DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology Student Profiles

Graduate Student Profiles

Name: Kelly Christian
Year in Grad School:  2nd Year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 25
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Child Clinical
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Russ
Favorite Part of the Program: Incredibly supportive environment, great student-faculty relations, clinical and research experience begins right away.
Comments on the Faculty: Faculty invest a lot into our program to ensure students are given a variety of clinical and research opportunities that are of interest to us and will promote our professional development.

Email:  kelly.christian@case.edu

Name:  Suzanne Gorovoy
Year in Grad School:  2nd Year, Clinical Psychology Program
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Child Clinical
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Short
Favorite Part of the Program:  The true flexibility to discover and pursue your clinical and research passions is really unique to and a special part of our program

Name: Clare Mitchell
Year in Grad School: 2nd year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 23
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Geropsychology
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. McCallum
Recent Conference Presentations: Positive Aspects of Caregiving: Increasing Uplifts in the Lives of Adolescents in Families Caring for Alzheimer's Patients (7th All-Ohio Institute on Community Psychiatry)
Recent Publications: Timmons-Mitchell, J., Bender, M., Kishna, M., & Mitchell, C. An Independent Effectiveness Trial of Multisystemic Therapy With Juvenile Justice Youth.
Other Awards/Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude, APA Division 20/Retirement Research Foundation Proposed Undergraduate Research Award
Favorite Part of the Program: Students are very friendly with each other and not competitive.
Comments on the Faculty: Faculty are encouraging of diverse research interests.
Email: clare.mitchell@case.edu

Name:Rachael Volokhov
Year in Grad School: 2nd year, Experimental Psychology Program
Age: 25
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Demaree
Recent Conference Presentations: Emotion Regulation Strategies: Differential Cognitive and Physiological Effects (Society for Physiological Research Annual Conference, October 2007)
Other Awards/Honors: Honorable Mention, CWRU's Research ShowCase Spring 2007
Favorite Part of the Program: There is a balance between coursework and research that promotes variety as well as specialization
Comments on the Faculty: The faculty encourage everyone to explore many areas of study and to collaborate with each other on research
Email: rachael.volokhov@case.edu

Name:  Sarah Cain Spannagel
Year in Grad School:  3rd Year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 27
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Child Clinical
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Russ
Favorite Part of the Program:  The integrated curriculum, excellent clinical instruction, and research clerkship
Comments on the Faculty:  Outstanding mentor-student relationships, very supportive and encouraging!

Email:  Sarah.Cain@case.edu

Name:  Samantha Huestis
Year in Grad School: 3rd Year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 26
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Child Clinical and Pediatric Psychology
Research Interests:  Identification of subclinical and clinical levels of depression in pediatric populations for treatment interventions; assessment of functional outcomes in youth living with a chronic health condition; neuropsychological late effects of cancer survivors
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Drotar
Favorite Part of the Program: The collegial atmosphere among and between faculty and students
Comments on the Faculty: Exceptionally supportive and top-notch within their respective research domains
Email: Samantha.Huestis@case.edu

Name: Lisa Ysela Ramirez
Year in Grad School: 3rd year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 27
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Pediatric Psychology
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Taylor
Title of Thesis : Effects of Socioeconomic Disadvantage on Adaptive Functioning in Term and Low Birth Weight Children
Recent Conference Presentations:Measurement Issues in Pediatric Populations: Lack of Comprehensive Family Measurement Techniques For a Study of Long-term Outcomes in Pediatric Cancer Survivors (New Methods for the Analysis of family and Dyadic Processes Conference, Oct 2006).
Caregiver Coping Following Traumatic Childhood Injuries: Stability and Association With Interpersonal Stressors and Social Support. (Conference of the Society for Pediatric Psychology, April 2006)
Other Awards/Honors: Member, Student Board, Society of Pediatric Psychology
Favorite Part of the Program: Interaction between students of all levels; support from the faculty; challenging curriculum.
Comments on the Faculty:Brilliant, supportive and accessible.
Email: lisa.ramirez@case.edu

Name:  Liz Stevens
Year in Grad School: 3rd year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age:  26
Area of Specialization/Concentration: My research interests focus on older adult populations. I am especially interested in caregivers, cognitions impacting one’s ability to cope with stress, and biofeedback.
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. McCallum
Favorite Part of the Program: Clinical training begins early, and the small class sizes create a supportive environment.
Comments on the Faculty: The faculty are genuinely invested in helping students succeed and encourage students to think critically.
Email: elizabeth.stevens@case.edu

Name: Kelly Constant Bhatnagar
Year in Grad School: 4th year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 25
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Child Track; Adolescents & Young Adults, Eating Disorders, Body Image, Mood Disorders, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Issues of Diversity
Title of Doctoral Thesis: A Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for the Treatment of Body Image Disturbance in Adult Women with Eating Disorders
A Cognitive Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Overholser
Recent Conference Presentations: Effects of Ethnicity on Diagnostic Rates of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, CD, and ODD in Youth Ages 5-18 (40th annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and COgnitive Therapies, November 2006.)
Publication: Wisniewski, L., Bhatnagar, K.C., & Warren, M. (in press). Using dialectical behavioral therapy for the treatment of eating disorders: A model for DBT enhanced CBT. In I. Dancyger & V. Fornari (Eds.) Evidence-Based Treatments for Eating Disorders: Children, Adolescents, and Adults. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Other Awards/Honors: Sole recipient of fully-funded award to attend the 2007 American Psychological Association State Leadership Conference as the graduate student diversity delegate in Washington, D.C.
Favorite Part of the Program: The diversity of training opportunities and the program's commitment to the scientist-practitioner model.
Comments on the Faculty: Both the faculty and adjunct faculty are friendly, supportive, collaborative, and highly interested in student activities. It is a privilege and pleasure to work with them all.
Email:kelly.bhatnagar@gmail.com

Name: Jeanne Duax ("Jeannie")
Year in Grad School: 4th year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 28
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Child Track; Mood & anxiety disorders; women & girls' mental health issues; peer relationships; psychotherapy integration
Title of Thesis: Sex Differences in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Feeny
Recent Conference Presentations: Does anxiety sensitivity mediate the relationship between trait anxiety and PTSD symptomatology? (41st annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, November 2007)
Publication: Duax, J.M., Youngstrom, E.A. Calabrese, J.F., & Findling, R.L. (in press). Sex Differences in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Other Awards/Honors: American Psychological Association Student Travel Award, $300
Favorite Part of the Program: The diversity of clinical and research training opportunities.
Comments on the Faculty: The faculty here is down to earth, friendly, and invested in students' professional development.
Email: jmd46@case.edu

Name: Eric Rose
Year in Grad School: 4th year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 27
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Psychology of religion, self psychology, psychodynamic psychology
Title of Thesis: Externalization of Unwanted Intrusions To an Evil Agent: A Potential Method of Ego Defense Among Religious Individuals
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Exline
Other Awards/Honors: 2007 College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellow
Favorite Part of the Program: 1) The program provides the opportunity for wonderful mentorship from experienced clinicians in the community, researchers at the forefront of their field, and people who are excited to be teaching. In my opinion it's being an active part of relationships with great mentors that has brought about the majority of my growth as a psychologist. 2) Often, for unknown reasons, someone will leave a buffet of turkey breast, wild rice, lasagna and cookies on the table in the copy room. Such a pleasure.
Email: eric.rose@case.edu

Name: Tori Sacha Cordiano
Year in grad school: 5th year , Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 25
Area of specialization/concentration: Child Clinical
Title of Thesis: Development and Validation of the Affect in Play Scale - Brief Rating Version
Title of Dissertation: Construct Validity of the Affect in Play Scale - Brief Rating
Research advisor/mentor: Dr. Russ
Conference Presentations: Stability of the Affect in Play Scale Over a Three-year Period (annual meeting of the Society for Personality Assessment, March 2006)
Publications: Sacha, T.J. & Russ, S.W. Effects of Pretend Imagery on Learning Dance in Preschool Children (2006)
Other Awards/Honors: Student Editor, Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts
Student Travel Award, Society for Personality Assessment, March 2006 & March 2004
Favorite Part of the Program: There is such a great camaraderie among students and between students and faculty. A very supportive environment.
Comments on the Faculty: The faculty are truly invested in students' careers and are willing to allow them to explore their own research and clinical interests.
E-mail: tori.sacha@case.edu

Name:Amy Lewandowski
Year in Grad School: 5th year, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 28
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Pediatric psychology, focusing on the functional and psychological impact of chronic conditions on children and adolescents.
Title of Thesis: The Relationship Among Social Support, Conflict, Discrepancy in Decision-Making Autonomy and Adherence to Medical Treatment in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes
Title of Dissertation: Predictors of Pain and Activity restriction in Children with Chronic Pain Conditions
Research Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Taylor
Conference Presentations: Interactions between age, gender and depression in predicting functional disability in a recurrent headache sample. (National Conference on Child Health Psychology April 2004)
Publications: Pai, A., Greenley, R., Lewandowski, A., Peterson, C., & Drotar, D. Meta-Analytic Review of the Influence of Pediatric Cancer on Parent Functioning.
Other Awards/Honors: NIMH appointee, Research Training in Pediatric Psychology
Favorite Part of the Program: Diversity in clinical placements
Email: amy.lewandowski@case.edu

Name:  Mickie Fisher
Year in Grad School: on internship, Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 33
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Adult Client Populations; Psychology of Religion; Self-forgiveness
Research Advisor/Mentor: Julie Exline
Favorite Part of the Program: Receiving excellent clinical training in assessment, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy while also participating in rigorous research. The emphasis on both aspects of clinical psychology has made me very marketable for my future career.
Comments on the Faculty: It has been terrific being taught by leaders in the field. Many of the professors here are journal editors and award-winning researchers. Their perspective on the practice and research of clinical psychology has been invaluable in shaping me as a professional.
Email: mickie.fisher@case.edu

Name: Beth Pearson (Farber)
Year in Grad School: on internship , Clinical Psychology Program
Age: 28
Area of Specialization/Concentration: Child Clinical
Title of Thesis: Optimism, Locus of Control, & Coping in Homeless and Non-Homeless Children
Title of Dissertation: Effects of a Cognitive-Behavioral Play Intervention on Children's Hope
Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Russ
Publications: Pearson, B.L. Review of the book Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders (2006)
Conference Presentations: From Silence and Secrets to Sharing and Solutions: Coping with a Parent’s Serious Mental Illness (Annual meeting of the All-Ohio Institute on Community Mental Health, March 2005)
Other Awards/Honors: Jane Kessler Award for Undergraduate Teaching (May 2007)
Phi Beta Kappa Grant for Dissertation research (June 2006)
Favorite Part of the Program: Really good clinical training- starts right away!
Comments on the Faculty: Small in size, big in quality... Seriously, we have wonderful faculty but because the department is small it is important to come in with interests that match well with the current faculty.
Email: beth.pearson@case.edu

Undergraduate Student Profiles