Welcome!
My name is Meghan, I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the School Concentration at the University of South Carolina, where I direct The Peer Lab. In my research and program development work, I specialize in helping youth build meaningful, supportive connections with others that support their flourishing. Generally, I am guided by this cheesey saying that I came up with a while ago -- I am driven by "supporting teens supporting teens." By that I mean that I aim to equip youth with the skills, autonomy, and empowerment to enact meaningful change and develop rewarding relationships.
In my clinical work, I take an evidence-based generalist approach, and I prioritize partnership with patients to support each individual in figuring out what works best for them. In teaching, I tailor my curriculum and style based on the needs of each individual learner. Across all parts of my work, I am anchored the importance of connection with another person.
I intend for my work to provide experiences of supportive connection young people across time and contexts.
Education
2024 - 2026
Postdoctoral Clinical Research Fellowship
Massachusetts General Hospital/
Harvard Medical School
I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Addiction Medicine and the Center for School Behavioral Health at MGH/HMS, where my work focused on developing and evaluating mental health systems and supports in middle and high schools.
2018 - 2024
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology,
Quantitative Psychology
University of Virginia
Dissertation: Tell Me Something I Don't Know: Self Disclosure, Relationship Quality, Mental Health, and Contextual Factors from Adolescence to Adulthood
2023 - 2024
Predoctoral Internship
Massachusetts General Hospital/
Harvard Medical School
On the Cognitive Behavioral Scientist Track, I received training in general CBT, DBT, and ACT, with a concentration in Addiction Medicine.
2022 - 2024
Fellow
International Max Planck Research School on Life Course Development (IMPRS LIFE)
I completed an international multidisciplinary fellowship involving coursework, training, collaboration, and research presentation at four international sites.
2018 - 2020
M.A., Psychology
University of Virginia
Master's Thesis: Emotional Support Development in Adolescent Friendships: An Iterative, Dyadic Process with Implications for Functioning in Adult Romantic Relationships
2013 - 2016
B.A., Psychology
University of Virginia
Honor's Thesis: Birds of a Feather: Intensification Effects of Teen Best Friendships on Psychopathology