People

Lab Director

Dr. Katie Kidwell

Katie Kidwell, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Syracuse University in the clinical psychology program. She has extensive experience with intervention and survey research methods with children and teens. Most of the work in the lab revolves around the intersection of physical health, mental health, and health behaviors like sleep and eating. She completed her doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She completed an internship/residency and an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Contact Dr. Kidwell: kmkidwel@syr.edu

Graduate Students

Alison Vrabec, M.A., M.S.

Alison (she/her/hers) is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at SU. She graduated from the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include family and parent functioning in the context of pediatric illnesses, and the role of other health behaviors (such as sleep and eating) in promoting positive outcomes for families and children with chronic illnesses. When not in the lab, Alison enjoys exploring new restaurants in the Syracuse area and watching movies.

Contact Alison: avrabec@syr.edu

Lyric Tully, M.S.

Lyric (she/her) is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at SU. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Prior to graduate school, Lyric served as a study coordinator at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Veterans Medical Research Foundation. Her research interests include health behaviors related to the prevention of both chronic and infectious diseases, and psychological adjustment to chronic disease.

Contact Lyric: lktully@syr.edu

Megan Milligan, M.S.

Meg (she/her) is a third-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at SU. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and Mental Health from Plymouth State University. Her research interests include the convergence of adolescent internalizing disorders and suicidality with health-related behaviors (e.g., eating, exercise), biological factors (e.g., gut microbiota), and social identities (e.g., gender and sexual identities). She aims to conduct multidisciplinary clinical research studies that integrate intersectional, social-ecological, and cognitive-behavioral theoretical frameworks.

Contact Meg: mamillig@syr.edu

Alexa Deyo, B.S.

Alexa (she/her) is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at SU. She graduated from SU in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and public relations. Prior to joining the lab as a graduate student, Alexa served as the lab’s clinical research coordinator. Her research interests include the intersection of various health behaviors (e.g., sleep, eating, substance use) and psychological outcomes among adolescents.

Contact Alexa: aldeyo@syr.edu

Toni Hamilton, B.A.

Toni (she/her) is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at SU. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and Education Studies from the University at Albany and spent two years working at the Yale University School of Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital. Toni’s research interests include the maintenance and treatment of maladaptive pediatric health behaviors such as eating, sleep, and exercise, with a particular interest in the relationship between chronic illness and disordered eating in adolescents. In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga, spending time outside, and reading.

Contact Toni: ahamil14@syr.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Current

  • Roselyn Ortiz
  • Giada Dell’Aquila
  • Sandhya Kumar
  • Maheen Mukhtar
  • Marco Marrero
  • Carly Cernek
  • Maddie Thiessen
  • Andrew Hood
  • Teresa Allison
  • Selin Sarioglu
  • Lily Flanagan

Former

Abigail Silverman; Arleigh Perkins; Maha Ali; Matthew Snyder; Jillian Lasker; Summer Adams; Candice Ogbu; Amanda Warwick; Maria Martin; Alyssa Hanlon; Winnie Zheng; Catherine Bannon; Warood Alamarie; Irabor Oshotse; Bradley Anderson; Louie Christos; Tahlia Spiegel; Sofie Calderon; Angelina Campanile; Christine Ianniello; Abigail Gerace; Jaedyn Congel; Alessia Stead; Madelyn Williams

*If you are currently or have previously been an RA in the lab and aren’t listed above, please email mamillig@syr.edu to be added to the list.*