Project Title: Predictive Utility of BD Risk Profiles using Multimodally Assessed Risk Factors in a Community Sample of Adolescents

Logan Smith is a 5th year doctoral candidate at Temple University under the mentorship of Drs. Lauren B. Alloy and Thomas Olino. Logan has demonstrated excellence in the field of clinical child psychology. In particular, his research examines the mechanisms underlying the onset and course of bipolar disorder (BD) with a focus on the interplay of multimodal risk factors and within-person changes. Among his many accomplishments and publications, Logan received a perfect score on his NRSA F31 grant to support his dissertation work. Furthermore, he obtained practicum experience at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and has demonstrated clinical acumen and sensitivity in his work with children and adolescents with mood disorders. Last but not least, Logan is devoted to mentorship through independently teaching 4 courses (in statistics and research methods), mentoring underrepresented undergraduates and co-mentoring multiple senior honors thesis students. Congratulations to Logan on all of his accomplishments!

Project Title: Impact of the Opioid Crisis on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Outcomes: A Mixed-Method Investigation

Erinn Victory is pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Child Psychology at West Virginia University. Erinn’s research is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of children and families, with an emphasis on marginalized and underserved communities. Her work to date has focused on improving parent-child relationships in opioid-affected families in Central Appalachia and on providing effective treatments for childhood disruptive behavior and traumatic stress. She promises to be an outstanding scholar, as exemplified by her high GPA and involvement in multiple research projects, resulting in various poster presentations and journal publications. In addition to her academic work, Erinn has served in various clinical roles that go beyond the requirements of her program. She facilitates group parent training for mothers with opioid use disorders and provides weekly therapy to children and families at a Child Advocacy Center. She has actively engaged in professional service, holding leadership roles at West Virginia University, SCCAP, and within the ABCT Parenting & Families Special Interest Group. Erinn hopes to pursue a research career focused on bridging the gap between science and practice to promote equitable, evidence-based mental health care for children and families. Congratulations to Erinn on all of her accomplishments!

Erika is a 5th year Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and a Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellow. Her research explores 1) parent emotion-related processes and child adjustment in low-income immigrant families, 2) risk and protective factors for suicide and psychopathology in youth of color, and 3) culturally responsive assessment and treatment. Her systematic review, Associations Between Race-Related Stress and Trauma and Emotion Dysregulation in Youth of Color, was selected as one of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Editor’s Best of 2023. Additionally, Erika has received an NIH Fogarty and UC Global Health Institute fellowship to pursue her dissertation research in Thailand, which will inform the digital adaptation of an intervention which has been demonstrated to improve parent and child mental health outcomes.

Clinically, Erika brings extensive and diverse experience in evidence-based assessment and intervention for children and adolescents, particularly from marginalized communities. Most recently, she was a Pediatric Psychology trainee at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, where she worked on an integrated behavioral health team serving youth who are unhoused or at risk of housing insecurity. Across multiple training sites—including hospitals, outpatient and community clinics, schools, and intensive outpatient settings—Erika has provided care for children with mood disorders, PTSD, selective mutism, and other conditions using CBT, DBT-informed therapy, PCIT, trauma-focused CBT, prolonged exposure, and cognitive processing therapy. She has also led several therapy groups, including teen/multi-family DBT skills groups, substance use groups, a gender-responsive, school-based trauma group, and an eating disorder prevention group for teen girls. A strong advocate for community mental health, Erika has worked alongside the UCB Psychology Clinic Director to spearhead several community outreach initiatives. She is also pursuing a certificate in the Transdisciplinary Early Learning Science and Child Policy program at UCB, reflecting her deep interest in the role of policy in supporting the mental health of underserved families. Erika aspires to work as a clinical psychologist and researcher, developing culturally responsive assessments and interventions while advocating for policy changes that promote the mental health of underserved children and families. Congratulations to Erika on all of her accomplishments!