iSPARC Staff Directory
Our staff work in the collaborative, team-based environment at iSPARC and come from a variety of disciplines. They work as researchers, interviewers, statisticians, project directors, program developers, and administrative support. One thing they have in common is a passion for the work they do, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of people who live with mental illness, their families, and providers.
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Jinnia Baiye
Academic Role: Implementation Support Specialist I
Professional Responsibilities: member of the Massachusetts CoE Specialty Courts
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Josephine Boateng, MPH
Academic Role: Research Coordinator
josephine.boateng@umassmed.edu
Professional Responsibilities: Lifeline for Moms Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Evaluating Lifeline for Moms Study and Network of Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs.
Research Interests: Perinatal mental health, Community-based health promotion, Health equity in populations of color, childhood trauma in family systems, mental health access, Infant and maternal health, global health, determinants of health in populations of color & women’s health
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Kayla Carew
Academic Role: Research Coordinator I
Professional Responsibilities: supports various research in the Law & Psychiatry program
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Amy Celona, B.S.
Academic Role: Project Manager
Professional Responsibilities: Provide analysis and support for projects, administrative, and general operations for Lifeline for Families
Research Interests: Protective factors against the effects of trauma and adverse childhood experiences; the integration of mental health care in primary care settings; building resilience in children and families; equitable access to high-quality, trauma-informed health care.
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Charles Clark
Academic Role: Research Coordinator II
Professional Responsibilities: member of the Law & Psychiatry program. supports the Program Fidelity Monitor for Intensive Supervision with Treatment Intervention via Community Corrections Centers.
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Samantha Fagan, M.A.
Academic Role: Clinical Research Coordinator I
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Lindsey Ford
Academic Role: Research Coordinator II
Professional Responsibilities: supporting three studies within the Lifeline for Moms program.
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Carolyn Friedhoff, MBE
Academic Role: Research Coordinator III
carolyn.friedhoff@umassmed.edu
Professional Responsibilities: Coordinating research to improve care for perinatal patients with mood or substance use disorders, Lifeline for Moms program
Research Interests: Cross-cultural bioethics, health policy, science education, substance use and addiction medicine, mental health among people who are immigrants or refugees, health equity for populations of color, global health equity, stress-related illnesses, women’s mental health
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Linda Harrington, B.S.
Academic Role: Academic Administrator III
Professional Responsibilities: Administration of the financial, operational, human resource, and general business functions of iSPARC. Provides information and guidance to faculty for the pre and post-award activity relating to grant management.
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Samantha Hersh
Academic Role: Clinical Research Coordinator I
Professional Responsibilities: supports the Learning & Working RRTC Directed Training Program and Helping Youth on the Path to Employment (HYPE), at Transitions ACR
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Nancy Hu
Academic Role: Clinical Research Coordinator III
Professional Responsibilities: Supporting recruitment on JASPR and EA Avatar projects, testing the feasibility of study interventions in the context of the ED
Research interests: psychosocial factors contributing to suicide risk, suicide interventions, use of real-time monitoring methods for determining suicide risk
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Kayleigh Izzo
Academic Role: Clinical Research Assistant
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Janelle LaPlante
Academic Role: Implementation Support Specialist I
janelle.laplante2@umassmed.edu
Professional Responsibilities: member of the Massachusetts CoE Specialty Courts
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Robyn Leonard, B.S.
Academic Role: Administrative Assistant II
Professional Responsibilities: Supports Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA, DFAPA, FACLP, and Lifeline for Families Center Lifeline for Moms Program
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Jonathan Lerew
Academic Role: Project Coordinator
Professional Responsibilities: graphic designer for the Communications Team. Member of the CP RRTC project.
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Deirdre Logan, B.A.
Academic Role: Project Manager III
Professional Responsibilities: Responsible for the completion of all iSPARC Communications activities, L&W RRTC TA, Training, and Dissemination activities, CP RRTC Dissemination activities.
Research Interests: Dissemination and presentation of research findings and materials, Informed Consent, research ethics, and youth, young adult, and family mental health.
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Melissa Maslin, MEd
Academic Role: Senior Project Director
Professional Responsibilities: Operations Director for Lifeline for Families and directs consultation services Network of Perinatal Psychiatry Access Programs, Lifeline for Moms
Research interests: Integration of mental health and obstetric care, perinatal mental health and substance use concerns, community-based health promotion, developmental disabilities, online course development
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Felicia McGinnis
Academic Role: Clinical Research Coordinator II
Professional Responsibilities: supports the coordination of the Signs of Safety clinical trial at DeafYES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery
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Noriasha Mensah
Academic Role: Project Manager I
Professional Responsibilities: supports the Central MA Tobacco-Free Community Partnership (TFCP) program
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Kayla Meza
Academic Role: Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
Professional responsibilities: Supports Co-Investigators Dr. Melissa Anderson and Dr. Alexander Wilkins on the Signs of Safety R01 RCT at Deaf YES! Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery
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Vanessa Mitchell-Wagner
Academic Role: Training Coordinator
vanessa.mitchellwagner@umassmed.edu
Professional Responsibilities: trainer for the FSST and HYPE on Campus programs, Learning & Working RRTC at Transitions ACR
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Elena Munzell
Academic Role: Implementation Support Specialist I
Professional Responsibilities: supports projects with the Massachusetts Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts and Law & Psychiatry Research
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Emma Narkewicz, M.P.A.
Academic Role: Clinical Research Coordinator III
Professional Responsibilities: supports various projects on the Learning & Working RRTC, Transitions ACR
Research Interests: Improving education and employment outcomes for young adults with mental health conditions and disabilities, Social policy, Health equity for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ populations, Sexual violence, Community-engaged public health
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Tracy Neville, B.A.
Academic Role: Research Coordinator II
Professional Responsibilities: supports various research projects for Transitions ACR; co-facilitates the Young Adult Advisory Board
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Debbie Nicolellis, MS, CRC, CPRP
Academic Role: Training Director
debbie.nicolellis@umassmed.edu
Professional Responsibilities: Learning & Working RRTC Directed Training Program and Helping Youth on the Path to Employment (HYPE) at Transitions ACR
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Hanaan Osman
Academic Role: Clinical Research Coordinator
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Mei Pearlstein
Academic Role: Research Coordinator I
Professional Responsibilities: S.T.A.Y. Tuned Podcast co-host. Supports various Learning & Working RRTC projects at Transitions ACR
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Jennifer Pendleton
Academic Role: Research Coordinator I
jennifer.pendleton1@umassmed.edu
Professional Responsibilities: member of the Law & Psychiatry program
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Mary Ann Preskul-Ricca, M.P.P.
Academic Role: Consultant
maryann.preskulricca@umassmed.edu
Professional Responsibilities: contractor for the technical assistance and consultation program
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Mary Quill, A.A, A.S.
Academic Role: Research Assistant
Professional Responsibilities: member of the Stakeholder Engagement program. Past Chair of MHE & YOU Advisory Council
Research Interests: Rehabilitation, clubhouses, the consumer movement, and consumers in research.
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Namita Railkar
Academic Role: Namita Railkar, MPH, Research Coordinator I
namita.railkar@umassmed.edu
LinkedIn
Professional Responsibilities: member of the Law & Psychiatry program -
Morgan Rao, B.A.
Academic Role: Research Coordinator II
Professional responsibilities: supports CeKTER and Law and Psychiatry research projects
Research Interests: personality in psychology and psychopathology
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Karlie Rice, M.A.
Academic Role: Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
Professional Responsibilities: supports various research within the Law and psychiatry program
Research Interests: juvenile justice, risk assessments, and examining youth's strengths
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Kristen Roy-Bujnowski, M.A.
Academic Role: Research Program Manager II
kristen.roy-bujnowski@umassmed.edu
Professional responsibilities: Project director for the CP RRTC at Transitions ACR
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Padma Sankaran, M.A.
Academic Role: Research Project Director
Professional responsibilities: directs various research at the Lifeline for Moms program
Research Interests: Clinical and community-based mental health research, a holistic approach to mental health wellness, research ethics, healthcare equity, and Women's health.
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Paula Silverman
Academic Role: Sr. Research Program Manager/Operations Director
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Gillian Simons
Academic Role: Research Assistant Technician
Professional Responsibilities: Member of the Communications Team. Provides project support for the Learning & Working RRTC and CP RRTC.
Research Interests: Young adult consumer advocacy, integration of physical and behavioral health, mental health policy/system changes, education, and employment of young adults with mental health conditions.
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Holly St. Jean
Academic Role: Project Manager I
Professional Responsibilities: Operational management and TA for iSPARC and Transitions ACR
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Robin Tasca, B.A.
Academic Role: Communication Specialist
Professional Responsibilities: multimedia content producer for the iSPARC Communications Team. Manages the websites for iSPARC, CeKTER, HYPE, Law & Psychiatry, and Transitions ACR. Provides backup support for digital marketing. Liaison to the UMass Chan Office of Communications (OOC).
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Amy J. Thornton, B.S.
Academic Role: Project Manager I
Professional Responsibilities: Supporting faculty and staff in the Law & Psychiatry Department and Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts Project
