I am a first-year PhD student in the General Clinical Psychology Program. My current research interests broadly focus on how social relationships and perceptions influence help seeking for individuals with diagnosed mental disorders. In my free time, I love picking up a thriller novel, practicing a new cooking skill, and spending quality time with my pets!

I am a master's student in the psychological sciences program. As a recent UNCW graduate, I am in the beginning stages of working on my Thesis. As of now, I have chosen to reach how masculinity impacts romantic relationships. I am excited to be an active member of the DISCO lab and I am eager to see where my first year takes me and everything the Lab will accomplish!

Hello, my name is Maggie Crowell, and I'm a master's student in UNCW's psychological science program! My research interests focus on variations of digital media and concepts related to social comparisons. I'm passionate about building a better understanding of the effects that social media can have in regard to social and mental health. I'm looking forward to exploring these interests further in my time at UNCW and to being part of the DISCO Lab! 

My name is Raven Tesh. I am a Sophomore student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. After my undergraduate I plan on applying to graduate programs to be able to further research different social influences on mental health and self-perception. I was born in Texas and have lived in North Carolina for seventeen years. In my free time, I enjoy hiking through the mountains, writing, and playing the banjo!

I am going into my senior year at UNCW as a psychology major with a minor in business. I am from a small town in upstate New York but grew up coming to Wilmington every year to visit my grandparents who live locally. I will graduate in May of 2025, after which I plan on taking a year off from school to gain work experience. I intend to pursue a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology in the future. I am incredibly passionate about psychology and the work being done in the DISCO Lab!

My name is Makayla Kennedy, I am a junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Whole Health and Wellness Studies. I will graduate May of 2027 and intend to pursue graduate school. I am passionate about child development and the ways in which nutrition affects mental health. Makayla served as an RA in 2025-26 before joining the Cognitive Development Lab.  

Alex joined the lab for two semesters in her senior year before graduating in May 2026. She plans to attend graduate school with plans to become a licensed counselor, as well as a licensed psychiatric physician assistant. She is curretly pursuing gap year opportunities in Raleigh.

Mya graduated in May 2026 majoring in Psychology and is applying to pursue a master's degree at University of Oregon. She is originally from California, but has lived in four different countries! She enjoys crafting, music and thrifting during her free time. 

Amy Neal graduated as a Master's student in 2024. She is interested in social psychology and the study of romantic relationships and currently pursuing research and data analytic careers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and adding to her growing keychain collection.

Spencer Boatwright joined the lab as a first-year student at UNCW. He plans to pursue a dual Ph.D. MD degree, becoming a physician-scientist and is particularly interested in the impacts of social media on adolescent development and overall life satisfaction, particularly among those with autism spectrum disorder. 

Emma Viole completed a year-long research fellowship in the lab and graduated with her Bachelor's in 2024. She grew up in Charlotte, NC but loved the beach and thought UNCW would be a great fit. She plans on attending graduate school for counseling psychology, focusing on neurodivergent affirming therapy for adults struggling with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

Bryanna graduated from UNCW with a major in psychology and a minor in applied behavior analysis. Some of her favorite things to do are go to the beach, listen to music, and play with her puppy. After graduating, she went on to pursue a PsyD at West Chester University.

Fatimah complete Master's level work in the Psychological Sciences program. She is interested in looking at how people's behaviors and thought processing impact their social interactions and loves going on hikes and exploring new places outdoors! 

Priscilla joined the DISCO lab through SPSP's SPUR Program. As a first-generation college student, she was motivated to develop a project to test the impact of communal vs. independent syllabi framings on first-generation students' belonging. She graduated from UCSB with her B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and went on to become a lab manager in the Culture Collaboratory at University of Michigan.

Watch an overview of this project!