As a first-generation college student, Dr. Turiano received his B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies from Penn State University in 2005. During his undergraduate studies he worked in two retirement communities as an activities coordinator helping older adults maintain daily physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. He also worked in the lab of Drs. K. Warner Schaie and Sherry Willis examining cognitive training data from the Seattle Longitudinal Study. After graduation he worked at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Behavioral Health laboratory. This position combined clinical evaluation with research on the identification, triage, and research on veterans with a variety of substance use and emotional disorders. 

Dr. Turiano obtained his dual-title PhD in Human Development & Family Studies and Gerontology from Purdue University in 2012 working under Dr. Daniel Mroczek. His major areas of research emphasis were in personality development and Gerontology. He then completed an NRSA postdoctoral fellowship in Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center with training in psychophysiology and health disparities research under Dr. Benjamin Chapman. Dr. Turiano joined the WVU faculty as an Assistant Professor of lifespan developmental Psychology in Fall 2014. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in Spring 2020.  

Sarah is a fourth-year doctoral student. She graduated with Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Christian University in December 2021. Her Master's Thesis, successfully defended in April 2024, examined how early life adversity impacts alcohol use and sexual risk taking in college. Sarah teaches Social Psychology (PSYC 251) and Field Experience (PSYC 491) at WVU. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, cooking, trying new restaurants, watching live music, and exploring West Virginia.

Meredith is a fourth-year doctoral student. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Development from Slippery Rock University in May 2022. Her Master's Thesis, successfully defended in April 2024, examined how early life adversity impacts mortality risk. A key finding was how higher levels of social support buffered the negative effects of adversity on mortality risk. In her free time, she enjoys laughing, yoga, spending time with friends, being outdoors and reading.