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Kristoffer S. Berlin, PhD, HSP, is a Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ and the Director of the CHILL Lab. He received his PhD. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed his internship and Pediatric Psychology postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University. His program of research has focused on the cultural, familial, and behavioral factors that promote wellness and reduce morbidity among families made vulnerable by disparate outcomes stemming from their positionality within intersecting ecological systems of inequality (e.g., racism, classism, sexism, ableism, regionalism, and ageism). Thematically, these papers focus on 1) Increasing the Accessibility and Equitable Utilization of Advanced Statistical Approaches; 2) Development, Validation, and Cultural Bias Evaluations of Evidence-Based Assessment Measures; and 3) Identifying modifiable factors (and developing interventions) that Promote Health Equity and Social Justice in Pediatric Populations. He is also a licensed clinical psychologist with a health service provider designation in the state of Tennessee. 

Kishan "Kish" Desai, MS, is a fifth-year student in the clinical psychology PhD program. He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, receiving his B.A. in psychology from New York University. He then spent three years as a research coordinator at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. His present research interests include exploring the role of social determinants of health in the management of chronic illness by youth and their families. Kish enjoys rock climbing, running, playing video games and eating.

Vinkyra "Kyra" Ellison, MS, is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student. She earned her Master of Science degree in General Psychology from the University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ and her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Central Florida. Kyra's research interests encompass cultural and family factors, health disparities, and pediatric care. She aspires to be a catalyst for change, advocating policy reforms that foster cultural humility in healthcare and serving as a voice for historically marginalized individuals. Kyra is from the sunny city of Miami, Florida. She enjoys traveling and relaxing at the beach.

Nour Goolcharan, B.A., is a master’s student in the MSGP program at the University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with a minor in Biology from the College of Wooster. After graduating, she worked as a research coordinator at Cincinnati Children’s. Her research interests include health equity, digital health interventions, measure development, and self-management. Outside of research, Nour enjoys cooking food, playing soccer, going to the beach, and liming. 

Corey Jackson, BS, is a third-year student in the clinical psychology PhD program here at the University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ. He is originally from the Northern Virginia area and attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in both Psychology & Sociology. His research interests include patient-provider identity congruence, health disparities, and the socioemotional impacts of changes in the type 1 diabetes care regime. In his free time, he enjoys basketball, Formula 1, singing, listening to music, and playing with his pet cat, Astrid.

Akuchinyere "Aku" Kanu, B.A.,  is a first-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ. She is a Nigerian-American, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She graduated from Oklahoma State University and earned her B.A in Psychology with minors in French and Speech Communications. Her research interests focus on improving health-related quality of life in children with chronic conditions and promoting health equity in the pediatric care . Aku enjoys singing, dancing, listening to Afrobeats, and traveling with family. She also loves going on walks and engaging in fun, outdoor activities. 

Caroline McDonald, B.S., is a second-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at the University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ. Her research focuses on biopsychosocial factors affecting children and families managing pediatric chronic illness, with specific interests in health disparities, treatment adherence, quality improvement, and neurocognitive functioning. 

Before graduate school, she spent nearly three years at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, contributing to research with children and families affected by chronic illness in pediatric hematology, oncology, and transplantation. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024 and hopes to pursue a career as a researcher-clinician in Pediatric Psychology. 

In her free time, Caroline loves animals, Bravo TV, true crime, long walks, and Diet Coke. 

Autumn Parson M.S, is a third-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ, with an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Duquesne University. Her research focuses on the intersection of systemic inequities and racial trauma, with an interest in how stress and trauma shape the parent-child relationship. She seeks to identify positive contextual and relational factors that may buffer the effects of racial trauma and promote positive outcomes for children and families. 

She is interested in translating multidisciplinary care into improved mental health and life outcomes for marginalized youth. Her broader research interests include child and adolescent mental health, racial and systemic inequities, resilience promotion, race socialization, critical consciousness, and culturally responsive approaches to mental health care. Clinically, she aims to work with children and families, using trauma-informed approaches to support overall well-being and child development. 

Randall "Randy" Smith, BS, is a Master of Science in General Psychology student at ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ. Randy grew up in Northern Virginia and earned his B.S. in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. After graduation, he spent three years at the Children's Hospital of Richmond, where he worked with pediatric populations diagnosed with hematology-oncology health conditions. His research interests include the effects of experienced microaggressions, resiliency, and neurocognitive impacts on health-related outcomes among youth with chronic health conditions. Randy enjoys cooking, attending concerts, and trying new foods.

Alec Sisco, MS, is in his fourth-year in the School Psychology doctoral program. He received his Master of Science degree in General Psychology from the University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ. His current research interests include pediatric quality of life, computerized adaptive testing, and the health equity of children living with type 1 diabetes. Alec is a native of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ and loves playing rugby, riding his bike, and going for walks with his wife, Heather.