Our People

Chloe Downey

Chloe is a first-year student in the Master of Arts in Psychological Research program at Texas State University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Data Analytics from Texas State. Chloe is continuing her contribution to various research projects in the SCAD Lab including studies on how autistic and non-autistic adults vary on different dimensions of Theory of Mind tasks, the impact of gender on the relationships between overparenting and internalizing symptoms, theory of mind components in relation to children’s ability and willingness to tell prosocial lies, and metalinguistic understandings of how others’ spoken language influences the social behaviors of monolingual and bilingual children. After completing her master’s degree, Chloe plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology. She aspires to become a professor and continue contributing to research in cognitive psychology, with a focus on social cognitive development in both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals.

Irene Jordan

Irene is a first-year student in the Psychological Research Master’s program at Texas State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from CSU Channel Islands, where she gained experience studying cognition and emotion regulation. Irene is currently a Graduate Instructional Assistant for Introductory Statistics and a Graduate Research Student in the SCAD Lab. Her research interests broadly encompass children’s cognitive and social development, with a particular focus on theory of mind, social cognition, and emotion regulation. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and hopes to continue contributing to research on children’s cognition and socio-emotional growth. Outside of academics, Irene enjoys spending time with her family, journaling, and exploring her new home in Austin.

Megan Singer

Megan is a student in the Master of Arts in Psychological Research Program.  She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Behavioral Neuroscience from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.  Megan contributes to projects on pro-social lying in children and adults. She will also be expanding upon previous SCAD Lab research exploring the relationship between social cognition abilities, self-assessment accuracy, and masking in autistic and non-autistic individuals. Megan’s research interests center on sensory processing and misophonia. She is specifically interested in differential behavioral reactions in the presence of triggers (e.g. chewing, clicking, etc.) in individuals with and without misophonia. In the future, Megan plans to pursue a Ph.D. to further her research on misophonia. She hopes to work in academia, continuing to contribute to research within this field while spreading knowledge about psychology.

Gabriela Valladares

Gaby is currently a first-year student in the Master of Arts in Psychological Research. Her research interests include studying pro-social lying in adults and children, Theory of Mind, and how children learn through storytelling tools, such as Santa Claus. As a first-generation American and college student, she aims to be a professor of social psychology and one day lead her own lab. In her free time, she enjoys reading rom-coms and paddleboarding on the river!

Sophie Wilson

Sophie is a second-year student in the Master of Arts in Psychological Research program at Texas State University as well as a Research Student in the SCAD lab. She earned her Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminological Theory from St. Edward’s University. Sophie will be expanding on previous research exploring the behavior of parenting by lying and its potential positive effects on psychological development, parental differences within the phenomenon, and whether siblingship has an effect on the phenomenon. Sophie’s research interests outside of the SCAD lab broadly consist of cognitive development and forensic psychology. After completing her master’s degree, Sophie plans to eventually pursue a Ph. D. in Forensic Psychology. 

Rozlyn Lopez

Rozlyn is a senior at Texas State University and will be graduating Summa Cum Laude in Spring 2026 with a B.A.in Psychology and a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. She has been a member of the SCAD lab team since Fall 2023, her freshman year and has enjoyed delving into various aspects of psychology. She is currently researching prosocial lying in adults and children, dimensions of positive attribution bias, and ADHD and self-assessment accuracy on social cognitive tasks. After graduation, Rozlyn plans to pursue her master’s degree in School Psychology. She hopes to assess and provide successful intervention for at-risk students and foster change for adolescents socially, emotionally, and behaviorally to thrive in supportive learning environments. 

Fig Boling

Fig is currently a senior at Texas State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in biology. After graduation she plans on pursuing a master’s in clinical psychology and getting certified as a licensed professional counselor (LPC). She is currently researching autism in adults, and in the future hopes to research and counsel children with autism. 

Paula Caleb

Paula is a Junior at Texas State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Pre-Medical Studies. She aspires to become an OBGYN and is passionate about advancing women’s health. Outside of academics and healthcare, Paula enjoys baking, thrifting, and going to concerts. 

Jessica Cox

Jessica is currently a sophomore at Texas State University and is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Biology. After graduation she plans to go to graduate school for School Psychology. Her hobbies include drawing, reading novels, and going to concerts.

Adison Guy

Adison is currently a senior at Texas State University, earning a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. After graduating, she plans to pursue an S.S.P. in School Psychology with a focus on the Autism Specialty Track. She is the 2024-25 Psi Chi Honors Society vice president and Phi Beta Kappa member. Adison enjoys reading, attending concerts, and kayaking on the river.

Ella Maedgen

Ella Maedgen is a currently a senior working towards earning her a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Communications. After graduating, Ella plans to take a gap semester in the spring, before pursing a degree in School Psychology. Ella’s hobbies include exploring new spots in San Marcos, spending time with friends and family, and reading. 

Noemi Nava Romero

Noemi is a senior at Texas State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Biology and English. She is an active member of Psi Chi and Latinas Unidas. Her interests include language acquisition in bilingual children and neuropsychology. After graduation, Noemi plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology, with the goal of working with and supporting children.

Johnny Song

Johnny will be graduating (summa cum laude) Spring 2026 with his B.S. in Psychology and minor in Anthropology. He will be pursuing a doctorate in Psychology (institution TBD), as his ultimate aspiration is to become a Licensed Psychologist and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. He loves all dogs, especially his Rottweiler named Rex. Johnny is a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, and currently works as a Certified Personal Trainer. He finds intense exercise therapeutic for his dysthymia and overall well-being. Johnny is also an introvert and enjoys doing introvert things like watching documentaries, using the internet to learn new things, and teaching himself a little too much about his interests. He is an enthusiast of all things automotive like riding his motorcycle and off-roading his Ford Raptor (his dream vehicle since childhood). Johnny loves football and observing how group dynamics, tribalism, and the camaraderie between diverse cultures within an NFL team come together to achieve a shared purpose and goal, much like the U.S. Marine Corps.

Katie Grosse

Katie is a senior graduating in the Spring 2026 semester. She is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Human Development and Family Sciences. Katie loves working with children and is planning to get a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling after graduating, so she can be a play therapist. She loves learning about child development. Her interests outside of school include art, digital cameras, thrifting, and her dog. 

Kate Mokry

Katherine is a sophomore at Texas State University pursuing a degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in fine motor therapy and minoring in psychology. After graduating, she plans to earn her master’s degree in occupational therapy with the hopes of becoming a travelling occupational therapist who specializes in neonatal therapy or acute care.

2024-2025 Alumni
Naomi Egbuna
Jenni Johnson
Isabel Murillo
Suzie Peluso