People of the Social Development Lab

Dr. Cipra is the director of the Social Development Lab (SDL) at Governors State University. She is an Full Professor in the Department of Psychology. She received her PhD in Human Development from Indiana University. Prior to joining the faculty at Governors State University in 2014, she served as faculty at Siena Heights University. As a systems theorist, her interests are wide-ranging and interdisciplinary. One of her main lines of research focuses on the development of resilience across the lifespan. A second theme focuses on the transition to college, particularly for underrepresented groups.

Kelly Rosenthal is the Lab Coordinator for the Social Development Lab (SDL) and a copy editor for the Journal of Applied Disciplines (JAD). She is a senior undergraduate student at GSU, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Practical and Professional Ethics. Kelly plans to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy and continue her involvement in research. Upon completing her educational goals, she plans to remain active in research and hopes to work with children and adolescents, focusing on psychosocial health and development. Her current research is concentrated on social-emotional learning (SEL). In her future research, she is eager to investigate the integration of animal-assisted interventions in SEL and its application and impact across various settings and populations.

Grace Meeks is a senior in the undergraduate psychology program and an Honors student. She is interested in researching how trauma affects family and romantic relationships and has been working as an undergraduate research assistant in the Social Development Lab since 2023. She is also interested in pursuing an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling.

Alyssa Voss is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology, focusing on clinical psychology and counseling. She began working in the Social Development Lab as an undergraduate research assistant in AY 23-24. She plans to enter an MD/PhD program post-graduation and has a strong interest in research. Alyssa’s research interests are focused on childhood and adolescent resilience through trauma or abuse, relationship dynamics, and the influence of well-being and identity on goal pursuit and development.

Megan Rodgers completed her master’s degree in criminal justice in May 2024 and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Interdisciplinary studies. She works at the YWCA as the Manager of Advocacy and Crisis Intervention for both sexual violence and community violence programs in South Cook County and DuPage County. Megan serves as the Chair for the South Suburban Cook County Sexual Assault Response Team. Ms. Rodgers also serves as a member of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force, South Suburban College’s Coordinated Community Response Team, and Governors State University's Advocating for Sexual Assault Prevention team. She has presented and completed research projects on a variety of topics including fictive kin relationships, growth vs fixed mindset, cancer disparities in incarcerated women, domestic violence, multi-disciplinary approaches to crime, and domestic homicide. Her current research project focuses on restorative justice in the U.S. criminal justice system and was presented last fall in Lake Como, Italy. She also serves as a board member for the Institutional Review Board at Prairie State College.

Emily Gagliano is currently an undergraduate student at Governors State University studying Psychology. She took her first psychology course in high-school, and I fell in love with the in-depth interconnectedness in the processes of the subject. She is looking forward to graduating from GSU December 2024. Her interest in psychology continues to grow and she has developed a passion for research in psychology. She is very excited to explore her interests through her participation in the SDL Fall 2024 semester.

Jon Bannister is a 29-year-old transfer student from Prairie State College. During his time at Prairie State College, he helped establish the Psi Beta club. He is currently involved in research on sleep deprivation and plans to continue his education by pursuing either a master's or PhD. While clinical work is his primary focus, he is also interested in sports and school psychology. His goal is to apply these interests to help others in both academic and athletic environments.

Jessica Beckmann is an external research assistant as well as working as a children’s counselor at a domestic violence agency. She has served as an undergraduate research assistant for a year and a half and as the research lab coordinator for four years prior to her current position. Jessica graduated with her Master of Arts in Counseling from Governors State University in May 2024. Currently, Jessica is working on research surrounding social-emotional learning (SEL). Jessica’s research interests are focused on gender disparities and trauma, social-emotional learning, social media, and how societal expectations may impact individual development.

David Swanson is a research assistant as well as a Licensed Social Worker, Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor, and Anger Management Specialist working in the southwest suburbs of Cook County. He received his Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Social work at Governors State University. His research interests are rooted in trauma and addiction, with a focus on children and families. He aspires to continue his research on trauma with a lens of social determinants of health and is currently applying for a doctoral program in social work for either a DSW or a Ph.D.

Lauren Foley earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice from Governors State University in 2023. She hopes to continue her education with a master’s degree in emergency management/disaster preparedness and homeland security. She works for Laraway Communications Center as a 911 telecommunicator. Lauren’s current research focuses on the mental health of first responders, specifically telecommunicators. Her research concentrates on the unique challenges and trauma experienced by those working in the dispatching field. Lauren is excited to continue pursuing her interest in psychology and research while gaining direct experience in the field.

Rachel Beckmann is a master's student in the Communication, Media, & Performance program at Governors State University. Her recent research investigated the influence that visual communication has on the effectiveness of academic research poster presentations. Additional areas Rachel has explored include cognitive dissonance, education/career choice, personality, and conflict resolution.