PhD Student
Biography
I was born and raised on the shores of the Mediterranean sea, in my hometown, Byblos, in Lebanon. I earned my Bachelor of Art in Psychology (GPA: 3.91; class of 2021) at the Lebanese American University, where I graduated at the top of my class with a Recognition Award. I moved to the University of Tennessee on a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Scholarship (2021-2023) and earned my Master of Science in Child and Family Studies (GPA: 4.0; class of 2023). Currently, I am pursuing my PhD under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Johnson. My interests include children with externalizing problems and environmental adversity. I have served as Dr. Samara Madrid-Akpovo's Research and Teaching Assistant for 2021-2022 and 2023-2023. I am serving my Teaching Assistantship at the Early Learning Center for 2023-2024.
Education
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Master of Science in Child and Family Studies
- Minor in Statistics
- GPA: 4.0/4.0
Thesis topic: using the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset to study mental health, specifically externalizing disorders, in pre-adolescent children (chair: Dr. Elizabeth I. Johnson).
Lebanese American University, Lebanon
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with High Distinction
- GPA: 3.91/4.0
Awards and Recognitions
- U.S. Department of States Fulbright Foreign Scholar, from the U.S. Department of States and the U.S. embassy in Lebanon, $125,800 (2021-2023)
- Kathy Carlson Fellowship, from the University of Tennessee’s College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences, awarded to graduate students who show excellence and dedication in work with young children, $2000 (2022)
- Outstanding Graduate Student and Rockstar Scholar, from the University of Tennessee’s Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, (2022)
- Recognition Award in the BA in Psychology, from the Lebanese American University’s School of Arts and Sciences (2021)
- Honor Program Graduate, from the Lebanese American University (2018-2021)
- Highest GPA Award, Department of Social Sciences at the Lebanese American University (2018-2021)
- Dean’s Highest Distinction List, from the Lebanese American University (2018-2021)
- Merit-based Scholarship, from the Lebanese American University, $18,000 (2018-2021)