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Nicole Zolli, MA

Nikki is a sixth-year doctoral student earning her degree in clinical psychology at UIC. After graduating with a BA in Psychology and Criminology from Stonehill College in 2015, she completed her MA in Child Study and Human Development from Tufts University in 2020. Upon graduation, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Andrea Spencer’s REACH for ADHD Laboratory investigating ways to combat health disparities in and poor access to ADHD treatment for children. In this role, she interviewed adolescents with ADHD, conducted qualitative analyses, and developed and delivered a psychoeducation intervention. These responsibilities – alongside experiences advocating for children with a variety of mental health disorders as a teacher, behavior modification expert and researcher – have informed her current research interests around the development of community-based ADHD interventions and the intersection of ADHD and gender.

 
 
 

Julia Lejeune, MA

Julia is a sixth-year clinical psychology doctoral student. She graduated from Wesleyan University in 2018 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and American Studies. As an undergraduate, Julia conducted clinical research examining the efficacy of psychosocial treatments for individuals with schizophrenia. Following graduation, she worked as a research assistant at Boston Medical Center. While there, she coordinated Kids FACE FEARS, a multi-site clinical trial of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for youth anxiety. She also conducted mixed-methods research in the REACH 4 ADHD lab, facilitating projects focused on understanding racial and economic disparities in ADHD outcomes and investigating the impact of unmet social needs on child mental health. Julia is also a suicide prevention crisis hotline counselor, and is interested in studying the complex interplay between ADHD, structural inequities, and youth suicide risk. She hopes to use community-partnered research methods to implement depression and suicide prevention interventions in non-specialty settings.

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Carlos Melendez, MA

Carlos is a fourth-year clinical psychology doctoral student. He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2020 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology as well as Spanish Literature, Language and Culture 2020. Subsequently, Carlos completed a post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) with the National Institute of Health under the supervision of Dr. Vijay Ramchandani. Additionally, he received a Master’s in Professional Studies in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland in 2021. Carlos was a research assistant in Dr. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano’s Maryland ADHD Program and was the Lab Manager for Dr. Fanita Tyrell’s Resilient Adaptation across Cultural Context Lab. Carlos is interested in studying culturally sensitive interventions for individuals with ADHD. Specifically, he is interested in examining the ways adverse childhood experiences influence pathways of ADHD throughout adolescence and early adulthood to create effective, tailored interventions.

 
 
 

Justyce Harris, BA

Justyce is a third-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology. She began her academic journey at Harold Washington College while working as a Teacher Assistant at Breakthrough Urban Ministries, a community organization. Justyce graduated from UIC in 2024 with Bachelor in Arts in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude and with College Honors. During her undergrad studies, she served as a research assistant in Dr. Aisha Griffith’s Black Girls' Relationships and Interactions with Staff in Educational Settings (RISES) Lab within the Educational Psychology department where she also completed a Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) fellowship. Justyce is interested investigating racial and gender disparities in ADHD diagnoses among youth and adolescents to promote access to accurate diagnoses and culturally sensitive, innovative treatments for marginalized communities.

 
 
 

Andrew Martinez, BA

Andrew is a second-year clinical psychology doctoral student. He graduated from Miami University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. As an undergraduate, Andrew was a research assistant in the Culture, Affect, and Relationships Lab under the supervision of Dr. Vaishali Raval. Additionally, he gained clinical experience working with youth with ADHD and other co-occurring mental health disorders as a counselor in the Summer Treatment Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Following graduation, he worked as a clinical research coordinator at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Becker. As a coordinator, he supported multiple research projects investigating cognitive disengagement syndrome and its associations with internalizing psychopathology and academic functioning. Andrew is interested in conducting research that addresses gaps in understanding and implementing interventions for underserved individuals with ADHD. Specifically, Andrew is interested in better understanding the influence of social determinants of health on the development and outcomes of individuals with ADHD and how this interplay can be addressed through intervention.

 
 

August (AJ) Matteis, MPS

AJ is a first-year clinical psychology doctoral student. Prior to joining the YAAAS lab, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021. Subsequently, he attended the University of Maryland, College Park where he completed a Masters in Professional Studies in Clinical Psychological Science in 2023. Additionally, AJ worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator under Dr. Melissa Dvorsky in the ADHD and Learning Differences Program at Children’s National Research Institute in Washington, DC where he worked on school-based and technology-focused intervention trials for adolescents with ADHD. AJ seeks to conduct research aimed at developing and disseminating scalable interventions that target executive dysfunction and comorbidities for marginalized individuals with ADHD.