Dr. Leonard is a Clinical Psychologist who has been with the University of Michigan - Dearborn since 2008. Dr. Leonard's research focuses on how intimate relationships and couples dynamics influence physical and psychological health. Dr. Leonard's work has examined the etiology and maintenance of chronic health problems (such as chronic pain , cardiovascular risk, and long-haul COVID) within a relationship context. This includes how psychosocial processes, such as race/ethnicity or SES,  impact and are impacted by physical health. More recently Dr. Leonard and her team have started to study the impact of technology and couples dynamics.  

Outside of the university Dr.  Leonard enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  She also enjoys cheering on her son's hockey team and walking/hiking her 2 year old Doberman, Odin. 

Email: mtleon@umich.edu

Brianna Mejia-Hans has been a member of Dr. Leonard’s research team since 2023. She graduated with high distinction from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Biological Sciences, and she is currently pursuing her M.S. in Clinical Health Psychology at the same institution. Her research interests include clinical health psychology, romantic relationships, and family dynamics.  The ICH has given her the opportunity to collaborate with fellow researchers and present at conferences. Outside the lab, Brianna works as a peer mentor for mental health and as a Pilates instructor. When she isn't at work or school, Brianna loves baking, spending time at a beach, and being with her family and friends.

Joelle holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Oakland University, where she developed a strong foundation in both animal and human behavior research. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in Clinical Health Psychology and has been a member of the ICH Lab since 2024. Her research and clinical interests center on relational behavior, health/biopsychology, and the influence of socioemotional factors on interpersonal dynamics. Joelle has worked as a psychometrist since 2024, furthering her clinical experience. Outside of work, she enjoys weightlifting, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Aamina Rehman is a Psychology major with a Women's and Gender Studies and Comparative Literature minor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, soon to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction and a certificate in Comparative Literature. She joined the ICH Lab in 2023, driven by a deep interest in how health and human relationships intersect. She has made meaningful contributions to projects investigating cultural family dynamics, long COVID, and is currently leading data collection for a  research project on artificial intelligence in romantic communication, for which she was awarded a research grant. Her responsibilities span project design, data collection and analysis, and manuscript writing. Outside of research, she enjoys baking and spending  time with friends and family.

Victoria graduated from Oakland University in 2022, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Departmental Honors in Psychology. She is currently attending the Clinical Health Psychology masters program at the University of Michigan - Dearborn. Her clinical and research interests focus on primary care psychology and the integration of psychological practices into OBGYN medical care.  Most of Victoria's free time is spent baking sourdough, rock climbing, running, and paddle boarding.

Ava Vandertill just recently joined Dr. Leonard’s research lab and is eager to learn more about the research side of psychology. Ava started her undergraduate program at Oakland Community College as a junior in high school and is now in her last year of this program. She is interested in all branches of psychology, but would love to pursue an education and career in clinical psychology. Ava is interested in the health aspect of psychology and therefore thought the ICH lab was the perfect place to start. Outside of her academic pursuits, Ava likes to spend time with her family and friends. 

Ekass graduated from Indiana University in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a High Distinction. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Michigan–Dearborn and serves as a Student Ambassador for the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL). She also has prior experience with Hope Recovery, where she gained exposure to trauma-informed care and survivor support. Her interests include psychotherapy, relationships, and the role of culture and development in shaping mental health. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys staying active, trying different cuisines, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Charlie Giraud is a Clinical Psychology PhD student at the University of Cincinnati. He began working with Dr. Leonard in 2019 and soon after helped conduct the Coupling with COVID study during the early months of the pandemic. He earned his master’s degree in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2021 before starting his doctoral training. Since then, he has continued to gain research and clinical experience, with a particular focus on examining resilience among sexual and gender minority individuals. His work also extends to sexual and gender minority couples and families, with the broad aim of improving well-being within this community.

Christen Abraham joined Dr. Leonard’s ICH research lab in 2019. A proud alumna of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, she graduated with high distinction, earning a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Biology, and a minor in Sociology. She then pursued an MBA in Health Systems Leadership, sharpening her focus on applying research to improve healthcare delivery. Christen contributed to several impactful projects in the ICH Lab, exploring stress, trauma, dyadic coping, and AI-based interventions. Presenting the lab’s findings at conferences sparked her passion for research communication and strengthened her ability to translate complex data into meaningful, real-world insights. Christen's clinical interests center on clinical health psychology and integrative health care, with a focus on expanding access for underserved populations. In Christen’s free time, she loves staying active, experimenting with new cooking recipes, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Zeena Whayeb became a member of the ICH Lab in 2023 and has contributed to research on long-haul COVID, attributions, coping, and relationship satisfaction. Zeena's primary research interests center around close relationships, culture, and morality. Zeena recently started her Ph.D. in social psychology. Outside her academic work, Zeena enjoys hiking, exploring new cities, and boxing.