Dr. Steven Holochwost is a developmental psychologist who works with programs designed to improve the lives of vulnerable children and youth. His research in child development examines the effects of environment, and particularly poverty and parenting, on voluntary forms of self-regulation (e.g., executive functions) and the involuntary activity of neurophysiological systems that support self-regulatory abilities. This research is directly relevant to his applied work, which examines the efficacy of educational interventions for children in poverty. The common thread running through both these lines of work is the need to understand how poverty impacts child development, and how programs that expand educational opportunities for children can mitigate those effects. Steven Holochwost CV  (PDF)

Melissa Ceren is a pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at CUNY’s Graduate Center, where she is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she earned a B.A in Forensic Psychology and Law and worked in Professor Charles Stone's Memory and Cognition Lab. Her research interests center around how arts and STEAM education can foster the socioemotional development of underserved students, including those attending New York City public schools. Outside of the lab, she enjoys making and learning indispensable techniques of crosshatching illustrations and feeding the local wildlife on her fire escape.

Shouk Alsayegh is a passionate academic with a background in fine arts and education. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and a Master's degree in Education. Currently, Shouk is pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, with a research focus on emotional intelligence, cognitive development, and social learning theory.

As a Graduate Research Assistant, Shouk is actively involved in the Regulation, Education, and Neuroscience (ReNeu) Lab at Lehman College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Her commitment to research and scholarship is underscored by her recognition as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Scholar.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Shouk enjoys diverse interests, including photography, reading, and engaging in profound discussions on philosophy and psychology. With an academic heart, she thrives on the exploration of knowledge and its applications in the realm of educational psychology.

Ligia Tomazin is a student in Educational Psychology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY). Ligia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Literature from UNICAMP, Brazil. She also earned her Masters in Educational Psychology at Hunter College, CUNY. Ligia has nearly a decade experience in the field of English as a foreign language. Her research interests involve assessment, academic emotions, and motivation. She is currently working on investigating the effects of different forms of feedback on students’ writing performance as well as in their learning processes, emotional experiences, and self-efficacy.

Denisa Ahmetaj graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lehman College, will be pursuing graduate study in clinical psychology in the fall of 2024 . She is currently working with Dr. Holochwost and the Brain and Early Experience Lab on a study of the associations between maternal psychopathy and early neurological development. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading and cooking.

Ángela Veras Oriach graduated with a bachelor’s in exercise science from Lehman College and plans to pursue her doctorate in physical therapy. An avid rower, they work for a not-for-profit organization that makes rowing accessible to NYC youth while still participating in the sport on a competitive level. Besides psychology, they enjoy reading, crossword puzzles, and hiking. 

Julaysi Paulino Ramirez graduated with an associate’s degree in liberal arts, with a specialization in psychology, from Bronx Community College, and is currently working towards earning her bachelor’s degree at Lehman College. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in psychology in the near future. She is a TA for an adjunct professor, Dr. Chiroshri Bhattacharjee, in the Psychological Testing and Assessment course this Spring semester. In her free time, she enjoys dancing and organizing anything from paperwork to closet space.

• Eleanor D. Brown  (West Chester University) 
• Mia Budescu (Lehman College, City University of New York)
• Jennifer L. Coffman (University of North Carolina at Greensboro)
• Bruce J. Ellis (University of Utah)
• Kelly R. Fisher ( AnLar)
• Kristin M. Gagnier (AnLar)
• Keith R. Happaney (Lehman College, City University of New York)
• Iheoma U. Iruka (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
• Bart J. Klika (Prevent Child Abuse America)
• Jacek Kolacz ( Ohio State University)
• Claudia Lugo-Candelas (Columbia University)
• Alan Meca (University of Texas at San Antonio)
• W. Roger Mills-Koonce (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
• Cathi B. Propper (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
• Sheri L. Robb (Indiana University)
• Sara R. Jaffee (University of Pennsylvania)
• Vanessa V. Volpe (North Carolina State University)
• Nicholas J. Wagner (Boston University)