Doctoral Student
Thea McAfee, BA’23
Thea is a first year Clinical Psychology doctoral student in mattlab. She graduated from Pomona College in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychological Science and Spanish, where she worked in the Personality, Psychopathology, and Relationships Lab led by Dr. Sara Masland investigating stigma in borderline personality disorder. After graduation, she spent two years researching social learning in BPD and trauma-related disorders as a research assistant in Dr. Sarah Fineberg’s lab at Yale School of Medicine. Thea is broadly interested in optimizing treatment options for mood and personality disorders with a focus on combining evidence-based practices, accessibility, and lived-experience perspectives.
Email: mcafee.119@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Research Technician
Alex Barnhill, BS’25
Alex is a recent summa cum laude graduate of Centre College, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Social Justice. She intends to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a research focus on how individual differences—such as personality and skills—affect treatment outcomes. She is also deeply interested in how diverse identities shape symptom expression and influence the effectiveness of mental health interventions.
Email: barnhill.72@osu.edu
Research Intern
Trinity Ellis, BA’25
Trinity, a native of Columbus, earned her B.A. in Psychology from Haverford College. Her undergraduate thesis in personality psychology used autobiographical narrative methods to explore how people of color cope with marginalization. She is passionate about integrating diverse cultural perspectives into psychological research and understanding how systemic factors contribute to experiences of adversity. Currently, she is enjoying time at home while gaining additional research experience before pursuing a PhD.
Research Assistants
Sarah Westen, BA’26
Sarah is a senior undergraduate Honors student pursuing a major in psychology and minor in music. She plans to pursue a PhD/PsyD in clinical psychology where she will specialize in personalizing treatment to fit the specific needs of clients seeking help in managing mood and personality disorders. She is also interested in potentially conducting research and treating individuals with eating disorders.
Email: westen.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Maya Deutch, BA’27
Maya is a junior undergraduate student majoring in psychology and minoring in business at The Ohio State University. She is interested in anxiety interventions, adolescent mental health, and mood & personality disorders. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology to advance therapeutic practices and innovative treatment approaches for mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. Email: deutch.14@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Lindsey Klenner, BA’27
Lindsey is a junior undergraduate student at The Ohio State University, pursuing a B.A. in psychology with a minor in business. After graduation, Lindsey plans to pursue an M.A. and/or Ph.D. in either industrial-organizational psychology or clinical psychology. She is particularity interested in women’s equity & representation, as well as anxiety & dissociative disorders.
Email: klenner.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Rhea Ponappa, BA’26
Rhea is a senior undergraduate student majoring in psychology and minoring in human development and family science. After graduation, she plans to pursue either a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology. Her primary interests lie in the research and treatment of personality disorders, with a focus on developing novel therapeutic approaches. She would like to specialize in studying Cluster B personality disorders and working closely with individuals diagnosed within this category. Email: ponappa.5@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Faith Teutschbein, BS’28
Faith is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing her Bachelor of Science in psychology at The Ohio State University. She is particularly interested in criminal psychology and clinical psychology. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school and earning a PsyD or PhD.
Email: teutschbein.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Arsema Haileyesuse, BA’26
Arsema Haileyesuse is a senior undergraduate at The Ohio State University. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in sociology and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2026. Her interests include health care accessibility, mental health interventions, and holistic care. After graduation, she plans to work towards a PhD in clinical psychology as she prepares to enter the field of counseling/therapy. Email: haileyesuse.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Morgan Porter, BS’26
Morgan is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology and criminology/criminal justice studies, with a minor in African American and African studies. Her research interests lie in exploring and improving minority experiences with mental health and psychological care. After graduation, she plans to pursue these passions through obtaining a PhD in clinical psychology.
Email: porter.1229@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Layla Wahaidi, BS’26
Layla is a senior at Ohio State pursuing a BS in psychology. She is interested in emotion dysregulation and what skills contribute to meaningful improvements in functioning. She has recently worked in Dan Strunk‘s Depression Treatment & Research Clinic and made the Dean’s List in Spring 2025. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to help improve and personalize evidence-based treatments.
Email: wahaidi.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Claire Hendrickson, BA’28
Claire is a second-year undergraduate student at The Ohio State University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies. She plans to graduate in the Spring of 2028. Her academic interests include clinical and forensic psychology, abnormal behavior, and the ways individual experiences shape psychological development. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to continue studying the complexities of human behavior.
Email: hendrickson.1212@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Ogechi Muruako, BA’26
Ogechi is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Ohio State studying psychology with minors in screenwriting and global public health. She is interested in improving mental health and developing interventions for children and adolescents in Black & African communities. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and work towards a PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology.
Email: muruako.2@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Kareena Mehra, BA’27
Kareena is a junior undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Legal Foundations of Society. She plans to graduate in the spring of 2027, when she will then pursue her J.D. or PhD in clinical or social psychology. She is interested in emotional regulation techniques for diverse communities and anxiety & personality disorders.
Email: mehra.67@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Grace Rosales, BA’28
Grace Rosales is a second-year undergraduate student at Ohio State majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. Her research interests include emotion regulation, mood disorders, and the connection between mental and physical health. She is also interested in improving mental health treatments and expanding access to care for minority communities. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to become a clinician–researcher.
Email: rosales.89@buckeyemail.osu.edu