Apoorva Sarmal Apoorva Sarmal is a fourth-year Ph.D. Candidate in the Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) program at the University of Georgia. She works in the Georgia Attitudes, Bias, and Behavior Acquisition (GABBA) Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Allison Skinner-Dorkenoo. She is interested in investigating underlying mechanisms of stereotyping and prejudice. Specifically, Apoorva researches race and gender disparities to promote diversity and inclusion. Before joining Dr. Allison Skinner-Dorkenoo's GABBA Lab, she was a research assistant in social and experimental psychology labs at Indiana University-Bloomington. Education Education: M.S. in Psychology, University of Georgia, 2022 M.A. in French Linguistics, Indiana University-Bloomington, 2019 B.A. in French (minor: Psychology), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 2017 B.S. in Business Administration, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 2017 Research Research Interests: Social Psychology; Stereotyping; Prejudice; Racism; Sexism Grants: George Hugh Boyd Memorial Scholarship, University of Georgia ($2,000) Jenessa Shapiro Graduate Research Award from Society of Personality and Social Psychology ($1,000) Selected Publications Selected Publications: Skinner-Dorkenoo, A. L., Sarmal, A., Rogbeer, K., André, C. J., Patel, B., & Cha, L. (2022). Highlighting COVID-19 Racial Disparities Can Reduce Support for Safety Precautions Among White U.S. Residents. Social Science and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114951 Skinner-Dorkenoo, A. L., ˆSarmal, A., ˆAndré, C. J., & Rogbeer, K. G. (2021). How microaggressions reinforce and perpetuate systemic racism in the U.S. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(5), 903-925. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916211002543
Christina Leckfor Christina Leckfor is a Social Psychology Ph.D. candidate in the Behavior and Brain Sciences program where she examines the factors that facilitate and interfere with social connection. Some of her most recent projects investigate what motivates people to talk to strangers or avoid them, how people develop intimacy in different contexts (e.g., face-to-face vs. texting and video chat, dyadic vs. group interactions, wearing face masks vs. no masks), and how the psychological experience of being ghosted differs from being directly rejected. Christina is also dedicated to being an effective teacher and mentor, as demonstrated by her acceptance into UGA's Future Faculty Fellows program, receiving the Richard L. Marsh Mentoring Award from the Department of Psychology, and serving as a Graduate Advisor for UGA's Psi Chi Chapter. Education Education: M.S., Social Psychology, University of Pittsburgh B.A., Psychology, Youngstown State University Research Research Interests: Christina's research aims to understand the factors that facilitate and interfere with relationship processes and how social interactions and supportive relationships influence well-being. Her work has examined how social technologies can be used to foster and maintain relationships through deep meaningful conversations (e.g., over video chat and texting), while also impeding social connection by making it easier to displace minimal social interactions with strangers and end existing relationships (e.g., through ghosting). Ultimately, Christina aims to understand how people can maximize the benefits of social relationships to lead happier and healthier lives. In addition to her own research, Christina is currently serving as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Social Psychology of Research Experiences and Education (SPREE) Lab. Grants: University of Georgia Graduate School (2021). “From close to ghost: The effects of ghosting and need for closure on need satisfaction and coping behaviors.” Total: $1,500. Role: Principal Investigator Psi Chi: The International Honor Society of Psychology (2020). “Feeling gloom after Zoom: The psychological effects of video chat vs. face-to-face interactions.” Total: $1,500. Role: Principal Investigator Selected Publications Selected Publications: (* indicates shared first authorship) Wood, N. R., Leckfor, C. M., Wicks, S. G., & Hales, A. H. (in press). Ghosting from the workplace: The impact of feedback (or lack thereof) on applicants’ psychological needs satisfaction. Routledge Open Research. Leckfor, C. M., Wood, N. R., Kwiatek, S. M., & Orehek, E. (in press). Expectations and experiences of screen time, social interaction, and solitude. Journal of Social Psychology. *Leckfor, C. M., *Wood, N. R., Slatcher, R. B., & Hales, A. H. (2023). From close to ghost: Examining the relationship between the need for closure, intentions to ghost, and reactions to being ghosted. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(8), 2422-2444. Juergensen, J., & Leckfor, C. (2019). Stop pushing me away: Facebook addiction relates to automatic approach motivation for Facebook stimuli. Psychological Reports, 122(6), 2012-2025. Other Information Of note: Christina's research has received coverage in the following media outlets: “As online dating grows, why is ghosting on the rise as well? What are the effects?” by River Gracey (2023, October 28). WUGA "Socializing boosts mood compared to screentime" by Erica Techo (2023, September, 14). UGA Today “What does being ‘ghosted’ mean and why does it make us feel so bad?” by Sara Novak (2023, July 26). Discover Magazine “What to do if a friend ghosts you” by Catherine Pearson (2023, April 12). The New York Times “What science knows about ghosting: It’s worse than direct rejection” by Karelia Vázquex. (2023, March 7). El País (Spanish and English versions) “There's a weird link between people who seek closure and those who ghost” by Dayna McAlpine. (2023, February 14). HuffPost “People who ‘ghost’ actually have a stronger need for closure. Wait, what?” by Faima Baker. (2023, February 20). Metro “People with a high need for closure are more likely to ghost, yet also feel more distressed when they are ghosted” by Eric. W. Dolan (2023, February 19). PsyPost “Love in 2023: Ghosting ‘new normal’ for ending relationships, research shows” by John Anderer. (2023, February 14). StudyFinds “The relationship between ghosting and closure” by Erica Techo. (2023, February 13). UGA Today “Healthy Relationships 101: Advice from the UGA community” by Maddy Franklin (2021, August 19). The Red & Black, pp. 14-15
Chloe André Proven researcher with experience in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed, methods focusing on historically marginalized communities. Currently a third year PhD student at the University of Georgia under Dr. Skinner Dorkenoo. Concurrently pursuing certificates in: interdisciplinary qualitative research methods, quantitative research methods, African American studies, and Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion frameworks. Particular attention paid to conducting ethical research and the responsibilities that researchers have. Research Research Interests: Intergroup interactions, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination with a strong focus on how these factors reinforce racial disparities with the United States. Degree Completion Date: Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00pm
Clinical Psychology program alumna, Dr. Laura Simons, Elected President of the Society of Pediatric Psychology! Congratulations to Clinical Psychology program alumna Dr. Laura Simons, PhD on her recent election as President of the Society of Pediatric Psychology! Dr. Simons received her PhD from UGA in 2006 and is currently Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine in Pediatrics at the Stanford University Medical Center. Dr. Read more about Clinical Psychology program alumna, Dr. Laura Simons, Elected President of the Society of Pediatric Psychology!
Dr. Michelle vanDellen's PsyCorona Study Featured in Ozy Article! Check out this feature on Dr. Michelle vanDellen's PsyCorona Study, the biggest pandemic behavior study in the world. Dr. vanDellen and collaborators are surveying over 60,000 participants from more than 100 countries to determine how the coronavirus is affecting their lives. This is incredibly timely, and important work! https://www.ozy.com/…/the-biggest-pandemic-study-in…/349695/ Read more about Dr. Michelle vanDellen's PsyCorona Study Featured in Ozy Article!
Dr. Allison Howard and Collaborators Receive UGA CTL Learning Technologies Grant! Congratulations to Dr. Allison Howard who was recently awarded a Learning Technologies Grant from the UGA Center for Teaching and Learning in collaboration with Dr. Sergio Bernardes and Dr. Marguerite Madden from the UGA Center for Geospatial Research. Read more about Dr. Allison Howard and Collaborators Receive UGA CTL Learning Technologies Grant!
Dr. Billy R Hammond Featured on Podcast Discussing the Eye and Brain Connection UGA Psychology professor, Dr. Billy R. Hammond, was recently featured on the podcast "Open Your Eyes" where he discussed the eye and brain connection (podcast released July 20, 2020) Read more about Dr. Billy R Hammond Featured on Podcast Discussing the Eye and Brain Connection
Dr. Isha Metzger and The EMPOWER Lab receive $1 Million SAMHSA Grant! Congratulations to Dr. Isha Metzger and her team who just received a coveted multiyear, $1M SAMHSA grant to research community applications in HIV and substance misuse populations with a focus on trauma exposed ethnic minority groups. Way to go Dr. Metzger! Here’s a brief on the grant: Read more about Dr. Isha Metzger and The EMPOWER Lab receive $1 Million SAMHSA Grant!
Graduate Student Kelly Rea Receives HRSA Graduate Psychology Education Fellowship! 4th year clinical graduate student, Kelly Rea, has been awarded a fellowship through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Graduate Psychology Education Grant, “Expanding Georgia’s Behavioral Health Workforce for Integrated OUD/SUD Prevention and Treatment with Underserved Populations.” This grant, led by Dr. Read more about Graduate Student Kelly Rea Receives HRSA Graduate Psychology Education Fellowship!
