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Graduate Students

Kristin Phillips, M.S.

I am a 5th year clinical student and my research interests are in the area of emotional development in children and adolescents with Williams Syndrome. Specifically, I am interested in learning about the development of emotion regulation abilities in this population. In addition, I am interested in studying the treatment of anxiety in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.

Frank Gallo, M.S.

I am a 4th year clinical student and currently interested in the gene-brain-behavior relationships in children with developmental disabilities of known genetic causes. My current research focuses on social and emotional dysregulation and its relation to executive functions in young children with Williams Syndrome. I am also training as a pediatric neuropschology extern at the Medical College of Wisconsin at Froedtert Hospital.

Kirsten Li, M.S.

I am a 4th year experimental student and am interested in studying psychosocial developement in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, particularly Williams syndrome. My current research projects involve examining the correspondence of multiple measures of social skills functioning, as well as the development of a new measure assessing peer networks in adolescents with developmental disabilities.

Michael Gaffrey, M.A.

I am a 3rd year clinical student and my interest is in understanding the causes and behavioral manifestations of developmental disabilities.  I received my master’s degree from San Diego State University where I examined the effect of atypical experience on lexicosemantic organization in autism through the use of fMRI. Currently, I am involved in broadening my research skills to understand abnormal cognitive development at both the neuropsychological and genetic levels of analysis.

Kathy Fine, B.A.

I am a 1st year clinical student interested in researching children with developmental disabilities.  I received my B.A. from Washington University in Saint Louis where I researched children with affective disorders, predominantly depression.  I became interested in helping children with developmental disabilities through “The Night Off” program at Washington University which provides free babysitting for parents of children with autism.  I am excited to begin my research on various developmental disabilities including neurofibromatosis, Williams Syndrome, and autism.  I am particularly interested in studying children with neurofibromatosis- possibly examining issues regarding comorbid disorders, such as the early risk factors for learning disabilities.

Kelly Janke, B.A.

I am a 1st year clinical student interested in pediatric neuropsychology. Prior to coming to UWM, I researched performance on intelligence measures following traumatic brain injury. I am currently interested in the brain-behavior relationships in children with developmental disabilities. My research is focused on expanding the neuropsychological profile of children with neurofibromatosis and investigating the relationship between executive functioning and the cognitive and behavioral phenotype observed in these children.