Jessica Abdalla
Jessica Abdalla is from San Jose, California. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Santa Clara University and her M.S. in Clinical Psychology at Idaho State University (ISU) in 2018. She graduated from the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at ISU in 2021. Her research interests include perinatal and maternal mental health and wellness, anxiety, stress, depression, and coping mechanisms. Her thesis research focused on the psychological correlates of breastfeeding behaviors, and she studied experiences surrounding pregnancy loss for her dissertation. Jessica now works as a Clinical Psychologist at Women’s Wellness Psychiatry and Octave in Napa, California. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, hiking, cooking, and exploring her city.
Brittany Banh
I am from Bartlesville, OK. I graduated from The University of Tulsa in 2023 with a double major in psychology and women and gender studies. Along with this, I minored in early childhood interventions. I am passionate about advocating for women’s rights and bridging the gap in medical care/mental health disparities for POC and women. On campus, I was the President of the Student Alliance for Violence Education (SAVE). I also received the Marcy Lawless Service Award my senior year. Following undergrad, I am aspiring to attend graduate school for clinical psychology. Outside of school, I can be found at a concert, volunteering, at the gym, or spending time with my friends and family!
Kidist Beker
Kidist is now a PhD student at Oklahoma State University who received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Oklahoma State University. She worked in the Laboratory of Emotion And Psychophysiology (LEAP Lab) as an undergraduate research assistant. She also worked as a mentor to first generation college students in the TRiO Program. Her primary research interest is in the difference in risk-taking attitudes of prenatal and postpartum women.
Lillian Bengtson
Lillian Bengtson is originally from Portland, Oregon, and earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She will obtain her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Idaho State University next year and has been working as a Behavioral Medicine Consultant for Columbia Valley Community Health. Her research interests include understanding maternal-child relationships and the potential effects of trauma on individual development. She is interested in how maternal trauma can affect not only the psychosocial aspects of a mother-child relationship as well as its potential effects on the infant’s physical development. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and backpacking in the great outdoors, cooking, reading, and spending time with the people she loves.
Sierra Clayson
Sierra Clayson completed the Speech-Language Pathology Master’s Program at ISU in 2022. She now works full time as a speech pathologist at SPOT Blossoms, an occupational therapy clinic for children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sierra was introduced to the potential of using telehealth to provide services to more individuals and hopes to use this method throughout her career. Her clinical experience has focused on pediatric psychology, and she is interested in early intervention, feeding, and augmentative and alternative communication.
Nicole Douthit
After graduating from ISU, Nicole is now a PA Student at Idaho State University and is working as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Frenova Renal Research.
Jason Gibbs
Jason Gibbs, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist. He serves as a Clinical Operations Manager and is a member of the Continuing Education team at NOCD. Dr. Gibbs specializes in the treatment of OCD and related disorders and also has experience with evidence-based treatments for trauma, depression, and eating disorders. He earned his doctoral degree from Idaho State University and still collaborates with the Perinatal Psychobiology Lab on research projects
Rachel Godin Rachel Godin is a Registered Nurse at Kaiser Permanente providing direct patient care in the surgical prep area and post anesthesia care unit for patients undergoing various procedures including orthopedic, GI, general, urology, gynecology, or dental procedures.
Jennifer Hambleton
Jennifer Hambleton hails from Jerome, Idaho. She earned her A.A. in Psychology from the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and her B.S. in Psychology from Idaho State University (ISU). After earning her B.S., she earned her M.S. in Clinical Psychology at ISU while also teaching courses. Her research interests involve individual and generational effects of trauma-related stress on psycho-social functioning and physical health. In the Perinatal Psychobiology Lab, she examined how risk factors associated with inter-generational trauma transmission relate to infant temperament outcomes in a rural cohort of mother-infant dyads. Jennifer now works full time as the Training and Development Manager at Survey Healthcare Global. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, painting, playing billiards, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and attending music concerts and festivals.
Madison Hoffer
After graduating from Idaho State University in May of 2017 with a B.S. in Biology, Madison Hoffer moved back to her hometown of Boise, ID. There, she took 1 year off to travel and work as a phlebotomist. In June 2022, she earned her M.D. at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Following her graduation, she completed her residency in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Arizona, Tucson Campus. She is now an internal medicine specialist in Tucson, AZ.
Madeline Hudson Madeline graduated from TU in 2023 with her B.A. in psychology. She is currently working as a research assistant at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in the Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences. She hopes to eventually pursue graduate school to become a clinical psychologist.
Kate Kiker
Kate is from Tulsa, OK and is a current senior at The University of Tulsa, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biology. She is passionate about the intricate interplay between mental health and physical well-being. Specifically, she is drawn to expanding this space, aiming to help those who have been affected by traumatic injuries, diagnoses, or conditions. She is also interested in Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy, EMDR, and other alternative therapies to address these circumstances. Following undergrad, Kate aspires to attend graduate school for clinical psychology. On campus, Kate is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. When not in school, she is likely doing yoga, hiking, traveling, reading a book, or spending time with her dog! We will miss her!
Anika Lovgren
Anika Lovgren is a second-year Master of Public Health student in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health at the University of California, Berkeley. She conducts research with Stanford School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and is currently examining the intersection of social and environmental neighborhood disparities on life-threatening complications during labor and delivery. In 2018, she received her Honors Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Biology from Idaho State University. After the completion of her MPH, she intends to pursue a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences or Epidemiology to further examine prenatal environmental exposures on maternal and child clinical and behavioral outcomes. She is immensely grateful for the IDAHO Mom Study, her lab group, and Dr. Aubuchon-Endsley’s mentorship in helping her find her passion to examine maternal and infant health disparities.
Aimee Martin
Aimee is currently working as a Special Education Teacher in Saratoga Springs UT teaching a Small Group classroom for students with Autism.
Kara Mennella
Kara Mennella is from Chicago, Illinois. She is currently a senior at the University of Tulsa (TU) majoring in speech pathology and psychology. Along with that, she is minoring in health sciences. She has served as the Secretary of Psi Chi and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma. She is involved in the Psychology Club and TU Catholic. She plans to attend graduate school for a healthcare profession related to speech/communication and memory. When she is not in school, she likes to hike, read, go to the gym, and bake. She also works as a dance instructor for children at Kay’s Dance Movement in Tulsa.
Sara Meotti
Sara Meotti is from West Hardford, CT and received her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and political science from the University of Vermont. Following her graduation, she worked as a ski and bike patroller at Grand Targhee resort before working in the Perinatal Psychobiology Lab at Idaho State University. She also worked as a prevention educator and youth advocate and is currently a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She hopes to one day work in women’s health or emergency medicine and loves to spend her free time backcountry skiing, mountain biking, hiking, or volunteering with local organizations.
Joe Neal My name is Joe Neal and I am originally from Malden, Missouri. I received my B.S. in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and my M.S. in Forensic Psychology from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I graduated from Idaho State University with my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. My primary research interests involved developmental outcomes in children and adolescents and a multitude of legal-psychological issues. I am now interested in forensic psychology. When time permits, I enjoy spending time with my family, marksmanship, reading, and playing video games, card games, and board games.
Christy Nolde
Hi! My name is Christy Nolde and I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota (brrrr!!) After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2015, I spent 5 years putting my Economics degree to good use working in corporate Trade Marketing and Finance for a company based out of MN. After some soul searching, I realized that Medicine is my true passion and I decided to take a leap and switch careers. I have been accepted to Medical School and am anticipating beginning in the fall! Outside of my academic pursuits, I am an avid sci-fi novel reader, True Crime podcast enthusiast and proud new mother to my Golden Retriever puppy- Frankie.
Emma Opoku
Emma Opoku is from St. Louis, Missouri and her family is Ghanian. At the University of Tulsa, she received the Marcy Lawless Service Award her senior year. She graduated in 2023 with her B.S. with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. She is currently attending the Georgetown University School of Medicine. She has an open mind when choosing a specialty but recently women’s health, primary care, and family medicine have peaked her interest. She is passionate about patient education and patient advocacy in whichever specialty she chooses. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Abby Prow
Abby hails from Meridian, Idaho. She graduated from Idaho State University with a degree in Microbiology. Abby will be attending Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine beginning in Fall of 2020. She has a variety of interests and is open minded about which specialty she would like to pursue. When she is not busy doing something school related, you can usually find her helping out at ISU’s Catholic student center on campus, working on her music memorabilia collection, reading, or spending time with family and friends.
Taylor Ramos
I am in my second year of PA school here in Pittsburgh. I am in my clinical year and am experiencing different specialties of medicine and finally putting all of my skills to use with real patients which is exciting. My electives for my clinical year are in addiction medicine and children’s dermatology. Addiction medicine was quite the experience because I worked in a Methadone clinic which was a side of medicine I hadn’t really seen before. I graduate next June and will probably end up back on the West Coast as I pursue a career and another degree in public health! Fun wise my husband and I recently added a new puppy to our clan and her name is Jaylah!
Valeria Rodriguez
Valeria Rodriguez came to the university of Tulsa (TU) as a transfer student from Tulsa Community College after graduating from Union High School. She was born and raised in Warner Robins, GA, and moved to Oklahoma when she was 12. She is a native Mexican speaker and fluent in Spanish. Her parents are from Aguascalientes, MX. She has been a volunteer translator for Union Public Schools and various departments of Saint Francis Hospital. She graduated from TU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish, and is now a research assistant at the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa for the HEALthy Brain and Development Study. Outside of school, she loves representing her culture through Ballet Folklorico, which is traditional Mexican dancing that involves different costumes and rhythms representing each state of Mexico.
Isabella Saltmiras
Isabella Saltmiras is from St. Louis, Missouri and attended the University of Tulsa (TU). There, she studied biochemistry and psychology, along with playing the violin in the TU orchestra. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry in 2022 and is interested in continuing her education in the field of Pharmacy. When she is not in school, she loves cooking, music, hiking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Reilly Sasaki
Reilly Sasaki graduated from the Idaho State University Nursing Program and has since gone on to work as a Nursing Assistant at Portneuf Medical Center. He dreams of traveling and maybe even working as a travel nurse. Eventually, he would like to complete a degree to become a nurse practitioner and specialize in pediatrics. Outside of school and work, he has a love for community, exploring outdoors, and spending time with his two cats.
Lucinda Scott
My name is Lucinda Scott, and I am originally from Forest Grove, OR. I earned my B.S. and M.S. in Psychology from Idaho State University and I am currently in my fifth year in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. My research interests involve investigating the impact of health behaviors and social determinants of health on maternal mental health. I am particularly interested in how residence in a rural area or health professional shortage area (HPSA) impacts mental health. My clinical interests include a biopsychosocial approach to treatment and assessment, and mindfulness-based therapies. Outside of school I enjoy spending time and traveling with my friends and family.
Shelby Sidall
Since I left the lab I moved back to Boise, started a Master’s program in Counseling at ISU Meridian, worked in the Institute of Rural Health doing research on children with special health care needs and am currently working for Molina Healthcare. I also have a beautiful little boy
Shannon Snow
Shannon Snow is from Belton, Texas. She graduated from the University of Tulsa (TU) with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in English in 2024. She was a member of Psi Chi, Psychology Club, and Chi Alpha. She previously worked as a research assistant with the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. She plans to attend graduate school where she hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, woodworking, hanging out with her cats, and working as a barista at her hometown coffee shop.
Kyle Stephens
Kyle Stephens is from Austin, TX, and is currently pursuing a BS in Psychology at the University of Tulsa. He is involved in the Psychology Club, was treasurer of Psi Chi, and plans to serve as Vice President of Psi Chi next year. Kyle also hopes to go to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. When he is not at school, he is either climbing outside, coaching at Climb Tulsa, or hanging out with friends somewhere on the TU campus.
Hillary E. Swann-Thomsen Hillary is an Applied Research Scientist for St. Luke’s Health System. Her work includes examining care coordination practices in pediatric patients with complex health needs, improving patient access and experience, maternal health and family leave policy. She is particularly interested in improving the efficacy of health care delivery to vulnerable patient populations.
Alexis Swanson
My name is Alexis Swanson and I am born and raised in Pocatello Idaho. I am currently a rising junior at Idaho State University and am majoring in Health Science and minoring in Global Studies. After completing my undergraduate degree in spring of 2022, I hope to continue my education in Medical School. I am keeping an open mind as to what I would like to specialize in, however I am very interested in neuroscience, women’s health, and reconstructive medicine. When I am not studying, I like to spend my time volunteering, hiking, playing my instruments, and spending time with my friends, family, and puppy!
Jared Vineyard
After graduating as Idaho State University’s first student to receive a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, Jared Vineyard went on to the position of postdoctoral fellow at St. Luke’s Health System. In 2017, Jared started a position as a statistical faculty member at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. There, he assisted faculty and graduate students in the study, design, data, and statistical analysis of research. He also taught a graduate statistics course to students seeking a master’s in business administration. Jared now has his own company called Significant Statistics and helps to coach students through writing their dissertations.
Hailey Wilcox
Hailey Wilcox attended Des Moines University as a Physician Assistant Student. She graduated in 2022 after completing rotations in a variety of specialties including Cardiology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Oncology, Women’s Health, Behavioral Medicine, and Emergency Medicine. Hailey now works full-time as a physician assistant at UnityPoint Health. She is excited to serve patients in her community utilizing evidence-based practice and the knowledge and skills she learned both in her graduate program and during her undergraduate career working in the Perinatal Psychobiology Lab.
