Emily Thomas, Ph.D.

(formerly Emily Kroska)

Dr. Thomas is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa. She received her PhD from the University of Iowa in 2018, mentored by Michael O'Hara, PhD. Dr. Thomas completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2017-2018 and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018-2019 under the mentorship of Zachary Stowe, MD_.

Jenna Adamowicz, M.A.

Jenna is from Long Island, NY. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from St. Joseph’s College and her Master’s Degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University. After graduating, she worked for several years at Stony Brook Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science with Fred Friedberg evaluating primary care and home-based self-management programs for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. She also worked with the Stony Brook University Bariatric and Metabolic Weight Loss Center program on the interdisciplinary management of morbid obesity. Her current research interests are examining adjustment to chronic illness and the efficacy of brief behavioral interventions among medical populations with a specific interest in functional somatic symptoms and syndromes. For fun, she enjoys hot yoga and barre classes, cooking vegetarian meals, and playing board games.

Ti Hsu, M.S.

Ti is a third-year student in the clinical psychology program. She received her B.A. in liberal arts from St. John’s College. After graduating, she worked with research teams at National Cheng Kung University hospital and National Chiayi University. She then received her M.S. in experimental psychology from William & Mary, under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Raposa and Dr. Catherine Forestell. At W&M, she explored behavioral and biopsychosocial mechanisms contributing to the effects of stress on psychopathology, and how mindfulness interacts with disordered eating behaviors to affect food intake. Ti’s current research focuses on the psychometric evaluation and development of assessment instruments used to measure ACT processes (e.g., psychological flexibility) within both confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory frameworks. She’s also interested in examining how intensive longitudinal assessments of psychological and physiological processes may elucidate possible targets for intervention efforts in the context of predict adverse vs resilient outcomes after trauma, especially in traditionally underserved populations. When she’s not working on integrating her quantitative and substantive interests into one program of research, Ti enjoys long runs, large dogs, and good books.

Allie Schneider, M.P.H.

Allie is a third-year student in the clinical psychology program. She received her B.S. in psychology from Allegheny College. After graduating, she worked at the National Institutes of Health within the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism studying psychosocial factors that relate to binge and episodic drinking. She then received her M.P.H. from Yale University, where she studied social and behavioral science and focused her thesis on the intergenerational transmission of childhood trauma from mother to child in a community-based sample under the mentorship of Dr. Jutta Joormann. She is currently interested in further exploring the intergenerational transmission of trauma, as well as the mediating role of ACT processes in trauma-exposed, community-based samples. Allie also hopes to identify factors, such as resilience, that in combination with ACT, potentially prevent the deleterious outcomes resulting from trauma.  Outside of graduate school Allie enjoys running, skiing, watching college basketball, and spending time with her fiancé, Kory and dog, Emma. 

Natalie McClellan 

Natalie is a doctoral student in the counseling psychology program at the University of Iowa. She earned her BA in sociology at University of Nebraska. She also completed post-baccalaureate studies in psychology at Hunter College at the City University of New York during which time she worked as a research assistant with Dr. Doris Chang in the Culture and Mental Health Research Lab. Natalie's research interests include how mindfulness supports critical consciousness and cultural humility development amongst psychotherapists and educators. Before graduate school, she spent a decade working in restaurants, community organizing, and as a case worker in supportive housing. Outside of school, Natalie likes to walk the Hickory Hill Park loop, make elaborate meals, and read magazines near a body of water. 

Sara Diesel 

Sara is a clinical psychology graduate student, primarily working with Dr. Mark Vander Weg and Dr. Susan Lutgendorf. Her research and clinical interests center around helping individuals engage in health behavioral change and cope with difficult diagnoses. She is also interested in exploring how ACT interventions can impact the neuroendocrine-immune axis as well as support patients in engaging with their health more mindfully. She received her B.S. from Michigan State University (Go Green!) and enjoys practicing yoga, skiing, and putting too many miles on her car on long road-trips. 

Stephanie Nettleton, B.A. 

Zoe Sirotiak, DPT

Zoe is a graduate student at Iowa State University. She received her B.S. from Iowa State with majors in kinesiology and psychology and minors in biology and sociology. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Iowa. Her research interests include investigating how psychological symptoms relate to functional somatic syndromes, as well as medical trauma and grief. Outside of school, Zoe enjoys reading philosophy texts and being active with friends.

Azzurra Sartini-Rideout

Azzurra is a 3rd year student at the University of Iowa. She is pursing a B.A. in Psychology and Criminology. She is also gaining a certificate in Resilience and Trauma. Once she graduates, she plans to attend Law School, or further pursue her education in Psychology. Azzurra’s current research interests include deviant behavior and its development, substance abuse disorder, and how trauma manifests itself in individuals. Outside of academics, Azzurra enjoys hanging out with friends and family, reading, grabbing coffee, listening to podcasts, and learning up on herbalism and holistic medicine practices.

Micah Williams 

Micah is a third-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in Psychology with minors in Human Relations and French. After graduating from Iowa, he plans to attend graduate school to work towards a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and pursue a career in research. Micah's research interests include intervention approaches for depression and addiction and the application of positive psychology to clinical intervention. Outside of academics, Micah enjoys playing sports, hanging out with friends, watching movies, and listening to music.

Carly Olney

Carly is an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa pursing her major in Psychology, a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Resilience and Trauma. After graduating, she hopes to pursue her PhD in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include mindfulness based therapeutic intervention, cultural influences on children’s development and disordered eating. Carly enjoys reading, practicing yoga, and listening to music in her free time. 

Javiera Hernandez 

Javiera is a third-year student at the University of Iowa pursuing her B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. After graduating from Iowa, she hopes to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Javiera’s research interests include investigating how culture influences personality development, legal issues in abnormal psychology, and intervention approaches for depression and anxiety disorders. In her spare time, Javiera enjoys spending time with friends and family, listening to music, reading, and making handmade jewelry.

Clarence Nguyen

Clarence is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Iowa. He is pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Human Relations and Social Work. One of Clarence’s research interests is the effects of cultural identity on immigrant mental health. In his free time, he likes to test the limits of his best friends’ patience, to accumulate mysterious damage on his 2009 Toyota RAV4, and to use pay-in-four financing plans for his impulsive Best Buy purchases.

Hailey Amro 

Hailey is a graduate student at the University of Iowa, in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program with a clinical practice specialization. She previously received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Kansas. She currently works as an advanced practicum trainee at the University of Iowa University Counseling Services embedded at the College of Dentistry, providing therapeutic services to dental students. Her research interests include the impact of trauma and adverse experiences, grief, mood and anxiety disorders, and how research can inform therapeutic interventions. Outside of academics, Hailey enjoys reading, staying active, and spending time with loved ones. 

Stella Mesch 

Stella is a third-year student at the University of Iowa, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Human Relations. After graduating from Iowa, she plans to attend graduate school to work towards a Ph.D. in either counseling or clinical psychology. Stella's research interests include ​substance use and depression and anxiety on academic performance, positive psychology effect on wellbeing in college students, and intervention effectiveness for college aged students. Outside of academics, Stella enjoys hiking, snowboarding, playing board games, and watching movies.

Hannah Thomsen