Our Team

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Cowan is an Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at Michigan State University, whose research focuses on understanding the developmental psychopathology of serious mental illness. Dr. Cowan's work incorporates current transdiagnostic, longitudinal, and narrative methods to improve assessment of psychosis experiences and improve early intervention and risk prediction. Dr. Cowan’s work has received numerous research awards including an Early Career Award from the Schizophrenia International Research Society; the Serious Mental Illness Research Award from APA Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service); and the Frederick & Alice Coles and Thomas & Nancy Coles Young Investigator Award from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.

GRADUATE STUDENT

Anna is a second-year clinical science graduate student at Michigan State University. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in Neuroscience & Behavior and English and an honors concentration in Creative Writing. After graduation, she worked as a CRC for 3 years on the Neurobehavioral Research Team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, studying developmental disabilities using fNIRS-EEG. She is the founder of the Our Stories Project (OSP), a memoir co-writing initiative between university students and members of Clubhouses (psychosocial rehabilitation centers for adults with serious mental illness). Through OSP, she has led, taught, and/or mentored over 120 students and community members and published two books of own-voices narratives and artwork. Anna is interested in studying mechanisms of resilience, narrative identity, self-perception, creativity, language, and functional outcomes in individuals across the schizophrenia spectrum. In her free time, she writes creatively, reads, crafts, stays active, and spends time outdoors with good company.

GRADUATE STUDENT

Kristen is a first year clinical psychology graduate student at Michigan State University and is thrilled to be joining Dr. Cowan's research team. Previously, she completed a masters in psychology at the University of Chicago and a post-baccalaureate in psychology at Northwestern University. She has been fortunate to work with a number of labs over those years, including the Susan Goldin-Meadow Lab, Dr. Marisa Casillas' C.H.A.T.T.E.R. lab, Dr. Hollen Reischer's Narrative Lab, Dr. Dan McAdams' Study of Lives Research Group and Dr. Molly Losh’s Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Lab. Kristen is interested in the intersections of narrative identity, human development, and neurodiversity. Formerly, Kristen worked in Chicago as a theatre and film director. Studying the human experience and narrative from a multi-modal perspective is an integral part of the work she has always done. When not conducting research or working with neurodiverse children, Kristen loves to garden, cook, and travel.

LAB COORDINATOR

Kayla Tracey (she/her) graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science. Kayla was a member of the Honors College, Social Science Scholars, and Women’s Leadership Institute. She completed a senior honors thesis evaluating prevalent themes in GLP-1 content on TikTok. Kayla’s research interests lie in increasing accessibility of evidence based treatments for individuals with serious mental illnesses. Kayla is also interested in understanding how personalized, evidence based treatments for psychological disorders may be able to improve disparities in treatment outcomes across marginalized groups. In the WELL, she is conducting a systematic review evaluating stakeholder engagement in review papers and managing current lab projects. Kayla hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring museums, and learning Spanish.

ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST

Joshua Pierce (he/him) graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Social Science Quantitative Data Analytics and Cognitive Science. Joshua’s research interests lie in understanding the mechanisms underlying psychotic disorders and how individual differences may influence treatment outcomes in psychiatric conditions. In the WELL, Joshua conducts diagnostic interviews and clinical assessments of symptom severity. He is also developing a protocol to analyze narrative identity in an inpatient population. Joshua will be starting medical school at MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in the Summer of 2025. Following medical school, he plans to complete a residency in psychiatry and wants to conduct clinical research as a psychiatrist. In his free time, Joshua enjoys reading philosophy, listening to podcasts, and playing soccer.

VOLUNTEER RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Hannah Greenspan (she/her) graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. At MSU, Hannah was a member of the Honors College, a student supervisor for MSU tours, and a member of the MIR lab. Her research interests are centered on moral psychology and child populations. In the WELL, Hannah has assisted in narrative coding, as well as updating codebook explanations and coding instructions. Currently, she is taking a gap year and applying to Masters in Occupational Therapy programs. She will be shadowing in multiple occupational therapy clinicals and obtaining a personal training certification. In her free time, Hannah enjoys taking long walks and going to the gym. She also loves to bake, and hopes to spend more time baking during her gap year.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Abigail Brooke (she/her) is a junior at Michigan State University majoring in Psychology with minors in Cognitive Science and Human Behavior & Social Sciences. She is the secretary for MSU’s Psi Chi chapter, a member of the women’s fitness club, and a member of CHAARG. Abigail’s research interests center on individuals with severe mental illnesses and understanding ways to eliminate racial disparities that exist in diagnosing and treating severe mental illnesses. In the WELL, Abigail assists in troubleshooting NARSAD SOA tasks and assists in assessment team training. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, Abigail enjoys cooking and baking, shopping with friends, and trying new exercises.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Rachael Blanchard (she/her) is a senior at Michigan State University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Youth and Society. She is a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society. Rachael’s research interests focus on children, particularly how ADHD is diagnosed in childhood and how to improve treatment adherence. She is also interested in exploring how schools can better accommodate and support students with ADHD. In the WELL, Rachael is assisting on a systematic review evaluating stakeholder engagement in review articles. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and open her own private practice as a child psychologist. In her free time, Rachael enjoys playing volleyball and learning to play the guitar.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Marlo Lulgjuraj (she/her) is a senior at Michigan State University majoring in Human Biology in Lyman Briggs College with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Marlo is a member of the pre-health honors society Alpha Epsilon Delta, a student coordinator for Sparrow Hospital’s volunteer program, and a member of the Panhellenic community. Her research interests focus on chronic mental health conditions and neurodivergent populations, specifically within communities disproportionately affected by limited access to healthcare. In the WELL, Marlo works on the narrative coding team, assessing how individuals make sense of significant life events and how these narratives reflect their identity development and emotional processing. After completing her undergraduate degree, Marlo plans to take a gap year to continue working on research projects and participate in a service trip to gain firsthand clinical experience working with patients affected by social determinants of health in underserved communities around the world. In her free time, Marlo enjoys exploring new places, finding new experiences, and attending concerts and festivals.