


THE TEAM

Emma Lathan-Powell, PhD
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Lab Director
Dr. Emma Lathan-Powell is a Licensed Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Auburn University. She received her PhD in clinical/counseling psychology from University of South Alabama and completed a predoctoral internship at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She then completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine's Grady Trauma Project. Dr. Lathan-Powell's program of research seeks to reduce barriers to help-seeking and improve systemic responses to trauma, particularly gender-based violence. She has implemented and evaluated trauma-informed programs in the criminal justice, healthcare, and social service systems, and her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Interpersonal Violence and Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.

Hannah Sawyer, MS
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Clinical Psychology PhD Student - 5th Year
Hannah received her BA in psychology from the University of Arkansas in 2021. During her time as an undergraduate student, Hannah was a research assistant for the Laboratory for Anxiety and Substance Use Research and Developmental Cognitive Affective Psychophysiology lab at Arkansas and Anxiety and Health Behaviors lab at the University of Texas at Austin. Further, she successfully defended an honors thesis examining the relationship between alcohol intoxication, bystander intervention, self-blame, and symptoms of PTSD among survivors of sexual assault. Hannah is currently a fifth-year graduate student in the AU clinical psychology program. Her research interests include interpersonal and gender-based violence and its sequela (i.e., PTSD, suicidality, negative health outcomes). Further, she is interested in improving and developing prevention and treatment efforts in these areas.

Hailie Suarez-Rivas, BS
Clinical Psychology PhD Student - 2nd Year
Hailie graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a BS in psychology and criminal justice in 2022. As an undergraduate student, she was a research assistant at the Child and Family Perseverance (CHAMP) lab and Team Research Inspiring Action at VCU. Following her graduation, Hailie completed a 2-year post-baccalaureate research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health in the Sleep and Neurodevelopment Service. Hailie is currently an incoming first-year graduate student in the AU Clinical Psychology program. Her research interests center on trauma, stress, interpersonal violence and its outcomes in varying areas (e.g., psychopathology, development, interpersonal relationships, health). Further, she’s interested in creating trauma informed systems and creating resiliency promoting interventions within these organizations (i.e., healthcare, the criminal justice system, school systems).

Emily Lubin, BA
Clinical Psychology PhD Student - 2nd Year
Emily graduated from Colgate University in 2021 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant in the Social Cognition and Intergroup Processes Lab at Northwestern University and the Child Psychology Lab at Colgate University, as well as completed a senior honors thesis investigating the impact of social support on mental health outcomes during the transition into college. During her time at Colgate, she also actively engaged with initiatives advocating for survivors of sexual assault and interpersonal violence on campus. After graduation, Emily worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Home Base Program where she evaluated trauma-focused interventions and conducted research on PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders in military service members and veterans. Emily joined the AU Clinical Psychology program as a first-year graduate student in the Fall of 2024. Her research interests focus on PTSD and interpersonal violence, with an emphasis on promoting resilience and safety in survivors of sexualized and gender-based violence and improving systemic responses to such violence. Specifically, Emily is interested in identifying trauma-related risk, resilience, and maintenance factors and exploring how individual, interpersonal, and contextual factors intersect to influence survivors' post-trauma experiences and outcomes. Her goal is to use this research to improve and develop trauma-focused intervention and prevention programs for interpersonal violence survivors and to evaluate and enhance trauma-informed practices within social services and institutions, including universities, mental health services, healthcare, and the judicial system.

Jessalynn Ellis, BS
Clinical Psychology PhD Student - 1st Year
Jessalynn graduated from Pennsylvania Western University (Edinboro) in 2023 with a BS in Psychology. During her time as an undergraduate, she conducted research on the role of threatened masculinity in shaping maladaptive sexual attitudes, behaviors, and aggression. Following graduation, she worked as a research coordinator at Georgia State University in the Alcohol and Sexual Violence Prevention Lab, where she contributed to identity-tailored research on gender-based violence, sexual violence intervention programs, and co-occurring concerns such as alcohol use and misuse. Jessalynn will join the AU Clinical Psychology program as a first-year graduate student in the fall of 2025. Her research interests focus on the trauma outcomes of gender-based violence, as well as individual and identity-based factors (e.g., hegemonic masculinity) that may contribute to its perpetration. She is particularly interested in developing identity- and trauma-informed programs that address both prevention and recovery, with an emphasis on accessibility.

Sydney Sumner
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sydney is a junior at Auburn University, majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology. She hopes to attend medical school after graduation and is passionate about advocating for her future patients. Excited to join the LOTUS lab, she looks forward to gaining valuable experience and knowledge in providing the best care and support for individuals who have experienced trauma.

Lyndsey Crouch
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Lyndsey is a senior at Auburn University studying psychology with a double minor in human development and family sciences (HDFS) and counseling. She hopes to enroll in either Auburn’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.S. program or the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT program. She hopes to become a therapist and has interests in working with law enforcement populations. She looks forward to gaining hands-on research experience, working with other professionals in the field, as well as being able to serve people in the community who have experienced trauma. Outside of class, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Phoebe, crocheting, reading, and spending time outdoors.
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Lotus Lab Graduates

Seba Bakoyema, BA '24

Olyvia Stone, BA '24

Emma Carpenter, BA '25
