MEET OUR TEAM!

Gard Lab members Fall 2025!

Top row (left to right): Isabella Gonzalez, Antonella Almendariz, Alex Robey & Hemakshi Gordy

Bottom row (left to right): Samir Hicks, Elle Benigni, Dr. Gard, Joelle Fuchs, Deena Shariq & Jordan Rudin

Dr. Gard (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology, Faculty Affiliate in the Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Neuroscience (NACS), and Director of the Growth And Resilience across Development (GARD) Lab at the University of Maryland, College Park. She completed her educational training at UCLA and the University of Michigan.  She is an interdisciplinary scientist with training in affective neuroscience, developmental psychology, clinical science, and survey methodology. Together with her students and collaborators, she studies how environmental resources shape behavioral, cognitive, and brain development across the lifespan. A major feature of her work is to increase diversity in neurobiological research by including historically under-represented groups in research design and implementation. 

Email: arigard@umd.edu 

Campus Phone: 301-405-3281

Campus Office: 3123G Biology-Psychology Building

CV: PDF

Gloria (Hyung Cho) Kim is a 6th year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science doctoral program (NACS) at the University of Maryland. She received her dual B.S. in Physiology & Neurobiology and Food Science (plus a minor in Italian Language and Culture!) at the University of Maryland in 2019. Her main research focus is to understand how experiences of socioeconomic instability can shape anxiety and depression outcomes, both in behavior and brain function. She serves as a chair in her program’s Neuroscience Outreach Committee, where she collaborates with on- and off-campus student leaders to organize events to share science and resources about pathways to higher education in STEM fields. In her free time, she loves to take care of the excessive number of plants (80+) in her home!

Email: hkim1230@terpmail.umd.edu 

Deena (she/hers) is a fourth-year Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Ph.D. student in the GARD Lab. Her research centers on understanding how environmental factors shape child development and promote resilience among children and adolescents experiencing socioeconomic hardship. Specifically, she examines how neighborhood and community factors—such as safety, access to parks, and social cohesion—serve as protective factors against the influence of adversity on youths’ socioemotional and cognitive development. Deena uses mixed methods and community-based participatory research approaches to address these research aims, in addition to using large-scale population-based datasets such as the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. She is the chair of the NACS Outreach Committee, co-founder of the BSOS BIPOC Collective, and lead mentor for the Next-Gen Psychology Scholars Program. Deena ultimately aims to translate developmental science into evidence-based policies that promote economic and social mobility for low-income families and marginalized youth.

Email: dshariq@umd.edu 

Joelle Fuchs (she/hers) is a sixth year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. In 2018, she received her B.A. in Biological Sciences from NC State University with a concentration in Social and Biological Determinants of Mental Health. She spent two years working for the Johns Hopkins University Center for AIDS Research and Brain Health Program. Joelle is interested in exploring the interplay between neighborhood social factors (e.g., social cohesion and community connectedness) and psychological health and wellbeing. Her work centers on developing and promoting community-based care models that prioritize connection, belonging, and shared responsibility. By strengthening social connection, she aims to prevent mental health challenges before they escalate and to create spaces where people feel supported and understood. In her free time, Joelle enjoys exploring live music in the DMV.

Email: jfuchs15@umd.edu 

Elle Benigni (she/her) is a second year MPS student in the Clinical Psychological Sciences Program. She recently received her B.S in Psychology, B.A in Sociology, and a minor in Child and Family Development from UNC Charlotte. She is interested in researching social determinants of health and chronic stress and their influence on mental health outcomes. Additionally, she is also interested in researching interventions to improve these structural barriers. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and exploring the Maryland and DC area!

Ché McDowell (she/her) is a first-year Neuroscience and Cognitive Science PhD student at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May of 2026, where she also minored in Neuroscience and Creative Writing. While at Carolina, she researched the impact of mismatched socioeconomic background and neighborhood context on neural and behavioral responses to social evaluation as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. In addition, she studied the impact of early-life isolation on reward-seeking behavior in rodent models. In her current work, she is interested in studying the impact of chronic stress and environmental risk (e.g. community violence) on neural and behavioral development. Through her research, she aspires to further shed light on the health and wellness of today’s youth, while highlighting the important role of resilience in the face of adversity, in an effort to empower vulnerable communities.

Laila Terry (she/her) is a first-year MPS student in the Clinical Psychological Sciences Program. She recently received her B.S. in Neuroscience with concentrations in Biology and Chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana. Her research interests center on understanding how stress and adversity shape attention and learning. She is especially interested in identifying protective factors that help young people maintain positive academic and emotional functioning despite challenging life experiences. In her free time she enjoys crocheting, discovering new music, and spending time with friends and family.

Lidia Mohan (she/her) is a first year M.P.S. student in the Clinical Psychological Sciences Program. She recently received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Health Communications from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. Lidia is interested in researching how environmental and social factors influence mental health outcomes as well as the impact of neurodiversity on mental and physical health. During her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking, spending time outdoors, and listening to music. 

Isabella Gonzalez (she/her) is currently a fourth year student at The University of Maryland. She is pursuing a degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She is also interested in going to grad school and pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology. She hopes to one day work with children and adolescents who struggle with mental illnesses as well as trauma, specifically within underrepresented communities. During her free time she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, shopping, and going to the beach.

Antonella Almendariz (she/her) is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland seeking a Bachelor of Psychology with a minor in Spanish. She is interested in pursuing graduate school for Counseling Psychology in hopes to work with underrepresented populations who struggle with mental illnesses. During her free time, she enjoys attending concerts, traveling and hanging out with friends and family. 

Alex (they/them) is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Maryland. They are currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences: Physiology and Neurobiology with a minor in Health, Humanities, and Medicine. After graduation, Alex plans to go to medical school and hopes to be in the field of reconstructive medicine, aiding in the process of rehabilitation and empowerment. In their free time, Alex enjoys hiking, cooking, and listening to music.

Jordan Rudin is currently a third year student at The University of Maryland. She is pursuing a degree in Psychology and intends to minor in Neuroscience and in General Business. As a part of the College Park Scholars Civic Engagement for Social Good program, Jordan spends much of her time focused on community service and engagement. She also loves studying cognition, especially from a developmental perspective.

Samir Hicks (he/him) is an undergraduate majoring in Psychology with a passion for understanding the brain and behavior. He aspires to become a Neuropsychologist, combining his interest for science and to help others. Outside of academics, he enjoys listening to music, spending time with family and friends and occasionally getting lost in a good book. Through his work with the research group, he hopes to deepen his knowledge of cognitive function and help contribute to the meaningful findings in the field.

Darlene Pineda Fandino (she/her/hers) is a Senior at the University of Maryland. She is currently pursuing a Public Health Science undergraduate degree. With a dedication to community health, she plans to pursue a MPH and then pursue Medical school in hopes to be a well rounded oncologist aiding in prevention and education. In her free time, she loves to crochet, play card games and cook! 

Ariyana Hall is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland majoring in Psychology and minoring in human development. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and work in pediatric rehabilitation. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, photography, and playing piano. 

Habib Camara (he/him) is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, pursuing a major in Psychology with a minor in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and an intended minor in Neuroscience. He aspires to pursue an MD/PhD and is eager to deepen his understanding of the brain along the way. In his free time, Habib enjoys reading, staying active, and spending time with family and friends. In the future, he hopes to learn more about endocrine signaling pathways and their role in brain function.

Atnasia Fekadu (she/her) is a fourth year psychology student with plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in healthcare. She has always been drawn to medicine and the impact it can have on people’s lives. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, being around animals, and finding ways to relax and have fun, whether that’s listening to music, reading, hanging out, or just enjoying a simple day. She values balance and staying connected to the people (and pets) she cares about. 

Fanita Tyrell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and a Faculty Affiliate of the Department of African American Studies at the University of Maryland at College Park. She is also the Director of the Resilient Adaptation across Culture and Context (RACC) Lab. Her research program focuses on elucidating processes of risk and resilience among adversity-exposed, ethnic-racial minority, and immigrant populations with a strong interest in understanding how cultural identities and experiences strengthen pathways to typical and atypical patterns of development and adaptation.

Collin Mueller is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he is also a faculty associate of the Maryland Population Research Center and holds a courtesy faculty appointment in Health Policy and Management in the School of Public Health. Mueller’s program of research is conceptually grounded in life course perspectives, Critical Race Theory, and cumulative advantage/disadvantage approaches. His current research focuses on addressing organizational and institutional mechanisms that shape gendered racial/ethnic inequalities in health across the life course. He teaches courses on aging and human development, population health and health disparities, social inequality, and research methods

Lab Alumni

Project Coordinators and Data Managers:

Taylor Wilds – University of Texas at Austin, Developmental Psychology PhD program

Sriparna Sen – University of Pittsburgh, Developmental/Clinical Psychology PhD program

Sophia Shaw – Former Lab Manager: Howard University, Developmental Psychology PhD program

Xime Diaz Juarez – Project Coordinator

Dantevius King – Project Coordinator

Post-Baccalaurate Research Assistants:

Emily Yang – Research Coordinator, University of Richmond

Luna Warren – exploring the world!

Andy Hindendach – Research Coordinator, Children’s National Hospital

Giselle Maya – Research Coordinator, Children’s National Hospital

Jalan Walker – University of Maryland,  Couple and Family Therapy Master Program

Prutha Patel – Kennedy Krieger Institute

Undergraduate Research Assistants:

Kurt Lawrence

Joyce Okoye- Summer Research Initiative Scholar

Angelica Cristina Vega – Summer Research Initiative Scholar

Roxanna Bhaktiari

Sarah Liu

Heidi Keckler

Yasmeen Nasir

Jason Clarke 

Saron Melaku

Stephanie Bueno

My job as a mentor is to guide students to think critically about developmental processes and help them achieve their professional goals. But we are also people – with unique hopes, challenges, and identities. I am committed to creating an atmosphere that fosters both professional and personal growth, and I will support you in any way I can as you navigate your academic journey.

If you are interested in joining the GARD Lab as an undergraduate research assistant, please fill out this application form

[We’re not currently reviewing applications for UG RAs]

If you are a prospective graduate student or postdoc, please send me an email at arigard@umd.edu to indicate some of your research and professional interests. Students interested in affective brain development, neighborhood social processes and the built environment, population science, and community-based participatory research will be good fits for the GARD Lab. Dr. Gard will  be reviewing applications for PhD students this cycle (to start Fall 2025) in the Developmental and Clinical Psychology PhD programs and the Neuroscience And Cognitive Science program at the University of Maryland, College Park.