Team Members

Ph.D. Students

Marisa Putnam, M.P.P.


Marisa is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, PhD candidate in the Children’s Digital Media Center, and holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University. Her current research examines how children’s parasocial relationships with digital media characters influence children’s health and STEM learning outcomes. Her dissertation work focuses on how children’s parasocial relationships are associated with gender and stereotypes in the context of learning early STEM concepts.

 

 

Research Assistants

 
Joy Nissen


Research assistant Joy received her undergraduate degree with honors in Peace and Conflict Studies from Colgate University. She spent the past six years in the business world, managing an international team across three continents. Joy made the decision to leave her company in order to apply to PsyD programs in the coming year and pursue her dream of practicing clinical psychology. 

 
 

 

 

Undergraduate Research Assistants

 

Molly Bidermann


Undergraduate Research Assistant Molly is a junior at Georgetown University with an intended major in Psychology. Outside of the CDMC, Molly works at Georgetown’s on campus daycare, Hoya Kids, as well as Georgetown’s Office of Residential Living. Molly hopes to pursue a career that can incorporate her interests in psychology with her passion for working with children.

 
 
 
Christina Duval


Undergraduate Research Assistant Christina is a junior at Georgetown University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Justice and Peace Studies and Arabic. Outside of the CDMC, Christina is involved in theater and is vice president of No Lost Generation, a refugee rights club.  She hopes to go to graduate school for clinical psychology and work with trauma survivors.
 
 

 Emily Zuckerman

Undergraduate Research Assistant Emily is a senior at Georgetown University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Justice and Peace Studies and Spanish. Outside of the CDMC, Emily serves as Vice President Organization for Georgetown’s chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma and is a member of Project Lighthouse GU. In the future, she hopes to attend graduate school and work in a career that integrates her major in Psychology and minor in Justice and Peace Studies!
 
 
Lauren Seibel

Undergraduate Research Assistant Lauren is a senior at Georgetown University with a double major in Psychology and Economics. Outside of the CDMC, Lauren is involved in GIVES, the Georgetown Equestrian Team, and is President of the GU Hawai’i Club. She hopes to go on to graduate school in clinical psychology and is particularly interested in equine-assisted psychotherapy.
 
 
Nancy Perez

Undergraduate Research Assistant Nancy is a senior at American University with a major in Psychology and minor in Data Science. Outside of the CDMC, Nancy serves as the Risk Management Chair for American University’s chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma and is the Undergraduate Representative for American University’s Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Nancy hopes to attend graduate school and continue to research the relationship between child development and technology. 
 
 
Sophia Farfan
Undergraduate Research Assistant Sophia is a senior at Georgetown University with a double major in Psychology and Government. Outside of the CDMC, Sophia volunteers weekly with Alpha Phi Omega, the National Service Fraternity, and is a service project coordinator. She is also a member of Psi Chi and a member of the rock climbing club. In the future, she hopes to attend law school and become a criminal defense lawyer.