W&L Cognitive and Behavioral Science Department
YOUNG ALUMNI PANEL AND SPRING
ALUMNI PANEL
ELMES PATHFINDER PRIZE IN PSYCHOLOGY
LAB NEWS AND ALUMNI UPDATES
ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
A NOTE FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD
Hello from Lexington!
GreetinGs from WashinGton and Lee’s CoGnitive and BehavioraL Science (CBSC) Department!
We are delighted to share this year’s edition of the CBSC Alumni Newsletter, highlighting the many accomplishments of our students, faculty and alumni. Inside, you will find updates on faculty and student initiatives, as well as news from fellow graduates.
Much has remained the same since your time on campus. We continue to have the privilege of teaching and working alongside students who are exceptionally bright, deeply engaged and highly motivated in their academic pursuits. We also continue to have amazing resources to support our courses and research. At the same time, some things have changed. Notably, the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence has impacted our classrooms. Rather than ignoring these tools or prohibiting them entirely, faculty are working to help students use AI thoughtfully and responsibly, with an emphasis on critical thinking and meaningful engagement in an evolving world.
Over the past year, CBSC has hosted a range of events designed to strengthen connections within our community, including alumni career panels, guest speakers and social gatherings. Our students remain actively involved in research, with several presenting their work at conferences and collaborating with faculty on publications.
The past year also brought news I still find difficult to write. In April, our beloved colleague and assistant professor, Holly Shablack, passed away at just 35 years old. In her four years at W&L, Holly distinguished herself as a gifted teacher, a thoughtful researcher and a generous citizen, touching the lives of countless students and colleagues along the way. While her absence is deeply felt, we find comfort in honoring the many ways she made the CBSC Department a better place. In that spirit, we are establishing a memorial award in Holly’s name, to be given annually to a student who embodies her warmth and compassion. The inaugural recipient will be announced during the 2026-27 academic year.
Julie Woodzicka
William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Science
Class of 2026
Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Forty-two students earned a B.A. or B.S. degree in CBSC. CBSC graduates are entering advanced degree programs in occupational therapy, music, data analytics, medical school and industrial/organizational psychology — to name only about half of the paths being pursued via graduate school. CBSC graduates are also starting positions as an elementary education teacher, paralegal and in management consulting, development, marketing and more, including teaching a foreign language abroad and joining the Peace Corps.
Holly and the University Mace, commencement 2023.
LINH NGO ’26 EARNS DAVID G. ELMES PATHFINDER PRIZE IN PSYCHOLOGY
STORY BY EMILY INNES, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS, FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE COLUMNS, JAN. 16, 2026
Linh nG o ’26 Was aWarded the 2025-26 d avid G. eL mes Pathfinder Prize in Psy C ho L o G y at Washington and Lee University. Ngo, from Hanoi, Vietnam, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in cognitive and behavioral science with a minor in studio art.
The Elmes Pathfinder Prize recognizes a student who has shown extraordinary promise in cognitive and behavioral science or its application in professions through outstanding scholarship in basic or applied psychology.
“Being awarded the Pathfinder Prize is exciting, and I see the award as encouragement to continue doing careful, responsible work and to apply what I learn through service-oriented and applied efforts that support individuals and communities beyond academic settings,” Ngo said. “It motivates me to keep growing in ways that connect psychological knowledge to real needs and real people.”
“Linh is one of the most dependable and hardworking students that I have had the pleasure of teaching,” said Julie Woodzicka, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Science. “She
brings a genuine curiosity and fresh perspective to her work and elevates class and lab discussions by listening carefully to her classmates and demonstrating great empathy in her responses.”
Ngo has been interested in psychology since middle school, when she was first struck by the complex and layered nature of the human experience — “like a puzzle that can’t be understood by looking at just one piece,” she explained. She appreciates the challenge of finding and connecting different pieces of the puzzle to see the whole picture, which drew her to the CBSC major. “CBSC encourages that kind of integrated thinking with multiple perspectives, giving me the opportunity to explore questions that truly excite me and to develop a deeper understanding of how psychological knowledge can connect to the people and communities around
me,” said Ngo, whose senior research capstone, completed in Winter Term 2025, explored social media as a tool for emotion regulation. Ngo is also grateful for the guidance and support she has received from the CBSC faculty, particularly the mentorship of Woodzicka; Jacob Gibson, visiting assistant professor of cognitive and behavioral science; and Holly Shablack, assistant professor of cognitive and behavioral science.
The Elmes Pathfinder Prize was established in 2007. It derives from the Elmes Fund, a permanently endowed fund that honors David G. Elmes, professor of psychology emeritus. The endowment was created by the many alumni, colleagues and friends who benefited from Elmes’ commitment to learning during his 40year career as a scientist, teacher and mentor at W&L. ■
CBSC Faculty Involved in Interdisciplinary Programs
W&L has over 15 interdisciplinary majors, minors, and programs across the university’s curricula. CBSC faculty have been active participants and leaders in many programs (and, in the case of neuroscience and data science, the vision behind the programs). Three of our four most recent hires are faculty with commitments to both CBSC and either neuroscience or data science programs. In fact, all CBSC long-term faculty are affiliated with a program:
NEUROSCIENCE
Bob Stewart (current program head), Wythe Whiting, Ryan Brindle and Nikki Lee
CBSC’s Brain and Behavior class has long been a foundational course in the neuroscience program. Wythe’s Attention courses, Stew’s Sensation Measurement and Perception course (among others), Ryan’s Human Psychophysiology courses and Nikki’s Hormones and Social Behavior courses count toward the neuro major — and are always well subscribed.
DATA SCIENCE
Dan Johnson (past program head) and Holly Shablack
The first few DS minors graduated in 2021, and the program has taken off since then. Students across the College and Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics choose a DS minor. Dan teaches foundational DS courses and a research capstone that counts toward the minor.
WOMEN, GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES
Megan Fulcher (current program head), Julie Woodzicka and Heather Macalister Megan’s Development of Human Sexuality and Gender-Role Development course and Julie’s Stereotyping, Prejudice and Discrimination course are electives with credit toward the WGSS minor. Heather, a long-term visiting professor, teaches Psychology of Women.
THE ROGER MUDD CENTER FOR ETHICS
Karla Murdock (past director)
Karla served as director of The Roger Mudd Center for Ethics from 2021 to 2024. The Mudd Center hosts multi-disciplinary programming around year-long themes of ethics. Karla worked on themes of Daily Ethics, Beneficence and Ethics of Design.
DEPARTMENTAL HAPPENINGS
Lab News
CHILD
& GENDER DEVELOPMENT LAB
Development Lab in the Cognitive and Behavioral Science Department at Washington and Lee University. She earned her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Virginia in 2004 and joined Washington and Lee that same year as a visiting assistant professor. She has spent her entire academic career at the university, where she teaches a range of developmental psychology courses, including Principles of Development, GenderRole Development, Emerging Adulthood and the Development of Human Sexuality. In her Spring Term course, Toys and Playful Learning, students design toys that support developmental growth and appeal to children of all genders.
The Child & Gender Development Lab investigates how children understand, express and experience gender across diverse social, cultural and developmental contexts. The lab focuses particularly on how early experiences — such as toy play — shape children’s emerging concepts of gender and their expectations for future work and family roles. This work examines the cognitive, social and environmental factors that influence gender development from early childhood onward. Current research projects span multiple developmental stages:
The
Castles Study
Mothers and preschool-aged children visit the lab and are randomly assigned to build one of three castles: a pink princess-themed Lego castle, a blue knightthemed Lego castle or a lab-designed yellow castle featuring both boy and girl figures. Researchers code mothers’ and children’s language and behavior — such
as teaching, warmth, helping and spatial language — to examine how these interactions vary by child gender and castle type.
The Last Pink Straw Study
School-age children are asked to modify a feminine Lego set — featuring pink and purple bricks and accessories — while making as few changes as possible to render it “appropriate for boys.” Researchers record both additions and removals to determine the point at which a toy becomes “too feminine” for boys, offering insight into children’s gendered perceptions of toys.
The Build-a-Model Study
Adolescent girls participate in designing a girl character who could serve as an effective role model for persistence in science. Prior lab research shows that feminine models like Barbie can inadvertently activate girls’ focus on appearance, even during science activities, while non-feminine models may fail to capture girls’ interest. Using AI tools, participants help create a character that balances appeal with scientific identity. The lab includes several undergraduate research assistants who conduct interviews with children and families, code behavioral data, manage datasets and lead community outreach initiatives. Winter term, seven lab members supported science teachers at Maury River Middle School by helping students design science fair projects. Additionally, two research assistants traveled with Fulcher to Chicago in April to present preliminary findings from the Last Pink Straw project. ■
DEPARTMENTAL HAPPENINGS
Students Presenting at Conferences and Publishing with Faculty
* indicates a student (current or alum)
FACULTY PUBLICATIONS WITH STUDENTS
*Gray, P., *Hedgemon, B., *Keller, A.C., *Pierpoint, H., *Vargas, M.J., & Brindle, R.C. (2026). Selfreported interoceptive accuracy and attention do not interact to predict depression. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology
*Smith, E. J., Woodzicka, J. A., *Griffith, I. M. (2026). Sexual Identity and Perceived Power: Exploring Disparities in Power Allocation Between LGBTQIA+ and Cishet Participants. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
*Gershkovich, C., & Murdock, K. K. (2025). Identity, community, and comfort: how adults with mental health issues envision ideal social spaces. Academia Mental Health and Well-Being
*Johnston, M. A., & Brindle, R.C. (2025). Sleep is not associated with cardiovascular and baroreflex responses to mental stress. Psychophysiology
*Strotsava, M., & Brindle, R.C. (2025). Adverse Childhood Experiences do not relate to cardiovascular or baroreflex reactivity to acute mental stress in the laboratory. International Journal of Psychophysiology
*Varela Benavides, S., & Brindle, R.C. (2025). Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is related to poor self-reported interoceptive accuracy. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Undergraduate Scholarship November 2025, Lynchburg, Virginia
Olivia Close ’27, “Blaming the BoT: Reduced Confrontation of Sexism When Attributed to ChatGPT” Research advisor: Julie Woodzicka
Virginia Social Science Association Conference April 2025, Lexington, Virginia
Linh Ngo ’26, Christy Childs ’26 and Maneli Mansoor Araghi ’27, “Ctrl + AI + Shift: How AI is Changing the Rules?” Research Advisor: Jacob Gibson, visiting assistant professor of CBSC
Left to right: Visiting assistant professor of CBSC Jacob Gibson, Maneli Mansoor Araghi ’27 and Linh Ngo ’26
DEPARTMENTAL HAPPENINGS
Eastern Psychological Association Conference
February 2026, Boston
Not even Boston’s biggest snow since the blizzard of 1978 could keep the THaC Lab from getting to the Eastern Psychological Association Conference.
Dani Hackman ’26, Sarah Clark ’26, and Toluwalope Bakare ’27, “Sedentary Behavior and the Link Between Social Media and Mental Health Outcomes.”
Research advisors: Karla Murdock and Wythe Whiting
Presenting: Dani Hackman ’26, Tolu Bakare ’28, and Lucas Chacon’27
Olaide Olatunbosun ’26, Mary Kate Richards ’26, Olivia Warr ’27 and Lucas Chacon ’27, “Compulsive Scrolling on Algorithm-Driven Social Media Platforms”
Research advisors: Wythe Whiting and Karla Murdock
Presenting: Olaide Olatunbosun ’26 and Simi Adeniyi ’27
Midwest Psychological Association Conference April 2026, Chicago
Olivia Close ’27, Linh Ngo ’26, Hannah Van Son ’27 and Ashley D’Ambrosia ’25, “It’s not Me, It’s CHATGPT: Perceived Intent Mediates the Link Between AI Attribution and Reactions to Sexism”
Research advisor: Julie Woodzicka
Left to right: Linh Ngo ’26 and Ashley D’Ambrosia ’25
C.C. Golub ’26 and Avery Lee ’27, “How Much Pink is Too Much Pink for Boys’ Toys?”
Research advisors: Megan Fulcher and Tess Fulcher
Left to right: C.C. Golub ’26 and Avery Lee ’27
Alumni Career Panels
ONCE AGAIN, ALUMS KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK, BOTH IN THE FALL AND SPRING!
e a C h s P rin G , our CB s C students C ome aWay from the aLumni Pane L W ith a renewed sense of where a degree in cognitive and behavioral science (formerly psychology) can actually take them. Students consistently tell us that hearing directly from alums about their career paths and current roles gives them a clearer sense of what’s possible after graduation. Just as valuable, many say the event reassured them that career paths rarely move in a straight line, easing some of the pressure they feel to have everything figured out. Beyond the panel itself, students point to the breakout conversations and dinner as an opportunity to forge genuine connections with alums. We continue to be grateful for the generosity of W&L alums!
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS AT A GLANCE 4
Alumni events highlighted
Career panelists featured
W&L attendees at SIOP
Eric Shuman ’14 ALUMS AT W&L
Meet
e ri C s human ’14, assistant P rofessor of P sy C ho L o G y at the University of Virginia, visited campus in October to Say Hey!, present his research and meet with students.
Shuman’s talk, “Generating Constructive Disruption: How Disadvantaged Groups Can Negotiate Social Change in the Face of Resistance from the Advantaged,” is an outcome from research conducted while in Israel on a Fulbright grant as a Ph.D. student at the University of Groningen and Hebrew University, and then as a postdoctoral fellow at New York University and Harvard Business School. The research analyzes recent decades’ grassroots social movements and large-scale collective action by historically disadvantaged groups to learn what tactics best overcome resistance to social change.
Shuman’s talk was well-attended – the largest lecture hall in the Science Center was packed. In addition to presenting his research, Shuman also had lunch with students interested in social psychology research.
Shuman directs the Social Psychology of Activism, Resistance and Change Lab at UVA. His research examines what motivates people to engage in collective action and protest, with particular attention to how members of both advantaged and disadvantaged groups respond to inequality, intergroup conflict and calls for social change. Recent work from his lab has explored which tactics, from normative to more disruptive forms of activism, are most effective at building support for social change among resistant groups.
At W&L, Shuman was a psychology and political science double major and a fouryear swimmer. He received the Psychology Department’s Elmes Pathfinder Award, in recognition of his extraordinary promise through outstanding scholarship in basic or applied psychology.
Up at the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychologists Conference
Abbie (Caudill) Groves ’13, Professor Julie Woodzicka, Paul Levy ’84, Abigail (Hinrichs) Holthouser ’20, Steven Holthouser ’21, Keaton Fletcher ’13, Brodie (Gregory) Riordan ’03 at SIOP 2026.
CBSC Class Notes
ANDREW S. “SANDY” RYAN JR. ’68
Ryan pursued graduate study in philosophy after military service during the Vietnam War and earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Virginia. He briefly taught philosophy at the College of William & Mary before transitioning out of academia. Ryan then served as executive director of a Big Brothers Big Sisters agency, followed by a successful career in the information technology sector, including leadership roles at Computer Sciences Corporation and later in telemedicine with CyberOptions, Inc.
HENRY “RODDY” ROEDIGER III ’69
Roddy Roediger retired after 52 years in academia at Purdue, Toronto, Rice and Washington University in St. Louis (29 years). He continues as a research scientist, with two grants and several ongoing projects. In 2021, he received the APA Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award.
His co-authored book, “Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning” (Harvard/Belknap), has sold over 1.7 million copies and has been translated into 21 languages. For more information, visit his website psychnet. wustl .edu/memory/
EDWARD SUPLEE ’70
I graduated in 1970 and earned Psi Chi status. When I went into the Army out of ROTC, I lucked out by being assigned to the headquarters company of an army weapons testing unit in California. My commander noticed my psychology degree, and, therefore, I stayed mostly out of field operations, giving me a much more comfortable two-year assignment. I later had a 27-year career as a VP for MetLife, managing a $2 billion division with 700 employees. I retired fairly young and had a second 18 – year career as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park. We now live in Richmond VA where I am a volunteer interpreter at Historic Jamestowne and Monticello.
MIKE BURNS ’77
I graduated from W&L as a psychology major way back in 1977. After that, I earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from UCLA in 1981. Then I went to work at Bell Labs (the R&D arm for AT&T and the Bell telephone system at that time, later the R&D arm for Lucent, Alcatel-Lucent and now Nokia). Through my 30-plus year career with Bell Labs, I worked in user interface design, systems engineering, data analytics research and management. I also took a two-year sabbatical in the mid-1980s at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston to start a lab working on research and design of human-computer interaction for computer systems in the (at that time proposed) space station. The education that I got at Washington and Lee served as an important foundation and springboard for me in many different ways. I am grateful to the psychology professors at W&L who saw abilities in me that I didn’t know I had.
JAMIE CAMPBELL ’91
I graduated in 1991. I moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for a government contractor as a recruiter and then got involved with Human Resource Software. I then went to work for PeopleSoft, the maker of the software, and I traveled every week as an implementation consultant. In 2006, I moved over to work for Oracle. I now work as a sales consultant where I give Human Resource software presentations to prospective clients — a bit removed from my undergraduate psychology days. I currently reside in Chapel Hill, NC with my wife Dana. We have one child out of college. Our middle child is in graduate school. Our youngest is in her second year at the College of Charleston.
TOM GROW ’92
I’m living in Charlottesville and practicing labor & employment law with Littler, out of its DC office. We are enjoying easy visits over to Lexington to see my son who is a rising sophomore.
JENNIFER PESZKA ’94
I’ve been working as a professor at a small liberal arts college in Arkansas for the last 27 years. I have great colleagues and students I work with to do sleep research, most recently how sleep is related to well-being and longevity. This year we’re trying to enhance well-being with a fun dance and music intervention.
Jennifer Peszka, far right, with two Hendrix alumni who worked in her research laboratory when they were undergraduates.
TODD STANTON ’95
Todd is celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Stanton Law LLC, an Atlanta-based business-side law firm. His first book, the Amazon Bestseller, “The 95% Rule: 29 Employment Law Axioms for Owners, Execs and HR,” launched last fall. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, Ashley, and is ready to get his last son to college later this year.
KIM SCHOOLEY HICKMAN ’96
After 22 years teaching elementary school, I began a new chapter working with my husband in our family’s general contracting business in Lexington, where we live. It’s been a wonderful reminder of the versatility of a liberal arts education as I’ve learned new skills like bookkeeping, HR, marketing, payroll and more. We have two wonderful college-aged daughters: one at North Carolina State University and one who will become a General this fall at Washington and Lee University.
CHRIS ROSEN ’99
After graduating from W&L, I earned a Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Akron, as well as an M.A. in industrial-organizational psychology and Human Resource Management from Appalachian State University. In 2006, I joined the faculty of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, where I am a Distinguished Professor and the holder of the William R. And Cacilia Howard Chair in Business Management. For the past 25 years, I have studied employee stress, health and well-being, with a focus on optimizing the workplace experiences of employees. In 2026, I will take over as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Management.
SALLY MAYS ’02
Sally Mays, Ph.D., works in private practice in Annapolis, Maryland, where she provides therapy to adolescents and adults. Sally also has the opportunity to perform specialized psychological assessments, for example, for individuals preparing for surgery or for couples applying for international adoption.
Sally has taught psychology courses at Virginia Commonwealth University, James Madison University and Loyola University of Maryland during her pre – and post-doctoral training. Sally credits the Psychology Department at Washington and Lee for making psychology so interesting that she added the major junior year, which set her on a path to what has been a flexible, fulfilling and varied career.
BRODIE (GREGORY) RIORDAN ’03
Brodie is an industrial/organizational psychologist with Ocular, Inc. and part-time faculty member at Georgetown University. The second edition of her book, “Feedback Fundamentals: Give it, Ask for it, Use it,” came out in February 2026. She generally lives in the Washington, D.C., area but lives a somewhat nomadish life with her partner, Tim, and their dog, Bowery.
MICHAEL MORROW ’03
I’m a husband and father to three wonderful kids in Philadelphia. I earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Delaware and completed a residency at Nemours Children’s Hospital. I’ve spent the past 15 years as a professor at Arcadia University, where I teach graduate courses, conduct research on children’s peer relations and pediatric psychotherapy and direct a private practice.
KATIE (BABCOCK) EHRLICH ’06
Katie is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia, where she studies how stressful life experiences shape mental and physical health across the lifespan. She remains especially grateful to Drs. Whiting and Woodzicka, whose mentorship at W&L profoundly shaped the trajectory of her academic career. She and her husband, Joe (’04) live in Athens, GA with their two pups, Finn and Lucy.
ELIZABETH (ROBINSON) CROWLEY ’07
Elizabeth Robinson Crowley ’07 is living in Richmond, VA where she practices as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Summit Emotional Health. Dr. Robinson supports children, adolescents, and young adults with OCD and anxiety disorders, as well as those coping with chronic health conditions. She is the proud parent of a 6yo and a 4yo who have by far and away been her best teachers – only second to her psychology professors at W&L!
MEGHAN JOSS ’07
I’m a LCSW in Williamsburg and founded Abundant Life Partners in 2017. What started as a small counseling practice has grown to eight locations and about 65 providers — and we’re still growing. Our mission is centered on accessibility: we accept all forms of insurance, while also creating flexible and financially sustainable career paths for clinicians, especially working parents. I’m grateful every day to draw on the full range of my W&L education — from psychology to poverty studies to philosophy — as I work to expand access to exceptional mental health care. Outside of work, I’m married to Tyler Freeman (VMI ’07) and spend much of my time keeping up with our five kids and their youth sports schedules.
ROBIN DAVIS ’07
I’m practicing as a neurologist and epileptologist at Ochsner Health in New Orleans. I am the residency program director for the Ochsner Neurology residency program, serve on the clinical faculty of the Ochsner-University of Queensland Medical School and was recently named to the founding faculty for the new Xavier University-Ochsner College of Medicine, which will be the 5th HBCU medical school in the U.S. and the first in the Gulf South. Fun fact: One of our epilepsy physician assistants is a fellow W&L alumna, Lauren Barousse Fine ’10. When not staying busy at the hospital, I spend my time enjoying all the fun New Orleans has to offer with my husband, John Elliott (VMI ’07) and sons, Sawyer (9) and Sutton (6). When Mardi Gras festivities are in full swing here, you are likely find me on the parade route!
SARA MCKEEN ’09
Sara lives in Silver Spring, MD with her husband Justin McKeen ’09, and their two daughters (ages 8 and 6). Sara just finished her 9th year working as an early childhood school psychologist for Montgomery County Public Schools. In February 2025, Sara launched Keenly Guided Parenting, a coaching practice dedicated to helping parents of toddlers and preschoolers navigate challenging behaviors and other everyday parenting struggles.
SARAH WILLIAMS ’14
After years of living in places that were Too Hot I finally moved to Seattle, where I’m absolutely loving the weather, community, and the proximity to cold plunges in the Puget Sound! Last year, I also stepped away from research to take on the challenge of transforming customer experience into a data product at Expedia Group. There was a rich quantity of research, feedback, and psychometric information coming directly from our customers – but no one with the necessary background in surveys to translate this information into a scalable platform. It’s been a ton of fun developing new skills and stretching my science communication into the Big Data sphere!
ALI CATIZONE ’15
I am currently a pediatric nurse practitioner in Northern VA (Loudoun County). I have been practicing for 7 years now and earned my doctorate in 2021 (Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP) from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Aside from seeing patients in the clinic, I also have been in the education realm, precepting future nurse practitioners and teaching simulations related to pediatric health scenarios. I married my husband John in 2020 (also WLU class of 2015) – together, we have 2 kids – Elena (3) and George (1). We also have a mini sheepadoodle, Penelope.
CAROLINE (CRICHLOWBALL) PAYNE ’15
I have lived in São Paulo, Brazil for about 1-1/2 years now. I continue to practice forensic psychology as an evaluator with the New Mexico Healthcare Authority. I am also a therapist with Therapy Solutions, a Virginia-based practice which primarily serves U.S. expats across the world (W&L students studying abroad should look us up!). This year, I hope to begin providing English-language therapy here in São Paulo. Outside of work, I take Portuguese lessons and attempt to train my Dalmatian puppy. My door is always open for W&L students interested in forensic psychology or practicing psychology abroad.
ADDIE HEALY ’16
I currently live in Durham, NC with my husband and two dogs — we got married in 2023! Professionally, I am a 5th and 6th grade Math teacher at Hill Learning Center where we specialize in teaching children with ADHD and other learning differences. While I no longer play soccer like I did in college, I picked up a new sport: Olympic Weightlifting! I have been training and competing in local competitions for three years now.
BATSHEVA HONIG ’17
Batsheva is a Health Policy Analyst at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), testing innovative ways to improve the U.S. healthcare system. Over the last 6 years at CMMI, Batsheva has led a number of programs aimed at decreasing costs and improving quality of care across oncology and drug pricing. She has also led initiatives to advance the patient voice through shared decision-making, data collection and patient-reported outcomes. When not at work, Batsheva enjoys meeting up with friends and visiting the many amazing museums and restaurants in D.C.!
JENNIFER STEPHENS ’17
In January, I joined the faculty at UCSF as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesia. My role is primarily clinical with a specialty in pain psychology. Prior to this role, I completed my PsyD at the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium and my pain psychology postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford. I got married to my husband, Sean, last September, and we are now settling in San Francisco, California, with our Australian Shepherd, Kumo. It has been an incredible year of transitions, and I am excited to be back in the Bay Area doing work I am passionate about.
KENZIE SHAND ’17
Last year, I took the Director of Volleyball Operations job at the University of Michigan. I manage our budget, travel, NIL (name, image and likeness) deals, game and practice scheduling, nutrition, game day operations, alumni relations and much more. I get to be in the gym every day and travel with the team year-round to see some amazing volleyball. As a lifelong Michigan fan, it has been so amazing to be back home working my dream job!
JESS CASTELO ’18
Since graduating from W&L, I went on to attend PA school at Seton Hall University and have been working for the past two years as an Orthopedic Spine Surgery Physician Assistant with Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. My background in psychology continues to shape how I connect with patients and provide care. This summer, I am getting married to Jamie Guider, another W&L Class of 2018 alum, in Rumson, NJ.
KATHERINE RICHARD ’19
I am currently working at Habitat for Humanity Tucson as the Donor Database Manager in Tucson, Arizona. This fall, I am also looking forward to starting my J.D. with Northeastern University School of Law.
LAYNE NALTY ’19
Hope all is well in Lexington! I’m living in Atlanta and working full time for Peachtree Orthopedics as an orthopedic surgery physician assistant (PA) for a busy foot/ankle surgeon. I got engaged in the fall, and my fiancé, Ian, and I will be getting married in my hometown of New Orleans in November 2026.
AMANDA DORSEY ’21
I recently advanced to Ph.D. candidacy in pediatric and perinatal Epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. My work uses large administrative datasets to better understand how medication and other substance exposures during pregnancy affect pregnant people and their infants. I value being in position where I can advocate for the importance of public health and high-quality research.
KATANA EVANS ’22
I’m working remotely as an Implementation Consultant at Tyler Technologies, supporting a court case management solution. I love getting to apply what I learned in Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Politics in my work. I also got married last year in Durham, North Carolina, where I’ve loved living for the past few years.
AVERY SCHIFFMAN ’22
I’m coming up on working for four years in account management at Anomaly, a mid-size creative agency in NYC, where I lead both creative and strategic brand campaign work, including recent projects for Target (Spring, Wellness, & Back to School campaigns). Separately, I recently launched my own events planning company, Cozy & Chic Events, and have been growing it alongside my agency role — find us on Instagram @cozyandchicevents. I’ve also been staying active and am excited to be running the Boston Marathon this April. Excited for what’s ahead and always grateful to stay connected with classmates, so please reach out!
ADELAINE BELL ’22
I am in my third year of my doctoral program in clinical psychology (Psy.D.) and earned my Master’s degree last fall. I am currently working in a private practice where I provide long-term therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of presenting concerns. I am also preparing to begin conducting interviews for my dissertation, titled “The Impact of Living Abroad on Self-Identity.”
ENUMA ANEKWEDESINCÉ ’22
I am heading into my second year at Columbia Law School! I joined the Admissions Office here as a Student Ambassador, where I’ll be giving prospective and admitted students’ tours, hosting phonathons and hopefully helping to empower and encourage students to apply to Columbia and join the law profession. In my spare time (when I have any), I love to travel! I spent Christmas in Nigeria and spring break in Colombia. Feel free to connect with me if any of these things interest you, and I can be of assistance!
LEXI O’BRIEN ’22
Lexi is a research assistant at Rice University and works in a translational cognitive and affective neuroscience lab. In the lab, she uses functional neuroimaging, peripheral psychophysiology and subjective measures to better understand the basic psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying emotion regulation in healthy and clinical populations. She plans to apply to Ph.D. programs and use this multi-method approach to understand how exposure to early life adversity changes the brain and affects mental and physical health outcomes later in life.
SARAI WARRICK ’23
After W&L, I spent two years working as a College Adviser through the Virginia College Advising Corps [nka AdviseVA] at Alleghany High School, where I worked closely with students navigating postsecondary planning. That experience deepened my commitment to advancing educational access and equity and solidified my interest in education policy. I am now pursuing my Master of Public Policy at the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, where I expect to graduate in Spring 2027, with a focus on policies that expand educational opportunities and strengthen rural communities.
KATE NELSON ’24
Hello! I am currently serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer at a public clinic in my community in Botswana. My work primarily focuses on supply chain management, where I support nurses and the pharmacy technician to help ensure essential resources are available. I also have the opportunity to contribute to health education outreach and occasionally collaborate with the community social worker on local projects.
LULU LYLE ’24
I will be finishing up my master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at NYU May 2026! I am also interning at Elevated Solutions therapy, a private practice that serves families, teens and individuals in Florida and in New York. Most of my clients are navigating OCD, anxiety, depression and eating disorders. After graduation, I plan to continue to work at a private practice, helping similar populations using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
CAROLINE LINEN ’25
Hi, everyone! I’m so excited to share that I chose to enroll in the Medical University of South Carolina’s Physician Assistant Program, which began in May 2026. Returning to my home state and living in Charleston, SC has been incredibly exciting, and I’ve also greatly valued my gap year in Charlotte, NC, where I worked in a neurosurgery setting, a specialty I’m interested in exploring further in the future. This year has been especially meaningful, as I’ve had the chance to visit many of my W&L friends in their new cities and enjoy a few Lexington reunions, like the one pictured with fellow CBSC classmate and best friend, Cate Seymour!
WREN OPELA ’25
The biggest news is that my fiancé, Jonathan, and I bought a house! We moved in about a month and a half ago and were finally able to reclaim our two cats from our parents. Our first month as homeowners has been spent doing fun things like changing locks, rewiring light switches, painting, and mold mitigation. We’ve really enjoyed creating our own space and halving our commute time. We are living right outside of Birmingham, Alabama, so if you’re ever in the area, please let me know.
RUTHIE HAY ’26
After graduating from Washington and Lee in December 2025 with a major in CBSC and a minor in Poverty and Human Capability Studies, I was thrilled for the opportunity to remain in Lexington to work at the Lindley Center for Student Health and Wellness. This position has profoundly expanded my knowledge and appreciation for the administrative side of healthcare. The CBSC department builds versatile, collaborative thinkers that succeed across many disciplines such as healthcare, psychology, business and beyond. This major has inspired my future in healthcare as I prepare to obtain my Masters of Nursing at Emory University in the fall, with the ultimate goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Ways You Can Help CBSC
There are many ways alumni can stay connected and give back to the department:
• Meet with current students, remotely or in person, to share insights about your career path
• Join a CBSC Alumni Career Panel to offer guidance to students exploring their options
• Supervise a W&L student in a meaningful summer internship
• Make a gift to support internships and other experiential learning opportunities
• Help launch the Holly Shablack Memorial Award, our newest departmental fund
If you’re interested in exploring any of these opportunities, please reach out to Julie Woodzicka, CBSC Department Head, at woodzickaj@wlu.edu.
