Graduate Students
Steve Hakim
Steve is a second-year graduate student working with Dr. Kristina McDonald. He received his BS in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he spent 2 years studying adolescent psychopathology with Dr. Sylvie Mrug. More recently, he has worked in various research labs at Cal State University, Northridge, where he studied applied behavior analysis. His research interests include the development of maladaptive coping strategies, trauma exposure and substance use in adolescent populations
Amber Ingram
Amber is a fifth year student working with Dr. Jeff Parker. She received her BA from the University of Alabama in 2014. Her research interests involve different aspects of adolescents’ friendships, including attachment, jealousy, relational uncertainty, and romantic attraction.
Kate Massey
Kate is a fifth year student in the Developmental Science program at UA working with Dr. Jeff Parker. She received her BA in 2014 from Elon University with a major in Psychology and minors in Human Service Studies and Religious Studies. Her research interests include adolescents’ friendships, individual characteristics that affect friendship experiences, and the impact of peer relationships on social development. Her current project is investigating the functions of triads in adolescent interactions and the impact of jealous members on the triadic experience.
Stephanie Masters
Stephanie is a third year student working with Dr. Joan Barth. Broadly, she is interested in gender development, stereotypes, and peer relationships, with particular focus on how these variables may affect educational occupational outcomes across the lifespan. Stephanie earned her BA in psychology and MS in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at Tyler.
Tarsha Patterson
Tarsha is a fifth year student working with Dr. McDonald. Tarsha holds dual Bachelors’ Degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from Jackson State University and an MS in Clinical Psychology from the Auburn University Montgomery. Tarsha’s current research is examining the rates of comorbidity between anxiety and aggression, how parenting may predict them, and when children begin to notice or are informed about differences between themselves and others and how overtime those actual or perceived differences might lead a pathway to anxiety and aggression. During her spare time, Tarsha loves to read, travel, and tutor underserved children.
Jenna Reardanz
Jenna is a fifth year student working with Dr. Fran Conners and Dr. Kristina McDonald. She received her B.A. from Whitworth University (Spokane, WA) with a major in Psychology and minor in Theology. Her research interests center around disability and social development. Additionally, she is interested in how research can best be used to inform and influence policy. She recently completed her master’s degree about the relationship between communication and victimization in adolescents with Down syndrome. In her free time she enjoys reading, swimming, spending time with friends, cats, and family, and cheering on the Crimson Tide!
Sunmi Seo
Sunmi is a fifth year doctoral student in developmental science at UA working with Dr. Kristina McDonald. She received her BA in youth education and leadership at Myongji University in Seoul, South Korea. Then, she received MS in human development and family studies at Mississippi State University. She is interested in the effect of peer relationships on adolescents’ behaviors. For her dissertation, Sunmi is focusing on how popularity goals and popularity affect adolescents’ aggression and victimization.
Joo Young Yang
Joo Young Yang is a fourth year graduate student in the developmental concentration working with Dr. Kristina McDonald.. She was born in South Korea, but grew up in Birmingham, AL. Joo received her BS in 2016 from UA with a major in Psychology and a minor in Mathematical statistics. Joo is interested in studying attributions made upon receiving either prosocial or antisocial behaviors. For her Master’s Thesis, Joo is examining the relationship between attributions and victimization, and the potential influence of subjective social status. Outside of research, Joo enjoys reading and watching movies.