Our Students | Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology | Teachers College, Columbia University

A Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology

Meet Our Doctoral Students

Lexi Ayala (She/Her/Hers)

Ed.D. Student, Nursing Education (Distance Learning)

Lexi is an EdD candidate in the TC Online Nursing Education program. Her research interests include nursing professional identity and academic nurse educator competencies.

Lexi's professional experience includes pediatric nursing, nursing leadership, and nursing professional development. She is passionate about closing the gaps between nursing practice, education, and research.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

Isaac Ayereka (He/Him/His)

Ed.D. Student, Health Education

Isaac is an Ed. D. candidate in the Health Promotion and Education program. His current research focuses on using the health belief model and the social-ecological model as framework to explore the health behavior of African-born immigrant mothers in WA State toward the utilization of cervical cancer prevention services. He is the Co-Chair of the Student Committee of the American Public Health Association. A Research Affiliate at the Center for Health Policy, Columbia University. He is a Research Assistant at the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food and a Graduate Assistant at the Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services. He is a Trainee Associate Member at the Cancer Research Training & Education Coordination Core of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is also a team member of an Electronic Adolescent Reminders for Completion of HPV Vaccination - Uganda: Randomized Controlled Trial. He is in a mentorship program with the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology First-Generation College Student

Adriana Carrieri

Ph.D. Student, Behavioral Nutrition

Adriana is a Ph.D. candidate in the Behavioral Nutrition program. Her current research focuses on exploring how young adults with celiac disease transition from high school to college, and the impact of this transition in their quality of life and gluten-free diet adherence. Adriana received a research award from The Celiac Disease Foundation for her dissertation. During her journey at Teachers College, Adriana served as a research assistant to Dr. Randi Wolf helping in the development of a curriculum for a large NIH grant aiming to test the impact of new gluten detection technologies in intestinal healing among individuals with celiac disease. She also served as a course assistant for two semesters in the Nutrition Epidemiology course, and for one semester in the course Analysis of Current Literature in Nutrition. Among her research interests are strategies for effective dietary behavior changes among individuals with chronic diseases, including the use of technologies.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology First-Generation College Student

Cecilia Chen

Ph.D. Student, Behavioral Nutrition

Cecilia Chen is a Ph.D. candidate at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Registered Dietitian (RD) specializing in gastrointestinal health and disordered eating. Her current research, in collaboration with the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, focuses on assessing personality factors in celiac disease management among adolescents. Cecilia explores the intersection of nutrition and mental health and aims to translate scientific research into practical applications for promoting healthy lifestyles. She also explores the potential integration of artificial intelligence in the field of nutrition.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

Srimayee Dam (She/Her/Hers)

Ed.D. Student, Health Education

Currently a bilingual research assistant at the SMILE Lab at Teachers College and an affiliate with the UB Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, Srimayee's primary focus entails understanding of youth bullying behaviors and bystander intervention programs in NYC public schools. She recently co-authored a book chapter on "Bystander Intervention in Cyberbullying" with Nova Science Publishers.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology Student-Parent

Sotos Djiovanis

Ed.D. Student, Nursing Education (Distance Learning)

Sotos G. Djiovanis is a doctoral candidate in Nursing Education at TC. He has been a trauma, orthopedics, and community health nurse in Central Florida since 2015. He is full-time faculty at the University of Central Florida, where he helped to inaugurate Dedicated Education Unit clinicals. Sotos is faculty sponsor of the university's Hispanic Nursing Student Organization, Unidos. He also co-leads an annual intercultural study abroad to Chiapas, Mexico, where he and his students provide public service clinics for women, children, and Indigenous people. Research areas include nursing education, communication, and simulation.

Prior to becoming a nurse educator, Sotos spent 19 years in the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra as a professional oboe and English horn player. He also has performed in state and national orchestras in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Now, Sotos continues to play professionally on a part-time basis as English hornist in the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

Ya Gao (She/Her/Hers)

Ph.D. Student, Behavioral Nutrition

Ya Gao is a Ph.D. student in Behavioral Nutrition at Teachers College, Columbia University, with a focus on how to promote diet adherence and quality of life for individuals with gastrointestinal disorders. Her current research explores the relationship between gluten-free diet adherence and quality of life in pregnant women with celiac disease. Ya also serves as a research assistant to Dr. Randi Wolf on the NIH-funded GLUTECH trial, in collaboration with the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, which investigates remote dietitian follow-up, with and without novel gluten detection technology, to improve clinical management of celiac disease. With a background in food science, she is also interested in advancing food standards through research and development, particularly for individuals with specialized dietary needs.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

Daeshawn Hall

Ph.D. Student, Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing

I am a PhD candidate specializing in Deaf and Hard of Hearing education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Special Education Assistant Principal in NYC. I bring extensive experience as a classroom teacher, itinerant Deaf and Hard of Hearing related service provider, and unit coordinator. My research focuses on teacher professional learning, preservice mentoring, and leadership in special education. I have mentored both preservice, in-service teachers and interns.

Through my doctoral studies, I have strengthened my ability to think critically and conduct inquiry-based professional learning, emphasizing research-driven decision-making. My work in the program has deepened my understanding of how to coach teachers to embrace a teacher-as-researcher approach, making them more assessment-driven to support student growth. I aim to create inclusive, data-informed learning environments that meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology First-Generation College Student

Esther Kim (She/Her/Hers)

Ed.D. Student, Health Education

Esther Kim is an Ed.D. candidate in Health Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, with a diverse academic background. Her current research investigates the effects of marijuana legalization on young adults, analyzing NSDUH data to uncover trends in behavioral health. Originally focused on Language Education, Esther pivoted to Health Education, inspired by her commitment to public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also holds an M.Sc. in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition from the University of Oxford, where she developed a solid foundation in research methodology and cross-cultural communication.

Esther has contributed to epidemiological studies and healthcare projects through research roles at institutions in Seoul, Korea, and London, UK, building her public health and healthcare analysis expertise. Bilingual in Korean and English and proficient in SPSS, she brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her health education and policy work.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

Nancy Kuy

Ed.D. Student, Health Education

I am a third year Ed.D student in Health Promotion and Education in the Department of Health Studies and Applied Educational Psychology. With over 15 years of dental hygiene experience, my research focus uses a qualitative approach exploring the challenges and strategies among parents of children with ASD in providing dental health care. I am also a graduate research assistant in a federally funded nationwide study by the CDC investigating exposure to school violence as an adverse childhood experience and its impact on mental health under Principal Investigators Dr. Sonali Rajan and Dr. Charles Branas. I am also a co-founder and co-president of the Doctoral Student Association at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology First-Generation College Student

Juliya Pattammady

Ph.D. Student, Special Education: Intellectual Disability/Autism

My research interests focus on special education, early childhood development, and family/caregiver experiences particularly for families with a young child with autism. My dissertation project is a multi-methods study focused on examining the effects of a randomized control trial of a group-based psychoeducation intervention for parents of preschool-aged children with autism and developmental delays (Incredible Years for Children with Autism and Language Delays); specifically to understand how parents learn and use taught strategies throughout the intervention. Before pursuing my doctorate, I worked as a first-grade special education teacher and kindergarten teacher, experiences that have significantly shaped my research approach.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology First-Generation College Student

Janet Schwenk

Ed.D. Student, Nursing Education (Distance Learning)

I am a Registered Nurse with thirty years of experience in Medical-Surgical and Mental Health Nursing. I am board certified in mental health nursing and have worked as a mental health nurse for the past twenty years. I received my Master of Science in Nursing as a Nurse Educator from Chamberlain University and currently I am a doctoral candidate at Teacher's College, Columbia University. In addition, I am a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) from The National League for Nursing's Academic Nurse Educator Certification Program. My current research interests focus on using standardized patients in simulation to enhance nursing student's therapeutic communication skills, particularly in the context of telehealth and remote patient care. I am passionate about advancing nursing education and improving patient outcomes through innovative teaching methods and technology.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

Ṣèyí Ṣẹ́gun

Ed.D. Student, Health Education

Olúṣèyí (Ṣèyí )Ṣẹ́gun is a doctoral candidate in Teachers College Health Education (Ed.D) program. Olúṣèyí's research interest lie in psychoeducation for mental disorders and using artistic mediums to disseminate this information for mental health service uptake and stronger policies for psychiatrically disabled individuals in a culturally humble manner. Ṣèyí has worked throughout sub-Saharan Africa on global health projects from East Africa to West Africa. Currently, Ṣèyí serves United States veteran's at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. Her portfolio includes case management and supportive counselling for veteran with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and older adults with cognitive impairment, such as dementia, and mental disorders. Ṣèyí is a licensed social worker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

Pavita Singh (She/Her/Hers)

Ed.D. Student, Health Education

Dissertation Advisor: John P Allegrante

I am a doctoral student at Teachers College, Columbia University where I am pursuing my EdD in Health Education. My dissertation research takes a narrative approach to understanding the reproductive desires of Sikh young women in the United States. In addition to being a TC student, I am also an instructor of Women's Health, a teaching assistant for Program Evaluation and Social Policy & Prevention (all three in my department), a Writing Fellow at the Graduate Writing Center (GWC), and a member of the Maternal and Reproductive Psychology Lab. Outside of TC, I am an instructor of Self-Care & Storytelling at Johns Hopkins University, a freelance writer and editor, the former executive director of Girls Health Ed, and the award-winning international bestselling author of two poetry books. I am driven by my personal and professional mission to help others realize their power to take ownership of their wellbeing, and I see unleashing the stories within ourselves as a powerful way to do so.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

Ashley Thornhill

Ed.D. Student, Health Education

Ashley Thornhill, MPH is a first year Ed.D. student in the Health Promotion and Education program at TC. She has served as a Global Health Fellow in the Division of Reproductive Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where she conducted sustainability evaluation of a program to reduce maternal mortality in Tanzania. During a 4-week deployment to Tanzania, she trained data collectors and conducted interviews with key stakeholders. Ashley's dedication to addressing global health disparities led her to participate in medical mission trips and work with NGOs in Guyana, Ecuador, and Mexico. These experiences laid the foundation for Ashley to become a Gates Millennium Scholar and afforded her a glimpse at the lack of access to quality healthcare in underserved communities. Ashley has previously served as a Duke Global Health Fellow where she engaged with leaders at the World Health Organization in Geneva and discussed the world’s most pressing health policy challenges.

Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new online profiles for Doctoral Students at Teachers College.

If you are a currently enrolled doctoral student at Teachers College, please visit the profile submission page for more information on how you can create your own profile.