Family Adversity and Resilience Research Program
Our Team
Margaret Briggs-Gowan, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, Yale University
M.Phil., Developmental Psychology, Yale University
M.S., Developmental Psychology, Yale University
B.A., Honors Psychology, Brown University
Dr. Briggs-Gowan is a developmental psychologist and associate professor of psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. Her research focuses on: (1) the social-emotional development and well-being of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers; (2) the effects of early life adversity on children’s emotions, behavior, and development; and (3) improving methods for identifying and helping families with young children who are showing early signs of emotional or behavioral problems.
Damion Grasso, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Delaware
M.A., General Psychology, Wesleyan University
B.A., Psychology, Skidmore College
Dr. Grasso is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the UConn School of Medicine. Dr. Grasso’s research focuses on: (1) evidence-based assessment of trauma exposure and symptoms; (2) psychosocial interventions for treating trauma-related symptoms; (3) psychosocial and biological mechanisms associated with trauma-related stress reactivity in children; and (4) intergenerational patterns of cumulative exposure to adversity and trauma and associated risk of psychopathology and impairment. Dr. Grasso also provides clinical treatment of trauma-related problems at the UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic.
Carolyn Greene, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston
M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston
A.B., Psychology, Health and Development, Stanford University
Dr. Greene is a licensed clinical child psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. She specializes in the treatment of traumatic stress disorders and problems of emotion regulation with children, adolescents, and families. Her current research focuses on investigating how parents and children manage their emotions after very stressful life experiences. Dr. Greene also provides clinical treatment of trauma-related problems at the UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic.
Brandon Goldstein, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Stony Brook University
M.A., Clinical Psychology, Stony Brook University
B.S., Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Goldstein is a postdoctoral researcher at the UConn School of Medicine. Dr. Goldstein’s research is currently focused broadly on child maltreatment and intimate partner violence and how these factors influence neuroelectrophysiological, biological, and behavioral responses to stress, family functioning and the development of emotional and behavioral problems in children. Dr. Goldstein’s previous work has focused on the psychosocial, cognitive, and biological markers of developing depression and anxiety in children and adolescents.
Susie DiVietro, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Dr. DiVietro is a medical anthropologist and research scientist at the Injury Prevention Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center/Hartford Hospital, instructor of Pediatrics at the UConn School of Medicine, and visiting assistant professor of anthropology at Trinity College. Her research focus is intimate partner violence, particularly in the context of heath and trauma, and she is a certified domestic violence advocate. Susie is partnering with our team to help engage families impacted by domestic violence, and to build collaboration with local domestic violence service agencies.
Mayra Pino
Enrollment Specialist
Mayra Pino’s background is in early childhood studies and direct care. She has worked as preschool teacher since 2006 in different settings. Mayra especially enjoys working together with children and families. She is currently working as a research assistant on the ARCS study.
Phone: 860-384-5102
Email: pino@uchc.edu
Kimberly McCarthy
Project Director and Data Manager
MSW, Social Work, Fordham University
B.S., Psychology, University of Connecticut
Ms. McCarthy has almost two decades of research experience. From research assistant to data manager, she serves as the current project director for the FARR program and has supported Dr. Briggs-Gowan’s young child research for over 10 years. Additionally, Ms. McCarthy is a licensed master social worker and supervises social work interns for the FARR program.
Rocio Chang, M.A., Psy.D.
Investigator
Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Hartford
M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of Hartford
B.S., Neuroscience, Trinity College
Dr. Chang is a practicing Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UConn Health. Her clinical interests focus primarily on psychotherapy with children, adolescents, adults, and biological, foster, and adoptive families, including treatment for mood and co-occurring disorders, PTSD, and complex trauma. Dr. Chang’s research focuses on traumatic stress and addictions. She has served as a therapist, trainer, and co-investigator on multiple studies regarding post-traumatic stress and substance use. She is bilingual and bicultural and deeply committed to building relationships across cultures and communities.
Sarah Gray, Ph.D.
Investigator
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston
M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston
B.A., History, Yale University
Dr. Gray is a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Gray’s research examines the developmental consequences of trauma and early life adversity, with a specific focus on intergenerational processes.
David FitzGerald, Ph.D.
Investigator
Ph.D., Counseling/Developmental Psychology, University of Notre Dame
M.A., Psychology, University of Notre Dame
B.A., Psychology, University of Notre Dame
Dr. FitzGerald is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn Health. Dr. FitzGerald is the director of the UConn Health Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, where he provides outpatient therapy and assessments. His research interests focus on social-cognitive and family factors related to typical development and childhood aggressive behavior. Dr. FitzGerald provides clinical support for many of our studies.
Current FARR Staff Members
Adriana Sowell
Adriana Sowell earned a B.S. in Sociomedical Sciences at the University of Connecticut. Ms. Sowell was awarded as a dual research fellow of the Health Disparities Clinical Summer Research Fellowship Program at UConn Health and the UConn University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Her research interests coalesce around the intersections of race, gender, disability, health, and policy. Check out Ms. Sowell’s current study, the Health Equity and Receipt of Care Study (HEARS).
Olivia Arciero
Olivia Arciero received a B.A. in Cognitive Sciences from the University of Connecticut. Olivia was awarded as a research fellow for the Institute of the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS) at the University of Connecticut. Her research interests focus on how the brain stores and processes information, specifically emotional and categorical stimuli measured using electroencephalography (EEG).
Matthew Lewin
Matthew Lewin earned a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences at Oakwood University. He is currently a medical student at the University of Connecticut. His research interests include studying the relationship between trauma exposure and behavioral outcomes in children. He is involved in the Adaptation and Resilience in Childhood Study (ARCS) and the Parenting Infants in the Pandemic Study (PIPS). His extracurricular interests include mentorship of middle and high school students in his local community.
Current Lab Members
*Special thanks to those who have devoted the better part of 2 or more years to working, interning, or volunteering for our studies.
Doctoral Students
University of Connecticut
- Ana Barbosa Torreao Dau, Clinical Psychology
- Christiana Field, Clinical Psychology
- Emily Peters, School Psychology
University of Hartford
- Sarah Hamilton, Clinical Psychology*
- Meredith Hawkins, Clinical Psychology
- Jenna Marks, Clinical Psychology
- Julia McDonald, Clinical Psychology
- Kelly Mecozzi, Clinical Psychology*
- Samantha Santos, Clinical Psychology*
- Krista Segreti, Clinical Psychology
- Samantha St-Aubin, Clinical Psychology*
Pacific University
- Kylie Gallo, Clinical Psychology
Medical Students
University of Connecticut
- Tyler Chavers
- Brent Heineman
- Maitreyee Kale
- Alden Landry
- Autumn Leavitt
- Matthew Lewin*
- Lukas McNaboe
- Jessica Munck
University of Puerto Rico
- Adyanis Centeno Perez*
UConn Social Work Students
- Linsday Fresher, Practicum Student
- Amanda Weech, LMSW, Research Assistant*
Research Assistants
- Edith Rivera Gonzalez
Undergraduate Students
University of Connecticut
- Alijah Barrett
- Vera Bici
- Clarissa Nock
Trinity College
- Gillianne Nugent
Former Lab Members
UConn Fellows
- Arshpreet Gulati, M.D., UConn Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow
- Usmani Mohammad, M.D., UConn Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow
- Sheryl Veliz, M.D., UConn Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow
- Pareek Vikas, UConn Brain Imaging Research Center, Postdoctoral Fellow
Doctoral Students
University of Connecticut
- Destiny Printz Pereira, Clinical Psychology
University of Hartford
- Erin Godfrey, Clinical Psychology
- Ye Seul Kang, Clinical Psychology
- Emily McElfresh, Clinical Psychology
- Brea Rivera, Clinical Psychology
Medical Students
University of Connecticut
- Leah Azab
- Evins Clauthier
- Rebecca Kenney
- Alexis Lighten
- Sandhya Sanapala
Research Assistants
- Sophie Kuchel, UConn Health*
- Miranda Marris, UConn Undergraduate*
- Anusha Mohan, UConn Storrs
- Pikulsk, Paige, UConn Health
- Victoria Scranton, UConn Health*
- Charles J. Williams, UConn Storrs
UConn Undergraduate Students
- Eduardo Abreu
- Denise Brown
- Ethel Dvoskin
- Emily Mohler
- Sydney Osborne
- Stephanie Testa
- Bo Wicklund
Volunteers
- Julie Mordasiewicz*