Meet Our team

Dr. Brown is a clinical and developmental psychologist whose research focuses on understanding factors that influence the development of children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and other forms of trauma. Specifically, her research uses a developmental psychopathology framework to: (1) understand how interpersonal relationships influence victimized children’s risk for developing adverse socioemotional outcomes and (2) elucidate biopsychosocial factors that influence treatment outcomes for victimized children. 

Dr. Brown received her PhD in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development where she specialized in Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science. She completed her predoctoral clinical psychology internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Child Abuse Pediatrics at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.  

Savannah (Sav) J. Woods is a second year PhD student in the Clinical-Community Psychology Doctoral program at the University of South Carolina. Before coming to USC, Sav obtained her Master of Science in Psychological Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and completed a thesis project on “The Role of Shame in the Relationships Among Childhood Maltreatment, Fears of Evaluation, and Associated Submissive Behaviors”. Additionally, Sav completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Child Development from Florida State University.  

Research Interest:  

Sav’s research interests revolve around studying maltreated adolescents and how experiencing adverse separation from a primary caregiver affects this population (e.g., parent incarceration). She is specifically interested in identifying resiliency factors (e.g., quality peer relationships) that reduce social fears, negative emotions of the self (e.g., shame, guilt), and delinquent and aggressive behaviors in this population.

  Ella DuBard graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina in Winter 2023, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. As a post-bacc, Ella is dedicating her time to research, working as a Lead Research Assistant with the STARR Lab. Ella intends to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Child Psychology. Her research interests include the impacts of trauma and victimization on women and children, and intervention and prevention treatments and programs that can limit these at-risk populations entry into the criminal justice system.   

  Madison is currently a Senior at the University of South Carolina, working towards a BS in Psychology with a minor in Spanish while serving as a lead research assistant in the STARR Lab. Upon graduating, she hopes to attend graduate school to specialize in clinical or school psychology, with a particular interest in trauma studies, focusing on understanding the impact of trauma on children and supporting them. 

Amar is a junior at the University of South Carolina majoring in Public Health with a minor in Psychology. She is passionate about healthcare and plans to attend PA school, aspiring to specialize in Pediatrics. She has a longstanding interest in Psychology and hopes to pursue a Master’s in the field to deepen her understanding. In her free time, Amar enjoys reading, cooking, and going on walks

 Carolina is a current senior at the University of South Carolina who is pursuing a Bachelor’s

degree in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration. She currently plans to apply for a

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and to specialize in trauma and rehabilitation. Outside of

school, she enjoys reading, cooking, and ballroom dancing.