Lab Director
Nicole E. Lorenzo, PhD
Director, PATHS Lab
Assistant Professor, American University
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Nicole E. Lorenzo is the director of the PATHS Lab and an Assistant Professor at American University. She received a PhD in Clinical Science in Child and Adolescent Psychology from Florida International University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland. Dr. Lorenzo is a licensed clinical psychologist.
As a developmental psychopathologist, Dr. Lorenzo’s research focuses on the transactional processes involved in parent-child interactions, examining how these processes develop and the impact of factors like temperament and parent mental health. This developmental work informs her intervention work which seeks to understand how we can refine and individualize treatment targets to develop early intervention programs that are accessible and scalable for families and providers, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds. Of utmost importance, Dr. Lorenzo’s program of work is carried out using a health equity lens, by focusing on and including participants from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds.
Dr. Lorenzo’s work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Outside of her professional work, Dr. Lorenzo enjoys nature and the outdoors. You can often find her traveling, scuba diving, and hiking.
Graduate Students
Prospective PhD Students
Dr. Lorenzo will be accepting a graduate student into the PATHS Lab in the 2025 application cycle to start in the fall of 2026. For more information visit:
Greighson Rowe
Graduate Student
Greighson is a fourth-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at American University. She received BAs in Psychology and Latin American & Iberian Cultural Studies from Hood College in 2022. Her research interests include cross cultural psychology and prevention measures against psychological distress in ethnic minorities and migrant populations.
Isaac Morales
Graduate Student
Isaac is a third-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at American University. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2019 with a double major in Cognitive Science and Philosophy. Isaac’s primary research interests center on connecting underserved communities to evidence-based practices and understanding how ecological factors, such as resource access, can inform mental health treatment. In his free time, Isaac enjoys cooking, gardening, and wrestling.
Allison Tietz
Graduate Student
Allison is a third-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at American University. She graduated in 2021 from the University of California, San Diego with a major in Cognitive Science, specializing in Neuroscience, and a minor in Computer Science and Engineering. Allison’s research interests involve identifying cognitive factors in youth that can inform mental health strengths and risks, with the end goal of better individualizing treatments.
Research Team
Nia Moore
Lab Manager
Nia graduated with her master’s degree in Psychology from American University in 2025. She is interested in research on anxiety, ADHD, and emotional dysregulation in children and adolescents as well as developing early interventions for underserved populations. In her free time, she enjoys reading and gaming.
Justine Gregg
Research Assistant
Justine is a first-year graduate student in the master’s program at AU. She graduated from Texas Christian University in 2025 majoring in Psychology and English. Her research interests focus on methods to best support marginalized individuals and their family members. Additionally, she is interested in early developmental risk factors and ADHD in adolescents.
Tasmin Owens
Research Assistant
Tasmin graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from American University in 2025. Her interests center on developmental psychology, with a particular focus on how daily experiences can be adapted to foster positive growth of children. In her free time, she spends time reading and watching movies with friends.
Mauro Iurman
Research Assistant
Mauro is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology. His interests lie in community psychology and therapeutic work. He enjoys watching basketball, working out, and drawing.
Dylan Kilkenny
Research Assistant
Dylan is a third-year undergraduate student studying Psychology and Justice, Law, and Criminology! She is passionate about supporting underserved and marginalized communities, including individuals with special needs. In her free time, she likes to listen to music and play her favorite cozy games!
Nina Donohue de Rezende
Research Assistant
Nina is a third-year undergraduate student, double-majoring in Psychology and Data Science. her interests lie in child psychology and healthy family development. In her free time, she enjoys baking for her small business and inventing new recipes.
Former Lab Members
Carlos Rodriguez
Allison Lipkin
Natalia Cervantes
Maria Victoria Suarez Molina
Leigh Cummings
Eva Goldhagen
Luis Garcia Abundis
Lindsay Lao
Sophia Wick
Miranda Tompkins
Kayleh Brown
Gilberto Aviles Figueroa