People of the Social Development Lab

Dr. Cipra is the director of the Social Development Lab (SDL) at Governors State University. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. She received her PhD in Human Development from Indiana University. Prior to joining the faculty at Governors State University in 2014, she served as faculty at Siena Heights University. As a systems theorist, her interests are wide-ranging and interdisciplinary. One of her main lines of research focuses on the development of resilience across the lifespan. A second theme focuses on the transition to college, particularly for underrepresented groups.

Jessica Beckmann is the Lab Coordinator for the Social Development Lab. She began the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Governors State University in the Fall of 2020 and expects to graduate in May of 2024. She served in the lab as an undergraduate Research Assistant for a year and a half prior to beginning her currently held position as lab coordinator in 2020. Currently, Jessica is working on research surrounding social emotional learning (SEL). Jessica’s research interests are focused on gender disparities and trauma, social emotional learning, social media, and how societal expectations may impact individual development.

Alyssa Voss is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in clinical psychology and counseling. She began working in the Social Development Lab as an undergraduate research assistant in AY 23-24. She is planning to enter an MD/PhD program post-graduation and has a strong interest in research, specifically research that relates to how childhood trauma affects adolescent resilience.

Emely Oviedo has been involved in the social development lab since 2023. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Governors State University in 2023. Her research interest includes athletics and its relation to mental health, motivation, and performance. Emely plans to continue her education and work toward a graduate level degree in Sport Psychology or a closely related field to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

Kelly Rosenthal is currently an undergraduate student studying Psychology. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy and continue her involvement in research. Upon completing her educational goals, she hopes to work with children and adolescents, focusing on psychosocial health and development. Currently, her research is concentrated on social emotional learning (SEL). Her research interest for the future is the incorporation of animal-assisted interventions in SEL and school settings.

Inala Bruce-Rose is an alumnus of Governors State University who majored in Psychology with a minor in Social Work. She is a member of the Social Development Lab and is interested in mindfulness studies, research involving children and adolescents, with an emphasis on those with special needs. She is also interested in research on life satisfaction and happiness. She is currently researching classes in schools that include life skills such as financial literacy, and how the lack of these courses in curriculums affect future college enrollment and skill development in adulthood. She is a member of the Jaguar Drill Team, Psychology Club, and Black Student Union. Her goal is to attend graduate school for clinical psychology and law.

Megan Rodgers earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Governors State University in 2019 and will complete her Master's Degree in Criminal Justice in May 2024. She works at the YWCA as the Manager of Advocacy and Crisis Intervention for both sexual violence and community violence programs in South Cook County and DuPage County. Megan serves as the Chair for the South Suburban Cook County Sexual Assault Response Team. Ms. Rodgers also serves as a member of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force, South Suburban College’s Coordinated Community Response Team, and Governors State University's Advocating for Sexual Assault Prevention team. Megan has presented and completed research projects on a variety of topics including fictive kin relationships, growth vs fixed mindset, cancer disparities in incarcerated women, domestic violence, multi-disciplinary approaches to crime, and domestic homicide. Her current research project focuses on restorative justice in the US criminal justice system and was presented last fall in Lake Como, Italy. She also serves as a board member for the Institutional Review Board at Prairie State College.

Grace Meeks is pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology at Governors State University. She is interested in research regarding parent-child dyads and interpersonal relationships, as well as how brain functions correspond to behavior. Grace is also interested in graduate school and plans to pursue a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her hobbies include crochet, drawing, and hiking.

David Swanson is a research assistant as well as a Licensed Social Worker, Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor, and Anger Management Specialist working in the southwest suburbs of Cook County. He received his Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Social work at Governors State University. His research interests are rooted in trauma and addiction, with a focus on children and families. He aspires to continue his research on trauma with a lens of social determinants of health and is currently applying for a doctoral program in social work for either a DSW or a Ph.D.

Daniel Kirby began his journey as a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Governors State University in the fall of 2020, after having graduated from GSU’s Psychology program in the spring of 2020. Daniel is working as a graduate assistant for the psychology program and works closely with various faculty on special projects. Daniel is happy to be a new member of the Social Development Lab and is interested in research trauma, addition, and the effects of mindfulness.

Rachel Beckmann is a master's student in the Communication, Media, & Performance program at Governors State University. This is her 6th year as a research assistant in the Social Development Lab. Her current research project investigates the influence that visual communication has on the effectiveness of academic research poster presentations. As research has guided her academic career in both undergraduate and graduate school, her thesis will be guided by research and will incorporate her previous work on cognitive dissonance, and how that impacts one's career choice.

Ruqia Alzoubi is a software engineer, with almost two years of experience working in the field. She has an interest in psychology, specifically in the topic of parental personality and child development.