The PRADAA Team

About the Lab Director

Dr. Angela

Neal-Barnett

Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett is a national award winning psychologist, professor, author, and leading expert on anxiety disorders among African Americans. As a professor in the psychology department at Kent State University, she directs the Program for Research on Anxiety Disorders among African Americans (PRADAA). Dr. Neal-Barnett’s research is funded by grants from NIMH, NSF, and the Kent State Foundation. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the American Psychological Association’s Kenneth and Mamie Clark Award and the Harold K Stubbs Humanitarian award for research and dissemination of research into African American communities. Dr. Neal-Barnett and her PRADAA staff are dedicated to conducting research that makes a difference in the lives of African Americans. In her spare time, Dr. Neal-Barnett is a “dance mom.”

About the Data Director

Dr. Robert E. Stadulis

Dr. Robert E. Stadulis is an Emeritus Professor of Exercise, Leisure and Sport, and the Director of Data Analysis for the PRADAA Lab. He provides statistical consultation and conducts analyses for the PRADAA lab.

Graduate Students

Elizabeth Jean

Graduate Research Assistant Elizabeth Jean became a member of the PRADAA Lab in the fall of 2016. In May 2016 she graduated Summa cum Laude from the honors program at Howard University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Throughout her undergraduate career Elizabeth worked in various research labs where she developed a passion for researching sociocultural factors that influence the development of stress and anxiety in African American adolescents. In particular, Elizabeth's research interests focus on the impacts of stress in relation to pediatric health disparities. She hopes to use this research to develop culturally adaptive interventions for Black youth that reduce health disparities by addressing the social and environmental determinants of stress.

Tiffany Rowell

Graduate Research Assistant Tiffany Rowell received her Bachelor’s of Art’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the spring of 2017 and became a member of the PRADAA Lab in the fall of 2017. During her undergraduate career, Tiffany was a member of the Anxiety Lab and Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab. In addition to being a research assistant, Tiffany also volunteered in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Units at UNC Hospitals and worked with middle school aged girls to encourage their development of healthy minds, bodies, and relationships. Tiffany’s research focuses on anxiety and interventions in African American adolescents and adults.

Keaton Somerville

Graduate Research Assistant Keaton Somerville joined the PRADAA lab in the Summer of 2018. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from St.Johns University (SJU) in 2016, obtaining a B.A in Psychology and minors in Africana Studies, Spanish, and International Studies. In undergrad, she worked in SJU’s Child & Family Lab coding parent-child interactions, in addition to studying microaggressions as a research assistant. She attained her M.P.S in Clinical Psychological Sciences in December of 2017 from the University of Maryland, College Park. For two years, she worked full-time as Data Manager for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Data & Statistic Center, managing data of clinical trials. Keaton hopes her data management and research experience will translate into much graduate success in the PRADAA lab. Keaton’s research focuses on anxiety interventions among African Americans adolescents and young adults.

Alexis McGhee-Dinvaut

Graduate Research Assistant Alexis McGhee-Dinvaut became a member of the PRADAA lab in the Summer of 2022. She graduated with Departmental Honors and a certificate in Research Experience from the University of Kansas obtaining a B.A. in Psychology in Spring 2020. Following her undergraduate career, she worked as a data analyst and project manager at a community health research center dedicated to helping low-income and minority families. From there she became an Adoption Case Manager and enjoyed working hands on to address the physical, mental, social, and educational needs of her foster children and families. This work sparked Alexis's passion for dedicated community work and aiming to create change. Alexis's current research interests include treatment seeking behaviors in Black communities, culturally relevant treatment for depression, and racial health disparities.

Jordyn Lally

Graduate Research Assistant Jordyn Lally became a member of the PRADAA Lab in the Spring of 2016 as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. In December 2016, she graduated Cum Laude from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Throughout her undergraduate career, Jordyn worked in various research labs where she developed a passion for implementing stress and anxiety interventions for adolescents. Jordyn’s current research interests include coming out research with adolescents and investigations of social determinants of health that affect Black and Multi-cultural families.

Doulas

Debra Bell

Bio coming soon

Myla Nunn

Bio coming soon

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Joshua Daniel

Undergraduate Research Assistant Joshua Daniel became a member of the PRADDA Lab during the Summer of 2022. He is a Junior majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Counseling and a minor in Sociology. Joshua is affiliated with a multitude of programs and organizations within the Kent community. During his time in the S.U.R.E. Program (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience), he conducted research related to Self-Delivered Interventions with his mentor. Also, he is a McNair Scholar and a Student Research Ambassador. Joshua’s current research interests include anxiety and depression amongst African Americans.

Paige Jochims

Undergraduate Research Assistant Paige Jochims became a member of the PRADAA lab during the Summer of 2023. She is a Sophomore majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Pre-medicine. Paige works hard to broaden her knowledge of current literature and issues affecting marginalized communities. Her current research interests includes examining social determinants of heath and their potential to create more culturally relevant treatment practices.

Bria Shackleford

Undergraduate Research Assistant Bria Shackleford became a member of the PRADAA lab during the Summer of 2023. She is a Junior majoring in Neuroscience with a concentration in Pre-medicine. Bria was a part of the S.U.R.E program (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) in the Summer of 2023; she conducted research on racism related stress among African American students. Additionally, she is a BHRI (Brain Health Research Institute) Fellow. Bria's current research interests include stress and anxiety among African American students.

Rana Garelnabi

Undergraduate Research Assistant Rana Garelnabi became a member of the PRADAA lab during the Fall of 2023. She is a Senior majoring in Psychology. Rana has been a writing consultant at the Writing Commons for five semesters, been on the Dean's List, and has taken an active role in improving her research skills. Her current research interests are anxiety and depression in African American women.