Enrolled in Fall 2022, Susan began her professional trajectory in paramedicine, where she developed an interest in the social and psychological processes shaping physiological stress responses and long-term health outcomes. This experience led her to pursue research on how psychological processes influence cardiovascular functioning. 

Under the mentorship of Dr. Salomon, her research focuses on rumination - repetitive, often difficult-to-control attention directed toward the causes and consequences of one’s mood. Because rumination varies in content and focus, Susan’s work distinguishes between internalized anger rumination (self-focused) and externalized anger rumination (directed toward others or situations). She examines how these cognitive styles influence cardiovascular recovery, or the efficiency with which the heart returns to baseline following stress. 

More broadly, her research investigates the cognitive and physiological correlates of rumination using psychophysiological methods, such as Electroencephalography and Electrocardiography, to better understand the integration between central and peripheral nervous system processes during perseverative cognition.

Enrolled Fall 2024, Oke retained a long-standing interest in applying various cardiovascular measures to specific stressors such as grief and minority-related daily stress. 

Before USF, Oke graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a double degree in psychology and anthropology, and worked with Dr. Thomas Kamarck on the use of ambulatory blood pressure monitors to examine work-related daily stress and on intervention methods such as mindfulness. 

Her current research projects focus on investigating grief patterns and reactions among young adults, and potential interventions for reducing the physiological reaction to loss.