People
​Stephanie Kors - Principal Investigator
Dr. Stephanie Kors is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Loyola University Maryland, where she studies developmental psychopathology, intergenerational transmission of trauma, and clinical training. Dr. Kors is also a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Health Alliance where she is the Principal Investigator of two grants focused on various aspects of psychotherapy training.
Her current research is focused specifically on substance use, psychotherapy outcomes, and barriers to care. Dr. Kors' substance use research has focused primarily on elucidating the etiology of opioid addiction in pregnancy and designing preventative interventions for this population. Her current work in this area seeks to understand how early primary attachment relationships, and early experiences using drugs, impact one's course of addiction and subsequent parent-child relationship. Her research on health outcomes is focused primarily on access to trauma-informed mental health care for underserved populations, particularly for patients previously deemed "treatment resistant." She is specifically interested in the ways in which systemic barriers to equitable care impact the treatment outcomes for underserved populations in the public sector. Lastly, her clinical training research is focused on improving the everyday usefulness of the mental health curriculum in undergraduate Introduction to Psychology courses and the effectiveness of graduate psychotherapy courses for beginning clinicians. These pedagogy research projects are currently grant-funded by the APF and IPA.
Dr. Stephanie Kors also maintains a part-time private practice where she works with children, adolescents, and adults in individual, family, and couples' therapy.
Julia Stefanska - Research Assistant
Hi! My name is Julia Stefanska, and I’m originally from Washington, DC. I graduated from the University of Chicago in May 2024 with a double major in Psychology and Economics and a minor in French. As an undergraduate, I spent four years working as a Research Assistant in two child development labs: the Goldin Meadow Lab under Dr. Susan Goldin Meadow and the Early Social Thinkers Lab under Dr. Lin Bian. I am currently pursuing a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at Loyola University Maryland, with the goal of providing both therapy and psychological assessments in my future practice. I’m a member of the Psi Chi and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies and am trilingual in English, French, and Polish. Outside of academics, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, and exploring new places.
Morgan Massina - Research Assistant
Hi all! My name is Morgan Massina and I’m from Long Island, New York. I am a junior at Loyola University Maryland studying Psychology and Italian Studies. Outside of the Trauma and Psychotherapy lab, I am a member and Co-Secretary of Loyola’s chapter of the Psi Chi Honor Society. Additionally, I am a Modern Language and Literature Ambassador for our language program and the Social Media and PR manager for Loyola’s Italian Club. Following my undergraduate journey, I am interested in pursuing a higher degree and a career working with children in a school or hospital setting. In my free time, I enjoy attending workout classes, reading on my Kindle, and cooking.
Tianah Ellis - Research Assistant
Hi! My name is Tianah Ellis! I am a Caribbean American rising junior at Loyola University Maryland, majoring in Psychology with a double minor in Data Analytics and Gender and Sexuality Studies. In the future, I aspire to become a Clinical Neuropsychologist! On campus, I serve as the Vice President of the Caribbean Student Union (CSU) and as a mentor for freshmen students through the THRIVE Center for Student Success. I am also a member of Psi Chi Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), and Loyola’s Green Bandana Brigade. Outside of academics, I love to hang out with my friends and family, play the piano, and listen to music!
Norah McGlynn - Research Assistant
Hi! My name is Norah McGlynn. I am a sophomore at Loyola University of Maryland
majoring in Biology and minoring in Writing; aspiring to be a Child Psychiatrist. Outside the classroom, I am an active member of Loyola’s Division 1 Women’s Rowing Team, serving as the freshman class representative this past year. In addition to my participation in varsity athletics, I am involved in various extracurriculars on the Evergreen Campus including the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Sophomore Class Representative, Student Athletes for Social Justice (SA4SJ) Leader, Athlete Injury Support Mentor, Campus Ministry Lector and Eucharistic Minister, Student Leadership Corps, Pre-Health Society, Active Minds, Psychology Club, and the Student Athlete Support Services (SASS) Think Tank Group. In my free time, I enjoy cooking + baking, reading, hanging out with friends and family (especially with my two cats—Smudge and Fudge!), and working at my jobs at home in North Wales, Pennsylvania.
Audra Ballenger - Research Assistant
I am a rising Junior studying interdisciplinary leadership and management consulting/psychology. I am aspiring to be involved in industrial organizational psychology or human resources! I also have a passion in research and love to learn new things to help others. To expand and share my knowledge of psychology I am on the executive board of the psychology club for the upcoming fall and spring semesters. I am running the mentor/mentee program to help underclassman get acquainted with their major and feel comfortable. Along with this for the upcoming fall and spring semesters I will be serving on the class of 2027 SGA assembly to help make Loyola the community we all want it to be and be a voice for the student body. I also work at the Fitness and Aquatics Center at the welcome desk.Outside of Loyola, I love to run, read, bake, hike, and do anything outdoors!
Ben Levenson - Lab Manager
I’m a social movement organizer turned therapist and researcher. I’ve spent a decade organizing communities, planning grassroots campaigns, and training volunteers. While I did meaningful work to shift policy and address systemic inequities and racism in this country, I’ve always been drawn to the interpersonal and intrapsychic as the key mechanisms of change. I’ve pivoted my career to invest more deeply in this interest by training to become a mental health clinician. I’ve loved my master’s program in mental health counseling at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis and I’m eager for deeper study, intellectual community, and continued supervision to develop my clinical skills. I want to become a scholar and practitioner of psychoanalytic psychology and I’m planning to apply to PhD programs next year.
Joe Larson - Research Assistant
I’m from Yonkers, New York, and a junior working to complete a major in psychology. Outside of this lab, I have assisted with undergraduate and graduate studies the effectiveness of psychological first aid and the relationship between alpha brain waves and response times in student athletes. Additionally, I am interested in effective interventions for people undergoing crises and how to improve people’s mental health support systems. I’ve explored these topics through volunteering at a crisis hotline for two years, as well as being a member of Loyola’s Green Bandana Brigade, which seeks to improve mental health support and access between students. I am also the Vice President of Loyola’s Psychology Club and a member of Psi Chi Honor Society. I aim to continue learning in graduate school and have a career that combines researching mental health interventions and counseling. Outside of academics, I love reading, writing, cooking for my family, and hanging out with my dog.
Emilia Wolff - Research Assistant
Hi! My name is Emilia Wolff. I am from Raleigh, North Carolina, and currently a senior at Loyola University Maryland pursuing a double major in Psychology and Philosophy. Outside of this lab I am a member of Loyola's Psychology Club, Philosophy Club, and the Psi Chi Honors Society. I am interesting in psychology and ethics, as well as intergenerational trauma. I have previously worked for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services assisting with research and vital records. This coming fall I plan to apply to Masters and PhD programs in Clinical Psychology. Outside of school I enjoy swimming, doing yoga, and spending time with my family.
Calista Rijo - Research Assistant
Hello! My name is Calista Rijo, and I am from Medfield, Massachusetts. I am a junior at Loyola University Maryland and a double major in Psychology and Spanish. At Loyola, I am on the executive board of the Neuroscience Foundation and participate in other extracurricular activities, including Loyola’s ACA (Asian Cultural Alliance), psychology club, and intramural volleyball. I enjoy spending my free time with my grandparents and family. I also love to read, listen to music, ski, and work on creative projects like sewing or crocheting.
Katrina Zysk - Research Assistant
Hi! My name is Katrina Zysk and I’m from West Warwick, Rhode Island. I’m a rising junior currently completing an interdisciplinary major in Biology and Psychology. I aspire to continue my education and pursue medical school to become a Psychiatrist. I am a collegiate athlete at Loyola on the Women’s Cross Country/ Track and Field Team. I am a member of Student Athletes for Social Justice, Medical Journal Club, and Pre-Health Society. I am a member of the ODK national leadership honor society, and Tri-Beta Honor Society. I work as a group fitness instructor at Loyola, and a Mental Health Worker at Butler Hospital. I love running, hiking, yoga, and spending time at the beach!
Estefania Berio - Research Assistant
Hi! My name is Estefania Berio, and I'm from San Juan, Puerto Rico. I'm a rising junior currently completing a double major in biology and psychology alongside Forensic Studies minor. I aspire to continue my education in graduate school and then medical school to become a pediatric neurosurgeon and carry out neurodevelopmental research. I form part of the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) and the Loyola Notre Dame student advisory board (SAB) at Loyola University. I'm the administrative coordinator for the society of underrepresented pre health students (SUPHS), a mentor for freshman in the THRIVE program, a member of the Psi Chi Honor society and of the ODK national leadership honor society. I work as a clinical research assistant at GCM medical, as an office assistant at Loyola's psychology department and as a tutor for Spanish and Research Methods in The Study at Loyola Maryland. I'm billingual (fluent in both English and Spanish) and I love to read, write, spend time with my friends and family and cook!
