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Current Students

Rachel Maskin, M.A. (she/her/hers)
rmaskin@vols.utk.edu
Graduate Student, 4th year

Rachel was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English from Mount Holyoke College. Rachel’s research interests include adolescent romantic relationships and friendships, LGBTQ youth and emerging adult development, and college campus climate. Currently, Rachel’s studies examine campus climate for LGBTQ-identifying college students and the impact of COVID-19 on college students’ social support networks.

Outside of the lab, Rachel enjoys finding new bookstores and cooking.

Jane Kim, M.S.Ed. (she/her/hers)
jkim171@vols.utk.edu
Graduate Student, 2nd year

Jane was born and raised in New York City. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Villanova University. She also earned a Masters of Science in Education degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development from the University of Pennsylvania. Broadly, Jane’s research interests include trauma, adverse childhood experiences, adolescent development, and emerging adulthood. Her current research with Dr. Welsh is looking at the impact of COVID-19 on the realm of dating in college students.

Outside of the lab, Jane enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling.

Maya Barrett, B.S., B.A. (she/her/hers)                           mbarre24@vols.utk.ed                                                                                 Graduate Student, 1st year

Maya was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She attended the University of Florida and earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies. Maya’s research interests include the roles of communication as well as sexual and emotional intimacy on relationship health. Her current research with Dr. Welsh involves examining the intersections of identities on romantic relationships. 

In her spare time, Maya is an avid fiction reader and traveler. She enjoys regularly listening to live music and lifting.

Brynn Chavira, B.S., B.A. (she/her/hers)                                                              bchavira@vols.utk.edu                                   Graduate Student, 1st year 

Brynn was born and raised in Roanoke, VA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Virginia. Brynn’s research interests include the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACES), attachment, and childhood psychopathology on outcomes in adolescence and emerging adulthood. Brynn’s current research aims to examine how attachment impacts relationship conceptualization and satisfaction.

In her free time, Brynn enjoys working out and dancing.