Dr. Patricia A. Frazier
Dr. Frazier is the Director of Graduate Studies of the Department of Psychology, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor, and the director of the Stress and Trauma Lab. To learn more about Dr. Frazier’s work, click here to read her faculty profile.
Current Courses
- Psychology of Stress and Trauma
- Counseling Psychology Process and Outcome Research
- Directed Research
Graduate Students
Addie Merians
Started Fall 2015
Addie grew up in Larchmont, NY, before heading off to Williamsburg, VA, where she received a BS in Psychology from the College of William and Mary. While at William and Mary, she developed an interest in mental health care, as well as aiding survivors of sexual assault. Her research interests focus on trauma, particularly childhood trauma and sexual victimization, as well as developing interventions.
McKenzie Kaubrys
Started Fall 2016
Originally from rural Maine, McKenzie received her BA in psychology and English from Georgetown University. She stayed DC after her undergraduate studies to conduct research on the effects of PTSD and mTBI among military service members. Her research interests include the ways in which experiences of child maltreatment affect stress reactivity in adulthood, including examining sleep as a stress-reactive system. She is also interested in interventions to facilitate coping and stress management.
Riley Palmer
Started Fall 2016
Riley is originally from the Twin Cities. He received a BA in Psychology and English from St. Olaf College before working as a research assistant for two years at Virginia Tech. Research interests include online interventions and predictors of response. In his free time, Riley enjoys exercising, playing cello, and reading.
Emily Mischel Abramowski
Started Fall 2017
Originally from southwest Wisconsin, Emily received her BS in psychology at the University of Wisconsin and her MA in clinical psychology at the University of Arkansas. Prior to entering the program, she spent two years conducting research on posttraumatic stress at Regions Hospital and the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. Her research interests focus on emotion regulation and how regulation strategies influence recovery following a traumatic event.
Kayla Huber
Started Fall 2018
Kayla was raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She studied neuroscience and economics at Lake Forest College and became the first person in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree in 2016. Prior to entering the program, she spent two years as a research assistant at DePaul University’s Center for Community Research. Kayla is interested in investigating gender-based discrimination and violence, particularly harassment that occurs in public spaces.
Jan-Louw Kotze
Started Fall 2019
Jan-Louw was born and raised in South Africa. He received his BA in Psychology, BS in Exercise Scienceand MS in Behavioral and Brain Sciences from the University of South Alabama where he was on the track and field team. His research interests currently revolve around the prevention of sexual violence. Working out, bike riding, and YouTube encompass much of his free time.
Yuchen Liu
Started Fall 2020
Yuchen was born and grew up in China. She received her BS in psychology at the University of Minnesota. Prior to entering this program, she spent one year as a research assistant in the ARMOR project at the University of Minnesota. Her current research interests include what interventions can reduce college students’ stress levels and the stress of international students.
Research Assistants
Abby Person, '21
Psychology major, Sociology minor
John Micevych, 1Y
Master of Public Policy
Emma Estrella, ‘22
Psychology major, Neuroscience and Chinese minors
Tu Do, ‘21
Psychology major
Carmen Ramirez, ‘21
Psychology and BSE Majors; Marine Biology and Comp Sci minors
Lancy Cao ‘22
Psychology major, Family Social Science and Neuroscience minor
For a complete list of alumni and dissertation topics, please see this link.
Majel Baker (PhD 2020). Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Research on Women & Gender, University of Michigan
Viann Nguyen-Feng (PhD 2019). Faculty, University of Minnesota Duluth
AnnaMarie Vu (PhD 2018). Faculty, Tufts University School of Medicine
Jacob Paulsen (PhD 2018). Neuropsychological Assessment, San Diego BrainWorks; Adjunct Faculty, San Diego City College
Kelli Howard (PhD 2016). Faculty, University of Minnesota Department of Educational Psychology
Liza Meredith (PhD 2016). Faculty, University of Minnesota Department of Psychology
Sheila Frankfurt (PhD 2015). Staff Researcher/Psychologist, VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research in Returning War Veterans at the Doris Miller VA Health Center in Waco, TX
Christiaan Greer (PhD 2015). Faculty, Manhattanville College
Samuel Hintz (PhD 2013). Staff Psychologist, Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Reiko Hirai (PhD 2013). Psychologist, University of Minnesota Boynton Healthcare
Nora Keenan (PhD 2013). Clinical Psychologist, Boston VA Medical Center
Sandra Shallcross (PhD 2013). Senior Clinical Psychologist, Hennepin County Medical Center
Samantha Anders (PhD 2012). Senior Clinical Psychologist, Hennepin County Medical Center
Sulani Perera (PhD 2012). Senior Psychologist, Manhattan Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Clinical Researcher, Interim Director, PTSD Clinic, Manhattan VA/New York University
Margaret Gavian (PhD 2011). Psychologist, North Memorial Health Care
Kelly Berg (PhD 2010). Faculty/Director of Assessment for the Eating Disorders Research Program, University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry
Laura Sherr (PhD 2010). College of Saint Benedict Counseling Center
Matt Kaler (PhD 2009). Staff Psychologist/Program Manager, PTSD Treatment Team, Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Jenna Bemis (PhD 2008). Private practice, Minneapolis, MN
Heather Mortensen (PhD 2007). Partner, SKS Consulting Psychologists
Margit Berman (PhD 2006). Faculty, Dartmouth Medical School-Psychiatry
Theresa Glaser (PhD 2006). Faculty, Normandale Community College
Michael Steger (PhD 2005). Faculty, Colorado State University
Jason Steward (PhD 2005). Director of Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Training, Portland VA Medical Center
Ty Tashiro (PhD 2004). Book author, speaker, writer for Discovery Fit and Health