The SWAG lab is directed by Dr. Mary Himmelstein, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kent State University

Dr. Himmelstein completed her PhD in social psychology and intradisciplinary Health at Rutgers-New Brunswick and her postdoctoral fellowship at the UConn Rudd Center. Dr. Himmelstein's research centers on understanding the ways in which overlapping identities, stress, and strategies for coping with stress impact physical and psychological health in the areas of weight stigma and masculinity. When she's not in the lab Dr. Himmelstein enjoys making nerdy science jokes, camping, kayaking, listening to audiobooks, and engaging in random shaninigandry.

Dr. Himmelstein's CV

Chelsea is a 5th year doctoral candidate at Kent State University and is from Rochester, New York. Chelsea received her Master's in psychology from The College at Brockport where she studied prejudice and discrimination in the LGBT+ community. Chelsea is currently studying for her PhD in Psychological Sciences with a focus in Social Health. Her goal is to become a Social Psychology Professor and Researcher. Chelsea loves all things Halloween and is also a special effects makeup artist.

Karen is a 4th year graduate student in Psychological Sciences at Kent State University, with a concentration in Social and Health Psychology.  She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Florida State University, where she worked in the Gerend Health Psychology Lab at the FSU College of Medicine.  Karen’s primary research interest is weight stigma through an intersectional lens.  She is specifically interested in how identity and self-perception impact coping strategies, health behaviors, and prejudiced beliefs.  In her free time, Karen enjoys all things music and pop culture.  She also spends time hiking, camping, horseback riding, and golfing.

Brandon is 3rd year graduate student in Psychological Sciences at Kent State University, with a concentration in Social and Health Psychology. He received his BA in Psychology from the University of Maine at Farmington, where he worked as a lab manager in the Social Psychology Lab and Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Research Lab. Brandon’s research interests primarily focus on men and masculinity, in particular how weight stigma impacts mens’ coping strategies, health behaviors, and mental health outcomes. For fun, Brandon likes listening to music, writing, and hiking / doing anything outdoors. 

Maddie is a 1st year graduate student in Psychological Sciences at Kent State University, with a concentration in Social and Health Psychology. Before coming to KSU, she earned her Master's in clinical psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and completed a postgraduate clinical fellowship with St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute’s Eating Disorder Program. Maddie’s research interests include the impact of weight stigma on health behaviors, especially in the context of healthcare and health-promoting settings. In her free time, Maddie enjoys reading, watching TV/movies, shopping, interior decorating, and spending time with her partner and Italian Greyhound, Juniper. 

Parastoo is a 4th year student at Kent State, majoring in Fashion Design and double minoring in Psychology and Costume Design. She plans to pursue a PsyD after graduating and continue with a career in therapy and counseling. Parastoo spends her free time cooking and drawing and has a great love of traveling and takes every opportunity to do so with study aways in South Korea, New York City, and Florence, Italy. 

Vidhi is a sophomore at Kent State University and majoring in health sciences. She plans to go to medical school after graduating. She has an interest in social and health psychology and hopes to learn more about their relationship in the men’s exercise study lab. On campus, she is involved in the academic success center as a tutor, part of AMSA and volunteers with Flashes Fighting Hunger. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, spending time outdoors and hanging out with friends and family

Zoe is a Junior at Kent State University. She is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Public Relations. She intends to go to graduate school after completing her undergraduate degree. In her free time, Zoe enjoys reading, cooking, and going on road trips with her friends.

Tori is a Junior at Kent State University pursuing a degree in Psychology. She also plans to go to graduate school for a master's degree in psychology. After graduation, Tori hopes to continue pursuing areas relating to social psychology, clinical psychology, and personality psychology. From the SWAG Lab, Tori hopes to acquire more hands-on lab experience, while also learning more about masculinity in relations to the stereotype threat. In her free time, Tori enjoys crocheting, drawing, gaming, and hanging out with friends."

Elena is a senior at Kent State University. She is majoring in Psychology, has two minors in Human Development and Family Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies, and a concentration in counseling careers. She plans to attend graduate school to become a relationship therapist. She plans to use this lab opportunity to further study masculinity and help contribute to making a positive impact in the field of social psychology. In her freetime, she enjoys reading novels and volunteering. 

Andrew is a senior Psychology major at Kent State University from Bryan, Ohio. He plans to go to graduate school for a social psychology PhD Program after graduation. He has an interest in social psychology and psychopathology. He's been involved with the Student Multicultural Center Leadership Institute in the first inaugural cohort of Pioneros and currently works for the Kent State Department of Psychological Sciences as the Sona Subject Pool Manager. In his free time he enjoys hiking, volunteering, and reading fantasy novels.

Colby is a senior at Kent State University and is majoring in Psychology. After graduating, he plans on pursuing a career involving counseling and therapy, with his main goal of a PhD in either Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology, or Counseling. In his free time, he likes long hikes at CVNP, weightlifting, video games, board games, and spending time with friends.

Caroline Miller is a Senior at Kent State University. She is currently majoring in Psychology and minoring in Anthropology. She would like to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology by obtaining a Ph.D. once her undergraduate degree is finished in the spring. Caroline is hoping to continue researching either in graduate school or through future employment. In her free time, she enjoys mild hikes, volunteering for the Kent State Biology Club, and console gaming.

Khushi Patel is a junior at Kent State University, majoring in Biology with a concentration in pre-med. After she graduates, she wants to take a gap year and apply to PA school. She is involved in the lab to gain more knowledge about how psychological and biological aspect works together in research on topics such as masculinity. She also wants to broaden her understanding of research. In her free time she likes to hang out with friends, paint and go on late night drives. 

Bingo and Banjo completed homeschool obedience training at casa Himmelstein.  Their primary interests are snuggles, long walks, eating delicious snacks, playing ball, fighting amongst themselves, eating bones, and stealing things that do not belong to them.  They distrust other dogs, rain, and changes to their routine more generally. They aspire to be good boys someday, but likely not today. 

Sacha  studied at Princeton, Rutgers, and the University of Connecticut before settling in NE Ohio at Kent State.  Her primary interests involve sleeping in sun spots, demanding snuggles while Dr. Himmelstein is in virtual meetings, purring loudly, meowing at birds, and staring fixedly into space.  She does not suffer fools including those damn fool dogs Bingo and Banjo. She rues the day they were born.  She aspires to rule over all from the comfort of her own perch.