Dr. Fales is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Washington State University. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Maine in 2012. Dr. Fales developed a passion for pediatric pain prevention during her clinical internship in child-clinical/pediatric psychology at Oregon Health & Sciences University. She subsequently spent two years as a post-doctoral fellow at Seattle Children’s Research Institute contributing to clinical trials research for youth with chronic pain and their families.  Dr. Fales’s independent areas of inquiry are focused on the social functioning of adolescents with chronic pain, including how parental and peer interaction factors may predict youth’s pain characteristics, disability, and psychosocial outcomes. She also conducts research on health factors related to cannabis use in adolescent and young adult populations. In 2013 she was the recipient of the American Pain Society’s Future Leaders in Pain Research award and has current projects examining the role of peer victimization and daily interpersonal stressors on pain and disability in adolescents with chronic pain. Dr. Fales’s work has been supported by the Society of Pediatric Psychology, the American Pain Society, and the National Institutes of Health. Her work has also been funded by New Faculty and Grand Challenges seed grants awarded by Washington State University. Dr. Fales firmly believes that innovative and theory-driven research is essential for informing more effective prevention and intervention efforts for youth with chronic pain and their families.

When she’s not in the classroom or the lab, you can find Dr. Fales working in the fields on her family’s farm, playing with her dog, and exploring the beautiful Columbia Gorge.

Hannah Bauer is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Human Development. She enjoys her psychology classes at WSU, especially classes related to social psychology and interpersonal relationships. She is excited to get some hands-on experience in the lab and is looking forward to developing her research skills while working towards her goal of one day obtaining a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Hannah previously worked as a tutor and enjoys building relationships and working one-on-one with people to solve problems. She hopes to use this skill in her future career as a counselor working with children or adolescents. Hannah currently works as a barista and enjoys reading and playing tennis in her spare time.

Jared Cox is a fourth year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. His main focuses of study are Childhood Development and School Psychology.  As a research assistant in Dr. Fales’s lab, Jared is excited to learn how to conduct research and develop plans to help his community better. Jared hopes to obtain his master’s degree in School Psychology and eventually obtain a doctorate degree. School Psychology is especially interesting because it combines his two interests of education and psychology, and also seeks to help an underserved population. Outside of school, Jared enjoys gaming with friends and going to the theater to enjoy a good play.

Kellen Rhoda is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in History. . By deepening his understanding of human cognition and behavior, Kellen hopes to help those suffering from trauma and to improve their quality of life. As a research assistant in Dr. Fales’s lab, Kellen is learning how the research process works, as well as how to properly conduct research, interact with participants, and analyze subsequent data. Kellen hopes to obtain his Doctorate in counseling and to work with veterans and/or adolescents suffering from PTSD and chronic pain. His desire to help veterans and adolescents arose from his close proximity to the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base and his lifelong experience as a soccer player, coach, and referee where he initially helped many youths through their injuries and struggles as a Sports Therapist. In his free time, Kellen loves to play soccer, read in the sun, and play video games with his friends.

Shanna Sonnier is a fifth-year undergraduate student majoring in psychology and minoring in women’s studies. Her interest in psychology arose during her young childhood years as she was a curious observer of human behavior, specifically involving intra-and interpersonal relationships. Her fascinations include the realms of health psychology, transpersonal psychology, somatic and nervous system healing. As an advanced research assistant in Dr. Fales’s lab, Shanna is currently conducted a grant-funded project on self-compassion in young people with and without pain. She hopes her research will inform the development of more effective health promotion interventions for young people living with pain. Shanna aims to earn her master’s degree in mental health counseling. Outside of school Shanna loves to read, connect with her community, and hula-hoop dance.

Leo John Cowing is a fourth-year undergraduate student who transferred to WSU Vancouver from the Running Start program at Clark College. Leo hopes to become a psychotherapist specializing in assisting creative people either with artistic or research and development backgrounds. Leo previously worked in Dr. Michael M. Morgan’s neuroscience lab, where he contributed to research examining the effects of testosterone on the pain management behaviors of female rats, mediated by opioids. Leo intends major in psychology and minor in neuroscience. As an advanced research assistant In Prof. Fales’ lab, he is gaining experience developing testable hypotheses, performing statistical analyses, and disseminating his findings on the national stage. Outside of college, Leo enjoys learning guitar, exploring recorded music, and exercising.

Zoey Michels is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Human Development. She is currently the Vice President of the Psychology Club at WSU Vancouver and loves being involved in the WSU V community. When Zoey is not in school, she works as a Certified Behavior Technician helping children with autism and their families through Applied Behavior Analysis. Her interests include providing support to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders and promoting the understanding and visibility of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. As a research assistant in Dr. Fales’s lab, Zoey is excited to work alongside inquisitive minds, learn more about the process of research, and interact with participants. Zoey hopes to obtain her doctorate in clinical child psychology, studying neurodevelopmental disorders. Outside of school, Zoey enjoys crocheting and spending time with her friends and family, especially her 12-year-old niece and 5-year-old nephew.

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