{"id":215,"date":"2021-06-28T22:12:19","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T22:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.uakron.edu\/empower\/?page_id=215"},"modified":"2026-03-13T02:25:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T02:25:46","slug":"current-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uakron.edu\/empower\/current-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Graduate Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Rachel<\/span> Mirsen<\/span><\/div>
Lab Manager<\/div>

Academic Status:<\/strong> Third year, Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Student
Research Interests:\u00a0<\/strong>Unique IPV risk factors for disabled individuals with caregivers, the influence of gendered healthcare on psychological outcomes of nonbinary\/gender non-conforming individuals following IPV, the many intersections between IPV\/trauma and disability identity.
Pronouns:<\/strong> They\/she
Hometown:<\/strong>\u00a0Cherry Hill, NJ
What does \"Empowerment\" mean to you?:<\/strong>\u00a0Feeling not only validated in ones experiences and identity factors, but also supported in addressing them.<\/p><\/div>

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Auriel<\/span> Jasper-Morris<\/span><\/div>

Year in the program:<\/strong> Fifth year, Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Student
Research Interests:<\/strong> I am interested in intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration, trauma-informed care, prevention and intervention programming, and program evaluation.
Hometown:<\/strong> Houston, TX
Pronouns:<\/strong> She\/her
What does \"empowerment\" mean to you? <\/strong>From a survivor-advocate perspective, empowerment is the act of actively listening, supporting, and advocating for survivors' rights based on their expressed needs. It is also the act of helping survivors recognize their strength and capacity to change their lives.<\/p><\/div>

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Briana<\/span> Joseph<\/span><\/div>

Academic Status:<\/strong> Fourth year, Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Student
Research Interests:<\/strong> I am interested in trauma and intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, Asian Indian experiences, multiculturalism, prevention and intervention programming, and trauma-informed care.
Pronouns:<\/strong> She\/her
Hometown:<\/strong> Dallas, Texas
What does \"Empowerment\" mean to you?:<\/strong> Personally, empowerment is the process of developing a sense of agency, and using this ability to enact change on an intrapersonal or societal level.<\/p><\/div>

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Armani<\/span> Shepherd<\/span><\/div>

Academic Status:<\/strong> Second year, Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Student
Research Interests:<\/strong> I am interested in incarcerated\/recently released populations, recidivism, trauma, Intimate Partner Violence, and Substance Use.
Hometown:<\/strong> Copley, Ohio
Pronouns:<\/strong>\u00a0She\/Her
What does \"empowerment\" mean to you?<\/strong>To me, empowerment means pushing forward in the face of adversity and striving to create a better life for oneself and better future for others.<\/p><\/div>

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Aliyah<\/span> Williams<\/span><\/div>

Academic Status:<\/strong> First year, Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Student
Research Interests: <\/strong>I am interested in understanding the sociocultural impacts sexual violence has on Black women, spirituality and mindfulness, and culturally competent treatment for people who commit sexual offenses.
Pronouns:<\/strong> She\/her\u00a0
Hometown:<\/strong> Denver, CO
What does \"Empowerment\" mean to you?:<\/strong> Empowerment means accepting both the beautiful and ugly parts of the healing process and providing clients with compassionate care to move forward in their lives.<\/p><\/div>

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Brittany<\/span> Riffle<\/span><\/div>

Academic Status:<\/strong> Incoming first year, Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Student
Research Interests: <\/strong>I am interested in trauma and traumatic stress, particularly intimate partner violence, individual differences in the development and expression of trauma-related psychopathology, and trauma-informed care.
Pronouns:\u00a0<\/strong>She\/her
Hometown:<\/strong> Copley, OH
What does \"Empowerment\" mean to you?:<\/strong> To me, empowerment means having a sense of control and agency over one\u2019s life and feeling confident in the ability to navigate challenges and meet one\u2019s psychological and personal needs. As a clinician, it also means supporting individuals in recognizing their strengths and helping them feel capable of advocating for themselves.<\/p><\/div>

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Master’s Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Shannon<\/span> O'Mara<\/span><\/div>

Title:<\/strong> Second year, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.) Program
Research Interests:<\/strong> I am interested in research related to domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, disordered eating, non-suicidal self-injury, trauma-responsive care, and prevention and intervention programming.
Pronouns:<\/strong> She\/her
Hometown:<\/strong> Fort Benning, GA
What does \"Empowerment\" mean to you?:<\/strong> To me, \"empowerment\" means that someone is becoming more confident in themselves and is growing in belief that they have to right to be heard, take space, and advocated for themselves.<\/p><\/div>

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Lab Photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Empower Lab 2026<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Empower Lab 2023<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Empower Lab 2022<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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