Family Studies Center - Graduate Students and Staff

- Katie Bergman - Melissa George - Kalsea Koss - Kathleen McCoy - Tina Merrilees - Laura Taylor -
- Jackie Bauters - Ashley Carlin - Andre Mansion - Ashley Mayworm - David O'Tousa - Tiffany Rife - Julie Schatz -

Katie Bergman, B.A.
204A Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-3687
kbergman@nd.edu
Katie is a second year graduate student in the Developmental program at Notre Dame, working on the Me and My Family Project. Katie's broad interests are in the dynamics that exist within families, and their impact on development. Within that context, she is interested in factors that contribute to the presence and absence of resiliency in children and adolescents who are at high risk for developing various psychopathologies. Katie is from Byron Center, MI and a graduate of Calvin College.

Melissa George, B.S., M.A.
203A Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-6491
mward6@nd.edu
Melissa is currently in her fourth year in the Developmental Psychology program at the University of Notre Dame. She is broadly interested in examining family processes and children's emotional adjustment. Currently, her research investigates the influence of family processes on children's attachment relationships with mother and father in childhood, examining several aspects of both marital functioning and parenting. She is also interested in family processes contributing to the development of adolescent disordered eating and depressive symptomatology. She is from central Florida and a graduate of Stetson University.

Kalsea Koss, B.A., M.A.
203A Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-6491
kkoss@nd.edu
Kalsea is a member of the Me and My Family team and currently a fourth year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program. Broadly, her research focuses on the impact of family risk and protective processes on child and adolescent adjustment. She is interested in the role of emotional processes within the family context on children’s adjustment. Kalsea is from Stevens Point, WI and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Kathleen McCoy, B.A., M.A.
201B Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-2309
kmccoy@nd.edu
Kathleen McCoy is a fifth year counseling graduate student working on the Me & My Family Project.

Tina Merrilees, B.A., M.A.
201 Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-3667
cmerrile@nd.edu
Tina Merrilees is a fifth year developmental graduate student working on the Northern Ireland Project and the Couples & Kids Project.

Laura Taylor, B.A.
201 Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-3667
Laura.K.Taylor.184@nd.edu
Laura holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and Spanish from Haverford College and a master's degree in peace and justice studies from the University of San Diego (2005). She is a dual degree candidate for a Ph.D. in psychology and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame. Laura works with the Family Studies Center Nothern Ireland Project and focuses on mixed methods research and how the role of community affects the impact of political violence on children and families in conflict settings. She is also a member of the Peacebuilding Apprenticeship Initiative of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies which connects promising young peace builders with mentors working in conflict zones around the world. In this capacity, she works with John Paul Lederach and a small team of apprentices in Colombia.

Jackie Bauters, B.A.
1602 N. Ironwood Rd.
South Bend, IN
574-631-0887
208 Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-1860
jbauter1@nd.edu
Jackie Bauters joined the lab this past May as a Project Assistant for the Family Communication Project. Jackie is a 2004 alumna of Saint Mary's College. In 2005 Jackie graduated with her masters in Exercise Science with a concentration in Sport's Psychology. She has been the head cross country coach at Saint Mary's and continues to coach this fall. Her areas of interest include motivation, sport performance, and eating disorders.

Andre Mansion, B.A.
207 Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-8987
amansion@nd.edu
Andre graduated from Duke University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He is currently one of two Project Directors for the Me and My Family Project. He is also working on a qualitative assessment of child adjustment in post-accord Northern Ireland, specifically working with focus group data collected from mothers in four separate areas of Northern Ireland. His interests include interfacing psychology and law with a focus on juvenile corrections and policy making. After completing his time at Notre Dame, he plans to attend graduate school in psychology as well as law school.

Ashley Mayworm, B.A.
204A Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-3687
amayworm@nd.edu
Ashley graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Psychology and Peace Studies in 2009. She is currently working in the Family Studies Center on the Me and My Family Project and the Northern Ireland Project. Ashley enjoys tutoring, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, really good pens, and adventures. Following her time with the Family Studies Center, she plans to attend graduate school.

David O'Tousa, B.A.
201B Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-2309
dotousa@gmail.com
David is currently a research assistant for the Me and My Family Project, and is also responsible for the design and upkeep of this website. He received his bachelor's degree in Pre-Professional Studies and Psychology from the University of Notre Dame in 2008. He grew up in South Bend, Indiana always cheering for the Irish of Notre Dame, and fulfilled a lifelong dream in attending the University. He will be attending Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis beginning in the fall of 2009 to work toward his Ph.D in psychobiology. He will be researching the behavioral characteristics of alcoholics, as well as the genetic mechanisms that cause a predisposition to alcoholism.

Tiffany Rife, B.A.
207 Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-8987
trife@nd.edu
Tiffany currently serves as one of the project directors for the Me and My Family Project. She is from Plainfield, Illinois, and is now currently residing in South Bend, Indiana. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2008. She has done extensive work in the autism field and am now currently interested in the broader topic of developmental psychology. In the future, she hopes to attend graduate school.

Julie Schatz, Ph.D.
CURRICULUM VITAE
1602 N. Ironwood Rd.
South Bend, IN
574-631-0954
208 Brownson Hall
Notre Dame, IN
574-631-1860
jschatz@nd.edu
Julie N. Schatz, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral fellow and director of the Family Communication project: Tune In and Listen Up! She received her B.S. from the University of Mary and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. Her research focuses on families, especially those at-risk, and the factors that play a role in determining children's development. Over the course of her work at the University's Center for Children and Families she has worked with a wide range of populations including preschoolers at-risk for neglect, adolescent mothers, and intact families seeking better methods for handling marital and parent-child conflict. Dr. Julie Schatz is also associated with the Centers for the Prevention of Child Neglect and intends to continue her career in utilizing research based prevention programs to ensure that all children are allowed to develop to their fullest potential.

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	Katie Bergman, B.A. 204A Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-3687 kbergman@nd.edu Katie is a second year graduate student in the Developmental program at Notre Dame, working on the Me and My Family Project. Katie's broad interests are in the dynamics that exist within families, and their impact on development. Within that context, she is interested in factors that contribute to the presence and absence of resiliency in children and adolescents who are at high risk for developing various psychopathologies. Katie is from Byron Center, MI and a graduate of Calvin College.

	Melissa George, B.S., M.A. 203A Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-6491 mward6@nd.edu Melissa is currently in her fourth year in the Developmental Psychology program at the University of Notre Dame. She is broadly interested in examining family processes and children's emotional adjustment. Currently, her research investigates the influence of family processes on children's attachment relationships with mother and father in childhood, examining several aspects of both marital functioning and parenting. She is also interested in family processes contributing to the development of adolescent disordered eating and depressive symptomatology. She is from central Florida and a graduate of Stetson University.

	Kalsea Koss, B.A., M.A. 203A Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-6491 kkoss@nd.edu Kalsea is a member of the Me and My Family team and currently a fourth year graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program. Broadly, her research focuses on the impact of family risk and protective processes on child and adolescent adjustment. She is interested in the role of emotional processes within the family context on children’s adjustment. Kalsea is from Stevens Point, WI and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

	Kathleen McCoy, B.A., M.A. 201B Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-2309 kmccoy@nd.edu Kathleen McCoy is a fifth year counseling graduate student working on the Me & My Family Project.

	Tina Merrilees, B.A., M.A. 201 Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-3667 cmerrile@nd.edu Tina Merrilees is a fifth year developmental graduate student working on the Northern Ireland Project and the Couples & Kids Project.

	Laura Taylor, B.A. 201 Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-3667 Laura.K.Taylor.184@nd.edu Laura holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and Spanish from Haverford College and a master's degree in peace and justice studies from the University of San Diego (2005). She is a dual degree candidate for a Ph.D. in psychology and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame. Laura works with the Family Studies Center Nothern Ireland Project and focuses on mixed methods research and how the role of community affects the impact of political violence on children and families in conflict settings. She is also a member of the Peacebuilding Apprenticeship Initiative of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies which connects promising young peace builders with mentors working in conflict zones around the world. In this capacity, she works with John Paul Lederach and a small team of apprentices in Colombia.

	Jackie Bauters, B.A. 1602 N. Ironwood Rd. South Bend, IN 574-631-0887 208 Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-1860 jbauter1@nd.edu Jackie Bauters joined the lab this past May as a Project Assistant for the Family Communication Project. Jackie is a 2004 alumna of Saint Mary's College. In 2005 Jackie graduated with her masters in Exercise Science with a concentration in Sport's Psychology. She has been the head cross country coach at Saint Mary's and continues to coach this fall. Her areas of interest include motivation, sport performance, and eating disorders.

	Andre Mansion, B.A. 207 Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-8987 amansion@nd.edu Andre graduated from Duke University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He is currently one of two Project Directors for the Me and My Family Project. He is also working on a qualitative assessment of child adjustment in post-accord Northern Ireland, specifically working with focus group data collected from mothers in four separate areas of Northern Ireland. His interests include interfacing psychology and law with a focus on juvenile corrections and policy making. After completing his time at Notre Dame, he plans to attend graduate school in psychology as well as law school.

	Ashley Mayworm, B.A. 204A Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-3687 amayworm@nd.edu Ashley graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Psychology and Peace Studies in 2009. She is currently working in the Family Studies Center on the Me and My Family Project and the Northern Ireland Project. Ashley enjoys tutoring, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, really good pens, and adventures. Following her time with the Family Studies Center, she plans to attend graduate school.

	David O'Tousa, B.A. 201B Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-2309 dotousa@gmail.com David is currently a research assistant for the Me and My Family Project, and is also responsible for the design and upkeep of this website. He received his bachelor's degree in Pre-Professional Studies and Psychology from the University of Notre Dame in 2008. He grew up in South Bend, Indiana always cheering for the Irish of Notre Dame, and fulfilled a lifelong dream in attending the University. He will be attending Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis beginning in the fall of 2009 to work toward his Ph.D in psychobiology. He will be researching the behavioral characteristics of alcoholics, as well as the genetic mechanisms that cause a predisposition to alcoholism.

	Tiffany Rife, B.A. 207 Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-8987 trife@nd.edu Tiffany currently serves as one of the project directors for the Me and My Family Project. She is from Plainfield, Illinois, and is now currently residing in South Bend, Indiana. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2008. She has done extensive work in the autism field and am now currently interested in the broader topic of developmental psychology. In the future, she hopes to attend graduate school.

	Julie Schatz, Ph.D. CURRICULUM VITAE 1602 N. Ironwood Rd. South Bend, IN 574-631-0954 208 Brownson Hall Notre Dame, IN 574-631-1860 jschatz@nd.edu Julie N. Schatz, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral fellow and director of the Family Communication project: Tune In and Listen Up! She received her B.S. from the University of Mary and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. Her research focuses on families, especially those at-risk, and the factors that play a role in determining children's development. Over the course of her work at the University's Center for Children and Families she has worked with a wide range of populations including preschoolers at-risk for neglect, adolescent mothers, and intact families seeking better methods for handling marital and parent-child conflict. Dr. Julie Schatz is also associated with the Centers for the Prevention of Child Neglect and intends to continue her career in utilizing research based prevention programs to ensure that all children are allowed to develop to their fullest potential.