Our alumni
Working with and within communities, we use community psychology's distinctive theory, research, and action to address the issues that communities find most pressing. Our graduate program combines community-based practical research experience and classroom-based instruction to equip students with cutting-edge methods and theories to create and study community change.
Where are our recent graduates now?
MSU's Community Psychology program is the oldest in the United States, with nationally and internationally recognized faculty and students. Our alumnae work in universities, governments, research institutes, and community organizations around the world. Explore more below.
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Academia
Valerie Anderson, Associate Professor, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Isi Balbao, Assistant Professor, Universidad Alberto Hurtado
Ashlee Barnes, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Christina Alicia Campbell, Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati
Danielle Chiaramonte, Associate Research Scientist, Yale University
Kathryn Clements, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Charles Richard Collins, Associate Professor, U of Washington-Bothel
Rachael Goodman-Williams, Assistant Professor, Wichita State University
Megan Rose Greeson, Associate Professor, DePaul University
Katie Gregory, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Patrick Janulis, Assistant Professor, Northwestern University
McKenzie Javorka, Research Associate, University of Montana
Tiffeny Reyleen Jimenez, Associate Professor, National Louis University
Mariah Kornbluh, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon
Jennifer Lawlor, Research Fellow, University of Michigan
Lauren F. Lichty, Associate Professor, U of Washington-Bothel
Katherine McAlindon, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Florida
Kristin Mills, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University
Mercedes Morales-Aleman, Associate Professor, U of Alabama-Tuscaloosa
Nkiru Nnawulezi, Associate Professor, U of Maryland Baltimore Country
Mallet Reed, Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan State University
Jaleah D. Rutledge, Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale university
Jessica L. Shaw, Associate Professor, University of Illinois Chicago
Sarah Stacy, Research Associate, University of Cincinnati
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Government
Tatiana Bustos, Researcher and Facilitator, RTI International
MK Kitzmiller, Data Scientist, NY City Office of the Mayor
Maria Teresa Valenti, Research Scientist, NY State Office of Addiction Services
Tyler Virden, Data Analyst, State of California
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Private Sector
Funmi Ayeni, Director of Research, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
Katherine Cloutier, Evaluation Adviser, YMCA
Jasmine Engleton, Research Associate, Justice Information Resource Network
Hannah Feeney, Research Analyst, RTI International
Giannina Fehler-Cabral, Senior Research Consultant, Harder and Company
Nidal Mahah Karim, Principal, Social Insights Research
Sara McGirr, Evaluation Specialist, Michigan Public Health Institute
Rome Meeks, Executive Director, Anidaso 360
Jennifer Mortensen, Senior Research Analyst, YMCA
Jodi Lynn Petersen, Principal, Petersen Research Consultants
Echo Rivera, Principal, Creative Research Communications
Lauren Vollinger, Research Analyst, RTI International
Erin Rae Watson, Principal, Weaving Change
Alumni News & Stories
Dissertation of the Year Award goes to MSU Alumna
Congratulations to MSU Ecological-Community Psychology alumna Dr. Jaleah Rutledge on being awarded the 2025 Dissertation of the Year Award at the Society for Community Research and Action Biennial meeting held in East Lansing, Michigan on June 19, 2025.
Congratulations to Dr. Jasmine Engleton on earning her PhD this summer! Drawing on Black feminist and intersectional frameworks, Jasmine’s dissertation focused on the healing trajectories of Black female sexual assault survivors with previously untested kits and their intersections with the criminal legal system. Jasmine found that those who experienced prolonged institutional betrayal from the criminal legal system were less likely to seek help resources, which delayed their healing process.
Jasmine is currently working as a Research Analyst at the Justice Information Resource Network, a national non-profit and resource center for researchers, analysts, journalists, and practitioners of justice research.
The Michigan State Psychology department congratulates psychology alumna Dr. Aisha Nyandoro on her recent TED Talk titled “What does ‘wealth’ mean to you?” Dr. Nyandoro, who specialized in ecological-community psychology at Michigan State, founded Magnolia Mother’s Trust, the longest-running guaranteed income program in the United States.
Congratulations to Dr. Rosaura Domínguez-Rebollaron on earning her PhD this summer!Rosaura used a mixed methods case study to test whether a targeted Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach is a feasible, acceptable, and appropriate method for improving MSU's College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) to more holistically support and promote the retention of Latine migrant farm-working students.
Rosaura's plans include an administrative position with student support services post graduation.
Dr. Katie Clements, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, is a community psychologist whose journey has been marked by a deep commitment to community engagement and a belief in the transformative power of education. Through her research, teaching, and mentorship, Dr. Clements strives to empower individuals and communities, fostering thoughtful, engaged, and scholarly citizens who can effect positive social change.
Congratulations to Dr. Jaleah Rutledge on earning her PhD this summer! For her dissertation, Dr. Rutledge drew on Black Feminist Theory and resilience frameworks to explore the sources of community, intrapersonal, and interpersonal strength that assist young Black women to mount a resilient response to acquiring an STI. Her committee was especially impressed by how she integrated these frameworks with narrative methods and journey mapping visualizations to center Black women's experiences, elevate their voices, and celebrate their strengths.
Dr. Rutledge will be joining Yale University School of Public Health as a postdoctoral research fellow.
The College of Social Science congratulates psychology alumna Jennifer Lawlor on receiving the Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award by JCI USA . Dr. Lawlor, who earned a doctorate in ecological-community psychology, works to help communities understand, share information, and move to action on complex social issues.
The Ten Outstanding Young Americans program has been celebrating the work of people between the ages of 18-40 since 1934. They celebrate ambitious individuals who work to create positive change locally, nationally, and globally. Previous recipients of the award include President Joe Biden, Arthur Ashe, and Leonard Bernstein.
“Jenny is using cutting-edge research to help communities help themselves,” said former advisor Zachary Neal, Ph.D. “She's exactly the sort of person I have in mind as an outstanding young American."
Read more about Dr. Lawlor here.
September is National Suicide Prevention month and Corbin Standley, an ecological-community psychology Ph.D. candidate, is uniquely equipped to share his story. Standley focuses on public health and community-level approaches to suicide prevention. He serves as a national director at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. And he has his own story of loss by suicide.
Read more about Corbin Standley's story here.
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