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Pyramid Model) within early intervention and early education programs with a focus on promoting the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children birth to five, reducing the use of inappropriate discipline practices, promoting family engagement, using data for decision-making, integrating early childhood and infant mental health consultation and fostering inclusion. Leigh has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2004 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2009. She has experience working with children and their families in a variety of treatment settings. She is currently engaged in dissertation research projects related to peer-mediated intervention to support early childhood social skills development.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/ashley-leigh.pdf

T. Freeman Gerhardt

T. Freeman Gerhardt
B.A. in Psychology, University of South Florida; Minor: Philosophy
B.S. in Behavioral Healthcare, University of South Florida; Minor: Public Administration

Research Areas: Behavioral health & criminal justice policy; systems delivery and integration; implementation science.

Freeman is a graduate research and teaching associate in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy. Currently, he is a case manager at two psychiatric hospitals in Hillsborough County and an Instructor of Record. His research is focused on the intersection of mental illness/substance use disorder (MI/SUD) and the criminal justice system, specifically system-oriented strategies to reduce recidivism. He is interested in methods to increase cross-collaboration and integration between historically disparate systems of care.

Juanita Patterson-Price

Juanita Patterson-Price
M.S. in Medical Science, University of South Florida
B.S. in Forensic Anthropology, University of Dundee

Research Areas: Her major research interest is in the relationship between children’s physical movement skills and mental health; particularly anxiety and depression disorders. She has a special interest in dance as a means of movement skill and cognitive development. 

Juanita Patterson-Price is a Doctoral Student in the Interdisciplinary Program, Department of Mental Health Law and Policy. Her academic background is in Anatomy and Medical Science, with a parallel dance background including international competition and performance. She is involved in the local chapter of the Performing Arts Medicine Association, and recently presented findings at the 29th Annual Conference for the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science. Through her role as a dance instructor and consultant for Footprints Dance Project in Calgary Canada, she co-developed a children’s fundamental movement skills training program and assessment. She continues to work with Footprints Dance Project evaluating and further developing these tools for use in research settings. 

Erica Sappington

Erica Sappington
M.A. in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, University of South Florida
B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, University of South Florida

Research Area: Behavioral health and quality of life in older adults

Erica Sappington is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of South Florida, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. She earned her Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and B.S in Psychology and Sociology at The University of South Florida. She works with Dr. Carla VandeWeerd at the University of Florida as a research coordinator in The Villages, Florida. Erica’s research interests are integrating mental health services for older adults in primary care and behavioral health program evaluation.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/sappington-erica.pdf

Fall 2019 Cohort
Emily Baton

Emily Baton
M.A. in Applied Behavioral Analysis, University of South Florida
Graduate Certificate: Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
B.S. in Behavioral Health Care with concentrations in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Research

Research Areas: Caregiver and staff training, positive parent-school relations, and implementation science

Emily Baton, M.A., BCBA, is a Ph.D. Student in the Behavioral & Community Sciences program at the University of South Florida (USF). Currently, she is a graduate assistant on MOTIVATED grant with Dr. Rose Iovannone and Dr. Kim Crosland and previously worked as a the graduate assistant for the Florida Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Project (2019-2020) with Dr. Heather George and Dr. Don Kincaid. Her primary research interests include a) prevention of child abuse and neglect through eco-behavioral caregiver education and training; b) increased parent involvement and positive parent-school relations; c) defining and measuring family well-being. 

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/baton-emily.pdf

Matthew “Max” Cox

Matthew “Max” Cox
Master of Social Work, University of South Florida
B.A. in Psychology, University of South Florida
B.A. in Sociology: Concentration in Inequality and Social Justice, University of South Florida

Research Areas: Special Education Policy, Research and Practice; Special Education Service Delivery in Catholic School Settings; Improving Independence for Those with Disabilities

Max Cox, MSW is currently in his second year as a doctoral student in the Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph. D. program within the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at the University of South Florida. His research interests focus on special education and improving services and outcomes for students with disabilities. A major focus of his research is to find ways to provide more efficient and effective evidence-based practices for students with disabilities that translate to enhanced support, which can be applied in the school setting. Max serves as a special education teacher for students with disabilities at Tampa Catholic High School.  Max has also created a teacher education program for his high school in which he aims to enhance the knowledge of general education classroom teachers to be more prepared in working with students with disabilities. In his pursuit to improve the lives of those with disabilities, he serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Self-Reliance Inc. A Center for Independent Living. This local Non-Profit Organization provides services and supports for those with disabilities in the community to empower them to maintain and enhance their own independence.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/cox-matthew.pdf

areana cruz 

Areana Cruz
M.S.Ed in Mental Health Counseling, University of Miami
B.A. in Psychology, University of South Florida

Research Area: Interested in a diverse array of research for vulnerable populations

Ms. Cruz’s research activities have encompassed a broad range of topics from adolescent substance abuse, parental help seeking behaviors, child welfare systems evaluation, evaluation of managed healthcare, integrated behavioral health and pediatric initiatives, and research on cognitive neuroscience and aging. Ms. Cruz actively seeks out projects that explore a diverse array of research areas, and projects that will challenge and expand her skill set.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/cruz-areana.pdf

Tram Tran

Tram Tran H.H
M.S. in Economic Management, Vietnam Maritime University
B.A. in Foreign Languages, Haiphong Private University

Research areas: substance abuse disorders and mental illness in developing countries, especially on program evaluations, drug-related policies, peer-based support interventions and women with substance use disorders.

Tram Tran H.H, is a former Fulbright NIDA Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow in 2017-2018. Since 2012, she has been working for the Haiphong Union of Science and Technology Associations, Vietnam as the deputy director of the Department of Science and Technology. In 2015, Tram served on a team dedicated to Medication Assisted Recovery Support Services, funded by SAMHSA - the first program piloted in Vietnam providing recovery support in substance use treatment. In addition, Tram is a national and global master trainer for the Universal Treatment Curriculums (International Centre for Credentialing and Education of Addiction Professionals). In several years, she has been participating in expert teams designing and reviewing universal treatment curriculums for The Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program (CPDAP) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/tran-tram.pdf

Lacey Anne Tucker

Lacey Anne Tucker
Master of Social Work, University of South Florida
Master of Public Health, University of South Florida
Graduate Certificate in Translational Research, University of South Florida
B.S. in Behavioral Healthcare, University of South Florida 
        Minor: Applied Behavior Analysis 

Research Areas: Implementation science; Action research; Rural behavioral health; Behavioral healthcare reform with a focus on task shifting and low-intensity interventions 

Lacey Tucker, MSW, RCSWI, MPH, CPH, is a Doctoral Student in the Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of South Florida (USF), College of Behavioral and Community Sciences. Lacey earned her Master’s in Social Work and in Public Health from USF in 2019, and earned her Public Health Certification in 2019, and her Registered Clinical Social Work Intern license in 2020. She also earned a Graduate Certificate in Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health from the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse (ITRE) in 2019 and currently works as a Graduate Associate for the ITRE. Lacey provides outpatient counseling services to children and families with diverse behavioral challenges and is being supervised to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

Personal Hyperlink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-tucker-27154014a/

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/tucker-lacey.pdf

Fall 2020 Cohort
Alexandra Albizu-Jacob

Alexandra Albizu-Jacob
M.P.H. with a concentration in Behavioral Health, University of South Florida
B.S. in Psychology, University of Florida

Research Areas: Implementation Science in Behavioral Health, Culturally-responsive evidence-based services, Psycho-oncology

Alexandra is a Learning and Development Facilitator in the Department of Child and Family Studies at the University of South Florida. She received her Master's degree in public health with a concentration in behavioral health from the USF College of Public Health. She was also among the first cohort of scholars in the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Behavioral Health, a federally funded state-of-the-art research education program that teaches the practical skills of translational research and implementation science in the field of adolescent behavioral health. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida.

Her research interests include psycho-oncology, child and adolescent behavioral health, implementation science, positive family relationships, and the integration of trauma-informed care in health systems. Alexandra strives to utilize her educational background and experiences to positively affect the overall health and well-being of children and families.

Alexandra assists on a wide range of research and evaluation projects related to the overall health and well-being of children and families including, trauma-informed care, infant-family mental health, men and boys' mental well-being, father-child relationships and literacy, and pediatric psychosocial oncology and obesity. She is currently the project coordinator for a randomized controlled trial (R01CA240319-01A1) awarded to Dr. Marilyn Stern and funded by the National Institutes of Health to test the efficacy of the NOURISH-T+ intervention in pediatric psychosocial oncology and obesity.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/albizujacob-alex.pdf

Ana Aluisy

Ana Aluisy
M.A. in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, University of South Florida
B.S in Psychology from Campbell University

Research Area: Mental Health Disparities and Culturally Relevant Mental Health Services

Ana Aluisy is a Ph.D. student in the Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of South Florida. Ana is a Bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist. She specializes in working with multicultural relationships. Ana is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and has served as the President of the Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association (SMHCA).

Ana has been providing counseling services in English and Spanish since 2007. She is passionate about learning and helping individuals thrive in their relationships. She is hoping that her studies help her to better understand mental health service disparities for minorities, especially bilingual and Spanish-speaking individuals. 

Personal Hyperlink: http://anaaluisy.com/

Skye Bristol

Skye Bristol
B.S. in Health Education, University of Florida (undergraduate)

Research Areas: Substance misuse, racial/ethnic health disparities, public policy, youth development

Skye Bristol, CHES®, is currently a doctoral student in the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences at the University of South Florida. In 2020, she earned a B.S. in Health Education, with minors in Nonprofit Organizational Leadership and Sociology from the University of Florida. Skye’s past research experience at UF is in the Study of Teen Opioid Misuse and Prevention (STOMP) Lab with Dr. Micah E. Johnson. Her work focused on the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to analyze the relationship between dropping out of school and opioid misuse. Skye is currently completing her PhD under the mentorship of Dr. Micah E. Johnson. Skye’s primary research interests are in substance misuse, racial/ethnic health disparities, public policy, and youth development. In the future, she plans to conduct research that would target priority populations and utilize her findings to close gaps between research policy and practice by influencing government action.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/bristol-skye.pdf

Mary Goldsworthy

Mary Goldsworthy
B.S. in Health Science, Hawaii Pacific University
M.P.H., University of South Florida
Concentration: Public Health Education

Research Area: Health and well-being for vulnerable populations, older adults, and those who have experienced trauma.

Mary Goldsworthy is a current doctoral student in the PhD program of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at USF. Originally from Spokane, Washington, Mary moved to Oahu, Hawaii, to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a minor in Gerontology from Hawaii Pacific University. Initially, after graduation she worked on developing and implementing tobacco prevention and control policies in Hawaii with the Department of Health. Then she moved to Florida, where she completed her Master in Public Health (MPH) from the University of South Florida, and worked for the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) as a field researcher, traveling to different U.S. cities to conduct research related to tobacco and other health concerns. Mary is particularly invested in mixed-methods research, using qualitative and quantitative methods to study the health and well-being for vulnerable populations, including older adults and those who have experienced trauma. Currently, she is working with Dr. Amber Gum as a graduate research assistant on a patient-centered partnership addressing trauma in primary care patients (funded by PCORI) and a mixed-methods longitudinal study of adverse outcomes for older adults to improve their quality of life (funded by RRF). 

Nele Loecher

Nele Loecher
M.Sc. in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience: Psychopathology, Maastricht University
B.A. in Psychology and English, Grinnell College

Research area: Pediatric/adolescent and young adult pscyho-oncology with a focus on survivorship.

Nele Loecher is a Presidential Fellow in the Behavioral and Community Sciences PhD program from Germany. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors double majoring in psychology and English from Grinnell College and a Master of Science in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience: Psychopathology from Maastricht University. Nele’s past research at the Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab at Stanford University focused on pediatric pain interventions, parental empathy, and symptom-monitoring in survivors of pediatric cancer. She aims to translate findings from the pediatric pain field into the realm of survivors of pediatric cancer. Her primary interests, therefore, are in pediatric and adolescent/young adult psycho-oncology, especially survivorship care, symptom monitoring, and parental roles.  

Personal Hyperlinks:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pon.5544?casa_token=Xf3GgLZv29sAAAAA%3AtX4NIdGQoAdzz2xVhuQh5E2EoNfmvvO5URN0fCSDnFeJwZ3Eg_SNpVjNVyHHuqVQr2EQTZoN_EN7Ubw
https://www-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.lib.usf.edu/doi/full/10.1080/08870446.2020.1836180

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/loecher-nele.pdf

Kimberly Menendez

Kimberly Menendez
M.S. in Forensic Psychology, Walden University
B.A. in English, University of Florida
Certified Prevention Professional, The Florida Certification Board 
Graduate Certificate in Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health, University of South Florida 

Research Areas: Adolescent drug and violence prevention; Social emotional learning development; Implementation science in behavioral health; Evidence-based programs in school settings 

Kimberly Menendez is the Senior Curriculum Developer of Too Good prevention education programs at the C.E. Mendez Foundation in Tampa, FL.  She served as a Community Agency Mentor for the University of South Florida’s Institute of Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health from 2015-2019.  She received a B.A. in English from the University of Florida and her M.S. in Forensic Psychology from Walden University.  Kimberly is a Certified Prevention Professional and holds a graduate certificate in Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health from the University of South Florida where she is now a doctoral student pursuing a PhD in Community and Behavioral Sciences.  

Publication: Rigg, K. K., & Menendez, K. (2018). Drug prevention programs in schools: Selecting program providers. Health Education Journal, 77(5), 586-597.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/menendez-kimberly.pdf

Fall 2021 Cohort

Tracy Bales

Tracy Bales
M.P.H. in Behavioral Health, University of South Florida
B.A. in Psychology, University of South Florida
B.A. of Design, College of Architecture, University of Florida
Graduate Certificate in Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health, University of South Florida
Certified in Public Health

Research Areas: Behavioral economics in health; Implementation science in behavioral health; Health communication, decision-making, and goal-setting behavior; Effect of art and environmental context on well-being

Tracy Bales is a doctoral student in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of South Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design from the University of Florida’s College of Architecture and a Post-Bachelor of Art with Honors in Psychology from the University of South Florida. Tracy earned a Master of Public Health and Graduate Certificate in Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health from the University of South Florida and is Certified in Public Health. Her previous research focused on behavioral economics in health, implicit health decision-making under stress, substance-use in adolescents, and implementation fidelity in substance-use prevention programming. Her current research interests include behavioral economics, health communication, decision-making and goal-setting behavior, and the effects of art and context on behavioral health

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/bales-tracy.pdf

Kelsey Greenfield

Kelsey A. Greenfield
Ph.D. in Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida
J.D., University of Florida
B.A. in Psychology, University of Richmond

Research Areas: Mental Health, Substance Use, Co-occurring Disorders, Criminal Justice, Program Evaluation.

Kelsey Greenfield (She/Her) is a doctoral student and graduate research assistant in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy. Before pursuing a Ph.D., she was a criminal defense attorney with the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office. Her research is primarily focused on the intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice. Ms. Greenfield is especially interested in community-based intervention programs as a method of reducing recidivism in the justice-involved population with co-occurring disorders.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/greenfield-kelsey.pdf

James-Angelo Suarez

James-Angelo Suarez
Master of Public Health, University of South Florida
Graduate Certificate in Translational Research, University of South Florida
B.A. in Psychology, University of South Florida

Research Areas: School-based implementation of evidence-based practices; Child and adolescent behavioral health; Health and well-being for vulnerable populations

James-Angelo Suarez, MPH, CPH, is a first-year Doctoral Student in the College of Behavioral & Community Science at the University of South Florida. He also works as a Graduate Assistant in the Substance Misuse and Addiction Research Training (SMART) Lab in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy under Dr. Micah Johnson and Dr. Kimberly Johnson. He previously worked as a middle school educator. He received his Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Behavioral Health from the USF College of Public Health. He was also a member of the 6th cohort of scholars in the Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Behavioral Health (ITRE), where he partnered with the C.E. Mendez Foundation, developers of the Too Good programs. He conducted qualitative research on implementer perspectives of the Too Good implementation support tool. James-Angelo’s current research interests primarily focus on child and adolescent behavioral health, particularly regarding the implementation of evidence-based behavioral health practices in Title I schools.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/suarez-james-angelo.pdf

Elzbieta (Ela) Weidbusch

Elzbieta Wiedbusch
B.S. in Psychology, Loyola University Chicago
B.S. in Criminal Justice/Criminology, Loyola University Chicago

Research areas: Substance misuse, racial/ethnic health disparities, family cycles of substance misuse, the Criminal Justice System and Juvenile Justice System

Elzbieta (Ela) Wiedbusch is a Presidential Fellow in the Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph.D. program. Hailing from Illinois, she earned a Bachelor of Science in both Psychology and Criminal Justice/Criminology from Loyola University Chicago. Ela’s past research focused on chronic illness, substance use disorder, community-based recovery homes, and treatment & recovery from substance misuse among vulnerable populations. Currently, her research explores racial/ethnic health disparities, family effects on substance misuse, and substance and alcohol misuse among justice-involved youths. Ela is also involved in a pilot program that incorporates mental health counselors into Tampa’s Police Department. Ultimately, she aims to implement evidence-based policies and rehabilitative programs in the Criminal Justice system. 

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/weidbusch-elzbieta.pdf

Fall 2022 Cohort

Allahon Bailey

Allahon Bailey
M.S. in Child, Youth, and Family Studies, University of Nebraska Lincoln
B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Family Studies, University of Nebraska Kearney

Research areas: effects of intergenerational and historical trauma on Black parents’ child rearing; Black crossover youth; Black families’ mental health  

Allahon earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Family Studies from the University of Nebraska Kearney, and an M.S. in Child, Youth, and Family Studies from University of Nebraska Lincoln. She was awarded a McKnight Doctoral Fellowship from the Florida Education Fund. Allahon researches the dynamics of intergenerational trauma in African American families. Her goal is to create an evidence-based strengths-based program tailored to address the educational/mental health needs of BIPOC families and promote resilience, positive family dynamics, and healthy, culturally rooted child rearing practices. This research will provide a foundation of support for an underserved population to thrive under cultural oppression. 


CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/bailey-allahon.pdf

Mina Davari

Mina Davari
Graduate Research Assistant
M.Sc. in Community Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
B.Sc. in Nutrition Science, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 

Research Areas: Obesity and Eating Behaviors in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

Mina Davari is a Ph.D. student in Behavioral and Community Sciences within the Department of Child and Family Studies at the University of South Florida. Currently, she is a graduate assistant on National Institutes of Health grant awarded to Dr. Marilyn Stern. Her previous research mainly focused on type 2 diabetes and her current research interests are nutrition- and health-related behaviors, obesity and eating behaviors in survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer. Mina hopes that her research helps her to better understand obesogenic behavioral patterns in pediatric cancer

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/davari-mina.pdf

Emilie Ellenberg

Emilie Ellenberg
M.A. in Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling, Graduate Certificate in Addictions & Eating Disorders, University of South Florida, 2012 
B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Behavioral Healthcare, University of South Florida, 2010

Research Areas: Unmet mental health needs of persons with chronic illness; health disparities in behavioral health; substance misuse 

Emilie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH#13313) and Florida Certified Addictions Professional (CAP#5796). Emilie has worked in the field of mental health for over ten years. Emilie has specialty training in eating disorders, addictions, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Emilie returned to USF as an instructor for the department of Mental Health Law & Policy in August, 2020. In the past, Emilie has worked as Program Director of a Forensic Residential Treatment Facility and in all levels of mental health care including community-based care, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential. Driven by experience in therapeutic practice, Emilie’s current research now aims provide mental health care to all persons, especially the disadvantaged such as the chronically ill. Working under Dr. Kathleen Moore, she has been conducting qualitative research on barriers to accessing care in the Tampa Bay area.

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/ellenberg-emilie.pdf

Brooke Haney

Brooke Haney
B.S. in Psychology, University of Tampa
B.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Tampa

Research Areas: Substance Use and Co-occurring Disorders, Criminal Justice and Recidivism

Brooke Haney is a Graduate Student Success Fellow in the Behavioral and Community Sciences Ph.D. program. Originally from Southern Maryland, Brooke came to Tampa where she earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in both Psychology and Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Tampa. She is an alumna of the Summer Research Institute at the Florida Mental Health Institute and previously worked as a Research Support Specialist in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy. In addition, she worked as a contractor determining recidivism for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Problem-Solving Courts. Brooke is particularly interested in quantitative data analysis of substance use and co-occurring disorders as well as their interactions with criminal justice outcomes. She is also interested in epidemiological research pertaining to the prevalence and incidence of substance use and co-occurring disorders. 

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/haney-brooke.pdf

Jocelyn Jarvis

Jocelyn Jarvis
B.S. in Psychology and Philosophy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Research areas: Health disparities; mental and behavioral health; marginalized populations; adolescent and young adult; program development and evaluation

Jocelyn graduated in 2021 with her bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Philosophy, with certificates in Quantitative Social Data Analysis and Cultures and Communities, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement scholar, and currently a Graduate Student Success Fellowship awardee. Her current research interests are to investigate health disparities, especially with regards to mental and behavioral health in adolescents and young adults who are apart of marginalized groups. She is especially interested in community-based program development and implementation. Jocelyn is currently working on projects investigating health disparities, food insecurity, and mental health under the guidance of Drs. Linda Callejas and Marilyn Stern. Ultimately, she aims to provide culturally informed mental and behavioral health programming for adolescents and young adults who are apart of marginalized populations. For further information, you may contact Jocelyn at her USF email address (jarvis10@usf.edu).

CV: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/documents/bcs-students-cv/jarvis-jocelyn.pdf