
Meet the Team
Ronald D. Taylor
Professor Ronald D. Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Temple University. Dr. Taylor received his doctoral degree from the University of Michigan in Developmental Psychology. His other affiliations include the Temple University Center for Research in Human Development and Education where he served as Assistant Director and Senior Research Associate. Dr. Taylor routinely investigates factors associated with the social and emotional adjustment of ethnic minority adolescents. His work has focused on family relations, including parent styles and parenting practices and the links to African American adolescents’ psychological well-being. Dr. Taylor’s work has also examined the association of family’s social support network and the links to parent and adolescent functioning.
In his work Dr. Taylor has been especially interested in assessing potential mediating and moderating processes linking family and kinship relations with adolescents’ adjustment. His recent work has focused on the social and emotional adjustment of emerging adults, particularly the role of family, peer and faculty relations in the college adjustment of ethnic minority college students. Dr. Taylor’s work has been funded by the Social Science Research Council and the U. S. Department of Education. Dr. Taylor has mentored many graduate and undergraduate students who have presented their work at national conferences, published their research in peer-reviewed journals and obtained outstanding positions in academic and federal institutions and settings.
Graduate Students
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Jay Bradford
Jay (he/they) is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program. He graduated from Pace University in 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology and minors in Queer Studies and Criminal Justice. During his undergrad, he conducted research on the impacts of campus climate to gender identity development, and in 2020 assisted in qualitative analysis for a study exploring social and political attitudes among members of different racial and social groups. He is currently interested in research highlighting the experiences of BIPOC and LGBTQA communities, examining the ways in which systemic inequity in educational spaces negatively affect student identity, adjustment, and stress response. He aims to conduct research informed by an interdisciplinary critical lens and strives to engage in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Outside of the lab, he loves watching movies, hiking, listening to R&B, and reading.
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Crishnaa Joshi
Crishnaa is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program. Born and raised in Bangalore, India, Crishnaa graduated from Christ University with a B.A. Honors in Psychology and minors in Communication Studies and English Literature and a certification in Personal Safety Education. Her interest in child and youth development led her to pursue an M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development at the University of Pennsylvania, where she coordinated a research project on school-based intergenerational mentoring. Crishnaa’s research examines sleep as a developmental mechanism influencing socio-emotional adjustment and the impacts of family and school factors on the educational outcomes of vulnerable youth and young adults. Beyond her academic and research pursuits, Crishnaa spends her time dancing, playing with dogs and cats, going on hikes, traveling, and exploring new cuisines.
Research Assistants
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Brittney Campbell
SENIOR RESEACH ASSISTANT
Brittney Campbell is a recent graduate of Temple University, holding a B.A. in Africology and African American Studies. Her research interests are centered on the social adjustment of Black queer college students and the impact of COVID-19 on Black children's psychological development. Currently working as a Medical Scribe, Brittney aspires to develop interventions that foster positive psychological outcomes for Black queer adults and children as she pursues a career in medicine.
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Abisha Ebenezer
SENIOR RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Abisha Ebenezer is a current graduate student in the Counseling Psychology PhD program at Seton Hall University. She graduated from Temple University with her M.Ed in Counseling Psychology. She was raised between Bermuda and India, and moved to the United States as an international student in 2017 to obtain her B.Sc in Psychological and Social Sciences from Penn State University. After a year of employment as a full-time therapist, she is starting her next phase of her academic journey by pursing her PhD. Her research interests broadly focus on the experiences of historically marginalized university student populations, with a specific interest in BIPOC and international students. In her free time Abisha is spending time with her cat Artemis, going on runs, and exploring her new neighborhood in New Jersey and visiting NYC.
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Maura Elaine Fee
SENIOR RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Maura is a 2021 Temple University alumna with a BA in Psychology. Her research interests include the role of technology and social media in the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. She aspires to work with younger populations struggling with social development, and exploring how social media spaces potentially benefit or hinder development. Outside of academics, Maura enjoys watching sports, reading mystery novels, attending concerts, and experiencing city life with friends.
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Allison M. Swartz
SENIOR RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Allison is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at The Chicago School in Washington, D.C. She graduated from Temple University in 2021 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. During undergrad, she participated in several research projects at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia investigating adolescent depression prevention and intervention methods in school-based settings. Currently, she is gaining clinical experience as an extern at Woodbridge Therapy Group, where she administers neuropsychological assessments and co-leads social skills therapy groups for young children. Her clinical and research interests include eating disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and child and adolescent development. Her primary theoretical orientation is cognitive-behavioral therapy, and she aims to augment the research that underpins this therapeutic approach. Outside of academia, she enjoys weightlifting, running, spending time with her partner and dogs, and biking.
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Fatema Zavery
SENIOR RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Fatema is an assistant psychologist working in the national health services workforce in the United Kingdom. She has a background in clinical psychology. Her research interests include palliative care, mental health, diversity and inclusion issues and health psychology. In her free time, she enjoys music, theatre and long walks.
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Samrah Barlas
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Samrah is a Senior student majoring in Psychology. After graduation, she would like to work in counseling and provide others with support for their mental health. She is very excited for this year, and hopes to learn a lot. In her free time, she loves to read, watch horror films, and discover new things and places. When she able to, she likes to travel and is especially a fan of long road trips.
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Julia K. Barth
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Julia is a junior majoring in Psychology. Her research interests include behavioral, physical, and social effects of Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disability diagnoses on children and adolescents throughout their lifetime. She is interested in behaviorism and social psychology, as well as clinical psychology. She is interested in expanding her research experience and is working toward a Spanish Certificate. In her free time she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the outdoors.
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Jatnna Cabrera
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Jatnna (She/Her) is a senior at Temple University majoring in Psychology. She is interested in the impact of minority/cultural parenting and sociocultural factors on children and adolescent’s self-efficacy. Additionally, her interests include socio-emotional functioning and clinical psychology. After graduating, she hopes to continue her education in graduate school and pursue a career in pediatric psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies and series, baking, and spending time with her puppy.
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Jemiah Franklin
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Jemiah is a senior majoring in Psychology. Upon graduation, Jemiah hopes to pursue her Psy.d and begin her career as an adolescent psychologist. Jemiah is interested in trauma as well as providing at risk youth with the resources needed to survive and thrive. Jemiah enjoys mentoring and advocating for those who don’t have a voice. She also enjoys learning about the Psychology of the African experience. In her free time Jemiah likes to watch basketball, read, cook and go out to eat with friends.
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Kayla Morris
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Kaylah (She/They) is a senior at Temple University majoring in Psychology and a minor in Africology & African American Studies. Her research interests include sexual and psychological child maltreatment, PTSD, poverty, relational issues, and the Black racial identity. She is also interested in clinical, developmental, family, and Afrocentric psychological perspectives. She is the Treasurer for Temple’s Chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi). Kaylah enjoys journaling, baking, arts and crafts, and beekeeping in her free time.
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Fawziyah M. Murphy
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Fawziyah is a Temple University junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology of health. Her research interests are adolescent development, family dynamics, Cultural variations in parenting, parenting and mental health, and Attachment theory. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, shopping, and reading!
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Tina Zhang
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Tina is a Senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Art. She is deeply passionate about understanding child and adolescent psychology, with a particular focus on cultural influences and clinical practices. Tina's interests lie in adolescent identity development and the exploration of effective treatments for young people, especially within the realm of counseling psychology. Outside of her studies, Tina finds joy in hiking, creating art, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her beloved cats.
SEA Otters
Carmen
Kaia
Mlem
Pumba
Khara
Sky
Oscar
Goldie
Artemis
Sadie
Hershey & Pretzel
Mila
Freya
Hunter