Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention (ASAP) Research Lab
The ASAP research team consists of scientists and students dedicated to reducing alcohol and drug-related facilitated sexual assault as well as mitigating the long-term effects of sexual assault and substance use.
Amanda K. Gilmore, PhD
Lab Director
You can find my research interests here. I am dedicated to mentoring the next generation of researchers to combat sexual violence. I strive to use an anti-racist mentoring style and am dedicated to amplifying voices of underserved populations through both research and mentoring practices.
K. Nicole Mullican, PhD
Lab Manager
I have a strong background in applied child welfare research and have collaborated with the Oregon Department of Human Services on efforts to improve foster parent support and retention. My doctoral work in Human Development and Family Studies, a program housed in Oregon State University’s School of Public Health, led to a particular interest in prevention as a means of improving human development.
Jessalyn Ellis
Research Coordinator
Broadly, my research interests focus on the relationship between gender-role stress and aspects of sexually coercive behaviors. At present, I am interested in shifting my focus toward the prevention and intervention of sexual assault and related maladaptive behaviors.
Grisel García-Ramírez, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
My research interests focus on environmental factors influencing alcohol and cannabis use and co-use, and risks associated with substance use, specifically sexual assault among adolescents and young adults. My research has also focused on differential patterns of substance use and risks among minoritized populations based on gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity.'
Kennicia Fortson, LMSW
Doctoral Student, Public Health
Nashalys Salamanca
Doctoral Student, Clinical-Community Psychology
My research interests are to apply an intersectional and ecological framework to the treatment and prevention of interpersonal violence.
Jessica Prince
Doctoral Student, Clinical-Community Psychology
My research interests are broadly in primary and secondary intervention strategies for reducing sexual victimization and substance misuse among high-risk groups. I have specific interests in examining the role of culturally specific protective factors in reducing the onset of trauma-related sequalae.
Elaine Jackson
MPH-Doctoral Student, Public Health and Community Psychology
Building on my experience working with military populations - including as an AmeriCorps volunteer at the University of Florida's Collegiate Veterans Success Center, intern at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and through my own honorable active-duty military service in the U.S. Army - my current research interests focus on trauma prevention from an ecological lens, framed by cultural context. Specifically, I am interested in developing evidence-based strategies to prevent trauma and promote resilience among underprivileged communities.
Tristin Chipman, LCSW
Incoming Doctoral Student, Public Health
My research interests center around experiences of sex and gender minorities (LGBTQIA+ people) and their families including: social, physical, and psychological impacts of discrimination; assessing and improving mental health care services; and expanding access to essential medical care. As a licensed clinical social worker, I am drawn to the community lens and systemic focus of public health and aim to generate ideas that imagine more inclusive models of care and support.
G. Mitchell Mazzone
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology, Hofstra University
I am interested in the risk and protective factors of suicidal ideation and behaviors in trauma-exposed individuals, specially, sexual and gender minorities. Along these lines, I have a keen interest in the etiology and treatment for PTSD and trauma-related disorders.
Abdirahman Malin
Undergraduate Research Assistant
My interest in research stems from a feature to further the public knowledge on important public health topics like the targets of the ASAP lab.
ASAP Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellow Alumni
Ruschelle Leone, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Leone is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health at GSU. Check out her research here.
Elizabeth A. Mosley, PhD MPH
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Mosley is now an Assistant Professor in the Center for Innovative Research on Gender Health Equity (CONVERGE) in the Department of General Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Check out her research here.
Emma Lathan-Powell, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow at Grady Trauma Project
Dr. Lathan-Powell worked with the ASAP Lab during her postdoctoral fellowship with the Grady Trauma Project at Emory University. She is an incoming Assistant Professor of Psychology at Auburn University. Check out her research here.
Student Alumni
Alyssa Bartlett, MPH
Graduate Research Assistant and Research Coordinator
Alyssa's masters thesis was titled "Factors associated with suicide-related and poisoning diagnoses after sexual assault." She is now a medical student at Duke University.
Idara Umo, MPH
Graduate Research Assistant
Idara's masters thesis was titled "Risky sexual behavior after sexual assault: Differences based on racial identity, ethnicity, and sexual orientation."
Harshita Yepuri
Volunteer Graduate Research Assistant
Harshita's masters thesis was titled "How adverce childhood trauma affects coping behaviors and anxiety in college students during COVID-19: A neurobiological perspective." She won 3rd place in the GSU's 3 Minute Thesis competition in 2022. Check out her presentation here.
Anushka Parekh
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Anushka received her BS in Neuroscience at GSU is now a medical student at VCOM Carolinas for Medical School. She hopes to specialize in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, working with patients with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury, strokes, and brain injuries.
Sruthi Kumar
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sruthi was an undergraduate research assistant in the lab. She chose ASAP because she has always been passionate about children’s psychology and felt it was the perfect opportunity to experience working with a team that shares the same passions.
Tuananh Bui
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Tuananh was an undergraduate research assistant in the lab to better understand the mental health issues that occur within our community and how to properly interact and minimize these concerns.
Staff Alumni
Anna Hutchins
Program Coordinator
Anna is now a student in the MSW program at the University of Georgia.
Kate Baule
Program Coordinator
Kate Baule was a program coordinator with the ASAP Lab.
Daniel Oesterle
Research Coordinator
Dan was a research coordinator for the ASAP Lab both when it was housed at the Medical University and Georgia State University! He is now a doctoral student at Purdue University. Check out his research here.
