Jenae Neiderhiser, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Center for Family Research, The George Washington University

Dr. Neiderhiser received her doctoral degree in Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University. Since 1988, she has been involved in studies looking at twins, siblings and adoptees in an effort to understand how children and their families influence each other. She came to George Washington University in 1994 and is now an Associate Professor in the Center for Family Research. Dr. Neiderhiser is currently finishing a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health looking at young adults and their family relations as well as collecting DNA. She is just beginning a study of twin fathers and mothers and their families based in Sweden. Her work has been published in journals specializing in developmental psychology and family relations. One recent publication summarizing the important role of individuals in influencing their own environments is Towers, Spotts & Neiderhiser (2000). Genetic and environmental influences on parenting and marital relationships: Current findings and future directions. Marriage and Family Review, 33(1), 11-29.  For the Early Growth and Development Study, Dr. Neiderhiser is responsible for supervising the recruitment team.

Amy Whitesel, LCSW-C
Recruitment Supervisor
The George Washington University

Amy is a licensed clinical social worker in the State of Maryland. She received a Master of Science and Social Administration degree from Case Western Reserve University and is pursuing her PhD in social work from Howard University. Amy has been working in the field of social work for the past seven years and focused her interests in child welfare, particularly foster care and adoption. Amy trained foster and adoptive parents and provided counseling services to foster children. More recently, Amy was the director of an adoption program that facilitated the adoption of children with special needs from the public foster care system. In addition, she spent years assisting adoptive families in going through the adoption process by completing adoption home studies and post placement services. For the Early Growth and Development Study, Amy oversees the recruitment of adoption agencies, birth parents and adoptive families into the study at George Washington University, as well as supervising the recruitment staff at the Oregon Social Learning Center and the University of California, Davis.

David Martin, B.S.
Recruitment Coordinator
University of California, Davis

David Martin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at University of California, Davis (UCD). He is currently pursuing his Master of Arts degree in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). While studying at UCD, David worked on three projects as an undergraduate researcher in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Psychology. In addition, David spent the last three years as a crisis counselor and substitute teacher at a group home and school for emotionally disturbed boys. David has co-authored two research projects that he will present at the Western Psychological Association’s Conference, May 2003-2004. The projects, Perceived Mutuality in Relationships and Anger and Multiple Roles, Social Support, and Well-being Among Diverse Students, investigate beneficial aspects of human relationships. David brings his diverse research background to the Early Growth and Development Study. His responsibilities include recruiting adoption agencies in California and recruiting adopting families into the study.

Danielle Guerrero, MA, MFT
Recruitment Coordinator
Oregon Social Learning Center

Danielle earned a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Oregon and is a marriage and family therapist. In 1997, she began working at the Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC). Danielle worked on several research projects that focus on child development, sibling interactions, and adoptive and foster care families. Danielle also works in the counseling field and teaches parenting classes to low-income families. She has been involved in the development of the Early Growth and Development Study since 1999, conducting pilot recruitment and interviewing. Danielle is responsible for recruiting adoption agencies and birth parents into the study for OSLC, as well as supervising the birth parent interviewers. In addition, Danielle plays an integral role in the development of the computer-based questionnaires that will be used in the study.

Christos Dimas, B.S.
Recruiter
The George Washington University

Christos Dimas earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences in Athens, Greece. After the completion of his undergraduate degree, he received a scholarship from the Fulbright Foundation to start his graduate studies in the United States. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) at the Center for Professional Psychology at George Washington University. Christos is an intern of the Center for Professional Psychology Clinic doing therapy with adolescents and parents. Before joining this research team, Christos was the Project Coordinator for the Young Adult Sibling Study, which examined relationships among family members and personality characteristics of parents and children. He has been a co-author of two conference presentations on the role of emotions in psychotherapy and the psychotherapeutic process. For the Early Growth and Development Study, Christos recruits adoptive families.

Cristin, B.A.
Recruiter
The George Washington University

Cristin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Virginia (UVA). While at UVA, Cristin worked as a research assistant in the Department of Psychology, focusing on the coping strategies of adolescents. As part of this research team, she conducted interviews with youth cadets in the Virginia Juvenile Justice System. Before joining the Early Growth and Development Study, Cristin continued her work with adolescents as part of a special education team in Albemarle County, Virginia Public Schools. Working directly with 6th, 7th and 8th graders with special needs Cristin found herself motivated to pursue work in child development. For the Early Growth and Development Study, Cristin will interview birth and adoptive families as well assist the recruitment team.

Lillie Salcido, M.A.
Recruiter
University of California, Davis

Lillie earned her Master’s degree in Anthropology from San Francisco State University and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Anthropology from the University of Texas. Lillie conducted research on farm worker health and immigrant issues at the California Institute for Rural Studies, in Davis, California. She also worked as an ethnographer for The Welfare, Children and Families: A Three City Study that examined the effects of welfare reform on children in San Antonio, Boston, and Chicago, that was coordinated through the University of Texas School of Social Work. Lillie recruits birth parents into the Early Growth and Development Study.

Tracy, B.S.
Recruiter
Oregon Social Learning Center

Tracy received her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Oregon with emphasis on family dynamics and research.  Tracy also has an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and taught preschool at the University of Oregon for ten years.  For the past six years she has been a Parent Educator for Birth to Three of Lane County and contributing writer for the United Way Parent Helpline.  Tracy has many years experience working with parents and connecting families to resources.  For the Early Growth and Development Study, Tracy will be recruiting adoptive family into the study. 

Anna Suski, B.S.
Project Coordinator
Oregon Social Learning Center

Anna received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and graduate statistics training at the University of Oregon. In eight years of research experience, Anna gained extensive knowledge of the methodology, ethics and implementation of conducting research studies in the field of psychology. She served as the Project Coordinator for a study of 373 youth for the last three years, and was a data specialist for a project aimed at improving outcomes for preschool-aged children in foster care. For the Early Growth and Development Study, Anna will be recruits adoptive families and coordinates the efforts of the adoptive family interview team at the Oregon Social Learning Center. Anna is also part of the Data Management Team.