Elizabeth Demeusy (co-student representative) is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Rochester. Her research interests broadly focus on evidence-based prevention and intervention programs for high-risk youth, specifically those impoverished and with experiences of trauma. In particular, she is interested in child maltreatment prevention and the development of externalizing behavior problems in young children. Elizabeth is currently conducting a follow-up study on a multi-component prevention program designed to prevent child maltreatment and support healthy development in newborns of young mothers. Following graduation, she hopes to continue this line of research by pursuing a career that focuses on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for disadvantaged children and families.
Caitlyn Owens (communications officer) is a doctoral student in the school psychology program at North Carolina State University. Her research interests include promoting resilience in children facing adverse situations; bridging the gap between research, practice and policy; and creating and implementing child maltreatment prevention programs. Caitlyn is currently working on a large-scale implementation study of Triple P-Positive Parenting Program in North Carolina. Additionally, she is involved in the Community Action Targeting Children Who are Homeless (CATCH) initiative. Caitlyn hopes to have a career in academia where she can combine her passions for teaching and research.
Doris Pu (diversity officer) is a doctoral student in the medical/clinical psychology program at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research interests include parenting attitudes and behaviors, prevention of physical child abuse, and family dysfunction, particularly among underserved populations. Her dissertation will examine the role of family functioning in relation to physical child abuse potential and child socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes through a longitudinal study. Doris aims to take a preventive approach in future research that investigates and targets pathways that could lead to poor outcomes for children and families.
Jonathan Reader (co-student representative) is a doctoral student in the human development and family studies program at The Pennsylvania State University. His research interests include innovative prevention methods (e.g., human-centered design, multiphase optimization strategy), the prevention of child sexual abuse, and public policy. Jonathan is currently working as part of a team on a statewide prevention project that aims to reduce new cases of child sexual abuse through the dissemination of three prevention programs as part of a collaborative and multipronged approach. He hopes to continue this line of research to better inform public policies surrounding the prevention of child sexual abuse.
Kierra Sattler (public policy officer) holds a Bachelor of Science in human development and family studies from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a Master of Arts in human development and family sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on parent-child interactions, specifically among families in poverty and families involved with child protective services, and how these interactions influence children's social, emotional, and academic outcomes. Additionally, she studies the concept of resilience and how different risk and protective factors influence children's trajectories. Through her research she aims to promote positive development among children from disadvantaged backgrounds.