About Us
The Diverse Family Relationships Lab is interested in relationship process and adjustment for couples, parents, and families who are diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, culture, and socio-economic status.
Our Team
Principal Investigator - Dr. Christina Gee
Dr. Christina Gee is an Associate Professor in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the George Washington University (GWU). She earned her Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She grew up in Queens, New York and, but loves living in the Washington, DC area. She and her husband (also a GW professor) have two teenage sons and two frisky cats named Pearl Gray and Chai. In her spare time, she enjoys trying out new recipes and foods, home renovation/decorating, entertaining/party planning, reading non-academic books, traveling, and exploring nature. To Learn more about Dr. Christina Gee, visit her website.
Graduate Students
Vicky HoVicky graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Psychology in 2016. She worked in social policy research for three years, where she evaluated community programs for youth and parents involved in the child welfare and criminal justice systems. Vicky received her Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University before joining GW. Vicky's current research interests focus on youth and family mental health in ethnic minority communities, including the influence of parenting behaviors, help-seeking behaviors, and racial/ethnic socialization on youth outcomes. She is also interested in translating this research into culturally appropriate, community-based interventions. Outside of the lab, Vicky enjoys crafting, spending time with family, and finding fun community events around D.C.
|
Sarah Cimini Sarah graduated from Cornell University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. After graduating, Sarah worked as a clinical research assistant at the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital then as a lab manager for the Biobehavioral Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital where she worked on the ECHO study investigating the effects of environmental stress on child development. Her current research interests center around coparenting relationships and developing interventions to support coparents in non-traditional roles. Additionally, she is interested in understanding the experiences of kinship caregivers and the children in their care to inform policies that support these family structures. In her clinical work, she enjoys working with children and families and has experience assessing and treating issues such as ADHD and Selective Mutism. Outside of school, she loves to run, crochet, and hang out with her dog, Appa.
|
Andi ZhuAndi received her BA in Philosophy at Fudan University in Shanghai in 2020. After graduation, she came to New York to pursue her master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, where she worked at the Global Mental Health Lab to develop modified interpersonal interventions for student veterans. Before coming to GWU, Andi worked as a research assistant at Florida International University, where she worked with adolescents and their parents to investigate the role of sleep in processing emotional memories. She is interested in how parenting behaviors impact children's mental health outcomes and the intergenerational transmission of anxiety and depression in this regard. In her free time, Andi loves to travel, collect film cameras, and enjoy reality TV shows.
|
Lab Coordinators
Elise Stankiewicz
Elise is a Boston-native post-bac research assistant who graduated from The George Washington University in 2024, where she double-majored in Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Spanish Literature. Elise’s research interests have been shaped by her service with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Latino Student Fund. Ultimately, Elise seeks to conduct research that informs future assessment and policy protocols to uphold the dignity of individuals affected by mental illness in the criminal justice system. She will begin her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in September 2026. Beyond the lab, Elise is a freelance writer, editor, and poet, who has had her work featured in several literary magazines.
Research Assistants
Rafaela "Rafa" ChediakRafaela Chediak-Marchán is a recent graduate from George Washington University, having just completed her undergraduate degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a minor in Communications. Growing up as an Ecuadorian in Miami’s Latinx community profoundly shaped her, ultimately influencing her decision to work in Ecuador and Colombia. Specifically, she was a journalism and clinical psychology intern at G.K. Studios, an independent news outlet in Quito, and Colectivo Aqui y Ahora, a rehabilitation center in Bogota. She hopes to continue working in Latin America in a psychology-related profession, as she believes that the continent as a whole has great potential to address the current stigmas surrounding mental health, in addition to improving access and knowledge of its available services. When she is not in the lab, Rafa is either working in the GW Writing Center, watching a movie, reading movie/restaurant reviews, or spending time with her loved ones.
Genevieve GruverGenevieve is a rising sophomore at George Washington University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Her primary research interest is the gender gap in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and hopes to explore how diagnostic frameworks, social expectations, and cultural factors work together to contribute to Autism being largely overlooked or identified later in Autistic girls and women. Genevieve is also interested in understanding how various family dynamics and relationships influence a child's behavior in their teenage years, and how to best support children through their pubescent years. Through her research, Genevieve hopes to create meaningful change by advocating for more inclusive approaches to the evaluation and diagnosis of autism, and emphasizing the importance of healthy family dynamics to best support children as they grow up.
|
Ayah NoorAyah is a senior studying Psychology and Information Systems with a minor in Creative Writing. She is passionate about research that centers the stories of the diaspora, and people affected by war, displacement, and historical trauma. Her diverse background and multidisciplinary interests have shaped a research lens of decoloniality, social justice, and the importance of culturally relevant mental health care. She believes storytelling is a powerful bridge between research and lived experience, a perspective that carries over to her love of writing. Her work has been recognized with two undergraduate research awards. Outside the lab, she can be found frolicking or dilly-dallying.
Isabel LiIsabel is a second-year Master’s student in the Applied Psychology program at George Washington University, where she also received her bachelor’s degree in Psychological and Brain Sciences and Art History in 2025. Her research interests center on how psychological research can be applied in real-world contexts, such as clinical and healthcare environments. Outside of school, Isabel enjoys attending concerts, visiting art museums, and trying new foods.
|
Nick DalyNick is a sophomore at George Washington University from northern Virginia who is double majoring in Psychological and Brain Sciences and Biology. Since arriving at GW, he has volunteered with Grassroots Health, supporting mental health initiatives in middle schools across D.C. Through this work, he has seen firsthand how frequently mental health needs are overlooked in underserved communities. Nick is especially interested in the biological basis of behavior and hopes to pursue a career either as a genetic counselor, helping families make informed health decisions, or as a clinical psychologist addressing mental health needs directly. Outside of academics, he competes as a hurdler on the university's track team and enjoys traveling and film photography.
Chrystie PeñaChrystie Peña is a sophomore at George Washington University from the Bronx, New York who is pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a double major in Criminal Justice. She is interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research that follows themes of psychology, sociology, creative writing, and sustainability, with a focus on youth populations and underrepresented communities. Growing up as a first generation Dominican-American, Chrystie has seen the impact of stigma towards mental health on her community and others like it, and seeks to contribute to research that highlights that and reduces these misconceptions. As an aspiring criminal lawyer, she strives to learn more about the impact of past injustices on the world we know today. She is passionate about research and plans to eventually pursue a PhD as well as a JD.
|
Virtual Meeting May 2021. Top 1st Row L to R: Jinny Kwon, Maya Cook (graduate student), Dr. Christina Gee (principal investigator), Barunie Kim (graduate student), Grace Rittenhouse. 2nd Row L to R: Maria Najjar, Adam Cohen, new RA, new RA, Camila Dominguez-Imbert. 3rd Row L to R: Dana Kippen, Jada Gibson, Jalen Jeudy, new RA, new RA. 4th Row L to R: new RA, Leah Middleberg, Mandi Bhatt, new RA, new RA. 5th Row L to R: Yuenan Cole, Rebecca Cole
Virtual Meeting December 2020. Top 1st row L to R: Dr. Christina Gee, Maya Cook (graduate student), Dana Kippen, Sean Duane. 2nd Row L to R: Barunie Kim (graduate student), Adam Cohen, Grace Rittenhouse, Jalen Jeudy. 3rd Row L to R: Jinny Kwon, Khatnaa Batzul, Leah Middleberg, Maria Najjar. 4th Row L to R: Rebecca Coble, Susie Park (master's student), Yuenan Lu
Fall Soiree December 2019. Top L to R: Noa Leiter, Barunie Kim (graduate student), Kevin Montrone, Lindsey Siff, Rachel Simon. Bottom L to R: Meghan Mette, Sean Duane, Maya Cook (graduate student), Dr. Christina Gee
