Professor Dubar is the Director of the S.P.A Lab and coordinates all research activities in the lab. She was born and raised on the island of Dominica and pursued studies at the University of St. Martin (St.Maarten) and Trent University (Canada), before obtaining her Ph.D. in Psychology, with a focus on Lifespan Development, from Brock University (Canada). She completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University (U.S.A). Professor Dubar is passionate about training undergraduate and graduate students in sleep (psychological) research. When she is not analyzing data, writing manuscripts, or preparing lectures, she is either cooking, catching up on Netflix shows/the news, sharing adventures with her husband, her son, and their cat, or…sleeping.

Nicole K. Watkins began working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the S.P.A. Lab in July 2020. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Learning and Developmental Sciences from Indiana University, and her B.S. in Psychology with a Behavioral Neuroscience concentration from Wright State University. Her research interests focus on adolescence, emerging adulthood, and interpersonal relationships. Specifically, her focus has primarily been on exploring associations between family transitions and family functioning with child and emerging adult health and psychosocial well-being, and examining the role of romantic relationships during emerging adulthood. Her interests include anime, hanging out with her cats and dog, and outdoor activities such as canoeing.

Isabella Pruscino (‘24) is a Government and Psychology double major from Monmouth County, New Jersey. In the lab, she is interested in studying the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents and emerging adults in relation to their family background. At home, she works as a paraprofessional in special education preschool classrooms and has experience working with children with ADHD and autism at the Child Mind Institute. After Wesleyan, Isabella will be a research coordinator at Drexel University’s WELL Center, working on a pilot study regarding binge eating disorder among adolescents. She hopes to attend a Ph.D. or Psy.D program where she can gain a professional career in clinical child psychology. Her goal is to work with children and their families in improving interpersonal relationships and well-being.

Alexandra Turtil (‘24) is a Psychology and Film Studies double major from Westchester, New York. She is interested in learning about interpersonal relationships and dimensions of religiosity in relation to psychological well-being. At home, she works in an acute inpatient psychiatric unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Outside of the lab, she is the President of Wesleyan’s Photography club and is an active member of the student film production club Cardinal Pictures. She also loves traveling + crocheting! She hopes to pursue a Masters in clinical mental health counseling.

Declan Derfler-Murphy (‘25) is a junior Psychology and Religion double major from Southeastern Massachusetts. Declan is curious about mental health, specifically for youth; identity; religiosity; and other aspects of how people see the world and react to changes in themselves and their environments. Outside of the lab, he works for Professor Scott Plous’s Social Psychology Network, volunteers with a crisis hotline, works with Wesleyan’s Office of Health Education Peer Health Advocate program, and plays the trumpet in the Wesleyan Wind Ensemble (Wes Winds). He also loves to read, spend time with friends and family, and collect and display Lego sets. Declan hopes to pursue a Masters in clinical mental health counseling and eventually serve as a therapist/counselor for various populations, as he wants to help individuals work through the struggles of their daily lives.

Leela Hasan (‘25) is a Psychology and Economics double major with a minor in Data Analysis from New Delhi, India and Manila, Philippines. She in interested in adolescent mental health, suicide research, and public policy as it relates to the aforementioned topics. Outside of this lab, she also volunteers in the Behavioral Medicine Lab with Professor Finitsis and a crisis line back home. She enjoys crafting (crocheting + knitting), reading, and cozy gaming. She hopes to eventually become a licensed clinical social worker, and one day pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Jeremy Gold ('26) is a junior Psychology major from Needham, Massachusetts. He is interested in learning about mental health and psychosocial development, with particular interest in adolescent and emerging adults. Outside of the lab, he writes for the Wesleyan student-run newspaper, The Argus, and is an active member in the Korean Student Association. He enjoys reading, creative writing, and playing piano. After Wesleyan, Jeremy hopes to pursue a career as a clinical therapist.

Katie Sykes (‘27) is a freshman from Westchester, New York who is a prospective Psychology and Economics double major. She is interested in the causes and rationale for certain behaviors, especially for adolescents and adults. Outside of the lab Katie works for Long Lane Farm, and volunteers at Wild Wes, along with being in a short-form comedy improv group. She hopes she can pursue a Masters or Phd in psychology and continue doing research.

Sierra van Wijk (‘25) is a Psychology, Sociology, and Theater triple major stemming from Bergen County, New Jersey. Sierra is interested in exploring further into promoting improvement of dynamic and inclusive research methods to expand understanding of the impact of intersecting identities on the biological, social, and mental outcomes and differences present in current day research. She intends to use the reaches of entertainment to educate and encourage further inquiries towards improving dynamic and inclusive representation of varying identities. Sierra's overarching goal is to utilize writing to work towards increasing the presence of educational entertainment that expands tolerance and knowledge regarding the psychological and sociological implications of our self-identity, specifically highlighting the pathway from infancy to adolescence. Outside of shadowing the lab, she is a Resident Advisor as well as a Wesleyan food service worker and steward who is an active thespian and present in many POC affinity spaces. Sierra loves to write and sing (but only in the shower) and loves to poke at the theory of astrological charts and signs.

Breanna Barrie is a St. Maarten-based Volunteer Research Assistant in the S.P.A. Lab. Prior to this, she earned an Honour’s BSc — double majoring in Psychology and Sociology — from the University of Toronto and a MSc with merit in Psychology from the University of Birmingham. She is particularly interested in social and developmental psychology which led to her master’s dissertation covering the measurement abilities of the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP) and its associations with explicit bias. Outside of the lab, Breanna is a Project Associate at a non-profit organization that develops and finances programs and projects designed to contribute towards St. Maarten’s social development. Her interests include hiking, traveling, and photography.

Caroline Mancini ('26) is a junior Psychology major from New York City. She is particularly interested in learning more about child and adolescent mental health. She transferred to Wesleyan her sophomore year and found its community and faculty incredibly welcoming. Outside the lab, she is an aspiring yoga teacher, practices piano, and is involved with various mental health organizations on campus. Caroline enjoys reading, baking, and spending time in nature. After Wesleyan, she hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology through graduate school and future research involvement.

Paul Quach (‘26) is a rising junior at Wesleyan University pursuing a Major in Psychology and a Double Minor in Data Analysis and Human Rights Advocacy. Quach joined SPA Lab in the Summer of 2024, researching “Subjective Experiences of Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic and Reactions to the 2020 Anti-Racist Protests: Voices of Emerging Adults from Socio-Demographic Minority Groups in the U.S.” As a First-Generation Low-Income (FGLI) Student of Color at Welseyan, Quach aims to create pathways for his community in Salem, Oregon by inspiring intersectionality and interconnectedness across all his academic and personal endeavors. Beyond academics, Paul Quach is a Residental Advisor (RA) for West College, the Student Life Committee Chair on the Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA), a Co-Chair of the Asian American Student Collective (AASC), a Union Steward for the Wesleyan Union of Student Employees (WesUSE), member of the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA); and apart of First Things First (FTF), Wesleyan Mathematics & Science Scholars (WesMaSS), and Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program.

And as always, like his catchphrase says – “WWn’tPQD: What Wouldn’t Paul Quach Do?”