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.
Kate Loughran, thesis student
Kate is a Georgetown graduate from Westchester, NY, who studied Psychology and Philosophy & Bioethics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Kate is passionate about the intersection of psychology and the law. During her time in the lab Kate was both a research assistant and a thesis student in the lab. Upon graduating Kate will be working as a litigation paralegal in New York City for Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
Lucy Shreves, Research Assistant
Lucy is a fourth-year research assistant from New Mexico. Lucy studies Psychology, Government, and Justice and Peace Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is particularly interested in researching those who are underserved by the legal system, especially the high number of wrongfully incarcerated individuals in the United States. After graduation in the Spring, Lucy plans to attend a Master's program in Forensic Psychology, specializing in wrongful convictions.
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.
Zoe Wen, Thesis Student
Zoe Wen graduated from Georgetown University in 2026 with a double major in Psychology and Government and a minor in Statistics. She was a research assistant and then an honors thesis student with the Community Research Group (CRG). She is incredibly grateful for her time with the CRG, whose interdisciplinary projects and supportive mentors and peers empowered her to explore the intersection between law, psychology, and policy. Her honors thesis compared the narrative content and structure of civil protection order petitions written with and without legal counsel to better understand the justice gap and the barriers pro se parties face when navigating the legal system. Upon graduation, she will attend Harvard Law School, where she hopes to continue this multidisciplinary engagement with justice and equity, immerse herself in public interest law, and use holistic and client-centered representation to help make the legal system more accessible and equitable for all.
Mackenzie Holian, Research Assistant
Mackenzie is an undergraduate student on a pre-law track with a focus on psychology, justice and peace studies, and criminal justice. She is particularly interested in how systemic inequalities, political behavior, and legal systems shape modern discourse and justice. Mackenzie is simultaneously pursuing her master's degree here at Georgetown in Communication, Culture, and Technology to explore digital media, leadership, and conflict prevention, aiming to bridge psychological science with real-world policy and advocacy.
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.