OUR TEAM
DR. SHANNON O'CONNOR
Principle Investigator
Shannon is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Montclair State University. Shannon completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Michigan State University in 2018 after completing her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at the UCSD Eating Disorder Center and Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. Shannon then completed a post-doctoral fellowship on the Midwest T32 for Eating Disorder Research at the University of Chicago. Shannon's research interests center on identifying environmental risk factors for eating pathology using genetically-informed designs.
LEORA HALLER
Clinical Psychology PhD Student
Leora is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Montclair State University. As an undergraduate, Leora studied biomarkers and environmental risk factors for depression and psychosis in a non-clinical setting. In the Lowe Lab at Drexel, Leora looked at weight history and weight change in patients with Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa as part of her MS degree in psychology. Leora hopes to pursue research regarding the biobehavioral etiology of motivation and reward valuation in disordered eating.
FRANCOIS BAN
Lab Manager
Clinical Psychology PhD Student
Francois is a first-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at MSU. She has a background in epidemiology from her Master's degree in Public Health at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include disordered eating pathology, weight stigmatization, and body image. Specifically, she is interested in people's relationships with food and how cultural, environmental, and societal factors may influence their eating behaviors.
CHINWE OSSAI
Graduate Research Assistant
Chinwe is a recent graduate from our clinical psychology master's program. She graduated with a concentration in forensic psychology with the ultimate goal of achieving a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She received her BA degree double majoring in psychology and criminal justice at Rutgers University. She is interested in many areas of research including forensic psychology and the development of eating disorders and how pressures from society and in the home can impact one’s perception of their image.
NAYELI DUME
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Nayeli is a third-year student at Montclair State University, majoring in psychology. She is interested in adolescents, anxiety, depression, and minority groups like Latinos and individuals part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Nayeli’s goal is to join a Clinical Psychology
Ph.D. program right after graduating with her Bachelor’s from Montclair State. Her future goals after earning her Ph.D. are to work as a practitioner and later on open up a mental health clinic of her own.
ISABELLA GONZALEZ
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Isabella Gonzalez is a sophomore Psychology major with a minor in Spanish. Following undergrad, she hopes to pursue a Master's degree in either industrial organizational psychology or counseling. She became involved in research due to her desire to gain hands-on experience with data and to have an opportunity to apply what she has learned in her courses.
SAM WURTS
Graduate Research Assistant
Sam Wurts is currently a second-year Master’s student in the Psychological Sciences program at Montclair State University. She is set to graduate in Spring 2024. She received her Bachelor's in Psychology from Montclair State University. Her research interests are gender and sexuality, stereotype bias, and interpersonal perception.
AMELIA DE JESUS
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Amelia is a junior Psychology major at Montclair State University. She aims to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology after completing her Bachelor’s in Psychology. She is interested in focusing on adolescents, anxiety, as well as disordered eating development in sports. She is eager to become more involved in research and gain firsthand experience with the research process.
SOFIA BORRERO
Post-Bac Research Assistant
Sofia graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology in May 2023. Next, she plans to pursue a PsyD in Clinical Psychology after my gap year. Current, she works as a Developmental Autism Specialist for kids. Her research interests are in eating disorders, personality disorders, and autism.
Nichole Sanchez
Graduate Research Assistant
Nichole Sanchez is a first-year student in Montclair State University's terminal Clinical Psychology MA program. She received her
Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Seton Hall University. Her research interests include eating disorders, adolescents, and minority groups, such as the LQBTQ+ and Latino communities. Her
goal after graduation is to go on to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
