Current

Michelle L. Stock, PhD
Dr. Stock received her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in psychology from Iowa State University. She is interested in many areas of social and health psychology, including: sexual behaviors, sun protection interventions, substance use, discrimination and racial disparities in health, gender differences in health cognitions and behaviors, social comparison, perceived vulnerability, and dual-processing models. Dr. Stock teaches classes in social psychology, health psychology, health interventions, and social influence at GWU.

Stacy M. Post, PhD (she/her)
Stacy recently received her PhD in December 2024. Prior to this, she received her MA in Communication from Johns Hopkins University and BA from American University. Stacy joined the doctoral program at GWU after spending time in non-profit organizations where she conducted market and user behavior research to communicate social issues. Currently, Stacy researches how social experiences, including weight and obesity stigma, gender discrimination, and loneliness affect health behaviors such as dietary behaviors, alcohol use, sexual risk behaviors, and vaccination decisions. Using an intersectional framework, Stacy’s dissertation tests how exposure to weight loss with GLP-1 agonist medications (e.g., Ozempic) affects stigma and maladaptive weight-related cognitions through social comparison processes among Black and White women with obesity.

Mary C. Jobe, M.A. (she/her)
Mary is a fifth-year doctoral candidate. She received her B.S. from Christopher Newport University, in which she majored in Psychology and French. Her research revolves around examining how stressful experiences — such as social exclusion or COVID-19 — impact affect, the self, and a variety of health behaviors, such as vaccinations, substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and sun protection across populations. She is also interested in interventions that work to reduce health risk perceptions, cognitions, and behaviors as well as how sexual, gender, and ethnic minority populations can specifically benefit from tailored intervention approaches. Currently, Mary’s dissertation will focus on how discrimination based on sexual identity impacts alcohol and risky sex cognitions among bisexual women.

Taylor-Jo Russo, B.A. (she/her)
Taylor is a third-year doctoral student. She graduated from Gettysburg College with a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy. During her undergraduate career, Taylor conducted research relating to predicting and understanding the risks associated with cyberbullying perpetration and victimization. Taylor’s personal research interests remain broad but are centered around health disparities. She is interested in how racial discrimination and bias impact risky health behaviors, such as substance use, and how interventions can reduce negative experiences and outcomes.