Lab Director:
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Rachel Farr Email: rachel.farr@uky.edu PhD from University of Virginia, Developmental and Community Psychology (BS from Cornell University) Dr. Farr's research focuses on diverse families, particularly those parented by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) adults and formed through adoption. Overarching themes in Dr. Farr's writings include how empirical research on LGBTQ+ parent families and on adoption may be informative to public policy, practice, and law, especially given that her research has been influential in media circles, public debates, and legal and policy domains. She serves on her local county school's LGBTQ+ advisory committee, as well as in multiple leadership roles in her department and university, especially as related to diversity and inclusion efforts. Founded the FAD lab: Summer 2015 |
Graduate Students:
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Madison Diomede Email: mdi268@uky.edu PhD expected 2025 (Class of 2020, University of Texas at Tyler) My research interests revolve around identity development, identity saliency, and socialization. In the past, I have researched developmental and psychological predictors of LGBTQ+ attitudes in college students. Currently, I am exploring the intersection between diverse family structures and identity in adolescents and young adults. I am also interested in perceived social status amongst these populations— more specifically, the relationship between perceived social status and various identities such as racial/ethnic, geographic, gender, or sexual identities. Joined the lab: Summer 2020 |
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Emily Lapidus Email: emilylapidus@uky.edu PhD expected 2025 (College of Charleston, 2019) My primary research interests focus on how and to what extent childhood development is influenced by public policy. Developmental research focused on adoption into same-gender households is still controversial and there can be a lot of changes that can be made for the better. Specifically in the FAD lab, I am interested in seeing how we can better understand development of children in same-gender households so we can better the current adoption systems. Joined the lab: Summer 2020 |
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Kevin McAweeney (he/him) Email: kamcaweeney@uky.edu PhD Expected 2027 (University of California Davis 2021) Major: Psychology, Minor: Women & Gender Studies Key Professional Goals and Interests: My research focuses on two main research topics. The first research is centered on LGBTQ+ families and populations with a focus on the impacts of geographic environment and the beneficial aspects of LGBTQ+ community belonging. The second is research centered around violent radicalization and identifying factors that lead to radicalization. I also look at how these ideas intersect looking at LGBTQ+ communities that exist in majority conservative regions and how anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment relates to violent radicalization. Joined the lab: Summer 2022 |
Research Assistants:
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Grant Biggerstaff (he/him) Email: gbi227@uky.edu Expected Graduation: Spring 2024 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: My goal is to become a clinical psychologist. Joined the lab: Summer 2022 |
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Simon Boone (he/him) Email: srbo240@uky.edu Expected Graduation: Spring 2023 Major: Psychology, Minor: Gender & Women's Studies Key Professional Goals and Interests: The next step in my career is to enroll in Graduate school to obtain my Ph.D. in counseling psychology. I hope to open a community center in my hometown that supports LGBT+ youth by providing counseling resources. I enjoy horror and playing video games with my friends, including Dungeons and Dragons on the weekends. Joined the lab: Spring 2022 |
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Emerson Palazzo Email: emerson.palazzo@uky.edu Expected Graduation: Spring 2025 Majors: Psychology and Interdisciplinary Disability Studies Key Professional Goals and Interests: After I graduate, I hope to go on to get a master's degree with the end goal of working in autism therapy. I am not sure which form of therapy I want to pursue, but I would love to go into both individual and group counseling. My main educational interests are disabilities, autism, and LGBTQ+ issues, so I hope to help individuals in those communities in my future career. In my free time, you can find me at the UK Visitor Center, playing ultimate frisbee on the UK Women's team, or spending time with those I love! Joined the lab: Spring 2022 |
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Lizzie Schreyer (She/her) Email: Lizzie.Schreyer@uky.edu Expected Graduation: Spring 2024 Major: Psychology Minor: Spanish Key Professional Goals and Interests: After graduation I plan on attending graduate school to earn a Ph.D. My research interests are centered around family dynamics, specifically those within the LGBTQ+ community. Joined the lab: Fall 2022 |
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Chase Myers Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: I plan on obtaining an undergraduate degree in psychology and continuing my studies at graduate school. I hope to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology. My main research interests are mental health, abnormal psychology, social psychology, and clinical work. Joined the lab: Spring 2023 |
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Kendall Cates (she/her) Expected graduation: Spring 2025 Email: mailto:keca258@uky.edu Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: After graduation I would like to obtain my masters degree and work towards a career in therapy. My research interests include mental health, specifically in children, and family systems. Joined the lab: Spring 2023 |
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Michael Rohs Expected Graduation: Spring 2025 Email: michael.rohs@uky.edu Major: Psychology Minor: Spanish Key Professional Goals and Interests: I hope to become a professor and continue to research social justice issues. |
Lab Alumni:
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Brittany Alexander
Major: Psychology Minor: Criminology Key Professional Goals and Interests: I am planning on attending graduate school to pursue a PhD in Counseling Psychology one I graduate from UK. I have a particular interest in child and adolescent mental health research. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, watching movies, and spending time with my roommates. My goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and my main research interests surround the mental health of children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. Joined the lab: Summer 2020 |
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Chelsea Bass
Key Professional Goals and Interests: My goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and my main research interests surround the mental health of children and adolescents with chronic illnesses. Joined the lab: Fall 2018 |
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Jordan Bernard
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Emma Breetz Class of 2022 Major: Psychology Minor: Spanish Key Professional Goals and Interests: After graduating, I plan to apply and join the Peace Corps and work with youth in development. Forming human connections and understanding individuals from all different perspectives is what brought me to study psychology. Outside of school you can find me outdoors, running, hiking, and partaking in the occasional barre or cycling class. Joined the lab: Fall 2020 |
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Meg Brown Email: megybrown@gmail.com UK alumni, Telecommunications, B.A. Currently pursuing Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A., at EKU Key Professional Goals and Interests: My current goals are to complete the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at EKU and begin work towards professional counseling licensure. My current interests are focused on the LGBTQ+ community, adolescents, adoption, socialism, and community organizing. I currently volunteer as a tutor at the Village Branch Library. Joined the lab: Summer 2016 |
 Samuel Bruun, PhD PhD in 2021 (Class of 2016, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point) My broad research interests revolve around the ways in which people use cultural artifacts, such as toys, clothing, and fictional characters to represent and reinforce gender. My most recent research line has focused on understanding how LGBTQ+ people engage in gender presentation, and the unique pressures that these groups might face making presentation choices, in comparison to cisgender and heterosexual people. This line of research has led to a developing interest in discrepancy theory, examining how people’s mental health is impacted when their ideal self feels unattainable, or is blocked by social obstacles. My other research interests include the impact of children’s gender-typed play behaviors, how LGBTQ+ parents talk to their children about sexuality, and identity development in the intersection between race, gender and sexual orientation. Joined the lab: Summer 2016 |
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Calisee Burand Major: Psychology, Topical Studies in Cognitive Sciences Key Professional Goals and Interests: Currently, I am applying to graduate schools in clinical and counseling psychology to pursue a career as a clinician working with children. I have a particular interest in neurochemistry and developmental psychology. Outside of classes, I love yoga, Zumba, and a hearty bowl of oatmeal. Joined the lab: Spring 2019 |
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Amanda Campbell Email: mandycampbell412@gmail.com Class of 2017 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: social psychology, specifically stereotyping -- I plan to get my PhD in social psychology and later be a professor. Joined the lab: Fall 2016 |
 Krystal Cashen, PhD PhD, 2020, University of Massachusetts Amherst (Class of 2013, Vassar College) Dr. Cashen earned her PhD in developmental science frm the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2020. Broadly, her research focuses on development in the context of diverse family systems (LGBTQ+ parent families, adoptive families). Her dissertation examined experiences of stigmatization and community among emerging adults with LGBTQ+ parent(s). She has also been involved in research looking at the close relationships of adopted people through the transition to adulthood. Joined the lab: Summer 2020 (Postdoc) |
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Indrani Chatterjee Class of 2018 Major: International Studies & Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: Moving away from psychology (sorry!), I plan to pursue a public health career. My main interest is community-based health education, with a special focus in inclusive sexual health education. I'd love to take my experience abroad and find ways to incorporate these concepts into international development. Post-graduation, I will be staying in Lexington and working an entry-level job in the health field. I eventually hope to serve in the Peace Corps, and earn an MPH (and one fine day, a PhD) in Health Behavior. Joined the lab: Summer 2017 |
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Jessica Cherry Class of 2017 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: getting a masters degree in school psychology and becoming a school psychologist with hopes in working at an elementary school Joined the lab: Fall 2015 |
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Mary Rome Daniel (she/her) Class of 2023 Major: Psychology, Minor: Family Sciences Key Professional Goals and Interests: After I have earned my bachelor's degree, my goal is to attend graduate school to earn a master's degree in family & marriage therapy. Pursuing a career in family & marriage therapy has always been an interest of mine. Specifically, I am interested in diversity among families, and someday I hope to provide treatment or counseling to families with various conflicts. Outside of my academic career, I practice with the UK Saddle Seat Team and I am a member of Kappa Delta sorority! Joined the lab: Spring 2022 |
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Heather Evans Class of 2022 Major: Psychology Minor: Sociology Key Professional Goals and Interests: I plan on taking the MCAT this spring and I will hopefully be attending medical school in order to further pursue my psychology interests to become a psychiatrist. I find all facets of psychology research to be absolutely fascinating and I am super happy to be a part of the FAD lab! Joined the lab: Summer 2020 |
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Ryder From (he/him) Class of 2023 Major: Psychology, Minors: Spanish, Journalism My biggest interest is people. I love trying to understand why some people act and think the way they do. The psychology classes I’ve taken have shed so much light on these mentalities and behaviors. I plan on becoming a child and adolescent therapist in the future and put this learning into action. I want to help children with mental disorders such as anxiety and depression in order to build emotional skills as early as possible and tackle the stressors in their lives right away. In addition to that, my hobbies include singing (very high and very loud), creative writing, digital design, and walking. I also hope to self-publish a book in the future, one that’s already in the works. Joined the lab: Fall 2021 |
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Evelyn Gonzalez Class of 2020 Major: Psychology & Spanish Key Professional Goals and Interests: I am interested in developmental psychology, researching the LGBTQ+ community, looking at adoption trends, and child socialization. I hope to go on to graduate school and attain a Ph.D. in developmental psychology. Joined the lab: Summer 2018 |
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Erika Goodman Class of 2018 Major: Psychology; Minor in Family Sciences Key Professional Goals and Interests: I plan on obtaining my PhD in counseling psychology and then go on to work as a family counselor with hopes of opening my own counseling center. My research interests include religion, sexual identity, and how those come into play in the family system. Joined the lab: Summer 2017 |
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Abby Graham (she/her) Class of 2023 Majoring in Psychology, Minoring in Classics I am very interested in public policy and the ways that psychology and research shape them. My more specific interests are LGBTQ+ issues, sexual assault victims and the legal system, and women’s issues. I believe that these groups are still not treated with equality in many of our institutions, and as psychologists, we have the power to change that. Some organizations I’m a part of at U.K are Alpha Phi Omega, the Student Activities Board, the Classics Honors Society, and YDSA. My hobbies are reading, yoga, horticulture, crafting, cooking/baking, and tennis. Joined the lab: Summer 2021 |
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Rachel Harden Class of 2018 Major: Psychology; Minor in Family Sciences Key Professional Goals and Interests: I want to go to grad school and study school counseling. Joined the lab: Fall 2016 |
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Camille Harn Class of 2023 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: After getting my bachelor's, I plan to pursue a PhD in Psychology, and pursue a career in research and academia. Joined the lab: Fall 2020 |
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Morgann Hegge Class of 2019 Major: Psychology; Minor: Family Sciences Key Professional Goals and Interests: I aspire to earn my Masters degree in Couples and Family Therapy and hope to someday run my own private practice. My research interests include human sexuality, family systems, ambiguous loss, military families, and religious socialization. Outside of the lab I enjoy spending time with family, crafting, working out, and spoiling my dog. Joined the lab: Summer 2018 |
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Cassie Johnson (she/her) Expected Graduation: Spring 2022 Majors: Psychology and US Culture & Business Practices After graduation in the Spring, I hope to work as a policy analyst for the United States government. After a few years, I hope to go to graduate school to pursue a degree in Public Administration or Public Policy. My main interests lie in two different fields. One being environmental infrastructure and the second being families. So, in this lab I hope to learn how family structure and decision-making affect someone's adult life. When I’m not at school or at my part-time job at Chipotle, I love to hike, kayak, read, and drink copious amounts of coffee with my friends. Joined the lab Fall 2021 |
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Stefanie Jones Class of 2017 Major: Psychology with Communication Minor Key Professional Goals and Interests: I/O psychology Joined the lab: Spring 2016 |
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Katie Kirk Class of 2020 Major: English, Minor: Psychology & Theatre Key Professional Goals and Interests: how LGBTQ+ youth manage their identities in today's world/the role that social media plays in modern sexual identity formation, narrative theory, psycholinguistics. My hobbies are writing plays, acting, going on walks, and playing with my friends' cats. Joined the lab: Spring 2019 |
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Madison Martin Class of 2018 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: I am primarily interested in developmental psychology and children's well-being. Moreover, children in the foster care system and that have been adopted. I hope to go to graduate school for school psychology. Joined the lab: Fall 2018 |
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Mandy Martin (She/Her) Class of 2023 Majors: Psychology, Sociology; Minors: Gender and Women’s Studies, Criminology Key Professional Goals and Interests: After graduation, I hope to get a PhD in clinical psychology then practice therapy and teach. I have a strong interest in mental health, specifically that of marginalized populations such as women, POC, LGBTQ+ populations, children, and survivors of trauma. |
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Caroline Miller Email: c.s.miller96@gmail.com Class of 2018 Major: Psychology & English Key Professional Goals and Interests: I am interested in social and developmental psychology. I think children’s perceptions of gender, diversity, and stereotypes are important in social development. Joined the lab: Fall 2017 |
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Leo Miller Major: Psychology, Minor: Neuroscience Key Professional Goals and Interests: Leo is a first-year doctoral student in the Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program and works with Dr. Sarah Fischer in the Impulse Lab. They aim to fill the gaps inside specific treatment interventions for eating disorders and alcohol use and investigate the potential roles of LGBTQ Minority Stress (Internalized Homophobia, Concealment) and Gender Dysphoria within the development and maintenance of problematic drinking and disordered eating within LGBTQ individuals. Joined the Lab: Summer of 2021 |
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Jillian Morrison Email: morrisonja@guilford.edu Class of 2021 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: While I enjoy learning about all aspects of psychology, my current focus is developmental and abnormal. One day, I hope to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and become a Child Psychologist who works with children and families going through cancer diagnoses. Joined the lab: Summer 2019 |
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Alex Nelson Email: alex.nelson153@gmail.com Class of 2017 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: Pursue further education in developmental, make a career out of research, actively work with kids as often as possible Joined the lab: Spring 2016 |
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Reagan Rucker Email: reaganrenee@hotmail.com Class of 2018 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: I am planning on attending graduate school to earn my LCSW. I want to become a family and marriage therapist. My current interests are focused on studying open adoption, and trauma from sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. Joined the lab: Fall 2018 |
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Kelsey Siebenthaler High School Student, Class of 2020 Expected Major: Business & Spanish Key Professional Goals and Interests: I hope to eventually become a CFO in the very far future and be able to connect with people across the globe through language. Joined the lab: Fall 2018 |
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Kay Simon, PhD PhD in 2021 (Class of 2015, Ohio Wesleyan University) Broadly my research interests focus on how we as diverse individuals come to conceptualize sexual identity in relation to other identities (e.g., racial-ethnic, gender) and various ecological contexts particularly family life. Understanding the way sin which we come to create narratives for ourselves as well as the ways in which others view and perceive our identities is my primary interest. My current research is focused on ambiguous loss theory and boundary ambiguity in the context of LGBTQ+ identity development and family stress. Further, this work is often in the context of LGBTQ+ people's perceptions of parenthood, for those who are already parents, or those who want to be parents in the future. In addition, identity-based socialization such as sexual or gender identity, racial-ethnic identity, and adoption status are an additional line of research. A relatively new interest is perceptions of sexual or gender identity that are under-researched such as asexual-identified people. Joined the lab: Summer 2016 |
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Ryan Stephens Class of 2021 Major: Psychology Key Professional Goals and Interests: I am currently applying to graduate schools to pursue my PhD. I have a broad interest in LGBTQ+ research, especially intragroup/intergroup relationships, identity, and sexuality. Outside of the lab and working on my senior thesis, I like to play hockey and explore downtown. Joined the lab: Summer 2020. |
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Teja Sudhakar Class of 2022 Major: Psychology, Gender and Women's Studies, and a minor in Creative Writing Key Professional Goals and Interests: After graduating, I plan on pursuing a PhD in Social Psychology, and hopefully a future career in academia. I am especially interested in learning about how race and gender can play a role in identity formation, relationships, and mental health. Outside of school, my hobbies include writing, painting, and annoying my cat. Joined the lab: Summer 2020 |
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Cristin Sullivan Class of 2018 Major: Psychology & Anthropology Key Professional Goals and Interests: I want to go into Clinical Psychology and complete training to do therapy. Some of my interests include mental health, body image, and self-esteem. Joined the lab: Summer 2017 |
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Queen-Ayanna Sullivan Class of 2019 Major: Psychology and Human Communication Key Professional Goals and Interests: After graduation I plan on attending graduate school to pursue a graduate degree in either school or counseling psychology. My ultimate career goal is to become a psychologist for the government, focusing on military families. Joined the lab: Fall 2018 |
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Anna Susini Email: annaksusini@gmail.com High School Student, Class of 2018 Major: Undecided Key Professional Goals and Interests: I’m interested in working with or researching bicultural and bilingual families, with a special focus on child development. Joined the lab: Spring 2017 Now attending Brown University, Class of 2022 |
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Camryn Thompson (she/her) Email: canryn.thompson@aol.com Class of 2023 Major: Psychology; Minors: English, Gender and Women's Studies Key Professional Goals and Interests: I am pursuing a Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Louisville's Kent School. My goal after graduating with an MSSW degree is to work towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to provide therapy for individuals, couples, families, and LGBTQ+ youth. Joined the lab: Fall 2022 |
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Casey Vázquez MS in 2021 (Class of 2017, University of Kentucky) Primarily, I am interested in how parent-child relationships and communication in diverse family systems relate to adolescent and young adult's sexuality development. Specifically, I intend to explore how sexual minority and adoptive parents talk to their children about sexuality and how these conversations may influence child and family level outcomes and relationships. I am also interested in the perceptions and stereotypes of youth in foster care. Lastly, I have helped spearhead a project exploring birth relatives' experiences of contact with the adoptive families whom they are connected to. Joined the lab: Summer 2016 |
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Joe Walden Class of 2020 Major: Psychology & Neuroscience Key Professional Goals and Interests: I hope to one day go to medical school and become a doctor, possibly working in pediatric psychiatry or pediatric oncology. Joined the lab: Summer 2017 |
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Madison Yee Class of 2017 Major: Psychology with a Minor in Neuroscience Key Professional Goals and Interests: Clinical Neuropsychology focusing on Traumatic Brain Injury Joined the lab: Fall 2015 |
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Kelsey Young Class of 2019 Major: Pre-Nursing Key Professional Goals and Interests: Graduating from nursing school and continuing my education through a master’s program. Joined the lab: Fall 2016 |
