People

Our Team

• Graduate Research Assistants

  Ayla Winegar

  

  Ayla received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Indiana University with a minor in sociology. Her broad research interests include stereotyping, bias, and social implications for individuals with intersectional marginalized identities and/or gender diverse individuals. In her free time, she enjoys creating various forms of art and spending time with her pup, Rosie.

   

   

   

   

  Kevin Summers

  

  Kevin is a fifth-year PhD student studying psychology at the University of Denver in the affect, social, and cognitive (ASC) area. Kevin works in the Lloyd Social Detection Lab with his primary mentor, Dr. Lloyd, and in the Time & Context Lab with Dr. Vuletich. He earned his BA at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio majoring in psychology and premedical studies. He spent one year as a lab manager at the University of Denver before pursuing his PhD there. In his research, Kevin investigates the mechanisms underlying group-based biases in person perception and the downstream consequences for differential treatment in a variety of contexts (e.g., healthcare, policing, education) with the ultimate goal of informing psychological theory and the development of interventions to attenuate these biases. Outside of his research, you can find Kevin in the mountains hiking or skiing, going to concerts, and enjoying Denver’s local live music scene.

   

  Gina Paganini

  

  Gina is a fifth-year social psychology PhD student. Gina works primarily in the Lloyd Social Detection lab, and is a member of the Social Context & Inequality lab. Gina received her B.S. in psychology from Ohio State University (2018) and M.A. in psychology from the University of Denver (2021). Her research assesses how social cognitive and social perceptual processes may contribute to biases and disparities in health care and sexual trauma domains. Outside of research, Gina enjoys hanging out with her cat, playing video games, and exploring Colorado.

   

  Simrat Samra

  

  Simrat is a third-year graduate student in the ASC area working primarily with Dr. Paige Lloyd. Simrat graduated with a BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Social Science Research Methods. Her research interests are in how social identities and intergroup processes can shape perception, attitudes, and action. Specifically, she is interested in looking at biased perception of Multiracial individuals and how we can tackle the implicit biases related to these perceptions. She has taken particular interest in the domain of healthcare but also is interested in implications within law and the criminal justice system.

   

   

   

  Brandon Kinsler 

  

  Brandon graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Psychology in May 2020. His research interests are in how context shapes perceptions of inequality and marginalized peoples. Besides research, Brandon enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and reading comic books. 

   

   

   

   

   

• Undergraduate Research Assistants

  Yarrow Ator

  

  Yarrow is an undergraduate student at the University of Denver majoring in both Psychology and Philosophy. She is interested in studying the disadvantages brought on by economic inequality. Specifically, how inequality inhibits the functions of groups. Her current research focuses on group cooperation under conditions of economic inequality. While she is designing a second version of her initial experiment to test this relationship, Yarrow is also now working as a lab manager for the Social Context & Inequality lab. After graduation, Yarrow hopes to pursue her PhD in psychology, and contribute to scientific understanding of economic and racial inequality. In her free time, she enjoys painting, hiking, and spending time with her cats. 

   

   

  Lydia Gengler 

  

  Lydia is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying psychology, sociology, and entrepreneurship. She is interested in exploring the judgments and perceptions formed about individuals within contexts such as school and the workplace, based on characteristics like gender and race. Additionally, she is interested in how people perceive time in these settings—such as the pace of learning or recovery—and how these perceptions may contribute to unequal opportunities and outcomes. Outside of her studies, Lydia loves Crossfit, skiing, hiking, and anything that keeps her outdoors and active. 

   

   

   

  Mohadeseh Hussaini 

  

  Mohadeseh is an undergraduate psychology student with a focus on communication, mental health, and wellness, especially in the area of trauma. She aspires to become a counselor, guiding and empowering those who seek support, particularly youth, as they navigate life’s challenges. Her main goal is to reduce mental health stigma and raise awareness. Fluent in English, Farsi, and Turkish, and currently learning Arabic, she plans to use her language skills to connect with and support a diverse range of people in her future career. Deeply committed to giving back and spreading kindness, she is motivated to pay forward the support she’s received. In her free time, she loves quality time with family and friends and enjoys drawing, connecting with nature, listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, and learning. 

   

  Tara O'Brien

  

  Tara is a sophomore majoring in Psychology. She is very interested in looking specifically at bias and how it can impact groups daily. She wants to investigate how different factors including the environment cause bias and stereotypes. In her free time, she loves to hike, ski and spend time with loved ones.

   

   

   

  Lana Marshall

  

  Lana is a DU graduate who studied Psychology and Sociology, with a minor in Business Administration. She is interested in studying inequality regarding intersectional identities, as well as the effects of racial bias and stereotyping. In her free time, Lana can be found photosynthesizing outside in the forms of hiking, camping, climbing, or all three at once. 

   

   

   

   

  Duc-Tri Do 

  

  Duc-Tri is an undergraduate student at the University of Denver, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. His academic interests center on how social influence and cognitive bias shape both external perceptions and internal self-judgments of intersectional marginalized individuals. He currently works as a research assistant in the Social Context & Inequality Lab, where he aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of bias and self-evaluation in therapeutic and support settings. Outside of academia, he enjoys gardening and exploring local cafés. 

   

   

   

  Elsa Dittmeier 

  

  Elsa is an undergraduate student at the University of Denver. She is majoring in Psychology with a secondary major in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (concentrating in German), and minoring in Mathematics. Currently, her interests in research lie in better understanding the root causes of economic inequality and its effect on the current social structures. Elsa works in the Social Context and Inequality Lab as a Research Assistant, and after graduation plans to work to obtain her PhD in clinical psychology and improve universal access to evidence-based treatment, as well as improve bodies of evidence for how to make these treatments more effective for the general public. In her free time, Elsa can be found baking or cooking, drawing, curled up with a good book, or out in nature. 

   

   

  Alex Rushinsky 

  

  Alex Rushinsky is an undergraduate student at the University of Denver pursuing concurrent degrees with a B.S. double major in Mathematics and Psychology and a B.A. double major in Sociology and Philosophy. He is interested in how social norms and values construct gender as society currently construes it with a specificity in masculinity presentation. His current research centers on how wonder may act as a driving force in the fostering of a meaningful life. Additionally, he is working as a Research Assistant in Heidi Vuletich’s Social Context & Inequality lab. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a concurrent graduate program with a J.D. and PhD in Sociology. When he is not pursuing academic achievement, he enjoys long distance hiking, skiing, and rock climbing.