Meet our current lab members for Fall 2023!
Sabrina Sims (she/her)
Lab Manager
Majors: Counseling and Clinical Psychology & Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
“I love and cherish the space that BT and other members create for myself and others to share their experiences and knowledge of reproductive health. Through this lab, I’ve discovered my passion within my work and I’m forever grateful for that.”
Ellie Kerhin (she/her)
Lab Manager
Majors: Psychology & Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Minor: Anthropology
“I keep choosing to come back because I love the research we do and the research skills I have gained. I also appreciate the support I have received from both lab members and Dr. B-T, in and out of lab.”
Shandell Almanzar (she/her)
Instagram Manager
Majors: Psychology & Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Minor: Sociology
“I love being part of the lab because we learn about social and health issues that often are overlooked through research and community outreach. I also love the sense of community we’ve built around it with Dr. BT and the other
members!”
Lyana Costantino (she/her)
Website Manager
Major: Psychology
Minors: Public Health & Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
“I joined because sexual and reproductive health is such an important subject, yet it’s so under-taught and a lot of people do not have access to essential knowledge and supplies. I’m really interested in that and want to be able to help bring positive change.”
Bianca Torres (she/her)
Major: Psychology
Minor: Spanish
“I decided to join and continue because I wanted to expand my knowledge on sexual and reproductive health especially how it affects marginalized groups, as well as loving the safe and welcoming environment BT and the other members create.”
Kaitlyn Verney (she/her)
Major: Speech Pathology & Audiology
Minor: Public Health
“I wanted to expand my knowledge on a topic I was not familiar with. Not only have I gotten to participate on engaging and important conversations regarding reproductive health but also become part of a supportive and empowering environment!”
Maddie Wolf (she/her)
Major: Psychology
Minor: Public Health
“I joined the lab to grow my knowledge of reproductive education and engage in discussion on topics that are important to me. I love what the lab stands for and the community and safe space that accompanies it!”
Past Members
Current Members for Spring 2019
From left to right: Gabriella DeVito, Cassandra Halper, Jillian Duff, Dr. Jessica Barnack-Tavlaris, Nikita Pate, Sara Breheny, Emma Pranschke, and Farihah Shameem.
MEMBER BIOS:
SARA BREHENY
I am a sophomore psychology major on a premed track. I decided to join the Reproductive and Sexual Health Lab because it is such an important area of study, but is often overlooked or ignored. I think that learning and studying different issues pertaining to reproductive and sexual health can help to end the stigma and hopefully educate people on these topics.
GABRIELLA DEVITO
I am a junior psychology major with a minor in Spanish. Initially, I came to TCNJ wanting to go into the medical field as a biology major, but I have found the relationship between psychology and medicine to be even more interesting and now am pursuing a career specializing in eating disorders. Along with this, I find the concepts of reproductive and sexual health to be intriguing and vital to understanding how human relationships are established and maintained.
JILLIAN DUFF
I am a sophomore Psychology major here at TCNJ. After taking Psychology of Women last semester, I became more interested in learning about social processes and stigma that affect women on a daily and long-term basis. After talking with Dr. B-T, I found that this lab would enable me to deep-dive in this subject. I hope that in the future I can spread my newfound knowledge to others and make more informed decisions about my own health. I think that this lab will teach me how to hold more necessary conversations about women’s rights and health in general, especially in today’s political climate.
CASSANDRA HALPER
I am a junior psychology and communications double major. I think learning about and breaking down stigmas related to women’s sexual and reproductive health is extremely important. I want to be an advocate both on and off campus for women and spread awareness to health disparities. I look forward to learning more in this lab and researching various topics within sexual and reproductive health.
NIKITA PATE
I am a sophomore Psychology major on the Pre-Medicine track. Growing up I always knew that I wanted to go into the medical field, specifically to be an OBGYN. While taking WRI 102 I saw myself writing mostly about women’s reproductive and sexual health and the stigmas and disparities surrounding it. After that I learned about Dr B-T’s lab and knew that I would fit right in. I think it is important to find the roots and causes for such troubling stigmas and disparities and through this lab, I will be able to do that and more.
EMMA PRANSCHKE
I am a senior psychology major and sociology minor at TCNJ. I’ve found that the stigma surrounding issues in sexual and reproductive health often hinder people from vocalizing important concerns, or educating themselves on healthy behaviors. I especially think that women’s health concerns are often overlooked in society. I hope to be an advocate for reproductive and sexual health to help abate the stigma surrounding sexual health concerns and contribute to movements toward gender equality.
FARIHAH SHAMEEM
I am a Senior Psychology major at TCNJ. I have been involved in various psychology labs during my time here and love being involved in research. I was interesting in joining this lab because I believe sexual and reproductive health is a subject that is not discussed enough in today’s society. Through this lab, I would like to become more educated on the topic and make larger efforts toward ending negative stigma around it.
Click photos to learn about Previous Members:
Spring 2018 Lab Members
Fall 2017 Lab Members
Spring 2016 Lab Members
Top Row, From Left to Right: Sarah Melamed, Caleigh Lans, Madeline Dec, Victoria Michels, Alina Ashan, Julia McGovern, Jessica Milne
Bottom Row, From Left to Right: Rachel Fikslin, Alicia Lalicon, Dr. Barnack-Tavlaris, Noelle Skrobola, Anna Mitarotondo
Previous Members: