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PACE Research Team

Meet the team members that are running the lab!

From left to right: Cella, Fiona, Grace, Melina, Ledyn, Dr. Scott Leon, Isabel, Defne, Bailey, Kimberly and Tai

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Principal Investigator

Scott Leon, Ph.D.

Scott Leon is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at Loyola University Chicago, where he teaches and mentors students in the undergraduate and graduate psychology programs. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University Medical School in 2002. During his graduate studies, he developed research interests in mental health services evaluation. Dr. Leon’s published work has primarily focused on the mental health and placement outcomes of youth in the child welfare system.

Hometown: Santa Ana, CA

What I do for fun: Running, reading, traveling.

My favorite thing about Chicago: The beautiful Lakeshore Path. Running south of the path with the lake on my left and the skyline ahead of me is pure exhilaration. 

Learn more about Dr. Leon’s work here.

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Current Graduate Students

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Tai Masuda (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Honolulu, HI

Education: Mount Holyoke College - B.A. in Psychology and Environmental Studies

Status: 2nd year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program

Past research experience: After graduating from college, I worked as a research associate at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Department of Psychiatry where we studied youth and emerging adult experiences in the public sector system of care in Hawai'i (including the foster care system, juvenile justice system, homelessness services, mental health services, and substance use services).

Research/Clinical interests: I'm interested in the well-being and mental health of youth involved in public systems and how public systems that are meant to serve youth, such as the foster care system, can be more supportive, empowering, and healing for youth. Additionally, I'm interested in accessible and equitable behavioral healthcare services and community-based participatory research.

What I do for fun: I like to go to the beach/the lake, walk along the lake, try new restaurants/foods, read, surf, go to concerts, cook, go thrift shopping, and do yoga.

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: The lake, the food, the dogs, and how nice the people are!

Email: tmasuda@luc.edu

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Bailey Monick (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Honolulu, HI

Education: Pitzer College – BA in Psychology, BA in English

Status: 1st year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program

Past research experience: Research Associate on the Special Populations Qualitative Needs Assessment in Youth Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Project at the University of Hawaii, Department of Psychiatry. This project focused on the experiences of youth involved in public sectors (juvenile justice, foster care, homelessness services, mental health services, and substance use services) and their needs surrounding substance use.

Research/Clinical interests: Broadly, I am interested in the following areas:

  • Improving access to services and the system of mental healthcare, especially for young people involved in public sectors (juvenile justice, child welfare, homelessness services)

  • Protective factors for youth who have experienced or are experiencing trauma.

What I do for fun: Surfing, running, yoga, camping, cooking, and trying new restaurants :)

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: The lake!

Email: bmonick@luc.edu

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Current Undergraduate & Postbaccalaureate Research Assistants

Kimberly Davenport (she/her/hers)

Hometown: O'Fallon, IL

Year in School: Post-baccalaureate

Research/Clinical interests: Exploring the field/open to anything. I find particular interest in interpersonal relationships/attachment theory and neurological issues.

What I do for fun: I love to grab a few friends to explore somewhere new in town.

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: How much there is to explore! / the lake!

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Grace Courter (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Geneva, IL

Year in School: Senior

Research/Clinical interests: Developmental psychology 

What I do for fun: Reading, watching horror movies, practicing piano, and getting coffee with people :)

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: The city itself and the people! 



 

Melina Wsol (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Lake in the Hills, Illinois

Year in School: Senior

Research/Clinical interests: My reasearch/clinical interests include child psychopathology, conduct disorder, attachment theories, immigration/refugees and PTSD, eating disorders and their treatments, as well as how abuse and eating disorders overlap in the world of figure skating. 

What I do for fun: For fun I'm a big baker, love to travel, watch F1, discovering new restaurants in Chicago, and figure skating

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: My favorite things about Chicago are all the hole in the wall restaurants, the farmers markets in the summer, late night drives on Lake Shore, and watching the sunset on the lake! 



 

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Fiona Gilman-Haslem (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Year in School: Junior

Research/Clinical interests: I am interested in all things related to family dynamics and mental health. Especially how public systems like foster care can better assist children and young adults to improve mental health outcomes. 

What I do for fun: Coloring, skiing, hiking, and cooking

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: The hot dogs



 

Cella Porter (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Year in School: Junior

Research/Clinical interests: I'm particularly interested in researching child psychopathology, specifically in the realm of neurodiversity. Additionally, I'm interested in how the juvenile detention system in the United States affects recidivism rates and mental health among adolescents.

What I do for fun: I'm a part of the Art Club here at Loyola and I love to knit. I also just got a Kindle, so I've been enjoying reading lately. 

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: I often go to Andersonville on the weekends, it's my favorite neighborhood in Chicago! In my opinion, the food and thrift stores are unrivaled.

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Leydn Yankoff 

Hometown: Lebanon, OH

Year in School: Sophomore

Research/Clinical interests: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Marriage and Family Therapy

What I do for fun: Powerlift, Read Theology, Spend time alone, eat good food.

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: I personally love the skyline and the lake.

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Isabel Perez-Becerra (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Willowbrook, IL

Year in School: Senior

Research/Clinical interests: The link between neurodiversity and other co-occurring disorders such as addiction, along with preventative psychological intervention for children and adults. 

What I do for fun: Running, reading, collecting rocks, swimming in the lake, and drawing

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: I love the diverse scenery that Chicago offers. My two favorite places in Chicago have to be the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary and the Lakefront Trail. Both of these have incredible scenery, which helps make me feel a part of nature and the city life. 

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Defne Atil (she/her/hers)

Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey 

Year in School: Junior

Research/Clinical interests: My interests are Clinical Behavioral Therapy, especially topics related to neurodiversity. I'm also interested in Family Therapy. 

What I do for fun: For fun I love to rewatch my favorite movies and shows, spend time with my dog, listen to music, and dance! 

My favorite thing(s) about Chicago: My favorite thing about Chicago is its proximity to the water. Being so far from home, it reminds me of living by the sea in Istanbul.

PACE Lab selfie!

Previous Graduate Students

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Jenny Osborne

Research/Clinical interests: I'm interested in identifying and bolstering sources of support for children in contact with the child welfare system and examining multi-informant reporting among youth in care. I'm currently completing a pre-doctoral internship at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan with an emphasis in pediatric neuropsychology. On internship, I conduct neuropsychological assessments for children and youth with complex medical and neurodevelopmental histories. I also see youth navigating new medical diagnoses and chronic pain as an outpatient mental health therapist and as a consultation liaison.

Thesis: Beyond Family: Patterns of Kin and Fictive Kin Caregivers Among Children and Youth in the Child Welfare System

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Nicole Hodgkinson

Nicole graduated from Whitman College in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Nicole worked as a research assistant at the VA Puget Sound Health Care system studying chronic pain management before transitioning to a direct service role providing mental health crisis response for youth in King County, many of whom were involved with the foster care system. Nicole’s current research interests include improving psychosocial outcomes for children in the Child Welfare System through program evaluation and intervention development.

Thesis: Kinship Involvement and Strength Development in the Child Welfare System

Nathan Lutz

Nathan earned his Bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience from Miami University in 2015. For the next two years, Nathan worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in a lab that focused on the complex health needs of youth in the child welfare system. Nathan spent most of his time working on a project that developed an intervention to aid adolescents who were aging out of the system. His research interests are centered around continuing to evaluate and develop interventions for this population, and he is also interested in learning about the effects of various forms of maltreatment and how to lessen their impact throughout one's childhood.

ThesisUnderstanding the Role of Relationship Satisfaction in Social Support Provision for Youth in the Child Welfare System

Lauren Hindt 

Lauren earned her Bachelor's degree in child psychology, along with minors in neuroscience and public health, from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2014. Her research interests include strengthening families and supporting children at risk for social and emotional difficulties from underserved populations, with an overarching goal of improving health equity and reducing disparities. Lauren's current research involves children and families in the context of the foster care system and parental incarceration.

 

Thesis: Impact of Visitation with Incarcerated Fathers on Behavioral Adjustment among Children in the Foster Care System pdf

Brynn Huguenel

After receiving her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Boston College in 2012, Brynn worked in the Schizophrenia Neuropharmacology Research Group at Yale University Medical School for three years. Her research interests include risk and resilience factors of mental health outcomes in children with abuse or neglect, as well as treatment or program evaluation.

Thesis: Fear of Missing Out: A Moderated Mediation Approach to Social Media Use pdf

PACE Lab Alumni

Grace Jhe Bai: Class of 2018

Thesis: The Protective Effect of Kinship Support on the
Adjustment of Youth in Foster Care pdf

 

Dissertation: Child Maltreatment and Psychosocial Functioning

Among Foster Care Youth: Self-Concept as a

Mediator and a Moderator pdf

 

Anne Fuller: Class of 2017

Thesis: Sexual Behavior Problems in Child Welfare:
Predictors of Reliable Change pdf

 

Dissertation: Social Support and Well-Being Among Foster Care
Youth: Self-Concept as a Mediator pdf

 

Alison Stoner: Class of 2014

Thesis: Predictors of Mental Health Outcomes Among
Foster Care Children Receiving Community-Based
Services pdf

 

Dissertation: Closing the "Revolving Door": Identifying
Predictors of Time to Rehospitalization in a Sample
of Psychiatric Inpatient Youth pdf

 

Amy Lyons Usher: Class of 2012

Dissertation: Measures of Executive Functioning and Their
Relation to Functional Outcomes in a Sample of
Youth with Attention-Deficit/hyperactivity
Disorder (add) pdf

Jeff Sieracki: Class of 2010

Thesis: Measuring Mental Health Improvement Among Children

Receiving Community-Based Services in a System of Care;

An Idiographic Approach pdf

Dissertation: In Whose Best Interest? Using an Experimental
Vignette to Assess Factors Influencing Placement
Decisions in Child Welfare pdf

 

Brittany Lakin: Class of 2008

Dissertation: Burnout in Children’s Residential Treatment Center

Staff: A Look at the Organizational Context Using a

Person-Job Fit Model

 

Jessica Snowden-Patel: Class of 2007

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