LAB DIRECTOR
Michele M. Tugade, Ph.D.
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 associated with health and well-being.
Dr. 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 with a number of organizations, including: NASA, Apple, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The United Way. She has also taught medical students in Rwanda, Africa at the University of Global Health Equity.
FORD RESEARCH SCHOLARS
Kaitlin Gelman is a psychology major with a minor in sociology. She is interested in clinical psychology, social psychology, emotional resilience, and mindfulness. She is particularly interested in the relationship between society and the individual and its resulting impact on mental health.
Ella McNeil is a psychology major with a minor in chemistry. She is interested in social psychology, emotional resilience, and mental health. She is also interested in investigating the long-term impact of chronic stressors on adolescent development.
Gissette Noriega is a psychology major with a minor in education. She is interested in mental health, clinical psychology, psychosocial development, and the interactions between the education system and mental health. Her research investigates emotional regulation, perfectionism, and cognitive adaptation to stressors.
URSI RESEARCH SCHOLARS
Jack Holloway is a psychology major with minor in biology. His interests include social psychology, coping with bias and stress, and interpersonal relationships. He is also interested in liberation psychology and participatory action research.
Abigail Wang is a double-major in psychology and Chinese. She is interested in positive psychology, self-compassion, perfectionism, and the reciprocal influences of mental and physical well-being. She is also interested in the impact of systemic forces and culture on the hindrance or development of grit in the face of adversity.
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