TERESA HACKER

Teresa Hacker is a freshman at the University of Georgia pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a pre-medical focus. She has a strong interest in research at the intersection of psychology, mental health, and the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Teresa is particularly motivated by exploring ways to advance understanding of human health and well-being through scientific inquiry. As an aspiring physician-researcher, she seeks opportunities to contribute to meaningful studies that integrate clinical and psychological perspectives.

SARA CAROLINE ISKANDAR

Sara Caroline is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Biology with a minor in Spanish. Her research interests center in the intersection of mental and physical health and the ways in which cultural and environmental factors shape well-being. Currently, she volunteers with Dr. Sinha examining mental health factors among Indian emerging adults, with a particular focus on the barriers associated with mental health. 

J'DIA JONES

J’dia Jones is a fourth-year J.D./M.S.W. candidate at the University of Georgia. She has a mezzo focus with her education and has a particular interest in working with professionals that are vulnerable to career-specific trauma. Currently, she works alongside Dr. Gaurav Sinha and Dr. Zoe Johnson as a graduate research assistant and graduate assistant, respectively. She is involved with a variety of nonprofit organizations such as the Georgia Association for Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She also serves as an MSW Ambassador for UGA's School of Social Work, allowing her to represent the school at a variety of events and have direct interactions with prospective students. Jones strives to continue to expand her knowledge and skillset, allowing her to make a difference on a larger scale. 

ARINE KIM

Arine is a third year Psychology and Philosophy student pursuing minors in Statistics and Sociology. With an emphasis on racial and ethnic minorities, her predominant interest lies in adapting psychotherapy frameworks away from the individualization of distress. Currently, her research explores the evolving nature of care in the digital age, examining mental health chatbots to better understand the role of artificial intelligence and human clinicians in delivering accessible support. Committed to the importance of human connection, she aims to identify safe ways to optimize mental health care globally without losing sight of what makes it powerful.

CATHERINE MACKIN

Catherine Mackin’s research explores the connections between mental health, financial well-being, and access to mental health tools among young adults. Using survey data from 547 participants, Catherine Mackin applies regression models and statistical inference tests in R to examine how financial stability, socioeconomic status, and resource accessibility influence mental health outcomes. Catherine Mackin also analyzes the effectiveness and accessibility of various mental health tools, with a particular focus on personalized therapy treatments and comparisons between online and in-person therapeutic approaches for young adults.

MATTHEW MOCKLIN

Matthew Mocklin is a fourth-year student at the University of Georgia majoring in Computer Science and pursuing certificates in Financial Technology and Applied Data Science. He is currently a research assistant exploring the intersection of machine learning, finance, and mental health. He is particularly interested in how financial systems impact mental health and how AI can be used to better understand and address these challenges.

JENNIFER NOEL

Jennifer Noel is a third-year student at the University of Georgia majoring in Psychology on the premed track pursuing a double minor in Biology and Chinese. Her interests lie in how mental disorders can be treated with medication as well as the perception of mental health in different societies. Her research focuses primarily on the sigma surrounding mental health in India, specifically how this impacts the lives of college-age students, and it aims to use AI to better educate and inform about mental health.

SHANNON POWER

Shannon Power, LCSW is a PhD candidate in the School of Social Work and a gerontological social worker with over 5 years of practice experience. Her primary area of research is dementia caregiving, with a focus on digital solutions for rural and medically underserved communities. She takes a person-centered care approach, viewing health from a multidimensional perspective including financial health. To this end, she investigates the problem of financial exploitation of older adults. She works collaboratively with the AFiRM Lab, as well as UGA’s Institute of Gerontology and Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) Center.

MASUD RANA

Md Masud Rana is a qualified health social worker committed to addressing health disparities and improving the health outcomes of disadvantaged populations. His research focuses on health disparities, barriers to healthcare access, psychiatric care, and mental health outcomes. He has actively participated in several research projects and presented his findings at national and international conferences, including Bangladesh, Hungary, and Denmark. He seeks further training in research methods and statistical tools to address research questions in relevant areas and present findings in a manner that is comprehensible to researchers, practitioners, and communities.

ADITI RAVI

Hi, my name is Aditi Ravi, and I am a third-year Data Science major at the University of Georgia. I am interested in data science, data visualization, machine learning, as well as its intersection with business-related fields. My research utilizes natural language processing and sentiment analysis to examine Reddit posts related to student loans, aiming to uncover the different emotions faced by borrowers. This study contributes to the larger discussion of personal finance and mental health while also expanding our knowledge of financial stressors in our communities. I enjoy using data science towards social impact, and I’m passionate about making research more approachable and responsive to real-world challenges.

MARY GREY SHAGINAW

Mary Grey Shaginaw is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work through the advanced standing program at UGA. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Georgia State University, where she developed a strong foundation in personal advocacy and direct practice with individuals experiencing homelessness. Mary Grey’s academic and professional interests focus on the intersection of homelessness, incarceration, and poverty. She is passionate about addressing systemic inequities and supporting marginalized communities through research-informed, community-driven solutions. With a commitment to social justice and a growing background in both theory and fieldwork, she aims to make meaningful contributions to the current research and continue providing client-centered care.

GAURAV R. SINHA

Gaurav Sinha’s research agenda lies at the intersections of poverty, social justice, and mental health and utilizes big data analytics and strengths-based approaches to promote financial and mental health equity. He prefers rigorous and in-depth discussions of methodological approaches in studies that can help in research reproducibility. Sinha’s research interests have evolved from his 16 years of post-MSW practice experience on reducing the consequences of financial vulnerabilities among invisible populations whose narratives have traditionally been situated at the outer periphery of intellectual and academic inquiry in social work.

VINCENT VAN EPPS

Vincent Van Epps’ research focuses on mental health and harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to understand and help emotional well-being online within underrepresented communities. His work examines how individuals in India express mental health struggles on anonymous platforms like Reddit. Vincent also explores how online data can inform culturally responsive digital interventions, especially in contexts where traditional data sources are limited. 

ISABELLA FORBES

Isabella Forbes is an undergraduate student double majoring in psychology and sociology. Her main areas of interest in research are mental health, suicide prevention, and mental illness. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in mental health counselling with the goal of becoming a mental health counsellor. 

SHANIA NGUYEN-TU

Shania Nguyen-Tu is a recent graduate with a degree in finance. She utilized JASP to research the associations between unpaid medical bills and healthcare utilization with Md Masud Rana and Dr. Gaurav Ranjan Sinha. 

VAISHNAVI P. THAKARE

Vaishnavi Thakare’s research interests lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data science, and social equity. With a focus on leveraging advanced machine learning techniques, she aims to develop fair, interpretable, and robust AI solutions. Her work emphasizes reproducibility and the responsible application of technology to address real-world challenges. Currently, Vaishnavi is a graduate assistant under Professor Gaurav R. Sinha, contributing to interdisciplinary research initiatives that blend computer science and social good.

DEMILADE ABOSEDE VINCENT

Demilade A. Vincent is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Master of Social Work program, with concentrations in both Micro and Macro practice and a Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. As a research assistant, my work supports scholarship at the intersections of poverty, mental health, and social justice, with an emphasis on advancing equity for financially vulnerable and marginalized populations.

KRISTIN WASHINGTON

Kristin Washington graduated from the University of Georgia’s Advanced Standing MSW program in May 2025, with a specialization in both micro and macro practice. As a graduate assistant under Dr. Gaurav Sinha, she supported research on youth mental health, AI-based mental health tools, and cultural perceptions of wellness by transcribing and coding interviews and assisting with qualitative analysis. This role strengthened her skills in research, critical thinking, and data organization. Kristin intends to carry these tools into her social work career to support individuals and communities through informed, equity-driven practice.

RIA YESARE

Ria is pursuing a degree in Applied Biotechnology on the premed track. Her research interests lie in genetics and stem cell therapy. Additionally, with minors in Public Policy and Management as well as Business, Ria is also interested in exploring the intersection between health care, policymaking, and economics. As part of the AFiRM Lab, Ria conducted a comprehensive literature review on youth suicide in India, focusing on the influence of academic environment and gender. Through this research, Ria also explored the role that public policy could play in addressing the trends and patterns discovered.