DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
SAVANNAH JOHNSON, Clinical Psychology
Savannah is a fifth year doctoral student in clinical psychology at Duke University. Her research interests are centered around providing access to mental health treatment to youth and adolescent populations in low resource communities through community-based interventions. Specifically, she is interested in the impact of gender dynamics, trauma, and poverty on family functioning and youth development. In the lab, she works on the Tuko Pamoja Family Intervention project, and the COVID-19 Family Study.
Prior to coming to Duke, Savannah obtained a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University double majoring in Psychological Science and Education. After graduating she completed an internship at the Women’s Institute for Secondary Education and Research (WISER) in Muhuru Bay, Kenya and worked as the DukeEngage site-coordinator at WISER for two consecutive summers. Most recently, she worked as a Research Coordinator for the Evidence Based Practice Institute (EBPI) at the University of Washington. EBPI supports and promotes the use of evidence based practices in children’s mental health.
JUSTIN RASMUSSEN, Clinical Psychology
Justin is a fourth-year doctoral student in clinical psychology at Duke University. His primary research interests center on improving access to mental health care in East Africa through existing community structures. He is particularly interested in scalable, contextualized approaches to engage religious communities in mental health promotion and intervention.In the lab, Justin works primarily on the Tuko Pamoja Family Intervention project.
Prior to coming to Duke, Justin got his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Macalester College. After graduating, he worked with Massachusetts General Hospital for two and a half years as an on-site project coordinator for a longitudinal microenterprise, water security, health, and social network study in Mbarara, Uganda.
GAYANE BAZIYANTS, Public Policy and Psychology
Gayane is a second year Ph.D. student in the joint Public Policy and Psychology program. She is interested in the impacts of child and family policy and how these intersect and support both children’s development and overall family well-being. Through the Puffer Lab, Gayane works on the “Coping Together” project and the “COVID-19 Family Study”.
Prior to coming to Duke, Gayane received her bachelor’s degree in Education and International Studies from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. After graduating, she worked as a research analyst at Child Trends. In this role, she conducted national, state, and community level research on the impact of various early childhood policies and programs.
MASTER’S CANDIDATES
ELCY BIRGEN, Masters of Science in Global Health, Duke University
Elcy is a skilled and dedicated registered nurse with a strong passion for research and a commitment to addressing health disparities. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Eastern Africa-Baraton, Kenya, and a Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing from Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). Elcy is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Global Health at Duke University. With experience in several global health studies, including work in Western Kenya, Elcy has honed her skills in working independently, prioritizing tasks, and collaborating effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Her excellent organizational, critical thinking, and exceptional communication skills have made her an indispensable member of various clinical research teams. Currently, Elcy works as a research assistant at Duke Global Health Institute, conducting research on Global Mental Health. When not working, she enjoys reading, traveling, learning about different cultures, and building communities. Her drive for knowledge and commitment to understanding health disparities continue to inspire her passion for research.
NIKHITA GOPISETTY, Masters of Science in Global Health, Duke University
Nikhita is a Master of Science in Global Health student at Duke University (‘24). She is passionate about global health innovation, implementation science, and improving quality of life for people living with chronic conditions in low resource settings. Through the Puffer Lab, she is working on expanding the “Tuko Pamoja” family therapy intervention to women’s health clinics in Kenya. Her thesis is developing and implementing a pilot peer support intervention for young adults living with type 2 diabetes in rural South India.
ASHITA NAZARETH, Masters of Science in Global Health, Duke University
Ashita is a first-year master’s student at Duke University, where she is studying Global Health. She exudes enthusiasm for global mental health and is dedicated to addressing its disparities. Her primary focus revolves around mental health, particularly in areas of trauma, adolescent well-being, and family interventions. In addition to this, she carries a strong interest in sexual and reproductive health, global health policy, and advancing women’s leadership in the field of global health. Within the Puffer Lab, Ashita contributes to expanding the “Tuko Pamoja” family therapy intervention in Kenyan women’s health clinics. She is also actively involved in a project related to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), particularly concerning challenges like access and adherence to hydroxyurea. Ashita holds a doctorate in pharmacy from JSS College of Pharmacy in Mysuru and aspires to build a career in global health and consultancy.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
JASMINE DANIEL, Psychology and Global Health, Duke ‘23
Jasmine is a recent graduate of Duke University (December 2022) who received her B.A. in Psychology and Global Health. She is passionate about the intersection of these fields, exploring how mental health is experienced and understood across cultures. As an undergraduate in the Puffer Lab, she co-lead the implementation and analysis of the “Coping Together” family-strengthening program in North Carolina. Currently, she is working as the Project Coordinator for the third implementation of the program. In the future, she hopes to continue serving as a mental health advocate and pursue her PhD in Clinical Psychology.
MIA MIRANDA, Psychology and English, Duke ‘23
Mia is a senior at Duke University studying Psychology and English. Her interests and passions all center around helping and empowering women around the world. She works in various projects in the Puffer Lab. Most of her time is devoted to the current iteration of the “Tuko Pamoja” family intervention, where we are recruiting women through sexual and reproductive health clinics and the Bass Connections team adapting “Coping Together” for Latino families in Durham. Outside of the lab, her independent research focuses on the sexual and reproductive health of Latina immigrants. In the future, she hopes to continue to advocate for women through a career in clinical psychology or law.
RAFAELLA (ELLA) ZANATTI, Psychology, Duke ‘23
Ella is a senior at Duke University studying Psychology. She is interested in Clinical Psychology, specifically in treatment development research for vulnerable populations. She is currently conducting research in Dr. Nancy Zucker’s Eating Disorder Laboratory, Dr. Eve Puffer’s Global Mental Health lab and Dr. Christina Salvador’s Cultural Psychology Lab. Outside of lab work, she is also involved in NeuroCare and editor of Young Minds for Mental Health blog, both of which are mental health awareness based. In the future, Ella hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and continue her research on the etiology, prevention and treatment of mental health disorders.
ALLISON FALLS, Psychology, Duke ‘24
Allison is a junior at Duke University studying Psychology with minors in Chemistry and Education. She is interested in mental health education and research, particularly for youth of color. Allison is a part of the Bass Connections project team, led by Savannah Johnson, “Addressing Adolescent Mental Health and Intimate Partner Violence in Muhuru Bay, Kenya,” by providing a community-based intervention. Allison plans to pursue a career, such as clinical psychology or psychiatry, that allows her to work with opportunity youth, striving to improve their well-being and access to mental health resources.
PARI GOEL, Psychology, Duke ‘24
Pari is a junior at Duke University studying Psychology and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. She is interested in the intersection between healthcare and consumer psychology and how we can use the power of decision-making and habit formation to transform health outcomes. She is passionate about sustainable development and health inequities and aims to use the power of technology and collaboration to address the inequitable access to medicine and basic healthcare.
LAUREN LLOYD, Psychology, Duke ‘24
Lauren is a junior at Duke University studying Psychology with minors in Global Health and Education. She is passionate about exploring the impact of culture on mental health in a variety of settings. She’s also interested in the adaptations of culturally-relevant interventions across contexts. Lauren is a member of the Bass Connections project team, “Addressing Adolescent Mental Health and Intimate Partner Violence in Muhuru Bay, Kenya” led by Savannah Johnson. Lauren wants to pursue a career in clinical psychology and global health, where she can combine her passions for health equity and mental wellness.
ALEJANDRO (ALEX) RODRIGUEZ, Psychology, Duke ‘24
Alex is a junior at Duke University majoring in psychology and minoring in chemistry and neuroscience. He is interested in clinical psychology, more specifically in screening and diagnosing disorders in children. He is also conducting research in Dr. Michael Tomasello’s Child Development Lab. Outside of the lab, he is a part of the Varsity Track & Field team at Duke University. After undergrad, he hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and continue research on child development and screening for pathologies early in life.
MADALYN BIELSKIS, Psychology, Duke ‘25
Madalyn is a sophomore majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience. Her primary research interests are to understand the overlap between mental health and intimate partner violence perpetration, as well as establish effective routes to recovery for victims and rehabilitation for offenders. She is involved in the PREPARED project which piqued her enthusiasm for expanding access to mental health care in low resource settings, particularly through community-based interventions with adolescents. Her goal is to promote protective factors at a relational and communal level and increase individual resilience to psychological stressors. In the long term, she is interested in pursuing a career in clinical psychology.
JESLYN BROUWERS, Psychology and English, Duke ‘25
Jeslyn is a sophomore at Duke University studying English and Psychology with a minor in Education. She is passionate about exploring global mental health initiatives across the world and how these interventions can foster healthier family dynamics to target a child’s upbringing and development. Through the Puffer Lab, she is involved in the “Coping Together” program in Durham and the Thailand Project, exploring the effectiveness of film-based interventions to reduce child maltreatment. Her goal is to explore various facets of mental health through clinical psychology and global health, hoping to apply this knowledge in the future to other disciplines such as organizational psychology, educational contexts, and more.
NJOKI MWANGI, Economics and Global Health, Duke ‘25
Njoki is a sophomore at Duke University studying Global Health and Economics. She is interested in global health policy, international development, and sustainability engagement. Through the Puffer Lab, she is conducting research for the “Tuko Pamoja” project. She hopes to improve child mental health in Eldoret, Kenya and explore the impact of family strengthening programs in low resource settings. She is passionate about improving the climate change mitigation abilities of low income countries and learning more about sustainable development.
MELAT WOLDETENSAE, Biology and Global Health, Duke ‘25
Melat is a sophomore undergraduate studying biology and global health. She is interested in developing and implementing mental health initiatives in different cultural contexts. Through the Puffer Lab, she is conducting research for the “Tuko Pamoja” project to research family health in Eldoret, Kenya. In the future, she wants to continue working on sustainable initiatives in low-resource healthcare settings in East Africa–mainly Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.
VANESSA SANTINI GOMES, Global Gender Studies and Psychology, Duke ‘26
Vanessa is a freshman at Duke University studying Global Gender Studies and Psychology. She is interested in working to raise awareness about and develop interventions to stop gender-based violence in developing countries around the world, especially in her homeplace, Latin America. She is part of the Bass Connections project team “Addressing Adolescent Mental Health and Intimate Partner Violence in Muhuru Bay, Kenya.” She is also passionate about child and teenager development and is interested in exploring protective factors for children and teenagers growing up as witnesses and/or victims of gender-based violence. Mother-child relationship has been her main focus in protective factors research.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS
WILTER RONO, Psychology, Laikipia University
Wilter Rono graduated from Laikipia University (Kenya) with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 2015. For the past 8 years, she has worked within AMPATH, a consortium including Moi University and North American medical schools, including Duke. Wilter has held multiple positions on research projects spanning a wide range of topics, including HIV prevention, substance use treatment, and mental health. She has a strong passion for working closely with communities to address important health challenges. Wilter is currently a Research Assistant for the Tuko Pamoja project within the lab and is based in Eldoret, Kenya.
FORMER LAB MEMBERS
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS
AMBER RIEDER, Duke Global Health Institute (2020)
BONNIE KAISER, Duke Global Health Institute (2018)
DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
ELSA FRIIS HEALY, Clinical Psychology, Duke University (2020)
ALI GIUSTO, Clinical Psychology, Duke University (2019)
MASTER’S CANDIDATES
MAEVE SALM, Masters of Science in Global Health, Duke University
KAITLIN QUICK, Master of Science in Global Health, Duke University (2021)
TAYLOR WALL, Master of Science in Global Health, Duke University (2019)
BETHANY KUERTEN, Master of Science in Global Health, Duke University (2019)
PUJA PATEL, Master of Science in Global Health, Duke University (2018)
LEAH WATSON, Master of Science in Global Health, Duke University (2017)
TAYLOR HAYNES, Master of Science in Global Health, Duke University (2017)
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
EMMY DUERR, Biology and Global Health, Duke ’23
TAYLOR CRIMMINS, Psychology and Global Health, Duke ’22
SAMA ELMAHDY, Psychology and Global Health, Duke ’22
AMEYA SANYAL, Psychology and Global Health, Duke ’21
PRIYA SRIDHAR, Public Policy, UNC-CH ’19
CHAYA BHAT, Global Health and Economics, Duke ’18
JULIA KAUFMAN, Global Health and International Comparative Studies, Duke ’17
SOFIA STAFFORD, Global Health and Cultural Anthropology, Duke ’17