Lab Director
Dr. Rodriguez is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training at Old Dominion University. Her research has investigated theoretical and methodological advances in understanding mothers’ and fathers’ risk to engage in physical abuse that would inform prevention and intervention programs. Her research and clinical interests focus on prevention, particularly concentrating on at-risk and abusive parenting and family violence in an effort to promote optimal parenting. She has simultaneously considered parental disciplinary behaviors, beliefs, and abuse risk that may be associated with children’s internalizing difficulties, such as the development of depressive and anxious symptomatology, paying particular attention to potential cognitive mechanisms that can be transmitted intergenerationally. To better understand potential avenues leading to abusive parenting, the Parenting Challenges with Kids (PaCK) Lab considers factors that promote optimal parenting in addition to factors that affect parenting in more at-risk, challenging circumstances.
Graduate Students
Paige Munshell (she/they) is a third-year doctoral student in the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. Their research interests include family functioning and the parent-child relationship, and their clinical interests include pediatric psychology and family interventions. Prior to joining the PaCK lab, Paige studied and worked in neuroscience research at the University of Maryland, College Park, with neurodiverse adolescents. In the future, they hope to pursue intervention implementation work with families from diverse backgrounds.
Edoardo Modanesi is a third-year student in the Virginia Consortium Program. He is interested in risk-factors for intimate-partner violence, developmental psychopathology, and substance abuse. Prior to joining the lab, he obtained an undergraduate degree in psychological science and criminology at the University of California, Irvine. Subsequently, he obtained a master’s in developmental neuroscience and psychopathology from a joint collaboration between University College London and Yale University. He enjoys playing soccer, surfing, and watching recipe videos on YouTube.
Jewelian Fairchild is a third-year student in the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests focus on the intergenerational transmission of childhood trauma, specifically examining how parents who experienced childhood abuse may go on to maltreat or engage in harsh parenting with their children. Jewelian aims to explore both the mechanisms that exacerbate risk of such behaviors and those that promote resilience. She is particularly interested in the dynamics of the parent-child relationship and how these dynamics influence child outcomes. Before joining the lab, she earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, where she also worked as the Project Coordinator for the Prenatal Stress Study.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Juliana Spencer is a junior at Old Dominion University majoring in psychology. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she plans to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, Juliana enjoys reading, listening to musicals, and hanging out with her friends.
Madeleine Salazar is a junior at Old Dominion University majoring in Psychology with two minors in Human Services and Philosophy. She is currently in the honors college and the McNair Scholar’s program at Old Dominion and works part time at the YWCA of South Hampton roads as a crisis services specialist. She intends to continue her education beyond the bachelor’s level by obtaining a PsyD in Psychology or attending a PhD program. In her free time, Madeleine enjoys following a holistic lifestyle in health and fitness, while also doing relaxing activities with friends, and binge-watching shows on Netflix.
Lab Alumni
Vanessa Achamfuor, undergraduate research assistant, Spring ’24
Kassandra De Jesus, undergraduate research assistant, Spring ’24