RAISE Lab

Vanessa Chery B.S, B.A.

(She/Her)

Vanessa is a doctoral student who joined the lab in Fall 2024. She received her B.S. in Psychology, B.A. in Sociology, and a minor in Health Disparities in Society from the University of Florida. Her experience includes volunteering as a Crisis Counselor, working as a registered behavior technician, and leading a project in a Type 1 Diabetes lab focusing on health disparities, particularly among people of color. Vanessa’s research interests encompass addressing mental health disparities in the Black community and destigmatizing the utilization of mental health services for Black adolescents and adults. Her long-term goal is to open a private practice and an aftercare program dedicated to providing children with a safe space to learn about mental health, access external and internal coping resources, and receive tutoring.

Jenna Loquercio B.A.

(She/Her)

Jenna is a doctoral student joining the lab in Fall 2024. She graduated from the University of Delaware in 2024 with a B.A. in psychology. Through her research and internships, Jenna deepened her understanding of child development and worked with at-risk adolescents. Her research interests are focused on enhancing mental health services for vulnerable children and families. Jenna’s long-term goal is to become an independent practitioner capable of diagnosing and treating psychopathology in children and adolescents to mitigate mental health issues related to early exposure to traumatic events.

Trokon Macauley, M.A.

(He/Him)

Trokon Macauley is a doctoral student with experience in early childhood intervention and behavioral therapy. With a clinical focus on addressing trauma and neuropsychological testing in children and adolescents, Trokon is committed to providing specialized care and tailored support. His research interests include digital interventions, reducing barriers to treatment, and addressing racial trauma. Trokon's ultimate goal is to leverage his skills and resources to heal chronic mental illness in Black and Brown communities, pioneering innovative methods to enhance accessibility and break new ground in mental health equity.

Yida Ramirez Alvarado, M.A 

(She/Her)
 
Yida is a doctoral student who joined the lab in Fall 2025. She received her master's degree in clinical psychology with a concentration in child/adolescent from Montclair State University in 2024. Before starting her doctoral studies, Yida served as an intern clinical therapist at an outpatient mental health clinic, gaining experience in individual and group therapy across diverse populations and clinical settings. Most recently, Yida worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), where she provided direct support to children with autism using evidence-based ABA practices. Yida's research interests center on the interplay between early developmental experiences, family dynamics, and the emergence of emotional and behavioral challenges in youth. She aims to explore how parent-child relationships, trauma, and environmental stressors influence psychological functioning across development. 

Tatum Williams, B.S.

(She/Her)

Tatum is a doctoral student who has been a member of RAISE lab since Spring 2024. During her time in the lab so far, she has been a part of many teams including the Drama Improv, Simulation, and Clock Towers projects. In addition to research and clinical experience through the lab, during her final year in undergrad Tatum interned with a grief center for children and families called A Haven. This internship confirmed her passion for working with children and families. Her research interests are developing evidence-based treatments for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. Tatum’s ultimate goal is to become an independent clinical psychologist with a larger goal of starting a non-profit offering mental health services for children and families. 

Kaylee Grazul, B.S.

(She/Her)

Kaylee is a doctoral student who joined the RAISE lab as an undergraduate student in Fall 2024. She graduated with a B.S in psychology and a minor in women's and gender studies from WCU in 2026 and is now continuing her work in the lab as a PsyD student. Through her prior research and clinical experience, she hopes to bridge the gap in current literature regarding clinical interventions and researching underserved populations, especially children and adolescents in marginalized communities by implementing accessible interventions through after-school programs. She also plans to study the impact societal factors may have on treatment effectiveness, such as family, schools, systemic racism, and other factors. Her ultimate goal is to create effective, culturally tailored interventions for children and adolescents, especially those in marginalized communities who have experienced trauma, through emphasizing diagnosis as a gateway to accessible treatment.  

Keegan Sokorai, B.S. 
 
(He/Him) 
 
Keegan Sokorai is pursuing his M.S. in General Psychology, and joined the RAISE lab in the Fall of 2026. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with the clinical concentration with minors in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Irish Studies from Saint Joseph’s University. In addition to his academics and his work in the lab, Keegan is currently working as an Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at Great Minds ABA in South Jersey, where he provides one-on-one care to elementary school students on the autism spectrum in order to introduce and reinforce adaptive behaviors that facilitate success in the learning environment. In the future, Keegan’s goal is to pursue a doctorate degree in Psychology to specialize in ADHD and ASD diagnostic assessments, and to advocate for greater accessibility, affordability, and accuracy of childhood diagnostic services. 

Reece Reilly

(She/Her)

Reece is pursuing a B.S. in psychology. Her interest in this lab is to be able to learn more with hands-on experience and be able to grow my research skills. Her long-term goal is to become a school counselor, and later on, become a therapist. She wants to support children and help them through tough times they might not be able to navigate on their own.  

Jihan Aouadi

(She/Her)

Jihan is pursuing a B.S. in public health with a minor in applied statistics. She has conducted research in sustainability & behavior and civic engagement, which has piqued her interest in how environmental and social factors shape youth behavior. She is joining the RAISE Lab to gain research experience focused on childhood and adolescent development. She plans to pursue an MPH in epidemiology and hopes to build a strong foundation for future clinical and behavioral research.

Julia Laverty

(She/Her)

Julia is an undergraduate student at west Chester University majoring in psychology with a minor in nutrition. She has always had a passion with working with kids and adolescents, understanding mental health, learning to cope and the long-term outcomes. The RAISE lab will be her first experience in research and will help prepare her to be in graduate school. Julia joined the team in Fall 2026. 

CJ Sorichillo

(She/Her)

CJ is an undergraduate student with further educational plans in clinical psychology. She will be joining the lab in the fall of 2026. On West Chester's campus, she had previously been a research assistant for the ECCEL Lab and has had six years of working experience with children. She is very excited to work with the RAISE Lab for her senior year and believes it will positively impact her as she pursues her goal of being a clinical psychologist for child and adolescents.