Our Team
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Lab Director
Dr. Cheri A. Levinson, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Associate Professor
Clinical Psychology Ph.D.: Washington University, Department of Psychology
T32 Post-doctoral Fellowship: Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Internship: University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry
Center for Excellence in Eating Disorders (CEED)
Dr. Cheri Levinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville and Director of the Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) lab. She is also the Founder and Clinical Director of the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders, which is the only eating disorder specialty clinic in the state of KY, where she treats patients, and supervises and trains other clinicians and students in evidence-based treatments for eating disorders. Currently Dr. Levinson is Vice Chair of the KY Eating Disorder Council, which is a state sponsored council charged with improving eating disorder treatment and access to treatment in KY.
Dr. Levinson’s research focuses on building new treatments for eating disorders, primarily using new technologies. To do this work she uses advanced analytics and technologies, such as individual network analysis, ecological momentary assessment, and wearable sensor technologies. Dr. Levinson has published more than 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts and chapters and has been the primary investigator on several national grants and awards, including three active clinical trials testing exposure therapy and personalized treatments for eating disorders. She has received several awards for her work including the 2021 Association for Psychological Science Rising Star Award, 2020 American Psychological Association Theo Blau Award, and the Academy for Eating Disorders 2015 Outstanding Scientific Contribution Award.
Dr. Levinson’s clinical works focuses on the treatment of adults, adolescents, and children with eating disorders. She specializes in the treatment of comorbid disorders (eating disorders, OCD and anxiety disorders) using empirically supported cognitive-behavioral techniques. Dr. Levinson has worked in all levels of eating disorder care, including outpatient, partial-hospitalization, residential, and inpatient care.
Before moving home to Louisville, Dr. Levinson trained at the University of North Carolina Center of Excellence in Eating Disorders (CEED). While at CEED, she trained in cognitive behavioral therapies, dialectical behavior therapy, family based therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness therapies for eating disorders. Dr. Levinson was a post-doctoral fellow at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, where she developed technology based treatments for eating disorders. She completed her clinical internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She received her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in the psychology department at Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and history at the University of Kentucky.
To see Dr. Levinson's CV, please click here: levinson_cv.doc
Associate Professor
Clinical Psychology Ph.D.: Washington University, Department of Psychology
T32 Post-doctoral Fellowship: Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Internship: University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry
Center for Excellence in Eating Disorders (CEED)
Dr. Cheri Levinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville and Director of the Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) lab. She is also the Founder and Clinical Director of the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders, which is the only eating disorder specialty clinic in the state of KY, where she treats patients, and supervises and trains other clinicians and students in evidence-based treatments for eating disorders. Currently Dr. Levinson is Vice Chair of the KY Eating Disorder Council, which is a state sponsored council charged with improving eating disorder treatment and access to treatment in KY.
Dr. Levinson’s research focuses on building new treatments for eating disorders, primarily using new technologies. To do this work she uses advanced analytics and technologies, such as individual network analysis, ecological momentary assessment, and wearable sensor technologies. Dr. Levinson has published more than 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts and chapters and has been the primary investigator on several national grants and awards, including three active clinical trials testing exposure therapy and personalized treatments for eating disorders. She has received several awards for her work including the 2021 Association for Psychological Science Rising Star Award, 2020 American Psychological Association Theo Blau Award, and the Academy for Eating Disorders 2015 Outstanding Scientific Contribution Award.
Dr. Levinson’s clinical works focuses on the treatment of adults, adolescents, and children with eating disorders. She specializes in the treatment of comorbid disorders (eating disorders, OCD and anxiety disorders) using empirically supported cognitive-behavioral techniques. Dr. Levinson has worked in all levels of eating disorder care, including outpatient, partial-hospitalization, residential, and inpatient care.
Before moving home to Louisville, Dr. Levinson trained at the University of North Carolina Center of Excellence in Eating Disorders (CEED). While at CEED, she trained in cognitive behavioral therapies, dialectical behavior therapy, family based therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness therapies for eating disorders. Dr. Levinson was a post-doctoral fellow at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, where she developed technology based treatments for eating disorders. She completed her clinical internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She received her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in the psychology department at Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and history at the University of Kentucky.
To see Dr. Levinson's CV, please click here: levinson_cv.doc
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Christina Ralph-Nearman, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Dr. Ralph-Nearman is a Post-doctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. She joined us after completing a Post-doctoral Research Fellowship at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. Dr. Ralph-Nearman became a Cognitive and Experimental Psychologist in 2018, after receiving the University of Nottingham Vice-Chancellor’s Ph.D. Scholarship for Research Excellence, academic scholarships for her M.S. in Neuroimaging and Clinical Neuropsychology (with distinction), and B.S. in Psychology (summa cum laude). Her main research focuses are: 1) Developing innovative tools with objective methods that implicitly detect, assess, prevent, and treat eating disorders; 2) Identifying individual differences, cognitive-affective, and physiological underlying mechanisms, and illness trajectory of eating disorders. Dr. Ralph-Nearman’s co-invention and development of Somatomap (a multi-platform 2D/3D body image assessment tool) has been recognized by the Academy for Eating Disorders with the ‘2020 Early Career Abstract Award’ and the ‘2017 Young Investigators Award’. Additionally, she has received two American Psychological Association early career awards, the University of Nottingham’s ‘Highly Commended Teaching Award’, and multiple research travel grants (e.g., Experimental Psychology Society, British Psychological Society, and Laura and John Arnold Foundation) for her work. Dr. Ralph-Nearman enjoys life, including laughing with family/friends, traveling, the beach, bonfires, hiking, coffee + deep talks, good food, spinning, and volunteering.
Representative publications:
Dr. Ralph-Nearman is a Post-doctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. She joined us after completing a Post-doctoral Research Fellowship at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. Dr. Ralph-Nearman became a Cognitive and Experimental Psychologist in 2018, after receiving the University of Nottingham Vice-Chancellor’s Ph.D. Scholarship for Research Excellence, academic scholarships for her M.S. in Neuroimaging and Clinical Neuropsychology (with distinction), and B.S. in Psychology (summa cum laude). Her main research focuses are: 1) Developing innovative tools with objective methods that implicitly detect, assess, prevent, and treat eating disorders; 2) Identifying individual differences, cognitive-affective, and physiological underlying mechanisms, and illness trajectory of eating disorders. Dr. Ralph-Nearman’s co-invention and development of Somatomap (a multi-platform 2D/3D body image assessment tool) has been recognized by the Academy for Eating Disorders with the ‘2020 Early Career Abstract Award’ and the ‘2017 Young Investigators Award’. Additionally, she has received two American Psychological Association early career awards, the University of Nottingham’s ‘Highly Commended Teaching Award’, and multiple research travel grants (e.g., Experimental Psychology Society, British Psychological Society, and Laura and John Arnold Foundation) for her work. Dr. Ralph-Nearman enjoys life, including laughing with family/friends, traveling, the beach, bonfires, hiking, coffee + deep talks, good food, spinning, and volunteering.
Representative publications:
- Ralph-Nearman, C., Williams, B. M., Ortiz, A.M.L., Smith, A. R., & Levinson, C. A. (2021). Pinpointing core and pathway symptoms among sleep disturbance, anxiety, worry, and eating disorder symptoms in anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.061
- Ralph-Nearman, C., Arevian, A.C., Moseman, S., Sinik, M., Chappelle, S., Feusner, J.D., & Khalsa, S.S. (2021). Visual mapping of body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa reveals objective markers of illness severity. Scientific Reports, 11, 12262. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90739-w
- Ralph-Nearman, C., & Filik, R. (2020). Development and validation of new figural scales for female body dissatisfaction assessment on two dimensions: thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09094-6
- Ralph-Nearman, C., Stewart, J. L., & Jones, K. A. (2020). The role of negative urgency in risky alcohol drinking and binge-eating in United Kingdom male and female students. Addictive Behaviors Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100274
- Ralph-Nearman, C., Arevian, A., Puhl, M., Kumar, R., Villaroman, D., Suthana, N., & Feusner, J., Khalsa, SS. (2019). A novel mobile tool (Somatomap) to assess body image perception pilot tested with fashion models and nonmodels: Cross-sectional study. JMIR Mental Health, 6(10). https://doi.org/10.2196/14115
- Ralph-Nearman, C., Achee, M., Lapidus, R., Stewart, J. L., & Filik, R. (2019). A systematic and methodological review of attentional biases in eating disorders: Food, Body, and Perfection. Brain and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1458
- Samad, M., Ralph-Nearman, C., Hellemann, G., Khalsa, S., Shams, L., & Feusner, J. (2019). Disturbed eating and body dysmorphic symptoms in a young adult sample are separable constructs that each show a mixture of distributions. Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191119879241
- Ralph‐Nearman, C., & Filik, R. (2018). Eating disorder symptomatology and body mass index are associated with readers' expectations about character behavior: Evidence from eye‐tracking during reading. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 51(9), 1070-1079. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22961
- Ralph-Nearman, C., & Filik, R. (2018). New body scales reveal body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal, and muscularity-ideal in males. American Journal of Men's Health, 12(4), 240-250. https://doi.org/10.1177.1557988318763516
Dr. Jamie-Lee Pennesi, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Dr. Pennesi is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. Before coming to the EAT Lab, Dr. Pennesi worked as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at San Diego State University. Dr. Pennesi completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Flinders University in Australia. Her research interests are in the development and prevention of eating disorders, body image issues, and disordered eating behaviors (e.g., muscularity-oriented behaviors) among adults and sexual minority populations. She is also interested in longitudinal modeling and ecological momentary assessment methods (e.g., daily diary studies). Her research has already had an impact with 174+ citations on Scopus. She has received several awards for her work, including the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists ‘2017 Student Prize’, the Flinders University ‘2016 Best Research Higher Degree Student Publication Award’, and multiple research travel grants. Dr. Pennesi also trained as a clinician/psychologist and has several years of clinical experience in working with eating disorders; she hopes to obtain licensure to continue working with eating and weight disorders in the US. Dr. Pennesi loves being active (cycling, running, hiking), spending time outside (especially by the beach), talking with family/friends at home in Australia and South Africa (where she was born), travelling, good food, coffee, and cute fluffy dogs.
Representative publications:
Dr. Pennesi is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. Before coming to the EAT Lab, Dr. Pennesi worked as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at San Diego State University. Dr. Pennesi completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Flinders University in Australia. Her research interests are in the development and prevention of eating disorders, body image issues, and disordered eating behaviors (e.g., muscularity-oriented behaviors) among adults and sexual minority populations. She is also interested in longitudinal modeling and ecological momentary assessment methods (e.g., daily diary studies). Her research has already had an impact with 174+ citations on Scopus. She has received several awards for her work, including the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists ‘2017 Student Prize’, the Flinders University ‘2016 Best Research Higher Degree Student Publication Award’, and multiple research travel grants. Dr. Pennesi also trained as a clinician/psychologist and has several years of clinical experience in working with eating disorders; she hopes to obtain licensure to continue working with eating and weight disorders in the US. Dr. Pennesi loves being active (cycling, running, hiking), spending time outside (especially by the beach), talking with family/friends at home in Australia and South Africa (where she was born), travelling, good food, coffee, and cute fluffy dogs.
Representative publications:
- Frederick DA, Tylka TL, Rodgers RF, Pennesi J-L, Convertino AD, Parent MC, … Murray SB. (2022). Pathways from sociocultural and objectification constructs to body satisfaction among women: The U.S. Body Project I. Body Image. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.001
- Frederick DA, Tylka TL, Rodgers RF, Convertino AD, Pennesi J-L, Parent MC, … Murray SB. (2022). Pathways from sociocultural and objectification constructs to body satisfaction among men: The U.S. Body Project I. Body Image. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.01.018
- Wade TD, Pennesi J-L, Zhou Y. (2021). Ascertaining an efficient eligibility cut-off for extended Medicare items for eating disorders. Australasian Psychiatry. doi:10.1177/10398562211028632
- Convertino, A.D., Helm, J.L., Pennesi, J-L., Gonzales, M., 4th, & Blashill, A.J. (2021). Integrating minority stress theory and the tripartite influence model: A model of eating disordered behavior in sexual minority young adults. Appetite. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2021.105204
- Klimek, P., Convertino, A.D., Pennesi, J-L., Gonzales, M., 4th Roesch, S.C., Nagata, J.M., & Blashill, A.J. (2021). Confirmatory factor and measurement invariance analyses of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in sexual minority men and women. International Journal of Eating Disorders. doi:10.1002/eat.23488
- Zhou, Y., Pennesi, J-L., & Wade, T.D. (2020). Online imagery rescripting among young women at risk of developing an eating disorder: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Eating Disorders. doi:10.1002/eat.23370
- Wei, B., Klimek, P., Pennesi, J-L., & Blashill, A.J. (2020). Perceptual and attitudinal body image, disordered eating, and muscle-building behavior in college men. Psychology of Men & Masculinities. doi:10.1037/men0000290
- Pennesi, J-L., & Wade, T.D. (2018). Imagery rescripting and cognitive dissonance: A randomized controlled trial of two brief online interventions for women at risk of developing an eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 51(5), 439-448. doi:10.1002/eat.22849
- Pennesi, J-L., & Wade T.D. (2016). A systematic review of the existing models of disordered eating: Do they inform the development of effective interventions? Clinical Psychology Review, 43, 175-192. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.12.004
- Pennesi. J-L., & Wade, T.D. (2015). Common factors across the eating disorder models. In TD. Wade (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Feeding and Eating Disorders. Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi:10.1007/978-981-287-087-2_97-1
Rachel Butler, Ph.D. (she/her)
Rachel Butler is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. Rachel completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Temple University and completed her predoctoral internship at the UCSD Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research. Her research focuses on the development and improvement of treatments for anxiety and eating disorders. In particular, she is interested in testing novel, exposure-based interventions for eating disorders. Rachel received the APA Dissertation Research Award for her work investigating imaginal exposure as an intervention for disordered eating related fears. Additionally, Rachel hopes to expand the understanding and treatment of eating and anxiety disorders in sexual and gender minority populations. Rachel is passionate about working with individuals with eating and anxiety disorders clinically as well as teaching and mentoring students. In her free time, Rachel loves riding mountain bikes, racing cyclocross, baking, and stand up comedy.
Representative publications:
Rachel Butler is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. Rachel completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Temple University and completed her predoctoral internship at the UCSD Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research. Her research focuses on the development and improvement of treatments for anxiety and eating disorders. In particular, she is interested in testing novel, exposure-based interventions for eating disorders. Rachel received the APA Dissertation Research Award for her work investigating imaginal exposure as an intervention for disordered eating related fears. Additionally, Rachel hopes to expand the understanding and treatment of eating and anxiety disorders in sexual and gender minority populations. Rachel is passionate about working with individuals with eating and anxiety disorders clinically as well as teaching and mentoring students. In her free time, Rachel loves riding mountain bikes, racing cyclocross, baking, and stand up comedy.
Representative publications:
- Manasse, S.M., Lampe, E.W., Abber, S.R., Butler, R.M., Gillikin, L.M., & Trainor, C. (2021). Exposure-enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents with binge eating: An initial case series, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26, 1124-1136.
- Horenstein, A., Kaplan, S.C., Butler, R.M., Heimberg, R.G. (2020) Social anxiety moderates the relationship between body mass index and motivation to avoid exercise. Body Image, 36, 185-192.
- Butler, R.M., O’Day, E.B., Swee, M.B., Horenstein, A., Heimberg, R.G. (2020) Cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder: Predictors of treatment outcome in a quasi-naturalistic setting. Behavior Therapy, 52, 465-477.
- Butler, R.M., Heimberg, R.G. (2020) Exposure therapy for eating disorders: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 78, 1-10.
- Butler, R.M., O’Day, E.B., Kaplan, S.C., Swee, M.B., Horenstein, A., Morrison, A.S., Goldin, P.R., Gross, J.J., Heimberg, R.G. (2019). Do sudden gains predict treatment outcome in social anxiety disorder? Findings from two randomized controlled trials. Behavior Research and Therapy, 121, 103453.
- Butler, R.M., Horenstein, A., Gitlin, M., Testa, R.J., Kaplan, S.C., Swee, M.B., Heimberg, R.G. (2019). Social anxiety among transgender and gender nonconforming individuals: The role of gender affirming medical interventions. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 128, 25-31.
- Butler, R.M., Boden, M.T., Olino, T.M., Morrison, A.S., Goldin, P.R., Gross, J.J., & Heimberg, R.G. (2018). Emotional clarity and attention to emotions in cognitive behavioral group therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction for social anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 55, 31-38.
Hannah Fitterman-Harris, Ph.D. (she/her)
Dr. Fitterman-Harris is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Saint Louis University and completed her predoctoral internship at the University of Florida Health Science Center. Dr. Fitterman-Harris’s primary research and clinical interests include the intersection of weight stigma and eating disorders, assessment and reduction of weight stigma (particularly weight stigma in healthcare settings), prevention and treatment of eating disorders, and body image. Dr. Fitterman-Harris received the Saint Louis University Dissertation Fellowship to support her research to create and validate an instrument to assess weight stigma among healthcare providers. She also received the RSH Scholarship through the Academy for Eating Disorders to support her work more broadly in the reduction of weight stigma and treatment of eating disorders. Dr. Fitterman-Harris enjoys watching hockey and baking shows, knitting hats, and anything involving golden retrievers.
Representative publications:
Dr. Fitterman-Harris is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Saint Louis University and completed her predoctoral internship at the University of Florida Health Science Center. Dr. Fitterman-Harris’s primary research and clinical interests include the intersection of weight stigma and eating disorders, assessment and reduction of weight stigma (particularly weight stigma in healthcare settings), prevention and treatment of eating disorders, and body image. Dr. Fitterman-Harris received the Saint Louis University Dissertation Fellowship to support her research to create and validate an instrument to assess weight stigma among healthcare providers. She also received the RSH Scholarship through the Academy for Eating Disorders to support her work more broadly in the reduction of weight stigma and treatment of eating disorders. Dr. Fitterman-Harris enjoys watching hockey and baking shows, knitting hats, and anything involving golden retrievers.
Representative publications:
- Fitterman-Harris, H. F., Hughes, H. M., Soulliard, Z. A., Zane, K. (2022). Barriers to LGBQ- and TGNB-affirmative clinical training in psychology doctoral programs. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000565
- Fitterman-Harris, H. F., & Vander Wal, J. S. (2021). Weight bias reduction among first-year medical students: A quasi-randomized, controlled trial. Clinical Obesity, e12479. https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12479
- Soulliard, Z. A., Fitterman-Harris, H. F., Perry, J. E., Poe, L., & Ross, M. J. (2021). Differences in body appreciation and functionality appreciation outside of and directly following sport among collegiate student athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 35(4), 320-328. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2020-0175
- Smith, L. B., Foster, N., Bollepalli, S., Fitterman-Harris, H. F., & Rancourt, D. (2020). An examination of sex differences in a disease-specific model of disordered eating behaviors in type 1 diabetes. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 45(1), 91-100. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsz090
- Rancourt, D., Foster, N., Bollepalli, S., Fitterman-Harris, H. F., Powers, M. A., Clements, M., & Smith, L. B. (2019). Test of the modified dual pathway model of eating disorders in individuals with type 1 diabetes. International Journal of Eating Disorders 52(6), 630-642. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23054
- Soulliard, Z. A., Kauffman, A. A., Fitterman-Harris, H. F., Perry, J. E., & Ross, M. J. (2019). Examining positive body image, sport confidence, flow state, and subjective performance among student athletes and non-athletes. Body Image, 28, 93-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.12.009
Dr. Anna Marie Ortiz, Ph.D.
Dr. Ortiz is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Ortiz’s research focuses on investigating the cognitive and affective factors that contribute to the etiology and maintenance of eating disorders, developing more effective treatments for eating disorders, and improving treatment outcomes. She is also passionate about her role as a clinician working with individuals with eating disorders. In her free time, Dr. Ortiz enjoys hiking, spending time with her nieces and nephews, playing basketball, and doing puzzles.
Representative Publication:
Dr. Ortiz is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Ortiz’s research focuses on investigating the cognitive and affective factors that contribute to the etiology and maintenance of eating disorders, developing more effective treatments for eating disorders, and improving treatment outcomes. She is also passionate about her role as a clinician working with individuals with eating disorders. In her free time, Dr. Ortiz enjoys hiking, spending time with her nieces and nephews, playing basketball, and doing puzzles.
Representative Publication:
- Ralph-Nearman, C., Williams, B. M., Ortiz, A. M. L., Smith, A. R., & Levinson, C. A. (2021). Pinpointing Core and Pathway Symptoms Among Sleep Disturbance, Anxiety, Worry, and Eating Disorder Symptoms In Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa. Journal of Affective Disorders.
- Ortiz, A. M. L., Davis, H. A., Riley, E. R., & Smith, G. T. (2021). The interaction between affective lability and eating expectancies predicts binge eating. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention.
- Christian, C., Bridges-Curry, Z., Hunt, R.A., Ortiz, A.M.L., Drake, J.E., Levinson, C.A. (2021). Latent profile analysis of impulsivity and perfectionism dimensions and associations with psychiatric symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 283, 293-301.
- Atkinson, E. A., Ortiz, A. M. L., & Smith, G. T. (2020). Affective risk for problem drinking: reciprocal influences among negative urgency, affective lability, and rumination. Current Drug Research Review, 12(1), 42-51.
- Davis, H. A., Ortiz, A. M. L., & Smith, G. T. (2019). Transactions between early binge eating and personality predict transdiagnostic risk. European Eating Disorders Review. 27(6), 614-627.
- Ortiz, A. M. L., Davis, H. A., & Smith, G. T. (2019). Transactions among thinness expectancies, depression, and binge eating in the prediction of adolescent weight control behaviors. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52(2), 142-152.
- Davis, H. A., Ortiz, A. M. L., & Smith, G. T. (2017). The occurrence and covariation of binge eating and compensatory behaviors across early to mid-adolescence. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 43(4), 402-412.
Graduate Students
Caroline Christian, M.S. (She/Her)
Caroline Christian (M.S., University of Louisville) is a 5th year graduate student in the EAT Lab and is preparing to start her clinical internship in 2023-2024. Caroline's research focuses on integrating novel methods to better understand the role of transdiagnostic factors (e.g., fear and avoidance) in eating disorders and comorbid anxiety-based disorders. She is especially interested in testing these processes across critical periods (e.g., pregnancy/postpartum; stages of remission) to inform prevention, treatment, and relapse prevention interventions. Caroline has worked clinically with eating disorders and anxiety-based disorders through the Psychological Services Center, Lindner Center of Hope, the Louisville OCD Clinic, and the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders, through which she received training in CBT, DBT, radically open DBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, and exposure-based therapies. In her free time, Caroline enjoys taking her dog Lincoln to the park, playing tennis, and making pottery.
Representative Publications:
Caroline Christian (M.S., University of Louisville) is a 5th year graduate student in the EAT Lab and is preparing to start her clinical internship in 2023-2024. Caroline's research focuses on integrating novel methods to better understand the role of transdiagnostic factors (e.g., fear and avoidance) in eating disorders and comorbid anxiety-based disorders. She is especially interested in testing these processes across critical periods (e.g., pregnancy/postpartum; stages of remission) to inform prevention, treatment, and relapse prevention interventions. Caroline has worked clinically with eating disorders and anxiety-based disorders through the Psychological Services Center, Lindner Center of Hope, the Louisville OCD Clinic, and the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders, through which she received training in CBT, DBT, radically open DBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, and exposure-based therapies. In her free time, Caroline enjoys taking her dog Lincoln to the park, playing tennis, and making pottery.
Representative Publications:
- Christian, C., Cusack, C.E., Ralph-Nearman, C., Spoor, S.P., Hunt, R.A., Levinson, C.A. (in press). A pilot, time-series investigation of depression, anxiety, and eating disorder symptoms in adults experiencing major depressive symptoms: The need for eating disorder assessment and research in depression. Behavior Therapy.
- Christian, C., Levinson, C.A. (2022). An integrated review of fear and avoidance learning in anxiety disorders and application to eating disorders. New Ideas in Psychology. DOI: 10.1016/j.newideapsych.2022.100964
- Christian, C., Cash, E., Cohen, D.A., Trombley, C.M., Levinson, C.A. (2022). Electrodermal activity and heart rate variability during exposure fear scripts predict trait-level and momentary social anxiety and eating disorder symptoms in an analogue sample. Clinical Psychological Science.
- Christian, C., Bridges-Curry, Z., Hunt, R.A., Ortiz, A.M.L., Drake, J.E., Levinson, C.A. (2021). Latent profile analysis of impulsivity and perfectionism dimensions and associations with psychiatric symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.076
- Christian, C., Perko, V. L., Vanzhula, I.A., Tregarthen, J.P., Forbush, K.T., Levinson, C. A. (2019). Eating Disorder Core Symptoms and Symptom Pathways across Developmental Stages: A Network Analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/abn0000477
- Christian, C., Brosof, L. C., Vanzhula I.A., Williams, B. M., Shankar Ram, S., Levinson, C. A. (2019). Implementation of a dissonance-based, eating disorder prevention program and investigation of eating disorder comorbidities and risk factors in southern, all-female high schools. Body Image. DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.05.003
Brenna Williams, M.S. (She/Her)
Brenna Williams (B.A. Southern Methodist University, M.S. University of Louisville) is a doctoral candidate in the EAT Lab. Brenna is interested in studying self-relations, such as self-criticism and self-compassion, as transdiagnostic factors that contribute to the high rates of psychiatric comorbidity among eating disorders. She is passionate about studying the impact of self-criticism and self-compassion on eating disorder symptoms and the integration of compassion-focused interventions for eating disorders. Through her research, she hopes to develop transdiagnostic treatments for eating disorders that target eating disorders and other co-occurring symptoms of psychopathology (e.g., anxiety, depression) simultaneously. Brenna has also received clinical training in sleep disorders, and she is currently a practicum student at the Behavioral Wellness Clinic in Louisville, KY where she works with individuals with eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Outside of her research and clinical work, Brenna enjoys reading fiction books to escape from reality and taking her dogs, Hera and Ajax, to get pup cups every weekend.
Representative Publications:
Brenna Williams (B.A. Southern Methodist University, M.S. University of Louisville) is a doctoral candidate in the EAT Lab. Brenna is interested in studying self-relations, such as self-criticism and self-compassion, as transdiagnostic factors that contribute to the high rates of psychiatric comorbidity among eating disorders. She is passionate about studying the impact of self-criticism and self-compassion on eating disorder symptoms and the integration of compassion-focused interventions for eating disorders. Through her research, she hopes to develop transdiagnostic treatments for eating disorders that target eating disorders and other co-occurring symptoms of psychopathology (e.g., anxiety, depression) simultaneously. Brenna has also received clinical training in sleep disorders, and she is currently a practicum student at the Behavioral Wellness Clinic in Louisville, KY where she works with individuals with eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Outside of her research and clinical work, Brenna enjoys reading fiction books to escape from reality and taking her dogs, Hera and Ajax, to get pup cups every weekend.
Representative Publications:
- Williams, B. M., & Levinson, C. A. (2022). A model of self-criticism as a transdiagnostic mechanism of eating disorder comorbidity: A review. New Ideas in Psychology, 66(1), 100949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2022.100949
- Williams, B. M., Brown, M. L., Sandoval-Araujo, L., Russell, S., & Levinson, C. A. (2022). Psychiatric comorbidity among eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder and underlying shared mechanisms and features: An updated review. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 36(3). https://doi.org/10.1891/JCPSY-D-2021-0011
- Williams, B. M., & Levinson, C. A. (2021). Intolerance of uncertainty and perfectionism as maintenance factors for eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. European Eating Disorders Review, 29(1), 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2807
- Sahlan, R. N., Williams, B. M., Forrest, L. N., Saunders, J. F., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., & Levinson, C. A. (2021). Disordered eating, self-esteem, and depression symptoms in Iranian adolescents and young adults: A network analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 54(2), 132-147. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23365
- Williams, B. M., & Levinson, C. A. (2020). Negative beliefs about the self prospectively predict eating disorder severity among undergraduate women. Eating Behaviors. 37(1), 101384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2020.101384
Rowan Hunt, B.A. (She/Her)
Rowan Hunt (B.A. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a fourth year graduate student in the EAT lab. Rowan's research interests include the shared affective mechanisms underlying eating disordered behaviors and other impulsive behaviors, and how such shared mechanisms can be targeted through treatment. Additionally, she is also interested in trajectories of illness in EDs (e.g., predictors of recovery, remission, and relapse). In her free time, Rowan enjoys cooking, seeing live music, and trying her hand at ceramics.
Representative Publications:
Rowan Hunt (B.A. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a fourth year graduate student in the EAT lab. Rowan's research interests include the shared affective mechanisms underlying eating disordered behaviors and other impulsive behaviors, and how such shared mechanisms can be targeted through treatment. Additionally, she is also interested in trajectories of illness in EDs (e.g., predictors of recovery, remission, and relapse). In her free time, Rowan enjoys cooking, seeing live music, and trying her hand at ceramics.
Representative Publications:
- Hunt, R.A., Levinson, C.A., & Peiper, N.C. (2020, in press). Leveraging general risk surveillance to reduce suicide in early adolescents: Associations between suicidality, disordered eating, and other developmental risk factors. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.
- Vanzhula, I.A., Sala, M., Christian, C., Hunt, R.A., Keshishian, A.C., Wong, V.Z., Ernst, S.E., Spoor, S.P., & Levinson, C.A. (2020). Avoidance coping during mealtimes predicts an increase in eating disorder symptoms. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(4), 625-630. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23254 Christian, C., Williams, B. M., Hunt, R.A., Wong, V.Z., Ernst, S.E., Spoor, S.P., Vanzhula I.A., Tregarthen J.P., Forbush, K.T., & Levinson, C.A. (2020, in press). A network investigation of core symptoms and pathways across duration of illness using a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral model of eating disorder symptoms. Psychological Medicine, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291719003817
Ani Keshishian, B.A. (She/Her)
Ani Keshishian (B.A. Boston University) is a fourth year graduate student in the EAT lab. Ani is interested in conducting translational research using novel technology to capture the transdiagnostic mechanisms underlying comorbid psychopathology in eating disorders. She is also interested in improving treatment outcomes by adapting current evidence-based treatments as well as developing novel treatments while also taking into consideration the prevalence of comorbidity in eating disorders. In her free time, Ani enjoys traveling, yoga, and dancing.
Representative Publication:
Ani Keshishian (B.A. Boston University) is a fourth year graduate student in the EAT lab. Ani is interested in conducting translational research using novel technology to capture the transdiagnostic mechanisms underlying comorbid psychopathology in eating disorders. She is also interested in improving treatment outcomes by adapting current evidence-based treatments as well as developing novel treatments while also taking into consideration the prevalence of comorbidity in eating disorders. In her free time, Ani enjoys traveling, yoga, and dancing.
Representative Publication:
- Vanzhula, I.A., Sala, M., Christian, C., Hunt, R.A., Keshishian, A.C., Wong, V.Z., Ernst, S.E., Spoor, S.P., & Levinson, C.A. (2020). Avoidance coping during mealtimes predicts an increase in eating disorder symptoms. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(4), 625-630. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23254.
Claire Cusack, M.A. (They/She)
Claire Cusack (M.A. Towson University; B.A. Agnes Scott College) is a second-year graduate student in the EAT Lab. Claire is interested in exploring maintenance symptoms of eating disorders and comorbidities. They are particularly interested in utilizing idiographic statistical methods and incorporating physiological data to understand the heterogeneity of eating disorder symptoms and to inform tailored treatments. In their free time, Claire enjoys trail running, reading novels, and playing board games.
cecusack.github.io/ClaireCusack/
Claire Cusack (M.A. Towson University; B.A. Agnes Scott College) is a second-year graduate student in the EAT Lab. Claire is interested in exploring maintenance symptoms of eating disorders and comorbidities. They are particularly interested in utilizing idiographic statistical methods and incorporating physiological data to understand the heterogeneity of eating disorder symptoms and to inform tailored treatments. In their free time, Claire enjoys trail running, reading novels, and playing board games.
cecusack.github.io/ClaireCusack/
Loie Faulkner, B.A. (She/Her)
Loie Faulkner (she/her) is a first-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Louisville. Originally from Ithaca, NY, Loie graduated from American University in Washington, DC before completing a postbaccalaureate training program at the National Institutes of Health. Loie is primarily interested in the intersection of anxiety and eating behavior, and is particularly focused on early childhood anxiety, stress, and mood as predictors of disordered eating.
Loie Faulkner (she/her) is a first-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Louisville. Originally from Ithaca, NY, Loie graduated from American University in Washington, DC before completing a postbaccalaureate training program at the National Institutes of Health. Loie is primarily interested in the intersection of anxiety and eating behavior, and is particularly focused on early childhood anxiety, stress, and mood as predictors of disordered eating.
Lab Managers
Kimberly Osborn, B.A. (She/Hers)
Kimberly is a second year Counseling Psychology PhD student at Oklahoma State University. She is interested in the relationship between interpersonal competitiveness and the development and maintenance of eating disorders. She is also passionate about identifying and addressing treatment barriers for low-income individuals experiencing eating disorder symptomology. She enjoys kayaking, running, and watching The Office with her husband and her dog, Juju.
Kimberly is a second year Counseling Psychology PhD student at Oklahoma State University. She is interested in the relationship between interpersonal competitiveness and the development and maintenance of eating disorders. She is also passionate about identifying and addressing treatment barriers for low-income individuals experiencing eating disorder symptomology. She enjoys kayaking, running, and watching The Office with her husband and her dog, Juju.
Emma Roberts, B.A. (She/They)
Emma Roberts (B.A. University of Louisville) is a first year graduate student in the Master of Public Health program at the University of Louisville. Her research interests include the epidemiology of mental illness and the impact of minority stress on illness outcomes. Emma worked as a research assistant in the EAT Lab for three years while she earned her undergraduate degree, during which time she completed an Honors Thesis investigating the relationship between sexual and gender minority identities and interoceptive awareness. In their free time, Emma enjoys reading, watching bad television, and spending time with their friends and family.
Emma Roberts (B.A. University of Louisville) is a first year graduate student in the Master of Public Health program at the University of Louisville. Her research interests include the epidemiology of mental illness and the impact of minority stress on illness outcomes. Emma worked as a research assistant in the EAT Lab for three years while she earned her undergraduate degree, during which time she completed an Honors Thesis investigating the relationship between sexual and gender minority identities and interoceptive awareness. In their free time, Emma enjoys reading, watching bad television, and spending time with their friends and family.
Study Coordinators
Luis Sandoval-Araujo, B.A. (He/Him)
Luis Sandoval-Araujo (B.A. Florida International University) is a study coordinator for the NIMH-Funded Predicting Eating Disorder Recovery Study. Prior to joining the EAT Lab, Luis worked on a number of projects at the FIU Center for Children and Families, such as the Mental Health Interventions and Technology program and the Supporting Teens Academic Needs Daily program. Luis is primarily interested in how eating disorders and anxiety disorders interact with each other, particularly viewing anxiety as a developmental risk factor or moderating variable in later disordered eating behaviors and cognitions. He hopes to eventually pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Outside the lab, Luis enjoys playing music (mostly sad songs on guitar), building computers, and spending quality time with friends.
Luis Sandoval-Araujo (B.A. Florida International University) is a study coordinator for the NIMH-Funded Predicting Eating Disorder Recovery Study. Prior to joining the EAT Lab, Luis worked on a number of projects at the FIU Center for Children and Families, such as the Mental Health Interventions and Technology program and the Supporting Teens Academic Needs Daily program. Luis is primarily interested in how eating disorders and anxiety disorders interact with each other, particularly viewing anxiety as a developmental risk factor or moderating variable in later disordered eating behaviors and cognitions. He hopes to eventually pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Outside the lab, Luis enjoys playing music (mostly sad songs on guitar), building computers, and spending quality time with friends.
Taylor Penwell, B.A. (She/Her)
Taylor (Gardner) Penwell (B.A. Ohio University) is the Study Coordinator for the NIMH funded Online Relapse Prevention Study. She is also a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders. Taylor received her Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors from Ohio University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Biological Sciences. After receiving her bachelor's degree, Taylor worked as the Clinical Research Coordinator for The Renfrew Center where she examined treatment outcomes for an emotion-focused treatment for eating disorders. Taylor is primarily interested in transdiagnostic factors that predict eating disorder treatment outcomes, relapse, and remission. In her free time, Taylor enjoys spending time with her dog, Roxxi, and her cat, Iggi, reading, and trying new recipes.
Representative Publication:
Taylor (Gardner) Penwell (B.A. Ohio University) is the Study Coordinator for the NIMH funded Online Relapse Prevention Study. She is also a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders. Taylor received her Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors from Ohio University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Biological Sciences. After receiving her bachelor's degree, Taylor worked as the Clinical Research Coordinator for The Renfrew Center where she examined treatment outcomes for an emotion-focused treatment for eating disorders. Taylor is primarily interested in transdiagnostic factors that predict eating disorder treatment outcomes, relapse, and remission. In her free time, Taylor enjoys spending time with her dog, Roxxi, and her cat, Iggi, reading, and trying new recipes.
Representative Publication:
- Thompson-Brenner, H., Singh, S., Gardner, T., Brooks, G. E., Smith, M. T., Lowe, M. R., & Boswell, J. F. (2021). The Renfrew Unified Treatment for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity: Long-Term Effects of an Evidence-Based Practice Implementation in Residential Treatment. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 641601.
Emma Crumby, B.S. (She/Her)
Emma Crumby (B.S. Georgia College & State University) is a Study Coordinator for the EAT lab for our NIMH funded Personalized Treatment trial. Emma graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2021 with a degree in Psychology. While she was earning her degree, she worked under Dr. Eric Rindal studying the development of false memories. However, her true passion and interest lies in eating disorder and body image research. Her interest was solidified when she became involved in Dr. Jessica Saunders’ research refining measures of body dissatisfaction and internalized weight stigma. Her goal is to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and conduct research that is clinically useful for furthering eating disorder treatment. In her free time, she enjoys reading horror novels, listening to music, and creative writing.
Emma Crumby (B.S. Georgia College & State University) is a Study Coordinator for the EAT lab for our NIMH funded Personalized Treatment trial. Emma graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2021 with a degree in Psychology. While she was earning her degree, she worked under Dr. Eric Rindal studying the development of false memories. However, her true passion and interest lies in eating disorder and body image research. Her interest was solidified when she became involved in Dr. Jessica Saunders’ research refining measures of body dissatisfaction and internalized weight stigma. Her goal is to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and conduct research that is clinically useful for furthering eating disorder treatment. In her free time, she enjoys reading horror novels, listening to music, and creative writing.
Jillian Winn, B.A. (she/her)
Jillian Winn (B.A. University of Louisville) is a study coordinator for the High School Body Project expansion . She is in charge of implementing The Body Project, an eating disorder prevention program, across Louisville high schools. Before joining the lab, Jillian worked with a U of L Public Health study that examined the neurobehavioral consequences of coal ash exposure in children. During her undergraduate career, she was a member of U of L’s Body Project student organization. Through her involvement, she facilitated sessions with college-aged women to promote healthy body image and confront unrealistic body ideals. Jillian is mainly interested in how cultural and environmental factors relate to eating anxiety. Being from a small town, she is also passionate about improved access to eating disorder treatments in underserved areas. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and road trips.
Jillian Winn (B.A. University of Louisville) is a study coordinator for the High School Body Project expansion . She is in charge of implementing The Body Project, an eating disorder prevention program, across Louisville high schools. Before joining the lab, Jillian worked with a U of L Public Health study that examined the neurobehavioral consequences of coal ash exposure in children. During her undergraduate career, she was a member of U of L’s Body Project student organization. Through her involvement, she facilitated sessions with college-aged women to promote healthy body image and confront unrealistic body ideals. Jillian is mainly interested in how cultural and environmental factors relate to eating anxiety. Being from a small town, she is also passionate about improved access to eating disorder treatments in underserved areas. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and road trips.
Abby McCarthy, B.S. (she/her)
Abby McCarthy (B.S. University of Cincinnati) is a study coordinator for the FEDF Funded Body Project study. Abby received a Bachelor of Science with departmental honors from the University of Cincinnati where she majored in Psychology and minored in Biological Sciences. While receiving her bachelor’s degree, Abby conducted research regarding children’s learning and childhood obesity. At the University of Cincinnati, Abby completed an honors thesis exploring the relations between caregiving style, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and disordered eating behaviors. She is primarily interested in the etiology of eating disorders, the high comorbidity between eating and anxiety disorders, and evidence-based treatment for eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors. Abby hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and enjoys time with friends, reading, exercise, and cooking outside of lab.
Abby McCarthy (B.S. University of Cincinnati) is a study coordinator for the FEDF Funded Body Project study. Abby received a Bachelor of Science with departmental honors from the University of Cincinnati where she majored in Psychology and minored in Biological Sciences. While receiving her bachelor’s degree, Abby conducted research regarding children’s learning and childhood obesity. At the University of Cincinnati, Abby completed an honors thesis exploring the relations between caregiving style, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and disordered eating behaviors. She is primarily interested in the etiology of eating disorders, the high comorbidity between eating and anxiety disorders, and evidence-based treatment for eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors. Abby hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and enjoys time with friends, reading, exercise, and cooking outside of lab.
Interns
Gabrielle Glorioso, M.A. (She/Her)
Gabrielle Glorioso (B.A. Dickinson College, M.A. University of Indianapolis) is a third-year PsyD student at the University of Indianapolis. She is interested in understanding how weight stigma relates to the development, maintenance, and treatment of eating disorders. Furthermore, she is interested in developing interventions that address weight stigma to prevent and treat eating disorders and disordered eating; her dissertation will investigate the effect of a Health at Every Size-aligned intervention on participants’ health intentions, attitudes, and beliefs. When she is not engaged in her clinical or research work, Gabrielle enjoys playing with her French bulldog, trying new restaurants, and reading psychological thrillers.
Gabrielle Glorioso (B.A. Dickinson College, M.A. University of Indianapolis) is a third-year PsyD student at the University of Indianapolis. She is interested in understanding how weight stigma relates to the development, maintenance, and treatment of eating disorders. Furthermore, she is interested in developing interventions that address weight stigma to prevent and treat eating disorders and disordered eating; her dissertation will investigate the effect of a Health at Every Size-aligned intervention on participants’ health intentions, attitudes, and beliefs. When she is not engaged in her clinical or research work, Gabrielle enjoys playing with her French bulldog, trying new restaurants, and reading psychological thrillers.
Data Managers
Yuchen Han, M.S. (She/Her)
I will be a third-year PhD in the fall 2022 at Biostatistics department at UofL. My research interests are survival analysis and causal inference. My current collaboration work are COVID-19 study and EAT lab.
I will be a third-year PhD in the fall 2022 at Biostatistics department at UofL. My research interests are survival analysis and causal inference. My current collaboration work are COVID-19 study and EAT lab.
Graduate Student Collaborators
Sam Spoor, B.S. (She/Her)
Graduate Student - University of Wyoming
Sam studied Psychology and Human Development during her undergraduate tenure at the University at Albany under the mentorship of Dr. Julia Hormes and Dr. Drew Anderson. During her time as a Study Coordinator at the EAT Lab, her research interests evolved to focus on the impact of barriers to eating disorder treatment access on illness trajectory both broadly, and specifically for folks with marginalized sexual and gender identities. Sam is a second-year graduate student at the University of Wyoming under the direction of Dr. Kyle De Young. Sam continues to collaborate with the EAT Lab through her involvement as a co-investigator on the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Funded Barriers to Treatment Access (BTA) Study in partnership with Project HEAL. In her free time, Sam enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and spending time with her free-roaming pet rabbits, Beasley and Malone.
Representative Publications:
Graduate Student - University of Wyoming
Sam studied Psychology and Human Development during her undergraduate tenure at the University at Albany under the mentorship of Dr. Julia Hormes and Dr. Drew Anderson. During her time as a Study Coordinator at the EAT Lab, her research interests evolved to focus on the impact of barriers to eating disorder treatment access on illness trajectory both broadly, and specifically for folks with marginalized sexual and gender identities. Sam is a second-year graduate student at the University of Wyoming under the direction of Dr. Kyle De Young. Sam continues to collaborate with the EAT Lab through her involvement as a co-investigator on the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Funded Barriers to Treatment Access (BTA) Study in partnership with Project HEAL. In her free time, Sam enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and spending time with her free-roaming pet rabbits, Beasley and Malone.
Representative Publications:
- Levinson, C.A., Spoor, S.P., Keshishian, A.C., Pruitt, A (in press). Pilot outcomes from a multidisciplinary telehealth vs in-person intensive outpatient program for eating disorders during vs before the Covid-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Eating Disorders.
- Levinson, C.A., Cash, E., Welch, K., Epskamp, S., Hunt, R.A., Williams, B.M., Keshishian, A.C., & Spoor, S.P. (2021, Advance Online Publication). Personalized networks of eating disorder symptoms predicting eating disorder outcomes and remission. A registered report. International Journal of Eating Disorders.
- Coffino, J.A., Spoor, S.P., Drach, R.D., & Hormes, J.M. (2020). Food insecurity among graduate students: Prevalence and association with depression, anxiety, and stress. Public Health Nutrition.
- Vanzhula, I.A., Sala, M., Christian, C.B., Hunt, R.A., Keshishian, A., Wong, V.Z., Ernst, S.E., Spoor, S.P., & Levinson, C.A. (2020). Avoidance coping during mealtimes predicts an increase in eating disorder symptoms. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(4), 625-630.
- Christian, C.B., Williams, B. M., Hunt, R.A., Wong, V.Z., Ernst, S.E., Spoor, S.P., Vanzhula I.A., Tregarthen J.P., Forbush, K.T., & Levinson, C.A. (2020). A network investigation of core symptoms and pathways across duration of illness using a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral model of eating-disorder symptoms. Psychological Medicine, 1-10.
Gabby Davis, M.Ed. (she/her)
Gabby is a recent graduate of the Counseling Psychology M.Ed. program at the University of Louisville. Her primary research interests include how individuals with eating disorders make decisions and developing interventions for combatting diet culture. In her free time, Gabby enjoys going to the movies with her partner, spending time with her dog, Murph, and listening to audiobooks.
Gabby is a recent graduate of the Counseling Psychology M.Ed. program at the University of Louisville. Her primary research interests include how individuals with eating disorders make decisions and developing interventions for combatting diet culture. In her free time, Gabby enjoys going to the movies with her partner, spending time with her dog, Murph, and listening to audiobooks.
Research Assistants
Chris Trombley
Chris is pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science at the University of Louisville. Upon graduating, he plans on attaining a Masters and potentially PhD in Computer Science and pursuing a career in Artificial Intelligence. Chris is currently completing a Pathways Engineering program at NASA. In his free time he enjoys programming, reading, and hanging out with friends.
Chris is pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science at the University of Louisville. Upon graduating, he plans on attaining a Masters and potentially PhD in Computer Science and pursuing a career in Artificial Intelligence. Chris is currently completing a Pathways Engineering program at NASA. In his free time he enjoys programming, reading, and hanging out with friends.
Mattison Hale (She/Her)
Mattison is a sophomore at the University of Louisville and is majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. Mattison serves both as an undergraduate research assistant at the EAT Lab, and as a clinical research assistant at the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders. After graduating, Mattison hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatric psychiatrist. In her free time, she loves to write, spend time with family and friends, and meet new people.
Mattison is a sophomore at the University of Louisville and is majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. Mattison serves both as an undergraduate research assistant at the EAT Lab, and as a clinical research assistant at the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders. After graduating, Mattison hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatric psychiatrist. In her free time, she loves to write, spend time with family and friends, and meet new people.
Madison Shannon
Madison is currently a senior pursing a BA in psychology. Her specific research interest is how having life-threatening illnesses and medical trauma can lead to the development of eating disorders in adolescents and young adults. After graduating, she intends to obtain her PhD in clinical psychology and wants to work with medically complex children and adolescents. In her free time she enjoys exercising, making arts and crafts, playing with her dog, Bubbles, and hanging out with her friends.
Madison is currently a senior pursing a BA in psychology. Her specific research interest is how having life-threatening illnesses and medical trauma can lead to the development of eating disorders in adolescents and young adults. After graduating, she intends to obtain her PhD in clinical psychology and wants to work with medically complex children and adolescents. In her free time she enjoys exercising, making arts and crafts, playing with her dog, Bubbles, and hanging out with her friends.
Shaye Allen (she/her)
Shaye is a senior at the University of Louisville majoring in Electrical Engineering. She plans to pursue a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management after graduating in May 2021. Along with volunteering in the lab, Shaye works for the Engineering Fundamentals Department and is secretary of the student organization Speed Spectrum. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and binge-watching Grey's Anatomy and Criminal Minds.
Shaye is a senior at the University of Louisville majoring in Electrical Engineering. She plans to pursue a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management after graduating in May 2021. Along with volunteering in the lab, Shaye works for the Engineering Fundamentals Department and is secretary of the student organization Speed Spectrum. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and binge-watching Grey's Anatomy and Criminal Minds.
Rose Chang
Upon graduation, Rose (B.A. Vanderbilt University) served as a clinical research assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, working on clinical neuroscience and neuroimaging related to reward processing in depression and obesity in the context of stress. Currently, she is working as a lab manager in CCS Lab in South Korea, learning how to apply computational modeling to cognitive processes. She is interested in understanding the underlying mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, particularly those of anxiety and eating disorders. After gaining relevant experience, she hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology.
Upon graduation, Rose (B.A. Vanderbilt University) served as a clinical research assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, working on clinical neuroscience and neuroimaging related to reward processing in depression and obesity in the context of stress. Currently, she is working as a lab manager in CCS Lab in South Korea, learning how to apply computational modeling to cognitive processes. She is interested in understanding the underlying mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, particularly those of anxiety and eating disorders. After gaining relevant experience, she hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology.
Coders
Amy Benningfield
Amy is a senior Psychology major at the University of Louisville. She is minoring in Social Change, is in the Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation certificate program, and is a University Honors Scholar. Amy plans to pursue a career in counseling after graduation. In the mean time, she is a coder for the Eating Anxiety Treatment Lab, is on the Leadership Team for Campus Outreach, and is a member of the German Club. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading, watching Netflix, and spending time with her friends.
Amy is a senior Psychology major at the University of Louisville. She is minoring in Social Change, is in the Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation certificate program, and is a University Honors Scholar. Amy plans to pursue a career in counseling after graduation. In the mean time, she is a coder for the Eating Anxiety Treatment Lab, is on the Leadership Team for Campus Outreach, and is a member of the German Club. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading, watching Netflix, and spending time with her friends.
