Anne Berset, B.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Anne Berset is a first-year doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. Anne is interested in researching the biopsychosocial consequences of trauma among minoritized groups and developing community-based interventions that improve mental health outcomes. Prior to coming to UConn, Anne worked on projects at the University of Denver and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital examining risk and protective factors for Latinx immigrants as well as Iraqi and Syrian refugee caregivers. At CAHRD, Anne assists with the evaluation of the School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) and the 21st Century After-School Program.
Affiliated Projects:
Antonia Caba, MPH.
Graduate Research Associate
Antonia is a first-year doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Health, Wellbeing, and Prevention. She earned her Master of Public Health degree at Yale School of Public Health in 2020. Her research interests include sexual and gender identity development and sexual and gender minority youth health and wellbeing. At CARHD, Antonia assists with the strategic planning process and provides support for additional projects.
Affiliated Projects:
Alyssa Clark, M.S.
Graduate Research Associate
Alyssa is a third-year doctoral candidate in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Couples, Parents, and Families. She earned her Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Illinois State University in 2019. Her research interests include LGBTQ+ adult romantic relationships and the stability or dissolution of these relationships, in addition to how LGBTQ+ adults engage in sexual and affectionate behavior in romantic relationships. At CARHD, Alyssa assists with facilitating the PEP program.
Affiliated Projects:
Ciara Collins, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Ciara is a doctoral candidate in the Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) department with an emphasis in Prevention and Early Intervention. She earned a Master’s degree in HDFS with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Connecticut in May 2015 and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She joined the Center’s research team in the Summer of 2015 and currently serves as project manager for the Evaluation of Local Head Start/Early Head Start Programs. Her research interests include: well-being for children and youth in foster care, training for kinship caregivers and non-kin foster parents, and family dynamics of foster care.
Affiliated Projects:
Jennifer Dealy, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Jennifer Dealy, MA is a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences. She is the project manager for the After School Program Evaluation Project for the CARHD. Her research interests include socio-emotional regulation and co-parenting methods in high conflict dyads and socio-emotional intervenes for at-risk youth.
Affiliated Projects:
Kate Dibble, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Kate is a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences and joined CARHD’s research team in the Fall of 2015. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Connecticut in 2013 and her Master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Health Psychology at Central Connecticut State University in 2015. Her main research interests include pediatric and young adulthood cancer and how the illness changes the family dynamic. She aims at identifying and helping families who require extra assistance whilst at treatment – such as transfusions, surgery, and other therapies related to the disease. Her duties at CARHD include data cleaning and analysis and paper composition, among other tasks.
Affiliated Projects:
Rachael Farina, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Rachael is a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Health, Well-Being, and Prevention. She earned a Master’s degree in HDFS with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Connecticut in May 2018. She worked with the center as a facilitator in the Parent Education Program (PEP) from May 2019 to May 2020. Her research interests include sexual behavior and sexual health. Specifically, she is interested in adolescent and adult pornography consumption.
Affiliated Projects:
Eleanor Fisk, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Eleanor is a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Middlebury College and spent a year teaching preschool, both in Vermont, prior to entering the PhD program at UConn. Her recent interests include early childhood education and care settings and how they influence young children’s social emotional development. At the Center, she assists with the Evaluation of Local Head Start/Early Head Start Programs.
Affiliated Projects:
Veronica Hanna-Walker, M.S.
Graduate Research Associate
Veronica is a first-year doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development. She earned her Master of Marriage, Family, and Human Development degree at Brigham Young University in 2020. Her research interests include broad sexual identity development across the lifespan and dyadic sexual and relational interactions and outcomes.
Joy Heafner, PH.D.
Graduate Research Associate
Joy earned her PhD in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a researcher/practitioner currently doing her dissertation on feminist applications to . Joy previously earned a Master’s degree in psychology from the University of Chicago, where she studied the effects of language on decision-making. Upon joining the Center staff in 2013, Joy began evaluating programs designed to improve attitudes between police officers and youth. Joy currently serves as the Project Manager for the evaluation of an initiative to improve kindergarten attendance for at-risk youth.
Affiliated Projects:
Abagail Horton, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate; Program Manager
Abbey is a doctoral student in the Human Development and Family Sciences Department. Before coming to UConn, she attended the University of Alabama and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her research interests include social and emotional skill development and peer interactions during early and middle childhood as well as adolescence. In the center, Abbey’s duties in the center include leading the evaluation of the 21st Century After-School Programs.
Affiliated Projects:
Yuyang Hu, M.S.; M.Ed.
Graduate Research Associate
Yuyang is a doctoral student in the Human Development and Family Sciences Department. He earned a Master’s degree in General Psychology at the University of Memphis and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Virginia. His research interests involve parent-adolescent interaction and parents’ impact on the development of youth psychological well-being. In the center, Yuyang’s duties include administrative work for the center as well as assisting with the evaluation of the 21st Century After-School Programs.
Affiliated Projects:
Madison Mas, B.A.; B.S.
Graduate Research Associate
Madison is a doctoral student in the Human Development and Family Science program at the University of Connecticut. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Family Studies and Human Development and a B.A. in Psychology. She is primarily interested in emotion regulation, wellbeing, and coping behaviors. At CARHD, Madison leads the evaluation of the 21st Century After-School Program.
Affiliated Projects:
Michelle Miller, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Michelle is a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Fairfield University. Prior to entering the PhD program at UConn she worked as a research assistant at the Center for Court Innovation and was part of a restorative justice intervention in high suspending NYC schools. She is interested in examining socio-cultural factors that influence the development of immigrant children and their families in addition to culturally responsive intervention and evaluation research within school, community, and family contexts. At CARHD she will be a part of the evaluation of ESSER fund use by 21Century program sites.
Alexander Reid, Ph.D.
Graduate Research Associate
Alex earned his PHD in Human Development and Family Sciences specializing in Parenthood. He joined the Center’s research team in the Fall of 2014. His duties included assisting on the evaluation and report preparation for Connecticut’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers and State-Funded after school programs and the evaluation of the UConn People Empowering People project. Alex received his master’s degree in Experimental Psychology at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 2014. His research interests focus on family dynamics and parental behaviors related to mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, self-esteem) in adolescents and emerging adults. Additionally, Alex is a proud adjunct faculty member in CSUN’s Psychology Department where he teaches undergraduate psychology courses during summer.
Affiliated Projects:
Cali Salafia, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Cali is a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Health, Well-being and Prevention. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at University at Albany (SUNY) in 2017 and a Master’s in Health Psychology from Central Connecticut State University in 2020. Her main interests relate to psychosocial factors in chronic illness (predominantly cancer) for both patients and their families. At CARHD she will be a part of the evaluation of ESSER fund use by 21 Century program sites.
Nate Stekler, B.S.
Graduate Research Associate
Nate is a doctoral student in the Human Development and Family Sciences Department. Before coming to UConn, he attended Union College, NY and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He is primarily interested in attachment theory and its connection with ACEs.
Rachel Taylor, M.A.
Lexi Tomkunas, B.A.
Sabrina Uva, B.A.
Tracy Walters, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Tracy is a doctoral candidate in Human Development and Family Sciences, with a concentration in Health, Wellbeing, and Prevention. She earned a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Northern Illinois University in 2011. Her research interests include sexual development, with a specific focus on parental communication about sex, motives for sex, sexual attitudes, sexual behavior, and consequences of sex. At CARHD, Tracy assists with administrative tasks related to the Parent Education Program (PEP).
Affiliated Projects:
Mackenzie Wink, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Mackenzie is a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences. She received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2016. Her interests include social and emotional skill development, social and emotional learning programs, empathy development, and school interventions. Her duties at the center include assisting in the evaluation of the 21st Century After-School Programs.
Affiliated Projects:
Fanwen Zhang, M.Ed
Graduate Research Associate
Fanwen is a third-year doctoral student in the Human Development and Family Sciences program at the University of Connecticut. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2020 with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Rehabilitation and Human Services, and earned her Master’s in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2021. Her primary research interests include children’s social-emotional development, parenting, and cultural influences. At CARHD, Fanwen is part of the evaluation of the 21st Century After-School Program.
Affiliated Projects:
Yuan Zhang, M.A.
Graduate Research Associate
Yuan is currently a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Sciences. She received her bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from the Shanxi University in China, and Masters’ degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University, California. Yuan’s research interests include parent-child relationship, identity development in Immigrant families. Her duties at the center are data collection and management, as well as participant information management.