Our Team
Who We Are
Jake Siegal
Lead Lab Coordinator
Jake is a second-year Clinical Psychology Master’s student at Teachers College. He leads the Nature Walk vs. City Walk project, which examines how natural versus urban environments shape physiological and emotional responses among blind and visually impaired adults. He holds a B.S. in Management and Organizational Behavior from NYU Stern. His research focuses on psychotherapy process and on how nature exposure and sensory experience relate to psychological well-being. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding, exploring art and film, and slowly learning Norwegian.
Erin Kelly
Systems Coordinator
Erin is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Master’s program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her B.S. in Health Sciences and B.A. in Psychology from Chapman University in 2023. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Erin is interested in the intersection of clinical research and practice, with a particular focus on promoting mental health equity. She has clinical experience working with individuals with depression and currently works as an adjunct professor at the New York City College of Technology. In her free time, she enjoys painting, playing the guitar, and exploring different parks throughout the city.
Irene Fueyo-Gomez
Recruitment Coordinator
Irene Fueyo-Gomez is a second year in the MA in Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College. She handles recruitment and also helps lead the Clinical Geography project. In 2023, she received a BA in Political Science with a concentration in Psychology from Columbia University. She is interested in research that explores development, trauma, and the ways in which culture and identity impact both psychological well-being and clinical treatment. She hopes to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and work with children and adolescents as a psychotherapist.
Joe Zhao
Research Assistant
My name is Joe. I’m a second-year Clinical Psychology student at TC. This is my second year in the DEW lab, and I am working as the project lead of the Microanalytic study. I’m mostly interested in Child Psychopathology and Child Therapy, and I’m passionate about understanding how early interventions can support emotional and behavioral development. My goal is to work clinically and conduct research focused on improving mental health outcomes for children and their families.
Leandra Yu
Research Assistant
Leandra is a second-year master's student in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Born and raised in the Philippines, she carries an interdisciplinary background that spans early childhood education, mental health and psychosocial support, disaster risk reduction and management, and health technology. She has held roles across government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector initiatives, giving her a unique perspective on the systemic and community-level factors that shape mental health outcomes. Her professional background informs her evolving research interests, which center on working with marginalized communities disproportionately affected by crises, such as disasters caused by natural hazards and armed conflict. She aims to bridge clinical practice and policy development, hoping that her research informs interventions that address the mental health needs of vulnerable populations and the social and environmental determinants that shape them.
Katherine Mckane
Research Assistant
Katherine is a second year student in the Psychology in Education (Clinical Psychology) MA Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She obtained her BA in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Chemistry and Psychology from Sarah Lawrence College. Katherine is interested in better understanding the dyadic relationship of parent-infants, specifically in parent-infant communications. In the future, she hopes to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, Katherine enjoys the outdoors, swimming, triathlons and indulging in sweet treats.
Zili Lan
Research Assistant
I am Zili Lan and I am a second-year student in the Psychology in Education (Clinical Psychology) program at Teachers College, Columbia University. I am currently the leader of the Soccer & Acculturation project. I am very interested in exploring physical activity and sport performance in different environments in the future.
Jülide Gentry
Research Assistant
Jülide is a second-year master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She co-leads the Clinical Geography and Place Stability and the Human-More-Than-Human Connection (Ecopsychology & Child Development) projects. As a Turkish-American citizen, Jülide grew up in both Florida and Istanbul, gaining insight into how cultural identity, environments, and community relationships shape resilience and mental health globally. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and English and minored in Literature and Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Music at the University of North Florida. Her research interests involve multicultural interventions, trauma, personality, positive psychology, and music/art therapy. Jülide hopes to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology and work as a clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor. In her free time, she enjoys playing the flute in the Columbia University Pep Band, exploring nature, and discovering cozy cafés with friends.
Sarina Alavi
PhD Candidate
Sarina is a School Psychology PhD student at Teachers College, Columbia University where she graduated from the Psychology in Education (Clinical Psychology) MA program in 2023. She received a BA in Psychology as well as a BA in Education, Society, & Human Development from University of California, Riverside, and she is broadly interested in factors within the home, school, and natural environments that influence social-emotional and academic outcomes in youths of at-risk populations. Sarina's goals are to become a professor and to bridge research, practice, and policy to best advocate for vulnerable youths and the prevention of youth violence. In her free time she likes to do anything creative, play the piano, travel, and spend time in nature.
Victoria Witerska
Research Assistant
Victoria is a second-year student in the Psychology in Education (Clinical Psychology) MA Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned her BA in Psychology from Rider University, and she is primarily interested in developmental psychopathology and adverse childhood experiences. Victoria hopes to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology and work as a clinical psychologist/professor. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, music, and reading in Central Park.
DEW Lab Alumni
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​2024 Graduates:
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Paritosh Joshi, Rian Maxwell-Williams​, Georgios Dougalis, Stuti Munjal​, Pratibha Yadav​, Tanya Verma, Amber Rey, Elanie Paredes, Xinming Wu, Ray chen, Amna Maryam, Kevin Redifer, Ayanna Perez, Won Young, Christina Pitio, Zhaohe Chang (Bob), Jasmine M. Rename, Anoushka Ahuja, Sarah A. Schmidt, Tracey Zheng, Ayesha Liaqat
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2023 Graduates:
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Paula Aljovin, Patrick O'Neill, Maddie Kiefer, Laney Morenberg, Howard Bi, Emily Grella, Dylan Bitensky, Caroline Lovett, Ariana Wasret
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