Graduate Students

The majority of students seeking masters degrees in psychology with an emphasis in Cognitive and Affective Sciences at UW-Oshkosh were psychology majors as undergraduates. However, several students earned bachelors degrees in non-psychology fields. Our students are active in research with a variety of faculty and some of these projects are supported by graduate assistantships. The two most common reasons students attend this program are:

  1. To get some graduate school experience before entering into a Ph.D. program;
  2. To enhance their options in the workplace by earning an advanced degree.

The students benefit from the full-time nature of the program in that this increases opportunities for interactions with a greater number of faculty.

2024 Grad Students

Research Interests

Lorena Reid

reidd41@uwosh.edu

I am interested in researching topics in the cognitive psychology subdiscipline, especially concerning memory, facial processing, and perception. During my undergraduate studies, I had the privilege of developing and conducting three experiments pertaining to these topics under the mentorship of Dr. Justyna Olszewska. Currently, I plan to continue my research into memory with a study on the concept of directed forgetting, and how effective it is on working memory vs. long-term memory. I am also excited to present research pertaining to holistic facial processing at the Psychonomic Society’s Annual Conference in New York City this November. 

 

Layla Sabrah

sabrahla97@uwosh.edu

My research interests primarily reside in cognitive and affective psychology. I am interested in understanding cognition and theory of mind in adults on the Autism spectrum. I am also interested in the impairment that may exist in theory of mind in those with Psychopathy. I also have an interest in understanding how media/social media influences human cognition, particularly in the sense of desensitization and cognitive control.

Luke Tacke

tackel14@uwosh.edu

My research interests include disciplines of Social and Clinical psychology, with particular interest in exploring aspects of motivation that influence empathic concern and pro-social behaviors. I also have interest within psychopathy, health behaviors, and attitudes surrounding involuntary/emergency mental health treatments, as well as attitudes surrounding various mental health diagnoses. I currently work full-time providing crisis case management and crisis intervention services. 

 

2025 Grad Students

Research Interests

Asithma Artigala

artiga77@uwosh.edu

My research interests fall primarily under the fields of social and developmental psychology. I am interested in how social influences such as parenting, peer relationships, social learning, and technology affect development across the lifespan. In particular, I am interested in the impact of social media on identity, well-being, and social relationships. My long-term goal is to better understand how these social and developmental factors contribute to well-being from adolescence through adulthood.

Emma Boocock

boocoe92@uwosh.edu

My research interests primarily include clinical and social psychology. I am interested in studying overall life satisfaction and the process of aging, and what makes someone decide they have lived a “good life”. I am also interested in psychological testing as a whole, more specifically how diagnoses such as ADHD and dementia impact functioning. I also have interests in the areas of ethics and morality.

Audrey Carrick

carria53@uwosh.edu

I’m interested in a bit of everything– neuroscience, cognitive, social, quantitative, and clinical psychology, psychopharmacology, etc. In particular, I’m quite intrigued by neuropsychology, video game research, addiction, and neurodivergence/ADHD.

Adelia Ehrlich

ehrlia87@uwosh.edu

My research interests lie primarily in the fields of cognitive and social psychology, with a particular interest in the intersection of these fields with the legal system. Broadly speaking, I’m curious as to the influences of cognitive and social processes on various forms of deviant behavior. Additionally, I’m interested in studying the impact of emotions on decision making, especially in the context of juries and in academia. My current research focuses on cheating behaviors and academic integrity with the use of generative AI.

Sophie Hagey

hageys13@uwosh.edu

My research interests fall primarily within the field of social psychology. I am particularly interested in aggression and prosocial behavior, as well as existential psychology, specifically Terror Management Theory (TMT). Additionally, I am interested in exploring the effects of media on childhood development. Currently, I aim to examine how microaggression can be applied to a broader framework of aggression.

Emily Lewis

lewisem74@uwosh.edu

My research interests stem from the fields of Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience. I am interested in studying neuroplasticity and the role it may play in the rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs). I am also interested in the underlying mechanisms of various neuropsychological disorders, and using Neuroimaging to investigate their etiology.

Abby Randan

randanab45@uwosh.edu

My research interests are fall primarily in the fields of clinical psychology and health psychology. I am interested in understanding how chronic illnesses and long term hospital stays are related to mental health disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression in pediatric populations.

Brenlyn Swecker

sweckerbr05@uwosh.edu

My research interests center on clinical psychology, particularly the assessment and diagnosis of psychological conditions. I am also deeply interested in behavioral interventions, with an emphasis on understanding how evidence-based treatments can be adapted to meet the needs of diverse individuals and communities. In addition, I am drawn to the study of psychopathology and emotional regulation, especially in relation to how assessment practices can inform treatment planning and improve long-term outcomes.

De'Karlos Valentino

valentinde04@uwosh.edu

My research interest center around the intersection of social media and human behavior, communication, connection, and expression. I am also very interested in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, with a focus on better understanding the biological, health, and lifestyle factors that may influence the development and progression of the disease via the accumulation of Amyloid and Tau. I hope by exploring these relationships, I can contribute to a better understanding of potential preventive strategies.