Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student; Neuropsychology

Dr. Ellison Primary Clinical/Research Advisee

Hannah is a 5th-year clinical psychology Ph.D. candidate at RFUMS, and an advanced neuropsychology extern at The Neurology Center of Southern California. She previously trained at Northwestern Medicine, the University of Illinois Chicago, and the Edward Hines, Jr. VA hospital. She is primarily interested in integrating neuropsychology and rehabilitation in her areas of interest, namely cognitive health for underserved populations with complex medical conditions, brain injury and/or neurodegenerative pathology. Her current research centers on the impact of health inequities on cognitive functioning, cognitive rehabilitation, and examining the neurocognitive sequelae and profiles of various medical pathologies. Before attending RFUMS, she earned her M.S. in psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology and completed her clinical master’s thesis on verbal and nonverbal processing speed discrepancy profiles for Veterans with co-occurring mTBI and PTSD. Moreover, she earned an M.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University and her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in English at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Contact: hannah.vanlandingham@my.rfums.org

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student; Neuropsychology

Dr. Ellison Primary Clinical/Research Advisee

Christopher is a 5th year PhD candidate specializing in neuropsychology. His research interests include the cultural effects of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and social determinants of health (SDOH), particularly in the preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease. His other research interests are SARS-CoV-2, imaging markers, cardiovascular health, memory, and health disparities among English/Spanish speaking non-Hispanic Black and Latine/Hispanic populations. Christopher actively contributes to his field as the Student Representative-Elect Board of Directors for the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society (HNS) and as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Ambassador for New2Neuropsychology. Through these roles, he promotes collaboration and awareness of the challenges faced by underrepresented communities. He hopes to unravel the complexities of neuropsychology and advocate for marginalized communities with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of individuals affected by cognitive decline and related health disparities.

Contact: christopher.gonzalez@my.rfums.org

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student; Neuropsychology

Dr. Ellison Primary Clinical/Research Advisee

Humza Humza is a seventh-year Ph.D. student in the Illinois Institute of Technology’s clinical psychology doctoral program. He is currently a neuropsychology intern at the University of Washington at Seattle (UW) in the Rehabilitation Neuropsychology track. Before starting at IIT, he received his B.S. in Neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Humza's current research interests include examining social determinants and health in the context of neuropsychology, specifically identifying differences between health information and executive functioning. His clinical interests include cross-cultural neuropsychology, demyelinating disorders, and dementia. Outside of research, Humza is interested in non-profit work, architecture, and racket sports.

Contact: hkhan20@hawk.iit.edu

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student; Neuropsychology

Dr. Ellison Primary Clinical/Research Advisee

Karen is 2nd year doctoral student in the clinical psychology PhD program at RFUMS, specializing in multicultural neuropsychology. Her academic focus is enhancing healthcare practices through comprehensive assessment and evaluation, particularly for Spanish-speaking Latin American populations. Her research has contributed to understanding the neuropsychological impacts of various socio-demographic factors and adverse experiences on cognitive and functional performance. Her interests span a wide range, from investigating health literacy in cognitive diagnostics to exploring neuropsychological challenges such as bilingualism/acculturation, epilepsy, and organ transplant care for Spanish-speaking patients. Recent work includes studying the impact of adverse childhood experiences on symptom and performance validity tests among patients with ADHD, exploring subfactors of adult cognitive disengagement syndrome, and assessing the limitations of performance validity using neuropsychological tests. Her contributions extend to clinical settings, such as her continued service as a bilingual neuropsychological psychometrist. Her work showcases a multidimensional approach to understanding cognitive functioning, health literacy, and neuropsychological assessment across diverse populations and clinical conditions. Beyond her academic and research pursuits, Karen is passionate about personal growth and community engagement. She enjoys learning new languages, volunteering, and teaching, which complement her academic work by broadening her cultural and individual perspectives. Karen also values time spent with family and friends, emphasizing a well-rounded approach to her professional and personal life.

Contact: karen.basurto@my.rfums.org

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student; Neuropsychology

Dr. Ellison Primary Clinical/Research Advisee

Jared is a 2nd-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student specializing in Neuropsychology and a Clinical Psychology extern at the Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center. He received his B.A. in History and B.F.A. in Music Performance from York University in Toronto. He has work experience as a teacher and course designer for multiple international educational institutions, and he has a variety of research experience with several Neurology, Neuropsychology, and Neuroscience laboratories throughout North America. His research interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience and psychology, focusing on the use of neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessment for the development and administration of cognitive and behavioral interventions such as psychoeducation, cognitive rehabilitation, cognitive training, and counseling.

Contact:: j.jacobsoncherry@my.rfums.org

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student; Neuropsychology

Dr. Ellison Primary Clinical/Research Advisee

Kim is a third-year Ph.D. student specializing in neuropsychology. Her research focuses on the role of executive functioning and emotional regulation in underrepresented communities. She is particularly interested in identifying differences in neuropsychological testing and cognitive health outcomes among diverse populations with complex medical conditions. Outside of research, Kim enjoys running, photography, spending time with friends, and traveling.

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student; Neuropsychology

Dr. Ellison Primary Clinical/Research Advisee

Janelli is a first-year clinical psychology Ph.D. student on the neuropsychology track at RFUMS. Before graduate school, Janelli received her B.A. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis, also minoring in Latin American Studies. Her research interests include racial disparities in different dementia syndromes and cognitive functioning, as well as neuropsychological assessments and cognitive rehabilitation in diverse populations, especially within Spanish-speaking communities. Janelli is also passionate about community outreach in populations underrepresented in research. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys weightlifting, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student; Neuropsychology

Dr. Ellison Primary Clinical/Research Advisee

Madeleine is a first-year clinical psychology Ph.D. student specializing in neuropsychology. She completed her master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University and received training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her research interests focus on putative risk factors across the lifespan influencing late-life neuropsychiatric functioning and rapid brain aging in BIPOC populations. Madeleine is interested in utilizing in vivo brain imaging with neuropsychological assessment to investigate relationships between sociodemographic disparities and subclinical neuropathology. Drawing from her clinical background, she plans to conduct research on adaptive treatment strategies that target modifiable risk factors to slow cognitive decline in individuals disproportionately affected by racially patterned stress.

Contact: madeleine.smith@my.rfums.org

Research Assistant

Jessica is a second-year master student in the clinical counseling program. Her research interests include cognitive rehabilitation and traumatic brain injury in underrepresented communities. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exercising, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Post-Bac Research Assistant

Thomas is a volunteer research assistant and has been involved with Dr. Ellison’s Socially Conscious Lab since 2023. He received his B.S. in Neuroscience with a specialization in behavioral/systems at The Ohio State University and his M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Roosevelt University. His research interests include cognitive rehabilitation, executive functioning, and pediatric neuropsychology. In his free time outside of research, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, playing and watching soccer.

Post-Bac Research Assistant

Nicole is a volunteer research assistant and has been involved with Dr. Ellison’s Socially Conscious Lab since 2024. She received her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Iowa and her M.S. in Forensic Psychology at Arizona State University. Her research interests include forensic neuropsychology, social determinants of health, and executive functioning. Outside of research, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and playing the piano