Michelle Comas is a third year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program. Originally from Orlando, Florida, Michelle received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame. Michelle's research focuses on the development of psycholopathology in children. More specifically, she is interested in identifying the distinct child and parental characteristics as well as the familial processes that influence child psycholopathology upon being subjected to difficult situations, such as child trauma and maltreatment.
Amy Nuttall, B.A.
Amy Nuttall is a third year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology Program. Amy is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she continued as a Program Manager for several grants focused on traumatic grief among youth before coming to Notre Dame. Amy is interested in understanding familial factors that serve as risk factors in child development as well as familial factors that serve as protective factors in the context of adversity. Her broader goals include translating such research into interventions aimed at preventing the development of psychopathology and promoting resilient outcomes among children who are at risk.
Christina McDonnell, B.A.
Christina McDonnell is a first year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Program. She received her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. McDonnell’s research interests lie in understanding the processes that confer risk and resilience across development, and she is further interested in the translation of this research into empirically-based interventions for at-risk youth. Additionally, she is particularly interested in the neurobiology and development of memory within the context of stress and child trauma.
Professional Staff
Jeanne Mattei, MSW, Commuity Liason
Laureen Poinsatte, Family Coach
Starla Ross, Family Coach
Rosemary Salinas, Family Coach
Undergraduate Research Team
Suzy Fanuelle, Senior Research Assistant
Christina Mondi, Research Assistant
Brianna Piper, Senior Research Assistant
Sarah Poppe, Senior Research Assistant
Taylor Thomas, Senior Research Assistant
Lab Alumni
Jamie Schulte ('10), Teach for America
Elizabeth Murphy ('11)
Adam Barsella ('12) Rush Medical School
Emily Franz ('12) Teach for America
Jennifer James ('12)
Jordan Matulis ('12)
Anne McNeill ('12) Clinical Psy. D. Program, Roosevelt University
Christina McDonnell ('12) Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program, Notre Dame