I received my A.B. in Psychology and Spanish from Duke University in 2001.  I then attended graduate school at the University of Colorado at Boulder, completing my M.A. in 2004 and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2008.  After completing a predoctoral internship in adult clinical psychology at Brown University, I continued my training as a postdoctoral fellow in mood disorders and perinatal mental health at Brown University and Butler Hospital. 

My research interests focus on the interplay of stress and personality on the course of depression, particularly during life transitions such as the transition to college.  Recent projects have included 1) examination of the impact of personality disorder factors on the course of depression; 2) evaluation of chronic stress and episodic stress as mediators of the impact of personality pathology on depression; and 3) identification of barriers to depression treatment during pregnancy.  Future research projects will continue to focus on the impact of interpersonal functioning and stress on the onset and course of mood disorders.

Shelley Kind,'13

I am a senior Psychology and English double major from California. My research interests are constantly changing as I learn more about the possibilities for psychology research and read past studies. Currently, I am interested in how groups are formed, how technology such as texting and social media influence mood and social behaviors, and constructing interventions that can be used to create positive school communities. Betsy Sparrow, David DeSteno and Geoff Cohen's  work (to name a few) have all been influential for me. I would eventually like to pursue a doctoral program in clinical psychology.

Mariah Smith,'13

I am a senior Psychology major with a Neuroscience concentration from Belfast, Maine. After Colby, I hope to attend graduate school for a Master’s in social work and eventually work as a clinician in rural Maine communities. My research interests include developing prevention and intervention programs to promote healthy behaviors during critical transition periods such as entering college as well as investigating the causes behind prevalent forms of psychopathology like depression. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, and taking road trips along the coast. I am the program leader for the South End Teen Center volunteer group, a CCAK mentor, and a member of the Colby Waterville Alliance.

Rhiannon Archer,'14

Studying abroad in France, Fall '12

I am a junior hailing from Ellsworth, ME. I am majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Neuroscience. I hope to eventually go to medical school and become some sort of doctor, or to graduate school for a degree in Psychology or Neuroscience. I am a member of SOBHU (Students Organized for Black and Hispanic Unity), the Colby Democrats, the Biology Club, and other such organizations. I enjoy listening to music, dancing, and just hanging out with my buddies from CAPS (Colby Achievement Program for the Sciences).

Kelsey Park,'14

Studying abroad in Rwanda, Fall '12

I am a junior Psychology and Philosophy double major from Presque Isle, Maine. Although I never took any psychology courses in high school, I knew coming into Colby that I was interested in the subject. One of my main interests is looking at how psychology and philosophy intersect. I love placing psychological concepts in the context of philosophy and vice versa. I am excited to have the opportunity to apply what I have learned so far at Colby to my study abroad experience in Rwanda. I am hoping that what I take away from that trip and from my Colby education will lead me to a job in counseling. Outside of school, I am also on the softball team, work as a youth pastor at a church in Augusta, and am a part of Colby Christian Fellowship.

Monica Li,'15

I am a sophomore Psychology and English double major from Shanghai, China. I love learning about psychology because I enjoy relating my own experiences to the issues at hand. I am currently interested in understanding how social belonging on campus can affect one’s emotion, mood, and daily functioning. Outside of school, I am involved in Colby Cares About Kids, Campus Conversations on Race, and Adults Reading to Children. Additionally, I am a tutor at the Farnham Writers Center.

Meredith Zakon '15

I am a sophomore from Lexington, Massachusetts. I am majoring in Psychology, and I am very interested in health and medicine. During my time at Colby I want to learn more about abnormal psychology, especially the biological and environmental factors contributing to eating disorders and other self-destructive behaviors. On campus I play for Colby Women’s Tennis and I work for CER. I also enjoy reading and rock climbing.

Morganne Kraines,'11

Morganne Kraines is a Research Assistant at the Butler Hospital/Brown University Psychosocial Research Program under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Uebelacker and Dr. Cynthia Battle, researching treatment programs for depression. In the future, Morganne plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, with a focus on mood disorders.

Jessica Blais,'12

Jessica Blais is a Research Assistant at the Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, located in Boston. Under the supervision of Dr. Katie Weinger, she is conducting research that targets the complex neurocognitive and psychosocial processes relating to patients’ ability to implement improved knowledge and maintain changes in diabetes dietary behaviors. Specifically, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) are used to examine the impact of food-related behavior change on the brain activity patterns of people with type 2 diabetes.

Stephanie (LaRose) Sienkiewicz,'12

Stephanie LaRose is attending Boston College in the Lynch School of Education's Master of Mental Health Counseling Program. She plans to focus on couples' and family counseling.

Kira Novak,'12

Kira Novak is a Junior Project Director at iModerate, a qualitative market research firm in Denver, Colorado. She enjoys applying her love of psychology to the world of market research, as she gets to learn new things every day about how people act and interact with products, concepts, advertisements, and ideas. She could not be more grateful to her Emotion and Mood Lab days for developing her ability to look at a lot of qualitative data and get to the bottom of what it means.