TAP Lab Researchers

J. Jane Jung-Chen (She/Her) is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program. She graduated from Union College, NY, with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in studio arts. As an undergraduate student, Jane gained an invaluable research experience in body image, weight, and eating disorders working as a peer facilitator and research assistant for the Body Project, a group-based prevention and early intervention of eating disorders. Jane’s current research interests are centered around immigration trauma, such as an individual’s immigration status and its impact on their sense of stability. Participating in the TAP lab as a student researcher has strengthened her interest in exploring systemic issues’ influence on people’s mental health and the role of mental health professionals as advocates for historically excluded communities. On campus, Jane is involved in Pride Cares, a program that strives to promote on- campus peer support and trains undergraduate students on various topics of mental health so that they can support their fellow students. In her personal life, Jane enjoys spending time with her family, cooking Korean foods, and cleaning her home.

Arlene C. Lawrence (AL) is a Doctoral Candidate in the Psychology program at Springfield College. She graduated from Albertus Magnus College with a master’s with a concentration in Psychology, Addiction, and Human Services in 2015. She is a community-based mental health counselor and works with individuals across the lifespan at Shoreline Wellness Center in West Haven CT. Arlene helps individuals heal from trauma and toxic relationships by providing a safe, judgment-free zone where you can learn new coping strategies to live your best life and cultivate a process for healing. She utilizes cognitive-behavioral interventions and a psychodynamic and systems-based perspective that focuses on providing clients with the tools to do the work to “heal” themselves. Arlene is skilled in helping to transform the lives of people of culturally diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. She treats the full gamut and gravity of mental disorders by applying evidence-based methodologies and skillfully administering assessments. She utilizes motivational interviewing, AA/NA recovery steps, CBT, and positive psychology. She takes the guesswork out of the transformational journey of creating a more balanced and meaningful life to the “healing process”. She helps clients develop the cognitive skills needed to maintain the momentum necessary to generate lasting change. Her primary research projects include themes of identity, culture, liberation, ambivalent prejudice, and trauma.

Kathleen Romania (she/her) is a first-year student in Springfield College's Counseling Psychology PsyD program. She comes from a diverse background of experiences, receiving her B.A. in English and Spanish at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and working previously in the marketing sector. Kathleen contributed to organizational psychology research at the University of Connecticut in 2021. In addition, she has volunteered as an advocate for victims of sexual violence for the Rowan Center in Stamford, CT. Kathleen’s current research interests include trauma and resilience and the role of relationships and social support in trauma prevention. She is participating in TAP Lab’s Title X research, and aims to further examine the potential role that systems play in an individual’s experience with trauma.

Maria del Mar was born in Cali, Colombia. She came to the United States where she obtained her bachelor's degree in Biological Science at the University of Connecticut. She completed her master's degree in clinical mental health while working with the community breaking the Spanish language barrier that patients face. Maria is currently in the Psy.D program at Springfield College. She wants to focus on multicultural psychology and reduce disparities that vulnerable populations face in the mental health community.

Mary Iellamo, a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology, graduated from Elms College with a double major in Psychology and English in 2018. She currently works at the Walden Eating Disorders Center at Rockville Hospital in Vernon, CT, where she has developed programming and trained staff on topics related to the treatment of eating disorders. Her previous research projects include an investigation on the effects of digital graphics on college students’ prosocial attitudes and an exploration of college students’ access to eating disorder treatment. Mary’s current research interests include the interpersonal dynamics, interoception, and adverse experiences of individuals with eating disorders, particularly college students. She aspires to develop social support programming and interoceptive interventions complementary to traditional eating disorder treatment.

Chen Liang is a doctoral candidate in the Counseling Psychology PsyD program, earned a Master's in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Northwest Missouri State University, and a Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology at Beijing Sport University. Her research interests are international students' acculturation experiences, culture and help-seeking behaviors, and social justice. She also is interested in mindfulness, depression, stress, and trauma. She enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, dancing, and playing with her friends' cats.

Contact: cliang@springfield.edu

David Tverskoy is a first-year student in Springfield College's PsyD. program. His research interests include prevention, mindfulness, empathy, childhood/lifespan development, and trauma. He is passionate about expanding these fields of interest through involvement with the TAP team and the Springfield Public Schools. Currently, he is involved with the Brookings Mindfulness Study and the ARC study.