CHANGE Lab Members

Idia B. Thurston, Ph.D., Director of the CHANGE Lab

Assistant Professor

Clinical (Child and Family & Clinical Health)

310 Psychology Building

901-678-2690

bthrston@memphis.edu

Education

Fellowship, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Ph.D., University of South Florida
M.A., University of South Florida
B.S., Florida State University

Research Interests

Health Disparities and Intersectionality of Multicultural Identities
Biopsychosocial-Cultural Risk and Protective Factors
Stress, Stigma, and Weight Misperception in Youth with Overweight and Obesity
Co-occurring Adversities of HIV, Substance Use, and Violence in Mothers and Resilience in their Children
Community-Based Participatory Research and Intervention Dissemination in Marginalized Populations
Culturally Responsive Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA)

Idia Thurston 0844 UofM TC 20190205 SQ.j

Courtney Maclin-Akinyemi, M.S.

6th year Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student

361 Psychology Building

cmaclin1@memphis.edu

Education

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (Clinical Health Track), The University of Memphis (2013-Present)
B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Psychology, 2011, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical School

Research Interests

Psychosocial factors associated with health behaviors that increase the risk of obesity in African Americans
Culturally tailored health interventions
Optimizing health care delivery for diverse populations

Kristina Decker, M.A.

5th year Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student

361 Psychology Building

kdecker@memphis.edu

Education

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (Child and Family Studies), The University of Memphis (2014-Present)
M.A., Psychology, 2011, Eastern Illinois University
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, Psychology, 2009, Millikin University

Research Interests

Understanding psychological, health-related, and sociocultural factors that shape adolescent and young adult identity development
Examining the impact of weight-based stigma on mental and physical health
Exploring health disparities and developing culturally sensitive models of prevention and intervention

Robin N. Hardin, M.A.

5th year Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student

361 Psychology Building

rnhardin@memphis.edu

Education

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (Clinical Health Track), The University of Memphis (2014-Present)
M.A., Psychology, 2014, Columbia University
B.A., Cum Laude, Psychology, 2012, Spelman College

Research Interests

The sociocultural and psychological factors associated with high-risk sexual behavior
Risk and protective factors influencing prevention and intervention techniques for sexually transmitted infections and HIV
The social determinants and cultural factors of racial disparity in HIV infection

Caroline C. Kaufman, M.S.

4th year Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student

359 Psychology Building

cckaufman@memphis.edu

Education

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (Child and Family Studies), The University of Memphis (2015-Present)
B.A., Psychology with Honors, 2015, Williams College

Research Interests

Severe and chronic mental illness among adolescents and young adults
Interventions to reduce sexually risky decision making among adolescents and young adult women
Resilience and protective factors in women exposed to interpersonal violence and health adversities

Jessica E. Mandell, B.A.

2nd year Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student

359 Psychology Building

jmandell@memphis.edu

Education

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student (Child and Family Studies), The University of Memphis (2017-Present)
B.A., Summa Cum Laude Psychology, 2016, The George Washington University

Research Interests

Promoting adolescent mental, sexual, and physical health
HIV/AIDS prevention and interventions to empower marginalized groups and to reduce health disparities
How families and social support create healthy environments, act as sources of resilience, and foster self-compassion