Lab Members

I joined the faculty of the Fairfield University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in Fall 2022, and opened the INSPYR Lab shortly thereafter. Since then, I have mentored more than ten Fairfield undergraduates on projects related to stigma and youth mental health. I've also had students work on research collaborations with Fairfield's graduate mental health programs, as well as on specialized early-stage psychosis projects through my affiliation with the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Hi everyone! My name is Morgan. I grew up locally in Weston, CT so Fairfield U is essentially home! My love for psychology and my research passions fall in the realms of anxiety and depression. There is a need for further exploration of these topics in the field and I hope to use research to help people who may be struggling. I am excited to explore through hands-on research experience and to learn alongside the rest of the team!

I joined the INSPYR Lab as a research assistant during Fall 2025. Our current project focuses on psychotic-like experiences and their interactions with internal coping strategies, such as emotional regulation. I am also a member of the Fairfield University Psychology Club, and enjoy playing intramural sports with my friends. My goal is to pursue a career in either counseling or research where I can help people in need and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

I joined Dr. DeLuca’s INSPYR Lab in Spring 2025. My research focuses on predictors of clinical engagement among young people across the Mt.Sinai Health Care System who endorse early-psychosis symptoms. This work can foster nuanced understanding around who is more or less likely to seek help upon first experiencing these symptoms—and why. This work is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Yulia Landa’s Lab in the Psychiatry Department at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai which specializes in advancing early psychosis detection and treatment methods. Upon graduation in 2026, I intend to obtain a doctorate in Clinical Psychology or Neuropsychology to further my career in the field.

I began working as a research assistant in the INSPYR lab under Dr. DeLuca in the Fall of 2025. My current project focuses on psychotic-like experiences in the general population, specifically examining the impact of stigma. I hope to learn more about how stigma in mental health affects an individual's desire to seek care and how that influences their treatment. At Fairfield University, I am involved in several organizations on campus, including Psychology Club and Students for Rare, and currently hold a position under the Office of Student Engagement. After graduation, my goal is to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

I began working in the INSPYR Lab under Dr. DeLuca in the Fall of 2025, where my current supervised research focuses on analyzing data regarding psychotic-like experiences and their relationship to women’s health. I am passionate about advancing research that bridges clinical psychology and overall health outcomes. In addition to my studies at Fairfield University, I am a student-athlete on the Fairfield University Dance Team, which has strengthened my teamwork skills, provided an outlet to pursue what I love, and emphasized the importance of time management. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology, with a possible fellowship in Neuropsychology.