Principal Investigator
Eric Storch, Ph.D.
Professor and McIngvale Presidential Endowed Chair
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Storch serves as vice chair and head of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and oversees the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD and related disorders program at the College. Dr. Storch specializes in the nature and treatment of childhood and adult obsessive-compulsive disorder and related conditions, anxiety disorders, and anxiety among youth with autism.
Assistant Professors
Andrew G. Guzick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
He is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. His research and clinical interests are in the assessment and treatment of children and adults with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, mood, and related disorders. He also provides therapy and supervises trainees in the BCM OCD Program and Baylor Psychiatry Clinic.
Amanda Palo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Palo is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. Her clinical and research interests include the treatment of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. She also provides evidence-based treatment to individuals within the BCM OCD Program and provides clinical supervision to trainees.
Andrew Wiese, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
He completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2021. As a clinician and researcher, he is focused on advancing our understanding of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders while also providing empirically supported interventions to individuals with these conditions.
Katharine D. Wojcik, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She completed her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, where her graduate research focused on cognitive and affective factors that interfere with recovery following a traumatic experience. She is continuing to engage in clinical and research work at Baylor College of Medicine.
Fellows
Alyssa Hertz, M.S., M.S.
Psychology Fellow
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Research and clinical interest include better understanding the treatment of OCD, anxiety, and related disorders across the lifespan, and variables related to treatment outcomes.
David Riddle, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
He completed his Ph.D. in school psychology from the University of Florida in 2021. Within his current role as a researcher and clinician, he focuses on advancing our understanding of OCD and anxiety-related disorders in children and adolescents, while empowering and educating parents regarding these disorders.
Allie Townsend, M.A.
Psychology Fellow
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She is currently completing her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington, DC. Her primary research and clinical interests include the nature and treatment of individuals with anxiety, OCD and related disorders.
Associates
Ogechi “Cynthia” Onyeka, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She is a Postdoctoral Associate in the OCD Program at Baylor College of Medicine and earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Her research is focused on factors that promote resilience for youth of color, critical consciousness, and the relationship among socio-ecological stressors, internalizing symptoms, and psychosocial outcomes for minoritized populations. She is also interested in identifying biopsychosocial correlates of OCD from a community-based approach, primarily among individuals of Latine/x and African descent.
Research Therapist
Emily Jellinek, B.A.
Research Therapist
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in school psychology at the University of Houston. Her research interests include working with families, parents, teachers, and other service providers to help support effective interventions for children with autism.
Research Coordinators
Jacey Anderberg, B.S, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of South Dakota with highest honors. Her honors undergraduate thesis explored cognitive fusion as a mechanism of maintaining the relation of cognitive anxiety sensitivity and rumination. Moreover, her primary research interests include anxiety and depressive disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and culturally sensitive interventions in Latino, Hispanic, and other traditionally underserved minority communities. She plans to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the future.
Gabrielle Armstrong, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received her Bachelor of Arts with honors in psychology and a minor in general business from the University of Mississippi. Her primary research interests include substance use, anxiety and related disorders, treatment, and implementation of evidence-based services, particularly for underserved, minority youth. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Juliana Avery, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and anthropology from the University of Alabama. Her primary research interests include anxiety, trauma, and culturally relevant mental health interventions. In the future, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.
Daphne Ayton, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received her BA in psychology with honors and a minor in neuroscience from Rice University. Her thesis focused on cognitive mechanisms underlying the relationship between emotion regulation and general health, and she is interested in mental health interventions and subsequent health outcomes for children and adolescents. She looks forward to pursuing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology to be a practicing psychologist and to explore her research interests.
Emily Bivins, B.S.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received her Bachelor of Science with highest honors in clinical psychology and a minor in child studies and human development from Tufts University. Her primary research interests include the etiology and presentation of mood and trauma-related disorders among minority youth populations. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical or Counseling Psychology, and eventually work directly with children and adolescents.
Ace Castillo, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Ace received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rice University. His primary research interests include resiliency in adolescents with depression, anxiety, or suicidality, mental healthcare equity, and LGBTQ+ affirming therapy. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical or Counseling Psychology in the near future.
Gianna Colombo, B.S.
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Gianna graduated from Davidson College receiving a Bachelor of Science with honors in psychology and a minor in public health. Her research interests focus on the etiology and therapeutic treatment of OCD, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders as well as the intersection between physical illness and mental wellbeing. Gianna is passionate about equitable access to mental health treatment and improving patient care. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with the goal of working directly with clients while continuing to explore research interests.
Megan Dailey, B.S., B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Megan received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research interests include OCD treatment in pediatric and adolescent populations. Megan plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.
Kendall Drummond, B. S.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a minor in child development from Texas Christian University. Her primary research interest include trauma, attachment, and ACEs. In the future, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Renee Frederick, MAT
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received her bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree from Relay Graduate School of Education. Prior to working as a research coordinator, she taught middle and high school for six years. Her research focuses primarily on the presentation and treatment of OCD in Hispanic and Latino communities. Eventually she would like to work directly with adolescents and their families again while working on research that helps to empower and educate Hispanic and Latino communities around mental health topics.
Rebecca Greenberg, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with honors and minored in neuroscience. Her thesis focused on the impact of affective states on different memory types and her other research interests include CBT, mental health disorder treatment, and emotion.
Hetal Modi, M.H.A.
Research Coordinator
Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital
She received her master’s degree in health administration in 2018 from Texas A&M University. Her professional interests include working in operations and patient care in a pediatric hospital to help make a difference in the lives of children.
Josselyn Munoz, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Sciences. Her thesis examined the effects of parenting behaviors on the emotion regulation of premature toddlers during problem-solving. She is interested in the impact of life experiences (trauma, violence, and bullying) on educational outcomes, resilience, emotional development, and psychopathology. She is particularly interested in helping immigrant and minority children break down barriers in healthcare, cope with difficult situations, and develop resilience-based mechanisms. She is looking forward to pursuing an MD or PhD.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a minor in neuroscience from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research interests include autism, and how presentations of autism may differ in women and minority populations. She is also interested in exploring therapeutic interventions for anxiety and depression in the autistic population. She plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Amanda Perozo, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Rice University. Her research interests focus on anxiety and related disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and culturally sensitive interventions, particularly among the Latino population.
Catherine Rast, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received her Bachelor of Arts with Honors in psychology and neuroscience and a minor in German Studies from Vanderbilt University. Her research interests include the development of novel treatments and interventions for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Hannah Sansone, M.S., B.S., B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance, Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, and her Master of Science in Neuroscience from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. Along with her passion for dance, Hannah is passionate about mental health advocacy and clinical intervention. Her research focuses on the intersection of OCD and potential genetic factors. In the future, Hannah plans to pursue her doctoral degree in clinical psychology.
Whitney Shepherd, B. A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
She received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology with honors and minor in society and health from the University of Mississippi. Her research interests include the etiology of anxiety and anxiety treatment and intervention, and specifically, Generalized Anxiety Disorder on a developmental model. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and eventually work directly with children and adolescents while maintaining an active involvement in her research passions.
Keaton Soileau, B.S.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
He graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Psychology and will be graduating in December 2023 with an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Houston Baptist University. His research interests are primarily focused on anxiety-based disorders and the effectiveness of counseling methodologies and approaches. Keaton plans to pursue a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology.
Blake Upshaw, B.A.
Research Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Blake earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Baylor University while also minoring in business administration in May 2023 . His current research interests include non-pharmacological ADHD interventions, as well as resiliency in depression and sports among adolescents and young adults. Blake is going to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology in the near future.
Jacquelyne Wynn
Administrative Coordinator
Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
She is also the training program coordinator within the department. Long-term, she is interested in furthering her education and becoming a licensed therapist, with particular focus in the treatment of individuals with OCD and anxiety related disorders. She is also enthusiastic about research and has a special interest to improve patient care and outcomes among individuals with mental health concerns.
