Rosanna Breaux, PhD
Director
Dr. Breaux is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. She did her undergraduate studies at Carnegie Mellon Univeristy and received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Univeristy of Massachusetts Amhert. In her free time, Dr. Breaux enjoys playing board games, hiking, cooking, traveling, dancing, and playing with her golden retriever, Eevee. Dr. Breaux's research focuses on the emotional and social functioning of children and adolescents, particularly those with ADHD. In particular, her research focuses on emotion regulation development, and understanding the role parents and the environmental context play in shaping children and adolescent's social and emotional development. Additionally, Dr. Breaux is working to evaluate and disseminate the RELAX intervention which targets dysemotion regulation and interpersonal conflict among adolescents and their parents.
Annah Cash
Graduate Student
Annah Cash is a graduate student in the Clinical Science doctoral program at Virginia Tech. In 2018 she graduated from Belhaven University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During her post-baccalaureate time she was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer internship at Ohio University. Then went on to become a Researcher III at the University of MS Medical Center where she worked on federally funded grants that helped establish a continuum of care that spanned from the NICU to adolescence. Broadly, her research interests include the intersection between behavioral/emotional disorders and disordered eating patterns, specifically in relation to ADHD; and how emotion regulation/self-coping mechanisms could potentially ameliorate symptoms in children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral disorders.
Jasmine Lewis
Graduate Student
Jasmine Lewis is a graduate student in the Biological Psychology doctoral program at Virginia Tech. She graduated from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill with a Bachelors in Psychology and from Liberty University with a Masters in Biomedical Sciences. Before joining the CALMER lab, she worked as a research coordinator at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Recently, she worked as a hotline coordinator working with survivors of intimate partner violence and human trafficking. Broadly, her research interests include the effects of trauma and stress on parent-child interactions.
Delshad Shroff
Graduate Student
Delshad Shroff is a graduate student in the Clinical Science doctoral program at Virginia Tech. She graduated from New York University Abu Dhabi with a Bachelors in Psychology and from Teachers College, Columbia University with a Masters in Developmental Psychology. Before joining the CALMER lab, Delshad worked as a Research Coordinator for the Attention and Behavior Clinic at the Penn State College of Medicine. Broadly, her research interests include examining the development of emotion regulation and executive functioning in early childhood and its implications on the development of psychopathology. Specifically, she is interested in investigating links between parent emotion regulation and children’s emotional and behavioral functioning. Her goal in studying this is to develop and implement
evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies for children with behavioral disorders, especially ADHD.
Courtney Swanson
Graduate Student
Courtney Swanson is a graduate student in the Clinical Science doctoral program at Virginia Tech. In 2019, she graduated with honors from Indiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and minors in Criminology and Counseling. During her years as an undergraduate, she was a Research Assistant in several labs including ISU’s ADHD Clinic. Broadly, her research interests include the role of key demographic factors on treatment utilization and efficacy, comorbidity of ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders, and how early identification and intervention can result in improved developmental trajectories. Her Master's Thesis examines whether social competencies in preschoolers predict psychopathology symtpoms in childhood and adolescence.
Nick Dunn
Project Coordinator
Nick graduated with his B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech in December 2021. He is originally from Memphis, TN. Nick plans to attend a clinical psychology doctoral program after graduating. His research interests include exploring the developmental influence of executive function on ADHD and developing early interventions to impact functional outcomes for children with ADHD. Outside of the lab, Nick dabbles in woodworking and programming projects. In his free time, he also volunteers for the Crisis Text Line.
Tohfe Beidas
Tohfe is a Psychology major pursuing an Arabic minor. She is from Alexandria, VA. She is interested in studying clinical psychology in graduate school and wants to work with children in this field, possibly in the Middle East. Outside of the lab, she works as an intern at the Women’s Center here at VT and is an active member in her sorority. Tohfe also loves to travel every summer and, when at home, assists instructors at a ballet barre studio.
Samantha Cobb
Samantha is an undergraduate student from Fredericksburg, Virginia, majoring in Public Health and Psychology. She intends to pursue a graduate degree in occupational therapy after graduating. Her interests include emotional regulation, social skills, and sensory processing in children and adolescents. Outside of the lab, Samantha works as a home care attendant for children with autism and ADHD. She is a teaching assistant for a Human Anatomy course and she enjoys soccer, hiking, and cooking.
Olivia Cox
Olivia is a undergraduate student from Prince Frederick, MD majoring in Psychology and Human Development with a minor in Adaptive Brain and Behavior. She intends to pursue a master’s in Child Psychology after graduating to pursue her goal of becoming an Abnormal Child Psychologist. Before Virginia Tech, she worked extensively with children as she was a Girl Scout assistant leader for several years and assisted dance classes at her hometown studio. Outside of the lab, Olivia enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and dancing.
Emily Olivon
Emily is an undergraduate student from Arlington, Virginia, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Strategic Communications. She intends on receiving her master’s degree after graduating from Virginia Tech and hopes to work specifically with child development. She definitely has a lot of experience working with kids and has even been the kindergarten and first grade teacher at a summer camp she used to attend. Outside of the lab, she enjoys music, traveling, and watching movies.
Megana Pradeep
Megana is an undergraduate Psychology major with a minor in Medicine and Society. She is from Ashburn, VA. She intends to go to medical school after graduation. Outside of the lab, she is part of a dance team called Junoon. Also, she is part of a political advocacy club called Save the Children Action Network and volunteers in the Red Cross Club. Megana loves to travel along with hiking and gyming.
Morgan Rader
Morgan is a Clinical Neuroscience and Psychology double major with a minor in Disabilities Studies. She hopes to continue her education in graduate school studying clinical psychology to achieve her goal of becoming a therapist. Her research interests revolve around executive functioning difficulties in children with ADHD and treatments to address these difficulties and common comorbid disorders. She hopes to contribute to the normalization of the conversation surrounding mental health and disability. In her free time, Morgan loves to spend time outdoors, go to concerts, and read.
Eevee
Eevee is a 2 year old golden retreiver who is a Canine Good Citizen. She loves to brighten the day of Dr. Breaux, the CALMER Lab members, and the families that visit us. Her favorite things to do are to make new friends, play frisbee, chew on her bones, eat vegetables (especially green beans), and nap. Eevee is named after the Pokemon, and her favorite evolution is Sylveon.