Our Team

Claire A. Spears, Ph.D., Director

I am a clinical psychologist and health disparities researcher. My work focuses on understanding and targeting tobacco disparities; expanding the study of mindfulness to more diverse populations; and using mobile health technology for treatment delivery. My research has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institute of Mental Health, and Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

I am an Associate Professor in Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. I obtained my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University with emphasis on mindfulness, addictions, and behavioral medicine. I completed a National Cancer Institute-funded postdoctoral fellowship in Health Disparities Research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. After postdoctoral fellowship, I served as an Instructor in the Department of Health Disparities Research at MD Anderson and a faculty fellow of the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment. 

Faculty Website

Research Associates

Ryan Segur, M.Sc.

I earned my M.Sc. in Behavioral and Social Sciences from Brown University in 2019. I am a full-time Research Associate in the GSU Mindful Living Lab. I have a background in mindfulness-based research and am interested in equity-focused public health interventions that aim to best improve health outcomes in vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Katherine Henderson, MPH

I received my MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior from Georgia State University in May of 2019. I am currently serving as a Project Coordinator for the Tobacco Control Group in the GSU School of Public Health. My research interests include examining health risk behaviors, communicating about these risks, health disparities, and novel interventions to reduce health risk burdens.

Current Students and Affiliates

Angelique Willis, MPH

I earned my MPH with a concentration in Environmental Health at Georgia State University in 2022. I was awarded the 2022 GSU School of Public Health MPH Achievement Award. I am now pursuing an MS in Geosciences at GSU, where I am an Urban Transformations Research Fellow. I am interested in preventing human injury and illness and promoting well-being by identifying hazardous agents in the environment that may adversely affect human health.  

Logan Ray, BSW

I am an MPH student with concentration in health policy and management. I am also pursuing a Health Literacy certificate. Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, I completed my Bachelor of Social Work at Indiana-University and Purdue-University at Indianapolis in 2018, and moved to Atlanta in 2021 to return to graduate school. I am particularly passionate about improving healthcare access and quality of care, harm reduction policy and programming, and utilizing qualitative research as an effort to understand and improve these areas. Outside of work, you can find me hammocking, writing, at the gym, or reading a good book! 

Madison Murphy, BA

I am an MPH student with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior in the Georgia State University School of Public Health. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of South Carolina in 2021. I have experience in community outreach and working with disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. My areas of interest include community health, program planning and implementation, and health disparities.

Hailey Rueden, BS

I am an MPH student with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior at GSU. I earned by Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of North Georgia in May 2022. I have research experience in both Psychology and Sociology with a focus on gender-based discrimination in clinical research. During my MPH, I hope to focus my attention on sexual health literacy and communication of health information to better the quality of life for women and girls. 

Salma Abdirahim, BS

I am currently an MPH student with a concentration in Health Policy and Management at GSU. I earned my bachelor's degree in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. My research interests include identifying effective policy and alternative health interventions, using mindfulness to improve health, preventative research and promoting health equity.

Alyanna Reick-Mitrisin, BS

I am a CMHC student and prospective counseling intern at Mercer University. I graduated from Xavier University with a B.S. in Psychology in 2020. My experience with advocacy and community outreach began when I founded the Invisible Disabilities Club at Xavier University. Following graduation, I worked at a community behavioral health agency as an Intensive Integrated Care Manager where I advocated for clients’ health and wellness through community-based mental health care. My areas of interest include mindfulness and Narrative Exposure Therapy in counseling.

Bailey Nelms, BS

I am a current graduate student at Georgia State University, working towards my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Berry College in 2022. I have work and research experience working in community outreach and prevention planning as well as volunteer experience working with survivors of sexual assault. I plan to continue my career specializing in trauma informed mental health care and will begin my practicum and internship at Agnes Scott College in August of 2023. 

Paige Capponi, BS

I am an MS student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Georgia State University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Publishing from Belmont University in 2021. I have experience in cancer research and working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. My areas of interest include trauma response, emotional processing, and violence against woman and children.  

Puja Raol

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience and a Presidential Scholar at GSU. Throughout high school, I enjoyed avidly volunteering. I strive to continue leaving a positive impact on underserved populations through research. I especially am interested to research how mindfulness can positively impact lives in underserved communities.

Larry Mason Jr., BS

I am a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana with my BS in Public Health Sciences. I am currently pursuing my MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior at Georgia State University. I've previously done research within geriatrics and alcoholism in coordination with the NIH and COVID-19 response in coordination with the CDC and Morehouse College. Some of my research interests include Black maternal and child health, health equity and policy/advocacy, and chronic disease interventions utilizing mobile health.

Tanvi Kulkarni, MS

I am an MPH student with a specialization in Epidemiology at Georgia State University School of Public Health. I am currently working as a Graduate Research Assistant for Prevent Child Abuse at GSU. My background also encompasses experience in research administration. My focus lies in areas such as the development and evaluation of community health programs, along with a keen interest in analyzing data to gain insights into health disparities. 

Jaikanishka Nattamai Subramanian Rajkumar

I am an undergraduate student at the GSU Neuroscience Institute. Throughout high school, I was involved in the Healthcare pathway and served as an EMT 3rd rider. Outside of school, I was an intern at multiple healthcare facilities and an Eagle Scout. Through these experiences, I have seen the beneficial value of service to the community and am interested in researching how mindfulness can enhance that positive trend.

Josephine Mhende, MPH

I am a student in the DrPH program in the GSU School of Public Health. I received my MPH from GSU in 2016. I have research experience teaching mindfulness-based stress reducing techniques to parents of young children and adolescents living in underserved communities. For many years I worked in the technology field and view technology as a vehicle for reaching community members. My research interests include using contemplative practices and mindfulness to decrease mental health prevalence in communities facing increased health disparities. 

Courtney Strosnider, MS, MPH

I am a Clinical Instructor in the GSU Kinesiology and Health Department. I earned my MS  in Clinical Exercise Physiology from James Madison University and BS in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from The College of William and Mary. I earned my MPH, with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior, at GSU in 2019. I am interested in clinical populations and exercise, obesity prevention, and helping sedentary populations become more physically active. 

Do Van Vuong, MPH

I am a PhD student in the Epidemiology concentration in the School of Public Health at GSU. My research interests include the epidemiology of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, especially tobacco use. I am also keen on developing public health interventions using mobile technologies.

Carrie Oliver, MPH

I am a DrPH student at Georgia State. I received my Master’s of Public Health from Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in 2015. I am a Research Associate at the Center of Excellence for Children’s Behavioral Health at Georgia Health Policy Center. My research interests are related to public-private partnerships and the development and evaluation of interventions that aim to address health inequities. 

Hari Vedantam, BS

I am a Kennesaw State University alum from the Integrated Health Sciences program. I currently work at the All of Us Research Program at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois alongside my work at the GSU Mindful Living Lab. My prior work experiences have driven me to explore the overlap between public health and mental health advocacy in the South Asian communities that have immigrated to the US. My research interests include mindfulness, mental health education and advocacy, and violence prevention programs in underserved populations.

Neeharika Chenna, BS

I recently graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Psychology, specializing in Life Sciences. Currently working as a Psychometrician, I conduct Neuropsychological Assessments for individuals with ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, and related conditions. Additionally, I serve as a Crisis Text Line Counselor and have experience in Occupational Therapy. My research interests revolve around Family Systems, Effective Therapeutic Interventions, and Advocacy.

Megha Yeddula

I am a high school senior at Wheeler High School and I am a part of Wheeler's magnet program for STEM education. I am participating in a research internship under my mentor Dr. Claire Spears. I am passionate about STEM and healthcare fields and hope to learn more about mindfulness and smoking cessation through the GSU Mindful Living Lab. I want to pursue a career in healthcare and expand my knowledge in research. Outside of school, I play tennis, I love to volunteer, and I love hanging out with friends and family. 

Kyan Nguyen

I am a senior at Wheeler High School. I am participating in a research internship with Dr. Claire Spears as my mentor. I enjoy playing and watching soccer and video games, as well as listening to music.

Srimayi  Kukkadapu

I am a high school student at Lambert High School and am currently taking the healthcare pathway. I enjoy volunteering in my local community and have even started a club to spread the message of service at my high school. In the future, I want to pursue a career in healthcare as a doctor. As of now, I hope to continue making an impact on underprivileged communities around the world. I am excited to research the positive influence of mindfulness on the health and well-being of underserved populations.

Priyam Joshi, BA

I am a student in the dual MPH and Ph.D. in Community Psychology program at GSU. I earned a BA in Psychology and Law from the University of British Columbia, Canada, in 2021. I was born and brought up in Surat, India, where I found and cultivated my passion for psychology and public mental health. My research interests include mindfulness, mental health promotion for underserved communities, and the development of technology-based interventions for widespread dissemination. 

GSU Mindful Living Lab Alumni

Dina Jones, Ph.D.

Dr. Dina Jones earned her PhD with an Epidemiology concentration in the School of Public Health at GSU in 2019. She received her MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in 2015. She completed postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences under the mentorship of Dr. Pebbles Fagan. She is now a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the College of Public Health at UAMS and Principal Investigator of an NIH-funded K01 award.

Cherell Cottrell-Daniels, Ph.D. 

Dr. Cherell Cottrell-Daniels earned her PhD with a Health Promotion and Behavior concentration in the School of Public Health at GSU in 2021. She received her MPH in Epidemiology from Georgia Southern University in 2014. She is now an NIH T32-funded postdoctoral fellow at Moffitt Cancer Center. She focuses on developing interventions to reduce health risk behavior in minority populations.

Michelle Mavreles Ogrodnick, Ph.D.

Dr. Michelle Mavreles Ogrodnick earned her PhD with a Health Promotion and Behavior concentration at the GSU School of Public Health in 2022. She received her MPH at GSU in 2017. Her research interests relate to health disparities, health communication and health literacy. She is now a Project Manager at the GSU Adult Literacy Research Center, working on a USDHHS Office of Minority Health-funded grant to improve health communication for non-native English speakers.

Helina Teklu, MPH

Helina earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Policy and Management at the GSU School of Public Health in Spring 2023. She received her BA in Global Health and Global Development from Mercer University in Spring 2019. Her areas of interest include health equity, health policy, and evaluation.  

Bonnie Douglas, MPH

Bonnie earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Policy and Management from GSU in 2023. She is passionate about promoting health equity and reducing disparities, particularly those in the smoking and diabetic populations. 

Daniel Martinez

Daniel completed a research internship with the GSU Mindful Living Lab in summer 2023, through the McNair Scholars Program. He is an undergraduate public health student at Dillard University with a concentration in health promotion and disease prevention. He has experience and interest in community service. His areas of interest include racial health equity, nutrition, and fitness. He plans on striving to obtain a PhD.

Byron Hall

Byron completed a research internship with the GSU Mindful Living Lab in summer 2023, through the McNair Scholars Program. He is an undergraduate public health student with a concentration in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Dillard University. He is part of Dillard's Thompson Cooke Honors Program and a Gates Scholar. He aspires to pursue a Ph.D. in Biostatistics. He has a passion for volunteerism and looks forward to doing positive work in the community both in and outside of school.

Satya Tetali

Satya completed a research internship with the GSU Mindful Living Lab in Fall 2021. He graduated from Wheeler High School Center for Advanced Studies and now attends Georgia Institute of Technology. He aims to pursue a medical degree and improve upon disparities in the medical system.

Marsha Wright, MPH

Marsha earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior at the GSU School of Public Health in 2021. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, with a year of service competed in Namibia, Africa. She is interested in educating underserved populations to improve health disparities, health education programs, and overall well-being within their communities.

Sarah Tarr, MPH

Sarah earned her MPH with a concentration in Epidemiology at the GSU School of Public Health in 2022. She received her BA in Anthropology from The University of Florida. Her areas of interest include global health, racial inequalities, health disparities, and social determinants of health. She is now a research coordinator at Emory University, focusing on social determinants of health among post-partum mothers.

Danielle Arroliga, MPH

Danielle earned her MPH with a concentration in Epidemiology at the GSU School of Public Health in 2022. She received her BA in Spanish and Public Health from Agnes Scott College in 2016. Her interests include addressing health disparities and social determinants of health, as well as maternal and child health.

Ayeesha Sayyad, MPH

Ayeesha earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior at GSU in 2021. She received a BA in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis in 2018. She is interested in addressing health disparities and improving maternal health outcomes for Black women. She is now an ORISE Fellow in the Division of Reproductive Health at CDC.

Micah Streiff, MPH

Micah earned his MPH at GSU in 2020. Before that he studied General Science and Mechanical Engineering at Morehouse College and Georgia Tech. He has worked in product development and design since 2011. Micah is interested in the intersection of health, technology and society. He works with young people in community building activities and is particularly interested in programs that empower young people to take charge of their own development. He is a data analyst at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health.

Asha Bell, MPH

Asha earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior at GSU in 2018. She worked as a clinical research coordinator at Emory University before returning to the GSU Mindful Living Lab as a Research Associate from 2019-2021. Her focus is on minority health and health disparities. She now works at the CDC Foundation. 

Brittani Carter, MPH

Brittani earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior at GSU in 2017. Brittani's thesis focused on smoking among people living with HIV in higher-risk and lower-risk areas in Atlanta.  Brittani won the Master's Round of the university-wide Three-Minute Thesis Competition.  She is now an ORISE fellow at the CDC in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. 

Charly Scarlett, MPH

Charly earned her MPH with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior at GSU in 2018. Her thesis was a qualitative study of Mindfulness-Based Addiction Treatment in socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse adults. She is now pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Florida. 

Hala Elahi, MPH

Hala earned her MPH with a concentration in Epidemiology at GSU in May 2019.

Maitreyi Bandlamudi, MPH

Maitreyi earned her BS in Public Health at GSU in May 2018. She then obtained her MPH degree at Boston University and is now working as a medical policy analyst.

Amanda Grant, MS

Amanda earned her BS in Public Health at GSU in May 2018. She then obtained her MS degree in Health Informatics and Analytics at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. 

Anna Sigurdardottir, MS 

Anna earned her MS in Marketing at the GSU J. Mack Robinson College of Business and is now working as a marketing analyst. 

China Hawkins, BS

China worked as a Research Associate in the Mindful Living Lab in 2021-2022. She earned her BS in Public Health Policy & Management from Purdue University in 2016. She is now pursuing a Master of Data Science and Analytics and Master of Business Administration dual degree at GSU. She is interested in healthcare policy, program implementation and sustainability, and utilizing technology to improve access to healthcare. 

Ishani Ammavajjala, BS

Ishani earned her BS in Neuroscience at GSU in 2023. She is interested in research that addresses long term health conditions and ways to reduce their impact on the lives of people. She is now a full-time research coordinator.

Jackie Luong, BS 

Jackie graduated with her BS in Public Health in the GSU Honors College in May 2021. She is now pursuing her MPH at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health.

Gift Nwagu, BS

Gift earned her BS in Biological Sciences with a Pre-Medical Concentration at the GSU Honors College in 2022. She is now a client service coordinator at Careica Health in Winnepeg, Mantiboa. She is interested in mindfulness interventions for older adults and hopes to contribute to improved life quality among older adults worldwide.

Hasna Chowdhury, BS

Hasna completed a research internship with the GSU Mindful Living Lab in 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Public Policy from the George Washington University. She aims to pursue a career in health policy and management to change the landscape of law and policy to advocate for an equitable healthcare system for vulnerable populations. 

Nikki Nobari

Nikki completed a research internship with the GSU Mindful Living Lab in Spring 2021. She graduated from Wheeler High School Center for Advanced Studies in Marietta, Georgia. She now attends Georgia Tech and plans to pursue a career that combines public health and medicine. 

Sejal Patel

Sejal completed a research internship with the GSU Mindful Living Lab in 2021. She is interested in research on health disparities, epidemiology, and technology usage in global health issues.