Undergraduate and Postbac Research Assistants

Rachel Barham (she/her/hers)

Rachel Barham is a senior at Old Dominion University who is pursuing dual degrees in psychology and biomedical science. After finishing her degree, she intends to continue her education and attend medical school. Her professional interests are in epigenetics, pathology, neuroscience, and the human microbiome. Outside of academics, Rachel enjoys cooking, playing guitar, making art and spending time with her dog, Potato. 

Anita Thomas (she/her/hers)

Anita is a senior at Old Dominion University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Children’s Rights and Advocacy and a second minor in Human Services. After finishing her degree she intends on furthering her education by obtaining a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Anita aspires to conduct research with BIPOC youth who have experienced trauma and apply her findings to advocate for culturally-informed prevention/intervention programs for this population.

Lauren Smith (she/her/hers)

Lauren Smith graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. Since graduation she has worked in the clinic setting as a MA and scribe, in a neuroscience laboratory helping graduate students study TBI and SCI in the mice model and she is currently serving as a parent outreach coordinator for a behavioral health consulting company. She hopes to attend grad school in the fall for Clinical Psychology and is working in the Hawn Lab this year to gain more experience in the field. In her free time she likes to go on hot girl walks, workout at the gym, play chess, travel and spend as much time as possible with her friends.

Kayla MacPherson (she/her/hers)

Kayla MacPherson is a senior at Old Dominion University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Children’s Rights. She hopes to later attend grad school to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with special interests in trauma prevention and trauma in adolescents. In her free time you can find Kayla in a coffee shop, thrift store, traveling, or spending time with those she loves. 

Kaytlin Armitage (she/her/hers)

Kaytlin Armitage is a junior at ODU majoring in Psychology with a minor in Addiction Prevention and Treatment. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a focus on trauma, specifically within the veteran community. Her interest in military mental health stems from her service in the Virginia Army National Guard and the stories of her fellow service members. In her free time, Kaytlin enjoys working out, spending time with friends, studying in the library, or watching her team, the Steelers, lose another game.

Mellyssa Deoliveira (she/her/hers)

Mellyssa is a junior at the University of Massachusetts Boston. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Her military experience in the Navy informs her academic interests in PTSD susceptibility, diagnosis, and treatment. Outside of an academic setting. she enjoys lifting, reading, and hiking with her two dogs.

Niya Richardson (she/her/hers)

Niya graduated from Old Dominion University in 2023 with a psychology major. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, where she will utilize her professional development to provide explanations of psychopathologies from a psychological, emotional, and physiological standpoint, along with theories for the sustainment of well-being. Niya is currently working in the Hawn lab to gain further experience in the field and exposure to the comorbidities associated with trauma. Outside her studies, she enjoys reading, boxing, and exploring the outdoors with her dog, Zola.