Community Research Group Members
Gabriella Cawley, Graduate Student
Gabriella Cawley is a doctoral student in Psychology at Georgetown University. She is pursuing a concentration in Human Development and Public Policy and is concurrently enrolled in the McCourt School's Master of Public Policy program. Prior to her graduate studies, she earned a BS in Human Development with Distinction from Cornell University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of psychology and the law, including such topics as risk taking in adolescence, developmentally appropriate practices in juvenile justice, and community-based justice initiatives.
Cesar Perez, Lab Manager
Cesar is the current Lab Manager for the Community Research Group, they attended the University of California Riverside, where they graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Cesar’s research interests focus on how real-world social dynamics shape emotional development and regulation, particularly within underserved and underrepresented communities. Specifically, they are interested in how community environments and support systems promote the development of adaptive emotion regulation strategies, linking individual emotional development to broader social and community contexts.
Mara Lewis, LaidLaw Scholar
Mara is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Psychology with a minor in Education, Inquiry, and Justice. She is currently involved in the Protective Orders Project and working on an independent research project funded by the Laidlaw Foundation. Her project will examine the dynamics of cross-filing in Civil Protection Orders, with a focus on legal abuse and barriers to justice within the civil court system. She hopes her project will contribute to making the CPO filing process more equitable.
Emma Alboro, Senior Research Assistant
Emma is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Psychology and Government and minoring in Spanish. She is interested in studying the intersection of psychology and law, particularly where psychological research can be applied to promoting criminal justice reform and protecting vulnerable and under-resourced communities. She plans to pursue a career in forensic psychology in order to promote a restorative perspective on justice and improve the lives of those who have been harmed by the system.
Dyuthi Harikar, Research Assistant
Dyuthi is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, double-majoring in Government and Psychology and minoring in Spanish. She is interested in how individuals encounter and are shaped by the criminal justice system, and is passionate about the intersection of psychology and law. Dyuthi aims to pursue a career in the legal field, where she can apply psychological research to legal decision-making and advocate for more equitable outcomes. Through this work, she aspires to promote systems that are more just and responsive to the needs of diverse communities.
Bekah Kim, Research Assistant
Bekah is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Psychology and Business Studies on the pre-law track. She is passionate about researching systemic inequalities within the legal system and understanding how these injustices disproportionately impact underserved populations. She is particularly interested in the intersection of legal policy and human behavior, and she hopes to apply these insights to her future career in law.
Miriam Woods, Research Assistant
Miriam is a Junior double-majoring in Economics and Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Miriam is interested in studying ways to improve how individuals interact within social systems, including navigating the legal system and building economic security. In the summer of 2026, Miriam will be researching retirement savings and investment behavior at the Investment Company Institute and hopes to continue working on initiatives that enhance understanding of the justice system and increase financial literacy.
Marlee ryan, Research Assistant
Marlee is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences pursuing a major in Psychology with minors in German and Justice and Peace Studies. She is interested in the intersections of law, criminology, and psychology, particularly in regard to what psychological factors are involved in court decisions and violence. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in line with forensic psychology in order to apply her psychological interests to real-world issues.
Hannah Park, Research Assistant
Hannah is a junior from Long Island, NY, studying Psychology and Linguistics in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is interested in the intersection of law, equity, and social systems, and how interdisciplinary research can be used to inform thoughtful policy and institutional decision-making. She is particularly passionate about learning how systemic structures shape individual experiences and outcomes, as well as how institutions can shape access, opportunities, and long-term outcomes for children and families.