Lab Director: Jenna E. Finch, Ph.D
Lab Director
Dr. Jenna E. Finch
​Dr. Finch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She received her Ph.D. in Developmental and Psychological Sciences from Stanford University's Graduate School of Education.
Her research explores how contextual factors influence children’s early development. Specifically, her work focuses on the development of children’s self-regulation and motivation in home and school environments. Her past work has examined how family risk factors are linked to the development of children’s executive functions and social-emotional skills in both domestic and international settings. Currently, Dr. Finch is exploring how interactions with teachers and peers can support executive function development in early and middle childhood.
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Office: Burnett Hall 223 Email: jenna.finch@unl.edu Download: CV
Graduate Research Assistant
Kimia Akhavein
Kimia is an advanced graduate student in the Developmental Psychology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine. At UNL, Kimia is interested in examining how parents and teachers support children’s self-regulation skills to promote academic success. Her master’s thesis examined how children’s executive function skills relate to specific math abilities. Additionally, Kimia works as a graduate assistant on the UNL CHIME Program, which is an intervention that targets mindfulness and well-being in early childhood educators.
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Email: kakhavein2@huskers.unl.edu
Lab Manager
Riley Bittner
Riley was an undergraduate research assistant in the LADR lab for a year before graduating from UNL with her Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and in psychology. She plans on attending graduate school for education, inspired by her time as a tutor and teaching assistant for six different undergraduate courses. In her free time, Riley enjoys reading, baking, spending time outside, and catching up with friends.
Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Research Assistants
Isis Burks
Isis is an undergraduate student from Lincoln, Nebraska. She is majoring in Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Science and Human Services, and a minor in Child, Youth, and Family Studies. After she graduates, she plans to get her Doctorate in School Psychology. Isis is an executive team member of the Minority Pre-Health Association and is on the leadership team of CAS Ambassadors at UNL. In her free time, she likes to spend time with family and friends, and loves working with kids!
Caylin Eastridge
Caylin is an undergraduate student from Omaha, Nebraska. She is currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child, Youth, and Family Studies. After graduation, she hopes to attend a Clinical Psychology graduate program and study Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Caylin is a member of Alpha Xi Delta on campus, and she is also in the Order of Omega honors society. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as doing puzzles.
Saba Ghaffar
Saba is an undergraduate student from Lincoln, Nebraska, majoring in Biology with minors in Biochemistry and Psychology. She is currently on the Pre-Med track in hopes of becoming a Psychiatrist. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with family and friends, reading, watching movies/tv shows, and being outdoors.
Amber Gryga
Amber is a first-generation student from Lakeville, Minnesota. She is currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Educational Psychology. After she graduates, she hopes to get her Masters in School Psychology. Amber is a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, UNL Unified Sports, and is also a tour guide on campus. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, reading books, working out, and watching movies!
Ella Hansen
Ella is an undergraduate Honors student majoring in both Psychology and English. She works for the Daily Nebraskan on campus, as well as being a part of the Newman Center and Hope Venture Club. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family.
Logan Larsen
Logan is a first-generation undergraduate student from Lincoln. He is majoring in Psychology, with minors in Chemistry and English. As a member of the Nebraska Spirit Squad he loves to represent the University in any way possible, and you can find him at most Husker sporting events. After graduating Logan plans to attend dental school, and hopes to eventually practice dentistry somewhere in Nebraska. When Logan has free time he enjoys hiking, reading an intriguing fantasy book, or taking his dog on a walk.
Tracy Nguyen
Tracy is a first-generation undergraduate student from Lincoln, NE. She is majoring in Psychology and plans to go to graduate school to study Clinical Psychology. Tracy is a member of the Vietnamese Student Association and the Asian Student Union. In her free time, she likes to spend time with family and friends, go to the gym, and read books.
Grace Parolek
Grace is an undergraduate student from Omaha, Nebraska. She is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. After graduation, Grace plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in the field of Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys running, spending time with friends and family, reading, listening to music, and traveling.
Drake Seibel
Drake is from Omaha, Nebraska, and is majoring in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology. He is an undergraduate and would like to pursue a doctorate degree in Psychology. Drake eventually would like to work as a professor, conducting research on various aspects of social, cognitive, and positive psychology. He enjoys doing independent research, watching movies, playing video games, and talking with professors and peers.
Emily Shurtliff
Emily is a Nebraska-native undergraduate who is majoring in Psychology, with a minor in both Child, Youth, & Family Studies and Criminology and Criminal Justice. She has worked with kids her entire life, and she is planning to do more in the future! Emily is on track to graduate in the spring of 2023, and she then hopes to pursue a Ph. D.
Makenzie Starlin
Makenzie is an undergraduate student from Omaha, Nebraska majoring in Biology, with minors in Biochemistry, Math, Humanities in Medicine, and Psychology. After graduating, she plans to attend medical school with hopes of being a pediatrician. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Madelyn Stock
Madelyn is an undergraduate student from Doniphan, Nebraska. She is majoring in Psychology with minors in Communications and Educational Psychology. After graduating she plans to pursue a master's in School Psychology. She has a passion for working with and helping children from her time working at the YMCA as a summer camp counselor. At UNL, she is a member of the Honors Program and the Citylight Church Salt Company. In her free time, she enjoys baking, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.
Colin Thieszen
Colin is a undergraduate student double majoring in Psychology and Broadcasting. He also works for HuskerVision covering live sporting events on campus. After graduation, he plans to pursue a doctorate in Educational Psychology in the hopes of one day starting his own research lab! In his down time, you can find him throwing up massive blocks on the volleyball court or cooking with his friends.
Haley Witthuhn
Haley is a first generation, undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She works at the UNL Children's Center and enjoy engaging with the children and watching them grow. When she graduates, she plans to pursue a career in child psychology. She is in the honors program, a member of Phi Sigma Pi, and was recently accepted into the McNair Scholars Program. In her free time, Haley likes to spend time with loved ones, read, write poetry and travel.
Isis Burks
Isis is an undergraduate student from Lincoln, Nebraska. She is majoring in Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Science and Human Services, and a minor in Child, Youth, and Family Studies. After she graduates, she plans to get her Doctorate in School Psychology. Isis is an executive team member of the Minority Pre-Health Association and is on the leadership team of CAS Ambassadors at UNL. In her free time, she likes to spend time with family and friends, and loves working with kids!
Naomi Chamberlain
Naomi is an undergraduate student from Lincoln, NE. She is double majoring in Psychology and Film. Eventually, Naomi plans to attend graduate school to gain some experience in Clinical Psychology before becoming a professor. In her free time, she enjoys analyzing film/literature, making presentations, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Caylin Eastridge
Caylin is an undergraduate student from Omaha, Nebraska. She is currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child, Youth, and Family Studies. After graduation, she hopes to attend a Clinical Psychology graduate program and study Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Caylin is a member of Alpha Xi Delta on campus, and she is also in the Order of Omega honors society. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as doing puzzles.
Saba Ghaffar
Saba is an undergraduate student from Lincoln, Nebraska, majoring in Biology with minors in Biochemistry and Psychology. She is currently on the Pre-Med track in hopes of becoming a Psychiatrist. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with family and friends, reading, watching movies/tv shows, and being outdoors.
Amber Gryga
Amber is a first-generation student from Lakeville, Minnesota. She is currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Educational Psychology. After she graduates, she hopes to get her Masters in School Psychology. Amber is a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, UNL Unified Sports, and is also a tour guide on campus. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, reading books, working out, and watching movies!
Ella Hansen
Ella is an undergraduate honors student majoring in both Psychology and English. She works for the Daily Nebraskan on campus, as well as being a part of the Newman Center and Hope Venture Club. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family.
Maicee Ingwerson
Maicee is a first-generation undergraduate student from Lincoln, NE, majoring in Nutrition Sciences with minors in Psychology, Biochemistry, and Humanities in Medicine. She is currently on the Pre-Med track in hopes of doing something in Pediatrics one day! In her free time, she enjoys traveling and hanging out with friends and family!!
Riya Kannapareddy
Riya is an undergraduate student from Omaha, Nebraska. She is majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Business Management. After she graduates, she hopes to work as a software developer or UI/UX designer in the tech industry. Riya is a student in the Raikes school and a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. In her free time she enjoys doing any type of art, tennis and volleyball with friends, and catching up on interesting podcasts and articles.
Logan Larsen
Logan is a first-generation undergraduate student from Lincoln. He is majoring in Psychology, with minors in Chemistry and English. As a member of the Nebraska Spirit Squad he loves to represent the University in any way possible, and you can find him at most Husker sporting events. After graduating Logan plans to attend dental school, and hopes to eventually practice dentistry somewhere in Nebraska. When Logan has free time he enjoys hiking, reading an intriguing fantasy book, or taking his dog on a walk.
Tracy Nguyen
Tracy is a first-generation undergraduate student from Lincoln, NE. She is majoring in Psychology and plans to go to graduate school to study Clinical Psychology. Tracy is a member of the Vietnamese Student Association and the Asian Student Union. In her free time, she likes to spend time with family and friends, go to the gym, and read books.
Grace Parolek
Grace is an undergraduate student from Omaha, Nebraska. She is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. After graduation, Grace plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in the field of Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys running, spending time with friends and family, reading, listening to music, and traveling.
Drake Seibel
Drake is from Omaha, Nebraska, and is majoring in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology. He is an undergraduate and would like to pursue a doctorate degree in Psychology. Drake eventually would like to work as a professor, conducting research on various aspects of social, cognitive, and positive psychology. He enjoys doing independent research, watching movies, playing video games, and talking with professors and peers.
Emily Shurtliff
Emily is a Nebraska-native undergraduate who is majoring in Psychology, with a minor in both Child, Youth, & Family Studies and Criminology and Criminal Justice. She has worked with kids her entire life, and she is planning to do more in the future! Emily is on track to graduate in the spring of 2023, and she then hopes to pursue a Ph. D.
Makenzie Starlin
Makenzie is an undergraduate student from Omaha, Nebraska majoring in Biology, with minors in Biochemistry, Math, Humanities in Medicine, and Psychology. After graduating, she plans to attend medical school with hopes of being a pediatrician. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Madelyn Stock
Madelyn is an undergraduate student from Doniphan, Nebraska. She is majoring in Psychology with minors in Communications and Educational Psychology. After graduating she plans to pursue a master's in School Psychology. She has a passion for working with and helping children from her time working at the YMCA as a summer camp counselor. At UNL, she is a member of the Honors Program and the Citylight Church Salt Company. In her free time, she enjoys baking, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.
Colin Thieszen
Colin is a undergraduate student double majoring in Psychology and Broadcasting. He also works for HuskerVision covering live sporting events on campus. After graduation, he plans to pursue a doctorate in Educational Psychology in the hopes of one day starting his own research lab! In his down time, you can find him throwing up massive blocks on the volleyball court or cooking with his friends.
Haley Witthuhn
Haley is a first generation, undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She works at the UNL Children's Center and enjoy engaging with the children and watching them grow. When she graduates, she plans to pursue a career in child psychology. She is in the honors program, a member of Phi Sigma Pi, and was recently accepted into the McNair Scholars Program. In her free time, Haley likes to spend time with loved ones, read, write poetry and travel.