Lab Director

Abby Adler Mandel, Ph.D.

My research is broadly focused on understanding cognitive factors associated with depression and suicide, such as dysfunctional beliefs, attentional fixation, and problem-solving deficits, as well as how we can change these factors to produce better treatment outcomes and prevent suicide. I am also interested in methods to assess and promote patients’ development of cognitive and behavioral skills during therapy. I use a variety of methodologies to answer key research questions, including self-report, behavioral and neuropsychological tasks, ecological momentary assessment, as well as qualitative and mixed-methods approaches.

Faculty Web Page

Curriculum Vitae

Graduate Students

Olga Revzina

I am a fifth year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. While receiving my B.A. in Psychology from Bates College, I spent two summers conducting research on self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) at Dr. Jill Hooley’s Harvard Clinical Research Laboratory. After graduating, I sought further research and clinical training at the National Institute of Mental Health, where I examined novel mechanism-based treatments for youth with irritability under the guidance of Drs. Ellen Leibenluft and Melissa Brotman. I am interested in leveraging person-centered, variable-centered, and mixed-methods statistical approaches to examine reinforcing factors for suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injury, especially in LGBTQIA populations. In my free time, I love to pet dogs for prolonged periods of time, sleep, and play Dungeons & Dragons.

Emily Mitchell

I am a third-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Psychology program. After receiving my B.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Colgate University, I spent 2 and a half years working as a Clinical Research Coordinator within the Suicide Prevention Research Lab at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center. There, I worked on various intervention trials to mitigate suicide risk in Veterans. I also volunteered as a Research Assistant in the Cognition and Affective Disorders Lab at Yeshiva University as well as the Laboratory for the Study of Youth Cognition and Suicide at CUNY Hunter College. In these labs, I worked on studies looking into cognitive factors such as attentional bias and cognitive control contributing to suicide risk and depression. In my free time, I enjoy reading, painting, cooking new recipes, exploring new areas, and spending time with my family’s pup Charlie. I joined DaSC lab to continue pursuing my interests in understanding the cognitive and affective mechanisms underlying the onset and maintenance of depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Francesca Fernandez

I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Psychology program. I received my Bachelor's degree in Psychological Science from Colgate University and a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Prior to CUA, I worked at the Child Mind Institute and Northwestern Family C.A.R.E. lab, where I contributed to community-based studies and the implementation of evidence-based interventions. I also work as a mental health coach on the IntelliCare+ skills app, which targets depression and anxiety in both rural and urban health care settings. My research interests revolve around utilizing ecological momentary assessment to study adolescent suicidality, identifying risk and protective factors, and leveraging technology for assessments and interventions. On the weekends, I enjoy productively procrastinating, searching for DC's best bagel, and thrifting for vintage finds.

Anna MacLellan

Anna completed her B.A in Psychology at the University of British Columbia in Canada, and her master’s in clinical psychology at Leiden University in The Netherlands. Her interest in suicide theory and prevention began during her time in Dr. David Klonsky's suicide research lab at UBC, where she was involved in research on the three-step-theory, suicide prediction, and the ideation-to-action framework. During her master’s she wrote her thesis on the potential for sleep interventions to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviours and worked on an ecological momentary study examining temporal factors related to suicidality. As a doctoral student at CUA, Anna is excited to bring her knowledge of different research methods and her theoretical background of suicide to the lab.

Sarah Hunt

I graduated from the M.A. program in Psychological Sciences in 2024 and continue to collaborate with the DaSC Lab. I received a BA from Kenyon College where I studied adult developmental psychology under Dr. Andrea White. Prior to starting my masters degree at Catholic University, I worked for the nation's largest youth development organization. I joined the DaSC Lab because I'm interested in learning more about the cognitive patterns of dysfunctional beliefs and participating in research that advances treatment outcomes for depression, particularly among youth and emerging adults experiencing chronic illness and health-related stigma.

Margaret Cotter

I am a second-year Master's student in the Psychological Science program. I received my B.A. in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and worked as a research assistant in Dr. Karen M. O'Brien's lab focused on death, dying, and grieving. While attending CUA, I work for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, sparking my interest in suicide prevention and adolescent mental health. I joined the DaSC lab because I wanted to continue to participate in work for adolescent depression and suicidality. In my free time, I enjoy reading, going to thrift stores, and spending time with friends!

Zachary Lichauco

I am currently a first-year master's student in the Psychological Science program. I earned my B.A. in Psychology from De La Salle University Manila in the Philippines. Before starting my master's at Catholic University, I spent a year working as a Counseling Coordinator at In Touch Community Services, the leading mental health provider in the Philippines. I joined the DaSC Lab because my research and clinical interests align closely with issues related to depression and suicidal behaviors, particularly in adolescents and young adults. After completing my master's, I intend to pursue a doctorate in Counseling Psychology. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, playing soccer, and cooking up a good piece of ribeye.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Elizabeth (Elly) Beavers

I am a junior Psychology and Social Work double major. I am a member of the Psychology Club, the Cornerstone Program, Phi Eta Sigma, and Psi Chi. I am also a mentor for incoming Psychology and Cornerstone students, as well as a tutor at the Writing Center on campus. After graduation, I plan to pursue a master's degree in social work to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for children and adolescents who are facing mental health challenges. I joined the DaSC Lab to explore my interest in mental health and expand my knowledge about depression and suicide. In my free time, I enjoy grabbing coffee with a friend, playing with my dog, or reading a good book!

Charles Connolly

I am a junior Pre-Law, Psychological and Brain Sciences and Philosophy double major on the swim and dive and track and field teams. I am enrolled in the B.S.-M.A. program. Upon completing with my M.A. in Psychological Sciences at CUA, I aim to enroll in a doctoral program in clinical psychology.