The CIRCLES STUDY STAFF and STUDENTS
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THE CIRCLES STUDY IS FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, AND MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INTERMEDIATE UNIT OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS AND STAFF FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND COLLABORATION ON THIS PROJECT.

LAB DIRECTOR

AMY D. MARSHALL, PH.D. ​

Dr. Marshall is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Penn State. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University. She completed a postdoctoral clinical research fellowship at the National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division as well as the NIH K12 Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) program. She has two boys, ages 6 and 8. She used to race cars and now enjoys restoring classic cars. She is currently restoring a 1969 BMW 2002 that was once her old family car.

PostDoctoral ScholarS​

DEVIN J. MCGUIER, PH.D

Dr. McGuier earned his Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology from Penn State University.  His dissertation examined the impact of hypothetical students’ foster care status on elementary school teachers’ judgments and decisions in the classroom. His research interests include examining the factors that influence children's academic achievement, better understanding and supporting parents, and identifying and addressing barriers to communication and collaboration between systems that serve youth.  Dr. McGuier has worked on multiple parenting studies, and works as a therapist for children, adolescents, adults, and families.  He grew up on a farm an hour South of Pittsburgh and is a huge fan of the Steelers as well as Penn State Wrestling.  In his spare time, he practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. ​

Celina Grassmyer, PH.D

Dr. Grassmyer is a postdoctoral scholar at The Pennsylvania State University, where she also earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She is currently working towards licensure as a clinical child psychologist. She has focused her research and clinical interests on delivering evidence-based care to underserved communities and families. After completing her dissertation on coping skills used by children in foster care, she held a year-long internship at Milton Hershey School, where she delivered school-based mental health services in a residential school for low-income students. Over the next five years, she hopes to do clinical work full time, providing psychological services, including treatment, assessment, and consultation, within underserved communities.

Graduate assistant

Abby Anderson, B.a. 

Abigail graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 2019 with  BA's in Psychology and Criminology, and minors in Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies and Italian. After receiving her degree, Abby worked as a Milieu Therapist at Western Psychiatric Hospital. She is interested in studying the long term consequences of childhood trauma. In her free time, Abby enjoys baking, cooking, and photography!

Haruka Notsu, M.S.

Haruka earned her B.A. in Psychology from Wellesley University and is currently a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology department at Penn State. She previously worked as a project coordinator at UC Berkeley for Dr. Allison Harvey .  Her research interests include psychotherapy process and personality disorders.  Haruka has recently started learning to play electric guitar. 

Augustine Lombera III

Augie (they/them/theirs) is a current graduate student at PSU in the child clinical track. They earned their B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and worked as the lab coordinator at Child HELP Partnership, Dr. Elissa Brown's lab at St. John's University. Their research interests include the measurement and classification of childhood maltreatment, the role siblings play in family violence, and cognitive processes impacted by exposure to family violence/maltreatment.

Emily Taverna, B.A. 

Emily is currently a graduate student at Penn State.  Previously, Emily earned her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. After receiving her degree, she worked as a research assistant at the National Center for PTSD, Women’s Health Sciences Division.  Her research interests focus on family conflict and posttraumatic stress disorder, in addition to the broader quality of life consequences of trauma and the risk and resilience factors that  contribute to these outcomes.  ​​

ZHENYU (ZACH) ZHANG, M.A.

Before coming to the PSU graduate program, Zach earned his M.A. from Boston University School of Medicine. He worked as a research assistant at Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston University, and the Trauma Center at the Justice Resources Institute. His research interests focus on developmental timing of trauma exposure, sex differences in the outcomes of trauma exposure, and dimensional models of adversities.

Project COordinator

ANGIE K. MORRISON, B.S.

Angie earned a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State and has enjoyed working with families through various social service agencies and non profit organizations including the AmeriCorps, the YMCA, the Centre County Youth Service Bureau, and Care for People.  She has assisted with research for over 13 years.  She is a mother of boy/girl twins, her favorite season is summer, and she enjoys running in her free time. ​

Jean Edwards, B.S.

A. Jean Cordner Edwards is a retired Occupational Therapist with a degree in OT from Colorado State University and a BS in Psychology from PSU in 1971.   She currently lives in Zion, PA and is a busy grandmother in addition to a Research Assistant for the CiRCLES study.

lab manager

Catherine esbenshade

Catherine is currently pursuing a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Spanish. She is interested in psychopathology, particularly among children. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of school, Catherine enjoys playing on the Women's Club Basketball team, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Research assistants 

Kiara Brown

Kiara is a junior pursuing a BS degree in Psychology (life sciences option). She is interested in community violence and how it can affect psychopathology. She is a part of the Student Minority Advisory and Recruitment Team. After graduating, she plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. In Kiara's free time, she enjoys educating individuals on how to use the foreign exchange market.

Emily Carter

 Emily is a Sophomore pursuing her BS In Psychology with an emphasis in Neuroscience. She is particularly interested in abnormal psychology, the impact it has on daily functioning and the areas of the brain that are being affected. Outside of school, She enjoys practicing/competing with the Club Gymnastics team, reading, and spending time with her family. After graduation, She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specific specialization in neuropsychology. 

Daniella dorancy

​Daniella is in her second year pursuing a BA in psychology. She is interested in how sexism plays a role in gender and sexual violence in the household. After graduation, she plans to work as a research assistant and then pursue a PhD in clinical psychology in hopes to become a psychology professor. During her free time, she likes to paint and hang out with her family.

madison geis

Madison is a senior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Rehabilitation and Human Services. She is planning on attending graduate school and obtaining a master’s degree in counseling. She enjoys working with children and is interested in the effects of trauma on development. She is a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority on campus and has participated in THON as a committee member.

Leigha Green

Leigha is a sophomore majoring in Psychology, B.S. (life sciences), & minoring in Human Development and Family Studies. She is specifically interested in the role that many different adverse early childhood experiences play in psychopathology, as well as the effects it can have on neurobiology. In the future, she plans to attend graduate school either to become licensed as a counselor or a child life specialist. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, skiing, and making art.

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Jillian Guthrie 

Jillian is a junior majoring in Criminology, B.A. & Psychology, B.A.. She is interested in mental illness and the intersection between psychological disorders and relationship violence, such as substance abuse disorders and intimate partner violence. After graduation, Jillian plans to pursue social work with substance abuse addicts and survivors of sexual violence, prior to attending graduate school for psychology on a clinical or social track. Outside of academics, Jillian likes to write, is a Resident Assistant, is on student leadership for The Salt Company at Penn State, is a member of University Choir, and is a club member of No Refund Theatre.

CHloe Wildman 

Chloe is a senior majoring in psychology (B.A.) and criminology (B.A.). She plans to attend graduate school to obtain her PhD in Clinical Psychology. She would like to spend her career conducting research as well as establishing a private practice with a specialty in marriage and family therapy. In particular, Chloe is interested in adult relationships and attachment theory. Her extracurriculars include working in a second lab as well as president of the board for her charitable organization, the Extraordinary Hearts Foundation. Her other interests include music, painting, and video games!

circles alumni

Tawni Stoop, M.S.

Tawni earned her B.A. in Psychology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and is currently a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology department at Penn State. She previously worked as a research assistant in the National Center for PTSD at the VA Boston Healthcare System.  Her research interests include home environments and children's socioemotional development.  Tawni has a dog named Scooby-Doo who she adores.  She has lived in 5 states and visited 13 others, as well as 3 foreign countries.  She is secretly a New England Patriots fan.

MARLEY BILLMAN, B.S

Marley graduated in the spring of 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Rehabilitation and Human Services. Her research interests include trauma and PTSD. She currently works for Merakey as a Psych Technician in their in-home behavioral health sector and interns at Ayama Psychotherapy. She is Vice President of Psi Chi, the International Psychology Honor Society, as well as a hotline counselor at Centre Safe. In the fall, Marley plans to work as a research assistant in the Briarcrest Eating Disorders Clinic at Hershey Medical Center, then pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.   For more information about our former Lab manager:
https://csc.la.psu.edu/education/undergraduate/undergraduate-student-spotlights/marley-billman-20/

KC BRITT, BS

KC received her B.A.in Psychology from the University of New Mexico in 2018. She wrote her undergraduate honors thesis on the relationship between adverse childhood events and adult onset psychosis under the guidance of Dr. Robert Thoma. In addition, she worked with Dr. Lindsay Smart to investigate the efficacy of early intervention for youth experiencing first-episode psychosis. These experiences have shaped KC’s research interests in behavioral and mental health consequences of early trauma experiences as well as early intervention and prevention efforts for at-risk children and families.  She enjoys baking sweet treats, loves binge watching The Office and her favorite trip was camping at the Grand Canyon.

adenique lisse, b.s.

Adenique graduated in the spring of 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in Psychology. She is enrolled in a Ph.D. program for Clinical Psychology, with a focus on trauma. She is most interested in working with young adults and military personnel. She enjoys both adventure and relaxing activities, either alone or with friends. Her ultimate goal is to travel the world.

Yunwen Zhang, b.s.

Yunwen graduated in the spring of 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology (life science option) and a minor in Rehabilitation and Human Services. She is interested in working with people with personality and eating disorders. She plans to attend graduate school in clinical psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano and bass, working out, and watching movies.