Our Team

Erum Nadeem, PhD

Dr. Erum Nadeem is an Associate Professor in the School Psychology Department at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. Her work focuses on community-partnered research methods, implementation science to support the uptake of evidence-based practices in schools and community settings, and racial/ethnic disparities in children’s educational and mental health outcomes. She has expertise in supporting schools to respond to the needs of children and adolescents exposed to trauma, and in the study of implementation strategies (e.g., coaching, consultation, learning collaboratives, continuous quality improvement).

Emily Graybill, PhD, NCSP

Dr. Emily Graybill is an Associate Professor in the Department of School Psychology, and she is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Her research interests fall broadly under the translation of evidence-based interventions into practice in schools and community settings. She has a particular interest in understanding and shaping the drivers influencing the implementation of school-based mental health and behavior support initiatives. Dr. Graybill works with multiple school districts across states on the implementation and scale-up of integrated tiered systems of mental health supports. She has developed a set of resources to support district use of universal behavior screening. https://www.universalbehaviorscreening.com

Ella Anghel, PhD

Dr. Ella Anghel is a postdoctoral researcher in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. With expertise in educational measurement, evaluation, and the application of technology in educational settings, Dr. Anghel specializes in analyzing large-scale data to inform and enhance educational interventions. She leads the quantitative evaluation of Project AWARE GADoE. Dr. Anghel earned her Ph.D. in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment from Boston College. Her background includes extensive work in instrument development, validation, and using big data and advanced statistical methods for evaluation. Before her Ph.D., she completed her M.A. in Clinical and School Psychology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At CORE, Dr. Anghel leads projects that leverage cutting-edge quantitative methods to evaluate and improve educational and mental health interventions. Her work aims to bridge the gap between rigorous research methodologies and practical applications in educational and mental health settings, contributing to evidence-based practices that enhance student well-being and academic success.

Megan Blanton, PhD

Dr. Megan Blanton is a clinical psychologist working as a postdoctoral associate at Rutgers University. Megan’s research focuses on understanding and modifying contextual risk factors that contribute to mental health and educational disparities among underserved, trauma-exposed youth. Megan is passionate about increasing children’s access to mental health care and reducing racial disparities in mental health by providing bilingual psychotherapy and integrating treatment to under-resourced, overburdened communities utilizing existing infrastructure including schools, hospitals, and community mental health organizations.

Natalie Brousseau, PhD

Dr. Natalie Brousseau is an early career research scientist at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University with experience designing, implementing, and evaluating public health interventions addressing health disparities and mental health. Dr. Brousseau earned her PhD in Human Development and Family Science at the University of Delaware, where she studied critical health disparities, and completed a postdoctoral position at the University of Connecticut, where she explored the impacts of stigma on health inequities with the aim of improving healthcare access and quality for historically underrepresented populations, specifically individuals living with HIV and substance use disorders.

Jaylene Patterson, PhD

Dr. Jaylene Patterson is a postdoctoral research associate in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. She is a former secondary educator and earned her PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Kentucky. Her research focuses on the development and validation of survey instruments, the use of quantitative methodologies and Rasch modeling, and the integration of rigorous measurement practices with critical theoretical perspectives. Dr. Patterson also completed an internship with ETS, where she analyzed data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and contributed to considerations for test developers aimed at improving the equity and accessibility of large-scale assessments for minoritized student populations.

Eva Demsky, B.S.

Eva Demsky is a Research Analyst working for Dr. Emily Graybill at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. She graduated from MIT, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics and Music. Following graduation, Eva worked as a research assistant in the economics department at Princeton University for two years. She is currently enrolled in the MS in Data Science program at Rutgers University, pursuing her passion for statistical analysis and coding.

Narmada Paul, PhD

Dr. Narmada Paul serves as a Research Analyst on Project AWARE’s Evaluation and Implementation team. Her expertise in educational psychology research and quantitative methods positions her as a data lead within the team. Her responsibilities include collaborating with the district’s Board of Education to design and implement evaluation initiatives, providing leadership in data management and analysis, and being a key contributor to the development of evaluation reports and data communication strategies. Prior to joining the CORE team, Dr. Paul served as a faculty member in the Educational Psychology program at University of Kentucky. Her past research grants and publications have focused on student motivation, collaborative learning, and multiculturalism.

Samantha L. Santiago, Ed.D

Dr. Samantha L. Santiago serves as the Project Coordinator for Project AWARE Newark in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. Dr. Santiago holds an Ed.D in Higher Education, and is also a Certified Health Education Specialist with over a decade of experience in the classroom. Her research interests focus on examining support systems and barriers for individuals from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. Dr. Santiago firmly believes that creating safe, nurturing spaces is a fundamental right in education. She is an advocate for educators, recognizing their power to transform lives, and is committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.

Monica Rojas, Psy.D.

Monica Rojas serves as the Practicum Director for the JCPS Project Resilience and Project AWARE programs.

Christopher Dudek, M.Ed.

Christopher Dudek serves as an Evaluator for the JCPS Project Resilience and AWARE programs and provides oversight on data collection, management, analysis and program design. He is a highly experienced research project manager and data analyst with leadership experience across several large-scale multi-site programs and randomized controlled trials. Chris completed graduate training at Rutgers University where he received a M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology. His expertise includes project evaluation, data management, and technology integration related to school-based projects and programs. His research interests include teacher practice assessments, teacher observation, instructional coaching, and evaluation.

Anusha Sahay, BPhil

Anusha Sahay graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Philosophy in Psychology and a Certificate in Managing Health Services and Projects. During her time as an undergraduate student, Anusha gained valuable research and clinical experience, working at multiple clinical psychology research labs and on the Child and Adolescent inpatient unit at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, with interests in adolescent development and how public policies can disproportionately impact certain communities, potentially exacerbating existing mental health challenges among adolescents. In her free time, Anusha loves to read, go to the beach, and play the piano.

Smrithi Venkatraman, B.ASc

Smrithi Venkatraman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from New York University Steinhardt and is interested in how community-based research can be used to create political reform. Prior to working at Rutgers, she served as a senior data collector at NYU’s RISE Labs, where she worked with youth and staff in the juvenile justice system. She is passionate about fighting against racial inequity and deconstructing mass incarceration by examining the policies that impact communities of color.

Olivia Kycia, B.A.

Olivia graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Psychology & Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology. During her time as an undergraduate at Rutgers, she was a research assistant at the National Institute for Early Education Research, where she investigated inclusive classroom practices in early childhood education centers. Olivia is hoping to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to research risk and protective factors for youth and families in community, school and legal settings. She is also interested in advancing trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate assessments and interventions for underrepresented youth populations. Outside of research, Olivia loves baking, painting, yoga, and Pilates.

Udochi Emeghara, B.A.

Udochi Emeghara graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in Neuroscience and a certificate in Mind, Brain, Behavior. She spent her undergraduate career studying the impact of childhood adversity on brain development and various markers for wellbeing, including academic achievement, psychopathology, and social interactions. After graduating, Udochi served as a program manager and community engagement coordinator at Mass General Brigham. Her work included building a mental health collaborative for young adults in the Boston area and engaging with various community organizations to ensure their opinions and values were prioritized in research spaces. Currently, she is a research project assistant at the CORE Lab, supporting school districts as they provide trauma-informed services to their students.