MEET THE TEAM
Lab Director
Dr. Mariah Kornbluh
I am an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Oregon, a member of the university's Diversity Science research program, and a William T. Grant Scholar (Class of 2028).
My research examines how educational institutions can foster more equitable, participatory, and developmentally supportive learning environments for adolescents. Drawing on community-engaged and mixed-methods approaches, I study how educators, schools, and communities mobilize research evidence to inform decision-making and improve educational practice.
A central focus of my scholarship is civic education and Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) as mechanisms for promoting positive youth development and organizational change. My work investigates how YPAR can strengthen adolescents' critical consciousness, civic engagement, and sense of agency while also contributing to meaningful improvements in school climate, educational policies, and other setting-level outcomes.
Across this work, I am particularly interested in how evidence-informed partnerships among researchers, educators, and youth can support the adoption, implementation, and spread of practices that advance equity and opportunity for young people, especially those from historically marginalized communities.
Raquel is a clinical and developmental psychology doctoral student at the University of Oregon. In 2021, she graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in economics. She is interested in identifying and understanding the risk and protective factors of marginalized youth to develop culturally relevant programs that focuses on youth empowerment and improving their sense of self. She is passionate about utilizing community-based research methods to accurately address the concerns of the community.
Raquel Amador
GRADUATE STUDENT
gabi is a developmental psychology doctoral student at the University of Oregon. In 2024, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Education. gabi is interested in understanding identity development among youth, with specific focus on LGBTQ+ and ethnic-racial intersectionality, social media and educational contexts for identity development, and youth well-being in rural communities. Her other interests include community-based action research, critical consciousness, and fostering youth empowerment alongside multiply marginalized youth.
gabriella (gabi) garcia
GRADUATE STUDENT
Kayla is a developmental psychology doctoral student at the University of Oregon. In 2025, she graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and English. She is interested in how young people understand social inequality and navigate contested social issues, with a focus on how civic engagement supports healthy adolescent development. She is particularly interested in how young people critically assess and engage with information in social media and digital environments, as well as how educational contexts shape their motivation to engage with learning and civic issues. She seeks to apply qualitative and mixed-methods approaches to conduct developmentally informed, community-engaged research informing media literacy interventions and civics curricula.
Kayla Neubert
GRADUATE STUDENT
Claris (she/her) is a fifth-year clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Oregon. Claris’s research primarily focuses on cultural adaptations of evidence-based mental health interventions for ethnic-racial minoritized youth and families. As a corollary to this, she is also interested in feasible, scalable implementation of culturally adapted interventions into settings that are more accessible for minoritized clients. Previously, Claris was a senior research coordinator at the University of Miami’s Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety Treatment Program, where she aided in organizing the implementation of an adapted evidence-based mental health intervention into Title I high schools serving low resourced, ethnic-racial minoritized youth. Claris earned her master's degree in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University and her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Saint Mary’s College of California. In her free time, Claris enjoys taking long walks outside with her rescue dogs Taco and Marge, as well as cooking and baking with family and friends. Claris works alongside Dr. Alayna Park and is co-mentored by Dr. Park and Dr. Kornbluh.
Claris Velez
GRADUATE STUDENT
Tessa Palafu (she/her) is a first-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at the University of Oregon. She graduated from Hawaiʻi Pacific University with a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science. Before joining the lab, Tessa served as a research assistant at the Baker Center for Children and Families, Implementation Research Division under the mentorship of Dr. Kelsie Okamura. Tessa is passionate about promoting mental health equity for Indigenous populations, namely Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). In service of this overarching goal, she is interested in research that: 1) explores the impact of historical trauma on NHPI groups, 2) investigates the role of culture in delivering effective mental health services for NHPI populations, and 3) seeks to understand effective strategies to implement/deliver quality mental health services in community settings. She is especially committed to conducting this work through community-based and community-engaged approaches. In her free time, you can find Tessa reading a book, listening to Taylor Swift, or napping. Tessa works alongside Dr. Alayna Park and is co-mentored by Dr. Park and Dr. Kornbluh.
Tessa Palafu
GRADUATE STUDENT
Natalie Baker is a senior at the University of Oregon pursuing her Bachelor's of Science in Psychology, with minors in Ethics and Interdisciplinary Cognitive Sciences. She is interested in school-based interventions, neurodevelopmental conditions, and improving youth mental health. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate education in School Psychology or Clinical Psychology. She is excited to learn from youth in the community by helping facilitate Youth Participatory Action Research and other forms of community-based work.
Natalie Baker
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Riley is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Oregon, working towards a Bachelor of Science in Child Behavioral Health and Psychology. She is interested in studying how environmental contexts influence youth development and their relationship to mental health outcomes. She is an advocate for youth mental health awareness and values community-based approaches and discussions. Outside of her work, she loves film photography, reading, and exploring coffee shops and other community spots around Eugene.
Riley Trevino
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Ava is a second-year student at the University of Oregon pursuing a B.S. in psychology with a minor in women and gender studies. She is interested in how aspects like gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status intersect to impact how we are viewed by ourselves and others. She is also interested in how these factors affect people’s development in intergenerational contexts. She is passionate about helping traditionally under-supported youth through community-based research.
Ava Wolf
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Collaborators
California State University, Chico
Fordham University
San Jose State University
University of California, Berkeley
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Florida
Alumni
RESEARCH ASSISTANT ALUMNI
Cass Byrne
Junah Calceta
Dylan Clark
Percy Conrad
J Eversberg
Kalliope (Kalli) Kyriazis
Maya Ostroff
Clarissa Perez
Jared Reynolds
Angela Sherer
MaryJane True