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 not be accepting applications for a clinical psychology doctoral student to join the PATHS Lab in Fall 2024. For more information visit:
Greighson Rowe
Graduate Student
Greighson is a second-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 first-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 first-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
Eva Goldhagen
Senior Research Assistant
Eva is a second-year master’s student from Jacksonville, Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida with majors in Psychology and Sociology. Eva is broadly interested in child development with a specific focus on child and youth resilience. In her free time, Eva enjoys baking and spending time with her niece.
Sophia Wick
Junior Research Assistant
Sophia is a junior undergraduate student at American University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education and Spanish. She has always been interested in child psychology, specifically child development and how traumatic experiences or ACEs affect development. She is excited to further pursue these interests by examining how parenting affects children through the research we are conducting in the PATHS lab. Outside of school she enjoys reading, participating in AU’s dance club AU in Motion, and exploring DC!
Nia Moore
Research Assistant
Nia is a first-year master’s student in the Psychology program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with a minor in English from the University of Scranton in 2019. Nia is interested in research on anxiety, ADHD, autism, and emotional dysregulation in children and adolescent populations as well as developing early interventions and treatments for underserved populations. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and watching TV.
Miranda Tompkin
Research Assistant