LAB DIRECTOR
William R. Kenan, Jr. Endowed Chair and Professor of Psychological Science.
Dr. Tugade directs the Resilience Laboratory at Vassar College. Her research focuses on positive emotions, resilience, and coping, with an emphasis on emotion-related processes that promote health and well-being.
Tugade received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Mental Health and is an elected member of the International Society for Research on Emotions. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Science Foundation. She has worked in partnership with a number of organizations, including: NASA, Apple, The University of Global Health Equity (Rwanda, Africa), the Women’s Bar Association, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The United Way.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Zoë Shelley (Lab Manager) is passionate about women’s health. In high school, she studied the history and attitudes surrounding the menstrual cycle and how it impacts athletic performance. Now, at Vassar, she is diving into biology, psychology, and sociology, with a plan to pursue a major in neuroscience. As an avid writer, Zoë is committed to making research accessible to draw awareness to underrepresented issues in the field of women’s health.
Sadie Levy is a Psychological Science major with a deep interest in holistic healing and resilience research. She is passionate about the mind–body connection and aims to contribute to scholarship that bridges scientific research with integrative mental health care and everyday wellness practices. She is particularly drawn to trauma-informed approaches that support sustainable recovery and growth.
Ellah Shaphir is thrilled to be joining the Resilience Lab, where she hopes to bring her interests to the study of mental health and well-being. At Vassar, she is studying Psychology, Economics, and Data Science, combining her passion for understanding human behavior with statistics and analytics. Ellah is deeply committed to advancing accessible and affordable health care for individuals across all communities and economic backgrounds.
Amelia Will is a Psychology and German double major, who loves to work with all people, especially children. In the summer she interns at Goryeb Children’s Hospital back home. She’s passionate about studying adolescent mental health, with plans to enter into the field of counseling after Vassar. A dancer since elementary school, Amelia prioritizes movement in her life, from Equestrian Club, to Ice Skating, to Yoga.
Aviv Fischer-Brown (studying in Spain 2026) is a Psychology major with a correlate in Hispanic Studies. She is interested in the mind-body connection, individual differences, women’s health advocacy, and the real world application of health behavior interventions. As an ultimate frisbee player, she is particularly interested in the relationship between physical activity and mental health.
LAB ALUMS & COLLABORATORS
Adrian Alpern, Ph.D., Pediatric Psychologist, Children’s Health Orange County
Elizabeth Chadbourne, MPH, Columbia University, School of Nursing
Hillary Devlin, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Sarah Dolan, B.A., Graduate Student, Hoftstra University
Alta Du Pont, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
Ean Fonseca, Ph.D., Program Evaluator and Data Analytics Advisor, Hanover Research
Yael Granot, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology, Smith College
Kai Greenlees, B.A., Graduate Student at the University of Exeter and Analyst at Carbon Trust
Formosa Huang, B.A., Associate at Oxeon, Healthcare Leadership Firm
Lila Malin, B.A., Survey Research Group, RAND Corporation
Chelsea Mitamura, Ph.D., Engagement Manager, Contemporary Leadership Advisors
Marguerite O’Haire, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona
Rachel Proujansky, Psy.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Lillian Reuman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology, Stonehill College
Sonali Shah, B.A. Medical Student, New York Medical College
Violet Tan, B.A. Postgraduate Research Assistant, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Carley Vornlocher, B.A., Graduate Student, Arizona State University
Louise Wachsmuth, M.A., Therapist at Viva Mental Health and Wellness
Meredith Ward., MSW, LSW, Therapist at A Better Life Therapy