Lauren is a lifespan developmental psychologist and applied quantitative statistician who specializes in understanding how to promote the health and well-being of racially marginalized youth. Lauren’s research aims to reduce mental health disparities, improve resilience and positive adaptation in youth facing adversity, and increase access to data-informed, culturally-responsive care, particularly for families of color who have experienced trauma and/or bereavement.

Lauren earned her BA in Psychology at the University of Alabama and her master’s and PhD in Life-span Developmental Psychology, with an emphasis on advanced quantitative analyses, from West Virginia University. Lauren completed her postdoctoral training under Dr. Kaplow’s supervision at the Trauma and Grief Center at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. She also served as a quantitative research associate at the Institute for Research on Youth Thriving and Evaluation (RYTE) at Montclair State University.

Lauren is originally from San Antonio, TX. She currently lives in Houston with her dog (a pocket bully named Ziggy) and cat (calico named Nancy). Lauren enjoys being outside in the Houston heat – temperatures below 80 degrees are too cold for this Texan. She also enjoys spicy food and taking her Harley out for a ride in the Hill Country.