Meet the FAD Lab team!

Graduate Students:

Samuel Bruun
PhD expected 2021 (Class of 2016, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point)
 
My primary research interests revolve around looking at how gender roles are influenced through cultural artifacts, such as toys, clothing, or media pieces. Previous projects that I have worked on have involved how children attribute gender to toys based on elements such as color or playstyle. Recently I have become interested in how these icons differ in appearance and impact across different family contexts. My developing master’s project focuses on this, with it primarily revolving around how children raised by gay and lesbian parent do or do not differ in gender expression compared to their peers raised by heterosexual parents. Future projects will likely continue to focus on the intersecting influences of the family system and cultural messaging on children’s sense of identity. My outside of work interests are all about finding interesting new ways that people are telling stories, which tends to put me on the forefront of everything from board games to modern dance.
Joined the lab: Summer 2016
 
Kyle Simon
PhD expected 2021 (Class of 2015, Ohio Wesleyan University)
 
Broadly my research interests focus on how we as diverse individuals come to conceptualize sexual identity in various ecological contexts particularly family life. Understanding the ways in 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. A major facet of my research looks at how lesbian and gay parents socialize their children around aspects of diversity (e.g., their own sexual minority status, adoption status, racial-ethnic identity). A new collaboration with Dr. Lee (University of Minnesota) focuses on how parents who have adopted internationally talk with their children about their identities (i.e., racial-ethnic socialization) and associated behavioral and academic outcomes. I am also working with Drs. Tornello (Penn State University) and Bos (University of Amsterdam) to explore how bisexual, lesbian, and heterosexual women understand and imagine future parenthood (e.g., parenting and professional intentions, perceived life changes). Finally, I work with Dr. Will Gervais and Sarah Schiavone (University of Kentucky) on prototyping the meaning of the words Queer, Bisexual, and feminist, as well as sentiment analyses of LGBTQ+ individuals on social media.
Joined the lab: Summer 2016
 
 
Casey Vázquez
PhD Expected 2023 (Class of 2017, University of Kentucky)
 
Primarily, I am interested in the perceptions and stereotypes of youth in foster care and their associated developmental outcomes. I am also interested in how parent-child relationships and communication in diverse family systems influence 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. Lastly, I have helped spearhead a project exploring birth relatives experiences of contact with the adoptive families whom they are connected to--many of whom are connected with adoptive familes headed by LGBTQ+ couples.
Joined the lab: Summer 2016
 

 

 

 

 

Research Assistants:

Chelsea Bass
Class of 2021
Major: Psychology, Minor: Family Sciences
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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calisse Burand
Class of 2021
Major: Psychology and Chemistry
Key Professional Goals and Interests: Currently, I am exploring research in both chemistry and psychology in an attempt to marry my two favorite subjects. 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
 
 
Evelyn Gonzalez-Lozano
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

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jillian Morrison
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

 

 

 

 

 

 
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

 

 

Lab Alumni:

Meg Brown
UK alumi, 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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amanda Campbell
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indrani Chatterjee
Email: if.chatterjee@uky.edu
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stefanie Jones
Class of 2017
Major: Psychology with Communication Minor
Key Professional Goals and Interests: I/O psychology 
Joined the lab: Spring 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Caroline Miller
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alex Nelson
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
 
 
 
 
 
Reagan Rucker
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

 

 

 

 

 

   

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
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
Anna Susini
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 

 

 

 

 

 

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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

Kelsey Young
Email: kmyo225@g.uky.edu
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

 

 

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