Lab Director
Saida Heshmati
Saida Heshmati is an assistant professor of psychology in the Division of Behavioral & Organizational Sciences at Claremont Graduate University. She is a positive developmental psychologist interested in how optimal development unfolds over time in diverse samples, especially in at-risk adults. Using her expertise in positive relationships and love, positive education, human development, and state-of-the-art analytical methods, Heshmati examines authentic or embedded assessments of large data sets related to individual and group characteristics that influence everyday well-being and positive development. Her work has brought together a suite of measurement tools such as experience sampling methods, observational analysis, cognitive psychometric modeling, and wearable physiology monitors in the service of understanding how individuals’ sense of well-being unfolds moment-to-moment in their everyday lives.
Lab Manager
Jaymes Paolo Rombaoa (he/him)
Jaymes is currently a 6th year PhD Positive Developmental Psychology student at Claremont Graduate University. He has many broad research interests that include mindfulness, positive psychology interventions, college students and higher education, the use of technology to regulate emotions, emerging adulthood populations, and figuring out “how to live your best life.” He also has an interest in advanced research and statistical methods, such as multilevel modeling, network modeling, structural equation modeling, experience sampling methods/ecological momentary assessments, bibliometric methods, and longitudinal data analyses. His signature character strengths are Love of Learning, Humor, Honesty, Perseverance, and Creativity. Jaymes enjoys teaching, mentoring students, and loves collaborating on new research projects. Outside of academia, Jaymes enjoys running, playing too much Pokémon on his Nintendo Switch, 90s/2000s R&B/hip-hop music, pop culture references, practicing piano, boy bands, and binge-watching Anime during winter/summer school breaks!
Andrew Villamil
Andrew Villamil, completed his Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Pepperdine University. Currently, he is a PhD student in the Positive Developmental Psychology Program at the Claremont University Consortium. For over 10 years, Andrew has worked at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, gaining experience in international research and organization/clinical programs. He believes there are always valuable opportunities to bridge basic research with translational applications. As a researcher, he has been involved in five research labs with some of the most influential researchers in the field of Psychology, including Drs. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Daniel J. Siegel, Saida Heshmati, Michelle Craske, Alan Castel, and many other wonderful collaborators.
Andrew seeks to understand mechanisms in well-being that contribute to the fundamental processes and changes that have, and continue to shape the landscape of future applications. Andrew leverages his experience in Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs), Meditative practices, Technology, Neuroscience, Life Satisfaction, Flow, Cognitive Strategies, and Interpersonal Neurobiology; to explore the best methodologies and comprehensive artifacts that integrate subjective well-being (happiness) into every facet of our lives.
Baohua Liu
Baohua is an international PhD graduate student in the Positive Developmental Psychology program at CGU, where she studies and investigates positive close relationships, positive education, and resilience, particularly among adolescents and emerging adults with multicultural background, who are at critical transitional lifetime featuring possibilities/uncertainty in relationship and value. She firmly believes that positive social connections are the core strength of an individual’s resilience. Positive relationships, subject to change and interacting with context and time, play a crucial role in one’s flourishing and have profound impact on one’s well-being across lifespan.
Her BA degree was in Applied English and her MA degrees was in Education. She also holds a MA degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Positive Developmental Psychology. Baohua has been a language instructor both in China and California and hopes to continue working with students and applying research findings in educational settings to enhance student’s flourishing through positive social supports and resilience. Besides academic and professional pursuits, Baohua enjoys being with family and friends, doing sports, watching movies, dancing, painting, reading, hiking and exploring different places.
Catalina Oselio
Catalina is a first-year PhD student in the Positive Developmental Psychology program at CGU. Her research interests surround love, resilience, and creativity; she has an interest in studying how these concepts develop and grow across the lifespan. Catalina is from Chimayo, New Mexico, and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico where she studied psychology, statistics, and communication. Catalina plans to pursue a career in academia and working with people for people, not working with people on people.
Outside of being a student, Catalina enjoys writing, being outside, playing pool, and spending quality time with her loved ones. Her top strengths are love, gratitude, appreciation of beauty & excellence, love of learning, humor, and honesty.
Fabiana Memmolo
Fabiana is passionate about researching positive psychology and coaching effectiveness within organizations. She earned a master’s degree in Positive Developmental Psychology and Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University and is pursuing her studies with a Ph.D. in Positive Organizational Psychology.
Her research focuses on positive psychology, coaching, and quantitative research methods.
She firmly believes in the growth mindset and has dedicated herself to constant personal and professional development. She has obtained an MA and BA in Philosophy in Italy and an MSc in Psychology from the University of East London.
Fabiana integrates executive coaching skills and positive psychology research theories into her professional expertise to support individuals in developing their leadership potential, cultivating positive work environments, and thriving in their personal and professional settings. She has worked in Europe and the USA with individuals and teams who desire to realize something meaningful and act in alignment with their values. She supports her clients to become authentic leaders and develop effective strategies to succeed personally and professionally.
She aims to pursue a career within academia and continue bringing evidence-based knowledge to organizations.
Her top five character strengths are honesty, love of learning, fairness, humility, and prudence.
Heidi J Kellam
Heidi is a PhD student in the Positive Developmental Psychology program at CGU where she studies mindfulness, interpersonal emotion regulation, and close relationships. Heidi holds an MA in Positive Developmental Psychology and Evaluation from CGU, a BA in Psychology with departmental honors from the University of Oregon as a McNair Scholar, and a Career Diploma in Astrology and Parapsychology from SCI. Heidi currently lectures for the Psychology Department at CSUF and serves as a Teaching and Research Associate at The Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development at CMC. Heidi plans to pursue tenure track or community research lab positions after graduating while continuing her second career as a memoirist.
Kresimir “Kresh” Reil
Kresh is a year PhD Positive Developmental Psychology student at Claremont Graduate University. He has many research interests that include resilience, gratitude, life satisfaction and well-being, as well as a broadly inquisitive attitude toward humankind’s interaction with nature and technology. Kresh has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and hopes to continue working in the academic and clinical arenas, pursuing academic research that may generate positive psychology interventions applicable in clinical and everyday settings with a focus on young adult and elderly populations. Besides academic and professional pursuits, Kresh enjoys being in nature, the cinema, the theater, music, fiction novels, and travel.
kresimir.reil@cgu.edu
Megan Mansfield is a PhD student in Applied Social Psychology. Although affectionally known as the anti-social social psychologist — her research focuses on prosocial engagement, sense of community, and implications for well-being. Megan is passionate about using her advanced trainings in evaluation and social psychology to uplift the voices and experiences of people because, ultimately, “research that produces nothing but books will not suffice” (Kurt Lewin). She is currently a Senior Qualitative Analyst at the Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity (Ciheb) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. megan.mansfield@cgu.edu
olivia ellis
Olivia (MS, MA) is a year PhD student studying Positive Developmental Psychology. Olivia’s research interests include: love, positive psychology, and wellbeing. Her undergraduate degree was in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise and her Masters degree was in Exercise Science. She also holds a Masters degree in Positively Developmental Psychology. Olivia is an Adjunct Professor and has taught undergraduate courses at College of the Desert as well as Graduate courses at Pepperdine Graduate University.
Ximena Giesemann (she/her)
Ximena Giesemann is a PhD candidate in Positive Developmental Psychology. She is passionate about applying and translating psychological research findings in order to help foster optimal well-being in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers. A cancer survivor herself, Ximena is currently investigating the momentary well-being of caregivers of AYA cancer patients for her dissertation. While not working, Ximena can be found spending time (preferably outdoors) with her family, partner, friends, and pup, Stella.
