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:
- To get some graduate school experience before entering into a Ph.D. program;
- 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.
2023 Grad Students
Research Interests

Natalie Freese
freesn75@uwosh.edu
My research interests fall predominately within the fields of cognitive psychology and neuropsychology. As an undergraduate student I conducted research on the effects of diurnal changes on memory for environmental sounds. I also assisted on research pertaining to the processes of working memory in musicians vs. non-musicians. My current interests lie primarily in directed forgetting or psychological disorders and how they may affect brain functionality. More specifically, I’m interested in researching the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, or drug abuse on the brain.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. James Koch

Amber Graf
grafam88@uwosh.edu
My research interests fall primarily under the fields of social and developmental psychology. I am interested in how interactions with parents and other important individuals affect a child’s development of empathy, aggression, and personality disorders. Specifically, I am interested in how these processes manifest behaviorally throughout the life stages. Finally, I am also interested in how neurological developmental disorders affect an individual’s interpersonal relationships as well as perception and understanding.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Amy Knepple-Carney & Dr. David Lishner

Rachel Kosakowski
kosakowsra78@uwosh.edu
My research interests primarily center around trauma. I am interested in exploring the comorbidity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), misdiagnosis of PTSD as ADHD, and the influence of gender roles in trauma-based disorders. Additionally, I am interested in nature-based therapy as an intervention for trauma-based disorders.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Amy Knepple-Carney & Dr. David Lishner

Meagan McDowell
mcdowellme41@uwosh.edu
My research interests primarily fall within the field of Social Psychology and the way social comparisons affect people, specifically how wealth and family support impact the manner in which people view their educational capability. Currently, I am interested in looking at the effect of infant-like characteristics on empathic concern.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Amy Knepple-Carney & Dr. David Lishner

Angela Nowak
nowakan98@uwosh.edu
My research interests stem from the field of Neuropsychology, whereby I am motivated to explore the impact of trauma and stress on cognitive functioning in the pediatric population. Specifically, I am interested in exploring the impact of adverse child experiences on future cognitive functioning in domains such as attention, memory, and emotion regulation. Similarly, I aim to further explore the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitative efforts in preventing cognitive implication from early adversity.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Alese Nelson

Cristina Schwabe
schwac47@uwosh.edu
My research interests are primarily in the area of clinical psychology. I am interested in cultural differences in mental health seeking behaviors. Specifically looking at the stigmatization on the importance of mental health especially when it comes to depression and anxiety. I am very interested in psychological theories that have been established in majority populations and if they also pertain to minority populations. Another research interest is the development of personality and mood disorders and the effectiveness of treatment within those disorders.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Christopher Groves

Ece Tunali
tunaliec77@uwosh.edu
My research interests revolve around the dynamic interplay between social media and human cognition. I am intrigued by how online platforms shape the way individuals perceive the world and interact with information. Additionally, I am passionate about understanding the underlying cognitive processes that influence this perception. Through my research, I aim to uncover insights into evolving relationship between technology, cognition, and society, which has extensive implications for our modern digital age.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Anca Miron
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Psychology Department
Clow Faculty, Room W010
(920) 424-2300
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