Student Advisory Board
Student Advisory Board
The Student Advisory Board (SAB) is a group of students who are chosen to represent the student membership within Division 54. The SAB is made up of four committees: Advocacy & Service, Communication, Membership, and Program Committees. This board works with the Student Representative to promote student interests in division programming, structure, and training, and to encourage other students to get involved.
Student Representatives
Student Representative
Chair, Student Advisory Board
Annisa Ahmed, Texas A&M University (2024-2025)
Student Representative-Elect
Francesca Lupini, University of South Carolina (2024-2025)
Student Advisory Board Members
Advocacy & Service Committee
- Kirby-Estar Laguerre, West Virginia University (2024-2025)
- Anne Chuning, University of Kansas (2024-2025)
- Brenda Duran, University of Houston (2024-2025)
- Brooke Greenberg, Nova Southeastern University (2024-2025)
- Annisa Ahmed, Texas A&M University (2024-2025)
Communication Committee
- Kristen A. Torres, Oregon Health & Science University (2024-2025)
- Katie Davis, Boston University (2024-2025)
- Meghan Howe, Rosalind Franklin University (2025-2026)
- Katherine Weaver, University of South Carolina (2025-2026)
Membership Committee
- Frances Cooke, Catholic University of America (2025-2026)
- Taylor Gates, University of Cincinnati (2024-2025)
- Cecily N. Conour, West Virginia University (2024-2025)
Programming Committee
- Kathy Yanes Pérez, Nova Southeastern University (2025-2026)
- Mariela Monzalvo, Wright State University (2024-2025)
- Ellison S. Choate, B.S., Palo Alto University (2025-2026)
Student Representative
Annisa Ahmed, MS (she/her)
Student Representative, Board of Directors
Chair, Student Advisory Board
spp.studentrep@gmail.com
Annisa Ahmed is a third-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at Texas A&M University, working under the mentorship of Dr. Idia Thurston and Dr. Noni Gaylord-Harden. Her research focuses on health equity, particularly examining how familial and systemic factors influence disease management in historically underserved youth and their families. Annisa is also passionate about working with children and adolescents affected by chronic pain, aiming to advance interventions that promote resilience and well-being. As the 2025 Student Representative for the Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP), Annisa leads the Student Advisory Board (SAB) and serves on the Division’s Board of Directors. In this role, she advocates for programs and initiatives that address the unique needs of trainees, fostering support and professional growth for the next generation of pediatric psychologists.
Francesca Lupini, MS (she/her)
Student Representative-Elect
Francesca is a second year in the Clinical-Community Psychology PhD program at the University of South Carolina under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Cooper. Prior to USC, Francesca worked with youth with type 1 diabetes as a research coordinator at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. Francesca obtained her B.S./M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University in 2020/2021, with a focus in pediatric sleep. Her research interests lie in promoting health equity among chronic illness populations and in child sleep health, and harnessing cultural strengths such as ethnic racial socialization to promote child wellbeing.
Community Outreach & Service Committee
Annie Chuning (she/her)
Community Outreach & Service Co-Chair
Annie Chuning is a second-year graduate student in the Clinical Child Psychology PhD program at the University of Kansas under the mentorship of Dr. Ann Davis at KU Medical Center. Her research aims to understand how cognitive decision-making traits and social barriers impact intervention effectiveness for pediatric patients and their families. Clinically, Annie is passionate about supporting rural families’ engagement in healthy lifestyles and increasing wellbeing for families with medical complexity, especially families whose journey began in the NICU. With a background in nonprofit work and current efforts to engage local policymakers and community stakeholders, she is excited to apply her passions by serving as Co-Chair for the Community Outreach and Service Committee for SAB.
Brenda Duran (she/her)
Community Outreach & Service Co-Chair
Brenda Duran is a fourth-year graduate student in the School Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Houston. She works under the mentorship of Dr. Marisa Hilliard in the Resilience and Diabetes (RAD) Behavioral Research Lab. Brenda’s research interests include examining the effects that family and school systems have in the overall mental health and health-related outcomes in pediatric patients with chronic illnesses, with a specific focus on Hispanic youth and their families. Her long-term career goal is to be a practicing bilingual pediatric psychologist, providing services to youth and families from under-resourced backgrounds who are at risk for health or educational disparities.
Brooke Greenberg, B.A. (she/her)
Advocacy & Service Committee, Advocacy Co-Chair
Brooke Greenberg is a third-year clinical psychology PhD Student at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida under the mentorship of Dr. Jessica Valenzuela. Brooke's research and clinical interests focus on the intersection of disordered eating through the lens of pediatric chronic medical conditions (i.e., diabetes, pain). Brooke is also interested in advocacy in the pediatric psychology space. Through serving the Advocacy and Service Commitee in her role as the Advocacy Co-Chair, Brooke is involved with coordinating advocacy service opportunities for members of Division 54.
Communication Committee
Kristen A. Torres (she/her)
Communication Committee, Podcast Co-Chair
Kristen is a third-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Oregon Health & Science University under the mentorship of Dr. David Wagner. Kristen’s research focuses on children living with chronic or complex medical conditions experiencing high social risk, with a particular focus on resilience and protective factors for these families. Clinically, Kristen aspires to work with children diagnosed with medical conditions and their families to deliver evidence-based treatment. As Podcast Co-Chair on the SAB Communications Committee, Kristen is passionate about discussing pediatric psychology, increasing representation within the field, and uplifting trainee voices.
Katie Davis, MA (she/her)
Communication Committee, Podcast Co-Chair
Katie Davis is a 5th year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Boston University. Under the mentorship of Dr. Kristin Long, Katie’s doctoral research focuses on improving sibling psychosocial adjustment to pediatric cancer through identifying and addressing multi-level barriers to care. In addition to her sibling-focused work, Katie is interested in the relationship between family processes, chronic emotion dysregulation, and functional neurological disorders and chronic pain in children and adolescents. As Podcast Co-Chair on the SAB Communications Committee, Katie is enthusiastic about disseminating new pediatric psychology research, amplifying the voices of experts and trainees, and highlighting Division 54’s initiatives through The Pediatric Psychology Podcast.
Katherine Weaver (she/her)
Communication Committee, Podcast Co-Chair
Katherine Weaver (she/her) is a second-year graduate student in the Psychology Ph.D. program (School Psychology concentration) at the University of South Carolina. Katherine works under Dr. Sayward Harrison’s mentorship in the Healthy Futures Lab. Her interests aim to explore the shift from parent to adolescent self-management of chronic conditions, particularly in the contexts of medication adherence (e.g., antiretroviral therapy) and the pediatric-to-adult care transition. Katherine aspires to collaborate with and empower vulnerable adolescents to adopt adherence and self-management strategies that will promote lasting positive health outcomes. In this role, she is excited to collaborate with others and promote the diverse voices within SPP.
Membership Committee
Frances Cooke (she/her)
Membership Committee, Network of Campus Representatives Co-Chair
Frances Cooke is a second-year in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at the Catholic University of America under the mentorship of Dr. Christina Sharkey. Her research interests include identifying risk and resilience factors for healthcare transition and self-management among adolescents and emerging adults with chronic medical conditions. She is passionate about researching, developing, and providing evidence-based and culturally responsive treatment to address health disparities and improve psychosocial and health outcomes for youth and their families. Frances is the co-chair of the Network of Campus Representatives, which aims to raise awareness of pediatric psychology across the country.
Taylor Gates, MA (she/her/hers)
Membership Committee, Network of Campus Representatives Co-Chair
Taylor Gates is a fourth-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the University of Cincinnati. Taylor works under the mentorship of Dr. Cathy Stough in the Healthy Bearcat Families Lab. Broadly, Taylor’s research interests involve improving the psychosocial outcomes for children and adolescents with chronic illness through intervention development and community-based participatory research strategies. She is also interested in researching the influence of family factors (e.g., caregiver mental health, family functioning) on child psychosocial functioning among pediatric populations. Clinically, Taylor is passionate about providing evidence-based and culturally responsive treatment to diverse pediatric populations. Taylor is the Co-Chair of the Network of Campus Representatives (NCR), which aims to increase awareness of the field of pediatric psychology across the country.
Cecily N. Conour, MS (she/her)
Membership Committee, Training Program Dissemination Chair
Cecily Conour is a third-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at West Virginia University under the mentorship of Dr. Christina Duncan. Cecily’s research and clinical interests include adolescents’ self-management of chronic conditions, as well as the transition of care for youth with chronic illnesses, with a particular focus in chronic pain. As the Training Program Dissemination Chair, Cecily edits and distributes training resources, including lists of graduate programs, internship sites, and post-doctoral fellowships with opportunities in pediatric psychology.
Programming Committee
Kathy Yanes Pérez (she/her)
Programming Committee, Mentorship Chair
Kathy Yanes Pérez is a 3rd-year Clinical Psychology (PsyD) student at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with a background in public health, having earned her master's in public health from Florida International University. Kathy’s clinical focus is on supporting children and families facing medical challenges such as cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. She is currently completing a practicum with children managing diabetes and gastrointestinal issues and is passionate about promoting culturally competent care for Latinx communities. For her directed study, Kathy is examining pediatric palliative care utilization among Latinx children, focusing on cultural adaptations and barriers faced by their families. Her research interests also include neuropsychological interventions for children who have survived cancer, specifically those experiencing cognitive and social challenges during school reintegration. Kathy currently serves as a National Campus Representative for Division 54 and is excited to step into her role as Mentorship Chair on the Student Advisory Board.
Ellison S. Choate, B.S. (she/her)
Programming Committee, Networking Chair
Ellison (Ellie) Choate is a third-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at Palo Alto University. Ellie works under the mentorship of Dr. Laura Simons in the Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab at Stanford University and the mentorship of Dr. Robert Friedberg in the Center for the Study and Treatment of Anxious Youth at Palo Alto University. Ellie’s research centers around pediatric chronic pain and evaluating person-specific factors to understand what treatment is most effective and enhance treatment matching. Within the SAB, specifically the programming committee, Ellie is responsible for organizing the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference Student Social Event, which is a social event with the aim of connecting trainees across the organization.
Mariela Monzalvo, Psy.M (she/her/ella)
Programming Committee, Professional Development Chair
Mariela Monzalvo is a third year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at The School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University in Dayton, OH under the advisement of Dr. Janeece Warfield. Mariela’s areas of research interest include examining pediatric health disparities in underserved and marginalized populations, reconciling these disparities from the voices of these communities, and delivering remote interventions on pain management for youth with functional abdominal pain and anxiety. Mariela’s clinical interests include pediatric pain management, primary care, and GI issues. Mariela looks forward to the privilege of being part of the Student Advisory Board (SAB) as the Programming Chair.
We would also like to recognize the students who have completed their terms. Thank you for your excellent work and valuable contributions to the SAB and SPP students and trainees!
Isabelle (Isa) Sereno (2023-24)
Amanda Flagg (2023-24)
Ashley Lahoud (2023-24)
Ariel O. Blakey (2023-24)
Perry Catlin (2023-24)
Kelsey L. Jong (2022-23)
Rachel S. Fisher (2022-23)
Samantha Scott (2023)
Karen Dimentstein (2022-23)
Caitlyn E. Maye (2022-23)
Jennifer A. Kelleher (2022-23)
Mycah L. Ayala-Brittain (2022-23)
Yael Gross (2022-23)
Sahar S. Eshtehardi (2021-22)
Melissa L. Engel (2021-22)
Alix M. McLaughlin (2021-22)
Erin L. Moorman (2021-22)
Nicole M. Ruppe (2021-22)
Clarissa Shields (2021-22)
Social Media
Join the SPP Facebook Group
Student Listserv
SPP student members can join the student listserv by emailing SPP.StudentRep@gmail.com
Graduate Programs, Pre-doctoral Internships, and Fellowships in Pediatric Psychology
Check out our training resources page for lists of APA-accredited graduate programs, APA-accredited internships, and fellowships with an emphasis on pediatric psychology.
APA/APAGS Statement
SPP and the SAB would like to encourage its student members to join the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS). There are many benefits to individual student members, including periodicals focused on graduate student issues, research grants, travel funding, reduced conference registration, scholarships, and the opportunity to serve professional psychology at the national level through APA/APAGS governance.
Learn more about APAGS