Amy Roy is the director of the Pediatric Emotion Regulation Lab, She is  a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. Dr. Roy received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Princeton University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University. She completed her Pre-Doctoral Clinical Internship at NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital in the Child Track and remained at NYU as a post-doctoral fellow at the Child Study Center. In 2005, Dr. Roy became an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU Langone School of Medicine where she remained until she came to Fordham in June of 2011. Dr. Roy’s primary research interests are in the etiology of emotion dysregulation in children and adolescents, and factors that impact how parents respond to their children's emotional outbursts.

Maggie joined the lab in 2021 and is in the clinical psychology doctoral program. She graduated from George Washington University in 2018 with a BA in Psychology and English. After graduation she worked as a Project Coordinator at the Lab of Developmental Neuroscience at Penn State University. Maggie is interested in researching neurocognitive mechanisms underlying pediatric mental health disorders, such as anxiety and irritability. She is particularly interested in working with adolescents and understanding the development of affective processes (e.g. emotion perception, emotion regulation). Similar to her research interests, Maggie is interested in clinical work with pediatric populations, anxiety disorders, and OCD.

mbenda@fordham.edu

Meryl joined the lab in 2023 and is in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. She graduated in 2020 from the University of Michigan with a degree in Cognitive Science. After graduating, she worked as a project coordinator on treatment development studies for pediatric anxiety and OCD. Meryl is currently interested in the cognitive underpinnings of emotional and behavioral dysregulation in youth, particularly in the context of parent-child interactions. She hopes to translate her research to refine parent-focused interventions for child anxiety, irritability, and anger that are relevant and accessible to underserved communities. Similar to her research interests, Meryl is interested in clinical work with families managing child ADHD, irritability, and anxiety. In her free time, Meryl enjoys painting, going to the movies, going for runs in central park, and baking treats for her cohort.

mrueppel@fordham.edu

Cristina Nardini is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. She received a BA in psychology with a concentration in biopsychology from The College of New Jersey. Following graduation, Cristina was a research assistant in The Clinical Research Lab at Harvard on projects related to eating disorders and self-harm among teenagers. She then worked at Yale Child Study Center and Yale CANDLab, coordinating a research trial examining the clinical and neurobiological effects of a parent-based treatment for pediatric anxiety called SPACE. Today, she is interested in the ways supportive relationships, namely those with parents, peers, and mentors, impact emotional and cognitive development among underrepresented youth. She is currently using EMA and a person-centered network approach to explore the socioemotional dynamics of emotion regulation among adolescents in the Bronx experiencing anxiety. Cristina's goal is to apply this knowledge to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of community- and parent-based interventions. In her free time, Cristina enjoys going for runs, crafting, and spending time with her nieces and nephews. 

cnardini@fordham.edu

Allison joined the lab in 2023 as a Master’s student in the Clinical Research Methods program and graduated in May 2025. She graduated from Rutgers University in 2023 with a BA in Psychology and English, and is currently the lab manager at the Cognition and Learning Center at Rutgers University. Allison is particularly interested in researching emotion dysregulation in child and adolescents with ADHD, as well as social media and its effects on child and adolescent mental health disorders. Allison will begin doctoral training in Clinical Psychology in Fall 2026.

ae1@fordham.edu

Anisha joined the lab in January 2025 as a Master’s student in the Clinical Research Methods program. She graduated from New York University in 2024 with a BS in Neural Science. She is also a research assistant at the Culture, Emotion, and Health Lab at NYU Steinhardt. Anisha is interested in investigating how neurobiological and cultural factors impact psychological well-being in children and adolescents, with a particular focus on emotion regulation and stress-coping mechanisms. She hopes to earn a PhD in clinical psychology and develop culturally informed interventions to support children and adolescent mental health.

atk6@fordham.edu

Violeta joined the lab in the summer of 2023. She is a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience with a concentration in cell and molecular neuroscience, while being on the pre-health track. Violeta is interested in researching the impact of air pollution on child mental health. She is currently working on an interdisciplinary project which examines how air pollution levels in New York City impact child psychopathology and functional connectivity in the brain. After graduating from Fordham, Violeta hopes to pursue a career in the medical field. Outside of the lab, she works in the Interlibrary Loan Department at Walsh Library, and is the Vice President of Fordham University’s Fitness Club, as well as St. Rose’s Garden Club at Rose Hill. She also enjoys various forms of visual arts, fashion, and cinema in her free time. 

Lea joined the lab in the summer of 2024. She is a junior majoring in psychology while being on the pre-health track. Lea is interested in researching mental health disorders that can be associated with childhood and parental dynamics. As of now, she is recruiting participants for the YES study in order to further her knowledge regarding childhood psychological illnesses and parent-child relationships. Lea aspires to work in the medical field with a focus on women’s health proceeding her time at Fordham. Outside of the lab, she is the president of the St. Rose’s Garden Club at Rose Hill, a member of the Fordham University Choir, and a Resident Assistant at Rose Hill. 

Ana Varela Mayer joined the lab in the summer of 2024. She is a junior majoring in neuroscience and religious studies on the pre-med track. Ana hopes to pursue a medical career in women’s health. She is interested in research involving maternal stress during pregnancy and its impact on child neurobehavioral development. Outside of the lab, she is involved in the Committee on Sexual Misconduct and Fordham’s Saving Mothers chapter. She also enjoys movies, yoga, and walking dogs in her spare time. 

Niamh MacCumascaigh joined the lab in Spring 2025. She is a junior majoring in Psychology with research interests in pediatric anxiety and trauma, as well as women’s mental health. Niamh plans to pursue a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or a PsyD in Clinical Psychology. Outside of the lab, she serves as a mentor for the Office of Disability Services, is an active member of Fordham Dance Marathon, a club that raises money for pediatric cancer, and is a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. Niamh enjoys her free time volunteering with the Jesuits of Murray Weigel and hanging out with friends.

Georgia Cutting joined the lab in the fall of 2025. She is a sophomore majoring in psychology and english. Georgia is interested in studying neurodivergence in children and adolescents, and how gender might affect diagnosis. Outside the lab, Georgia is a member of the Fordham Undergraduate Research Journal's peer review staff and a coach and swimmer of the club swim team.

Emma Thorp joined the lab in the fall of 2025. She is a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in disability studies. In the lab, Emma works closely with doctoral student Cristina Nardini to help develop and support her study on emotion regulation in adolescents. Emma hopes to become a speech therapist for children and is currently applying to master’s programs in the Boston area. Outside of academics, Emma choreographs and performs with Fordham’s dance club, Expressions Dance Alliance, while also serving as Treasurer on the executive board.

Leila Petty joined the lab in the fall of 2025. She is a junior majoring in Integrative Neuroscience with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in English. Leila hopes to pursue a PhD in cognitive or developmental neuroscience and build a career in neuroscience research. Her primary interests include brain development and learning in children and adolescents, particularly those from minority backgrounds, as well as neurodegenerative disorders and brain aging. Outside of the lab, she is involved in Fordham’s student-run ballet club, the Fordham Jetés, where she serves as Publicist on the executive board. She also enjoys reading, hiking, and crocheting in her free time.

Ava McCalmont joined the lab in fall 2025. She is a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in English with interests in developmental and child psychology. Ava plans to get a masters in Counseling and pursue a path that leads to becoming a child therapist. Outside of the lab, she is a member the club Fordham Dance Marathon on the auction committee, which is an event that raises money for pediatric cancer, and works at the preschool Manhattan Schoolhouse with ages 3-4.