CURRENT STUDENTS

ALEX DAVIS

Advisor: Edward Lemay

Year in Program: 3rd year

Alex is a third-year Ph.D. student working with Dr. Lemay in the Interpersonal Relationships Lab. His research delves into intellectual humility, cognitive thinking styles, loneliness, and measurement and assessment. He also has a background in medical research from his time at Johns Hopkins. In his free time, he enjoys creating automation software, playing various sports, and experimenting with new recipes.

REWINA BEDEMARIAM

Advisor: Jennifer Wessel

Year in Program: 6th year

Rewina is a sixth graduate student working with Dr. Jennifer Wessel. Her research area revolves around diversity and bias in organizations, the use of big data in I/O Psychology and discriminatory algorithms in recruitment and selection processes. She is also interested in Multicultural teams and leadership.

PRECIOUS McQUADE

Advisor: Jennifer Wessel

Year in Program: 2nd year

Precious works with Dr. Jen Wessel examining issues of diversity in the workplace. Her research is currently focused on socioeconomic status and its impact on work and life outcomes.

DEBBIE NGUYEN

Advisor: Linda Zou

Year in Program: 1st year

Debbie (She/They) works with Dr. Linda Zou to study racism, status, and Asian American racial identity. Her research focuses on the effects of internalized Model Minority Myth on status-legitimizing beliefs in Asian Americans. She is also interested in the implications for interracial relationships in improving allyship.

DAVID XIAO

Advisor: Jen Wessel and Linda Zou

Year in Program: 5th year

Zizhong (David) Xiao is a 5th year Ph.D. candidate. Prior to UMD, he obtained his bachelors at the University of California, Riverside and did a one year Fulbright teaching abroad in Malaysia. Some of his main research interests include: How do social interactions affect happiness? How do social perceptions shape shared reality and relationships? and How can the Significance Quest Theory be used to build well-being? In the classroom, he is passionate about teaching R studios coding to students who do not necessarily have a coding background. During off-work hours, you can find him at the UMD Eppley Recreation Center lifting weights or participating in half marathons around the DMV area. It is also his life mission to tour all the six Disneylands around the world.

EMILY FORGO

Advisor: Paul Hanges

Year in Program: 6th year

Emily is a sixth year Ph.D. student working with Dr. Paul Hanges. Her research interests broadly revolve around leadership, followership, and measurement issues. She is currently examining the impact of motivational mechanisms on followership behaviors within organizations, as well as the use of pupillometry in the development of more accurate rating scales. In her personal life, she is a fan of baking, biking, and photography.

JOHN KAUTH

Advisor: Paul Hanges

Year in Program: 1st year

John’s research interests revolve around leadership-followership dynamics, toxic leadership, and dynamic systems.

MOLLY ELLENBERG

Advisor: Arie Kruglanski

Year in Program: 6th year

Molly is a 6th year graduate student working with Dr. Arie Kruglanski. Her research focuses on terrorism, motivational underpinnings of extreme behavior, and the need for significance.

HUIXIAN YU

Advisor: Arie Kruglanski

Year in Program: 3rd year

Huixian is a third-year graduate student working with Dr. Arie Kruglanski. Her research interests focus on the quest for significance theory and goal-system theory, specifically in the contexts of close interpersonal relationships and self-control. She has also done work on creativity and authenticity based on a motivational perspective.

AYLA BEASLEY

Advisor: Arie Kruglanski

Year in Program: 2nd year

Ayla is a second year Ph.D. student working with Dr. Arie Kruglanski. Her research primarily focuses on motivation, particularly as it pertains to aggression, ostracism, and social isolation. She is also interested in studying online extremist communities, such as Incels and QAnon, and exploring their roles in radicalization and terrorism.