Team Members
Our people are valued

Brelynne Baldwin, M.A.
Ph.D. Student at Texas Tech University
Hometown: Cohay, Mississippi
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (B.S.) & Texas Tech University (M.A.)
Thesis: Faith's associations with multiculturalism and social justice within applied graduate programs in the United States (Defended)

Abigail Armstrong Gala, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Student at University of Southern Mississippi and Predoctoral Intern at University of Memphis Counseling Center
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (M.S./Ph.D.) & University of Memphis (B.S.)
Dissertation: Exploring risk and protective factors of burnout among psychologists at APA-Accredited training sites (Defended)

Lauren Hales
Ph.D. Student at University of Southern Mississippi
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama & Memphis, Tennessee
Alma Mater: Rhodes College (B.A.)
Thesis: The relationships among religiosity and tobacco-use in a Mexican American Spanish-speaking sample in the United States (Defended)
Now primarily under the supervision of Dr. Austen Anderson, Assistant Professor, University of Southern Mississippi

Cali Spears
Ph.D. Student at Texas Tech University
Hometown: Lucedale, Mississippi
Alma Mater: Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, University of Mississippi
Thesis: Religiosity's associations with mental health and mental health stigma in college students in the United States: A two study approach using linear and curvilinear models (Defended)

Parker Gardner
Ph.D. Student at Texas Tech University
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Alma Mater: Brigham Young University (B.M.)

Sheena Amir
Undergraduate Student at Texas Tech University
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Major: Psychology
F.I.T. Projects: Mixed-methods examination of applied graduate psychology program policies

Gavin Buchanan
Undergraduate Student at Texas Tech University
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Major: Psychology
F.I.T. Projects: Competency Evaluation in Counseling Psychology: Qualifying Exams and Training Director Perspectives (in collaboration with Dr. Paul Ingram)

Malvika Narayan, M.A.
Ph.D. Student at Texas Tech University
Hometown: South Brunswick, New Jersey
Alma Mater: Cornell University (B.S.) & Texas Tech University (M.A.)
Thesis: Understanding burnout among female-identifying mental health clinicians: Examining workplace factors and gender-based discrimination (Defended)
Rachel Lawrence, M.S.
Ph.D. Student at University of Southern Mississippi & Predoctoral Intern at the VA North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
Hometown: Sandhill, Mississippi
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (M.S.) and Mississippi College (B.A.)
Dissertation: Religiosity as a predictor of mental health in older adults: Linear and curvilinear approaches (Proposed)

Tyler Ward
MS Student at University of Southern Mississippi
Hometown: Prairieville, Louisiana
Alma Mater: Louisiana State University (B.S.)
F.I.T. Projects: Active remote collaborator on Treatment Delivery & FIT, focusing on videoconferencing technologies
Now primarily under the supervision of Emily Yowell, PhD, Professor and Training Director, University of Southern Mississippi

Nick Violan
Undergraduate Student at Texas Tech University
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Major: Psychology
F.I.T. Projects: Examining the relationship between clinician burnout and personal psychological services; Systematic-Review of Burnout in North American Doctoral-Level Graduate Clinicians

Isa Almanza
Undergraduate Student at Texas Tech University
Hometown: Waco, Texas
Major: Psychology
F.I.T. Projects: Examining relationships among religiosity and tobacco use in Mexican American Spanish speaking individuals
Alumnus

Austin Bourne
Alumni, Current MS Student at University of Southern Mississippi
Hometown: Brandon, Mississippi
Alma Mater: Honors College, University of Southern Mississippi (B.A.)
Thesis: Understanding burnout among female-identifying mental health clinicians: Examining workplace factors and gender-based discrimination (Defended)

Niusha Karki
Alumni, Ph.D. Student at University of Louisville
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (B.S.)
Capstone: Examining linear and curvilinear relationships among religiosity, spirituality, and mental health in eight countries (Published)

Ashley Jones, Ph.D.
Alumni, Assistant Professor at University of Southern Mississippi
Hometown: Peoria, Arizona
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (Ph.D.) & Arizona State University Barrett, the Honors College, (B.S./M.S.)
Dissertation: Does convenience come with a price? The impact of remote testimony on perceptions of expert credibility (Criminal Justice & Behavior; Defended & Published)
Cory Shumate, M.S.
Alumni, Clinical Therapist at Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hometown: Meridian, Mississippi
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (M.S.) & Mississippi State University (B.S.)
F.I.T. Projects: Religious Belief and FIT focusing on hope's intersection with religiosity
Mary Parker Raley, M.S.
Alumni, Wellness Collective in Mobile, Alabama
Hometown: Gluckstadt, Mississippi
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (B.S.) & University of South Alabama (M.S.)

Brady Brock, M.S.
Alumni, Therapist at Alta Pointe Health in Mobile, Alabama
Hometown: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (B.S. & M.S.)
Master's Project: Examining disability status, religiosity, and mental health in the HealthyMinds national college student dataset

Payton Smith, M.S.
Alumni, Provider at the The Ness Center in Mandeville, Louisiana
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi (M.S.) & University of Tennessee, Knoxville (M.S. & B.A.)
F.I.T. Projects: Treatment Delivery & FIT, focusing on videoconferencing technologies.

Joseph Gaviria Podguski, M.S.
Alumni, Director of Student Success in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, William Carey University & Ph.D. Student in Higher Education Administration at William Carey University
Alma Maters: University of Southern Mississippi (M.S.) Penn State University (B.S.)