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 

 

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. 

 

Monica Rojas, Psy.D.

Dr. Monica Rojas serves as the Practicum Director for the JCPS Project Resilience and Project AWARE programs, where she supports the development of future clinicians while expanding access to high-quality school-based mental health services. Originally from Southern California, Dr. Rojas began her career as a social worker in providing supports to individuals across the lifespan in diverse community settings. These experiences continue to inform her systems-oriented approach to clinical care and case management within public education. She is deeply committed to advancing equitable access to evidence-based treatment for underserved youth and families, working to ensure that effective, research-supported interventions reach those who need them most. Dr. Rojas is especially passionate about mentoring clinicians-in-training and fostering the confidence, competence, and professional identity of doctoral students as they cultivate their unique impact in the field. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys traveling to new places, exploring international cuisine, honing her own cooking skills, and taking long walks through Central Park. 

 

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. 

 

 

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. 

Dr. Anghel is a senior lecturer at the School of Education in Ben Gurion University of the Negev and has a courtesy appointment with the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. She specializes in educational measurement, evaluation, and the application of technology in educational settings. 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. Dr. Anghel was a postdoctoral researcher in the CORE lab in 2023-2025. In this position, she led the quantitative evaluation of a grant-funded project, contributing to research that leveraged cutting-edge methods to improve the intervention. Before working at CORE, Dr. Anghel earned her M.A in Clinical and School Psychology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and her Ph.D. in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment from Boston College. Dr. Anghel currently works with the CORE lab on multiple measurement and mixed methods research projects.

 

 

 

 

 

Carson Bohl, MPH

Carson Bohl is a PhD student in the Department of Behavioral, Social, Health Education Sciences at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. Carson’s research focuses on leveraging systems-thinking approaches to improve access to sustainable, human-centered mental health services across sectors, including education, healthcare, criminal justice, and social services. He is also passionate about using community-based participatory research to amplify lived experience, destigmatize mental health, and decriminalize survival among oppressed communities. Carson partners with the CORE lab to conduct mixed methods research on systems-level school mental health implementation.

 

 

Scott Lewis, MPH

Archisha Murthy

Archisha Murthy is a second-year doctoral candidate in the School PsyD program at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. Her interests focus on integrating trauma-focused care into school systems, and system-level change for culturally responsive practices that prevent racial discrimination and marginalization. Her dissertation is currently focused on identifying school-based protective factors that mitigate the negative relationship seen between parentified adolescents and their academic achievement. Archisha works with the CORE lab on data cleaning and management.

 

 

Pooja Patel, B.A.

Pooja Patel graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. During her time as an undergraduate student, Pooja was an intern at NeuroCognition Emotion Lab at Columbia University and Family Translational Research Group at New York University, gaining valuable research and clinical experience. Pooja is currently pursuing a PsyD in School Psychology at Rutgers University and is a research assistant at the CORE Lab. She also works with a licensed school psychologist to support students through Social Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies, including conducting psychological assessments, writing integrative reports, and providing individual counseling. Pooja is interested in learning more about Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. 

 

Julia N. Guarniere, B.A.

Julia is a doctoral student in the Clinical PsyD program at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of New Haven in 2023 and subsequently worked for two years as an epidemiological research assistant at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago. Her current research examines the impact of social functioning on suicidality in older adulthood, and she is committed to delivering evidence-based care across the lifespan. Julia works with the CORE lab on data cleaning and management.

 

 

 

Karen Weldler, M.A.

Karen Weldler graduated from Teachers College Columbia University with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and is currently a School Psychology Psy.D student at the Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. During her time at Teachers College, Karen was involved in research activities that examined suicide predictors and future-thinking abilities in youth who experience suicidal ideation, as well as examining the impact of post-traumatic stress on U.S. veterans’ adjustment to civilian life following deployment. She is currently focused on bridging gaps in communication and understanding of youth mental health within the medical and educational systems. Her dissertation is focused on increasing access to cognitive and psychological assessment for populations who do not speak English as a primary language. When Karen is not actively engaged in academic or clinical work, she can be found exploring her neighborhood on her bike, experimenting in the kitchen, and creating happy memories with her children. Karen works with the CORE lab on qualitative data analysis.

 

Claudia Frankfurth

Claudia works with the CORE lab on data cleaning and management.