Kolvenbach Research Grant Recipients

2026

Marianna Carlucci, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
Amy Wolfson, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS)
Sleep Health and Awareness in Youth Rehabilitation Services Staff

Joshua Hayes, Undergraduate Student
Kyra Hultgren, Undergraduate Student
Isaiah Joshua, Undergraduate Student
Alice Lin, Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Joshua Smith, Ph.D., School of Education
Walter P. Carter Elementary/Middle School
The Walter P. Carter Community Resource Hub

2025

Marianna Carlucci, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
Amy Wolfson, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
District of Columbia, Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
Co-Developing Strategies to Improve Sleep Health and Behavior of Detained Adolescents

David Carey, Ph.D.,Department of History
Indigenous Health Research Center
Pandemic Politics: Comparative Lessons from 1918 Spanish Influenza and COVID-19

Wendy Bolger, MBA, Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Ignite Capital
Review of Ignite Capital Fund 1: Shaping Deployment of Fund 2 for Greatest Impact

Lisa Schoenbrodt, Ed.D., Professor of Speech Pathology
Leah Saal, Ph.D., Professor of Literacy
Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
LEADing to Learn: Training Corrections Supervisors to Work with Individuals wih Developemental Disabilities

2024

Michelle Gawerc, Ph.D., Sociology Department
Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Legacy of Racial Terror Lynchings and Recommendations for Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation: Community-Engaged Research with the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission 

Jasmine Raysor, Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program
Gateway Homes
Serious Mental Illnesses: Exploring Pathways to Recovery in Residential Treatment Facilities

Lauree Stewart, Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program
Citizens Policing Project

Natalie Wallace, Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program
Well Spouse Association
Assessing the Unmet Support Needs of Spousal Caregivers in the Context of Bipolar DIsorder and Comorbid Medical Conditions

2023

Lisa Scheifele, Ph.D., Department of Biology
Open Insulin Foundation

Neoline James, Undergraduate Student
Baltimore Witness
Pathways to Mental Health Court 

Stephanie Flores-Koulish, Ph.D., School of Education
Jessica Shiller, Ph.D., Department of Instructional Leadership and Professional Development at Towson University
Child First Authority
Teacher Education for Quality Family & Community Engagement

Leah Katherine Saal, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Literacy, School of Education
Lisa Schoenbrodt, Ed.D, Professor, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Department of Natural Resources Police
LEADing into the Wilderness

2022

Rae Underberg, Psy.D., Departmnet of Psychology
Roberta's House
The impact of caregiver loss due to COVID-19 on the identity of African American adolescents

Elizabeth Dahl, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Chemistry
Blue Water Baltimore / Friends of Stony Run
Water Quality Analysis of Stony Run

Rev. Timothy Brown, S.J. Department of information Systems, Law, and Operations
Cristo Rey
Families and Their First-Generation Students: A Collaborative Approach to Understanding and Enhancing the College Experience

Nouf Bazaz, Ph.D., School of Counseling
Esperanza Center
Arts-Based Peer Support Program to Promote Social Emotional Wellbeing Among Spanish-Speaking Unaccompanied Immigrant Children (UCs) in Baltimore

2021

Cara Kossuth, Undergraduate Student
Govans Elementary School, U.S. Dream Academy
Amplifying Voices: Creative Writing as a Path to Empowerment

Lyla Wadia, Clinical Psychology, Psy.D. Student
Edward A. Myerber Center
Social Capital and Aging in the US and India: Examining the Effects of Social Capital on the Cognitive Functioning – Functional Independence Relationship 

2020

Marianna Carlucci, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology
Amy Wolfson, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
Juvenile's and Staff Perceptions of Sleep Quality and Environment During Detention

Qi Shi, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Education Specialties
The Esperanza Center Youth ESOL Program
Pre-Service School Counselors Promote Social Emotional Wellbeing of English Learners (ELs) in Baltimore

Sarah Olson, Second Year Psy.D. Student
The Esperanza Center
Acculturation, Eating Disorders, and Body Image: The Impact on Female Immigrants to the U.S.

Shane McHugh, '22, Economics 
Ignatian Solidarity Network at John Carroll University
Divestment from Fossil Fuels: A Financial and Jesuitical Perspective

2019

Nimi Briggs, Clinical Psychology
Living Classrooms Foundation
Assessing the mental health needs of men of color, specifically black men post incarceration

Marianna Carlucci, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Psychology
Amy Wolfson, Ph.D. Professor, Psychology
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
Sleep Health in Incarcerated Juveniles

Abigail McLaughlin '20, Biology
Mercy Medical Center
Women’s Self-Efficacy through Health Outreach Baltimore’s Education and Employment Resource Requests at Mercy Medical Center

Leah Saal, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Literacy Education
South Baltimore Learning Center
Learning Works: Creating College and Career Readiness Standards Aligned Curriculum and Assessment

Qi Shi, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Education Specialties
The Esperanza Center
Connecting School Counselors-In-Training with English Language Learner (ELL) Youth in Baltimore: A community-based participatory research

2018

Christine Lay, Psy.D. Candidate, Clinical Psychology
Intercultural Counseling Connection 
Perceptions and Experiences of Psychotherapy Among Forced Migrants with Limited English Proficiency

Casey Nolan '19, Biology
Mercy Medical Center 
Success through Follow-Up: A Study of Health Outreach Baltimore’s Resource Request Patterns and the Impact of Follow-Up on Resource Acquisition

Thomas O'Brien '20, Biology 
Glenwood Life Counseling Center
Glenwood Life Recovery Gardens

Aileen Van Wie, Psy.D. Candidate, Clinical Psychology
Intercultural Counseling Connection
Feasibility and Efficacy of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for a Substance Abuse Population

2017

Mary Jo Coiro, Assistant Professor, Psychology
GEDCO Cares
Development and Evaluation of a Mental Health Referral System for GEDCO CARES

Michael Comer '18, Biology
Blue Water Baltimore/Herring Run Nursery
Identifying and assessing native biomonitoring plants in Baltimore city
Community Mentor: Elizabeth E. Dahl, Chemistry

Elizabeth Dahl, Associate Professor, Chemistry
Baltimore Green Space
Assessing neighborhood air quality in urban and greenspaces in Baltimore City

Theresa M Robertson, Ph.D. Candidate, Pastoral Counseling
Families Advocating Intelligent Registries
The Efficacy of Compassion-Focused Therapy for Managing Psycho-Spiritual Consequences of Sex Offender Public Registration

Precious Uwaya '18, Accounting
Baltimore Cash
Evaluating Best Practices to Foster Financial Readiness in First Generation College Students
Community Mentor: JP Krahel, Accounting

2016

Lena Caesar, Associate Professor, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences  
US Dream Academy
Effective Strategies and Best Practices for Targeting Literacy Development in African American Boys Attending the Baltimore US Dream Academy’s After-School Program    
         
Michiko Iwasaki, Assistant Professor, Psychology & Amy Henniger, Psy.D. '18
Baltimore City Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
Program evaluation of the Baltimore City Sexual Assault Response Team (SART): Listening to the Voices of the Survivors         
    
Kelly Keane, Visiting Affiliate Assistant Professor, Education Specialties       
Govans Elementary School
Barriers and Enablers of Technology Integration in an Urban Charter Elementary School
        
Leah Saal, Assistant Professsor, Teacher Education   
Maryland New Directions
A New Direction for Assessment    

Libby Kumin, Professor, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Hearing and Speech Agency
Empowering Families of Children with Down Syndrome: Assessing Needs and Developing Information on Speech and Language

2015

Tyler Cochran, ’17, Global Studies and Spanish
Community Agency: International Rescue Committee in Baltimore
Differing Psychological Response to Trauma among Torture Survivors
Community Mentor: Marianna E. Carlucci, Psychology

Jessica Valenti, ’16, Biology and Global Studies
Community Agency: Safe House of Hope
The Effects of Rites of Passage on Victims of Human Trafficking
Community Mentor: Janine Holc, Political Science

2014

Giuliana Caranante, '15, Writing and Psychology
Richnor Spring Neighborhood Association
York Road Literacy and Employment Initiative

Sarah Davarya M.S. '16, Psychology
Community Agency: St. Elizabeth School
Adults with autism spectrum disorder: Supports and barriers to obtaining successful employment
Community Mentor: Sue Murray

Lauren Heery '15, Interdisciplinary Biology/Chemistry & Interdisciplinary English/Classical Civilization
Community Agency: York Road Partnership
Pedestrian Safety and Health Along the York Road Corridor
Community Mentor: Maiju Lehmijoki-Gardner, Theology

Lindsay Smith M.S., '15, Psychology
Community Agency: Safe House of Hope
The relation between Sexual Risk Taking and Perception of Health Risk:
A Preliminary Examination of Condom use Self-Efficacy and the Health Belief Model in Survivors of Sex Trafficking
Community Mentor: Denene M. Yates

Gena Stenger '15, Elementary Education
Community Agency: Acts 4 Youth
Identifying the Effectiveness of Teachers and Mentors for the "At-Risk Youth" of Acts 4 Youth and Increasing Student Retention Rates
Community Mentor: Kevin Good

2013

Briana Ciccarino '15, Global Studies
Community Agency: Caroline Center
Language: the power of words and who cares
Community Mentor: Heather Z. Lyons, Psychology

Brett Kirkpatrick, M.S.'14, Counseling Psychology
Community Agency: GEDCO
Greater Govans Community Food Assessment
Community Mentor: Heather Z. Lyons, Psychology

Maiju Lehmijoki-Gardner, Ph.D., Theology
Community Agency: Health Freedom
Partnering to Promote Health Equality and Justice in Baltimore

Thomas Patrick O’Donnell '15, English
Community Agency: DeWees Recreation Center
Restorative Justice and Community Building at the DeWees Recreation Center—Best Practices Research and Needs Assessment

2012

Lena Gloria Caesar, Ed.D., Ph.D., Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology
Community Agency: U.S. Dream Academy
Predictors of Language and Literacy Performance among At-Risk Students at the Baltimore Learning Center's After-School Program (ASP): A Curriculum Needs Assessment

Betsy Jenkins M.S. '13, Pastoral Counseling
Rev. Jill L. Snodgrass, Ph.D., Pastoral Counseling
Community Agency: Marian House
It's More Than a Job Club, Girlfriend!

Tiphanie G. Sutton M.S., Psychology
Martin F. Sherman, Ph.D., Psychology
Community Agency: Office of Teacher Support and Development of Baltimore City Public Schools
Supporting and Sustaining Educators of Baltimore City Public Schools: An Evaluation of the New Teacher Induction Program

Stephanie Tsang '14, Theology
Community Agency: Stella Maris Hospice
Hospice Treatment, Spirituality, and Quality of Care for End-of-Life Patients
Mentor: Bernadette Roche, Biology

Dominic T. Walker '13, Sociology
Community Agency: St. Ignatius Loyola Academy
Socialization and Education: Navigating Class Difference in Education
Community Mentor: Robert W. Simmons, Teacher Education

2011

Patrick Diamond '13, Global Studies
Community Agency: Saint Vincent de Paul’s Home Connections program
Alternative Financial Service & Homelessness
Community Mentor: Frederick Derrick

Rachel Firestone M.S. '12, Psychology
Community Agency: Caroline Center
Tackling Unemployment Among African-American Women in Baltimore

Daniel Kelly '12, Biology
Community Agency: Parks and People Foundation
The effect of community gardening on attitudes and behaviors surrounding health and nutrition
Community Mentor: Bernadette Roche, Biology

Jacqueline Lovdahl '12, Communication
Community Agency: Esperanza Center
Creating a blueprint for a successful pro bono legal clinic to serve Baltimore immigrants
Community Mentor: Antonia Keane, Sociology

Scott Strickman M.S. '12, Psychology
Community Agency: Caroline Center
Helping the Caroline Center Help Baltimore

2010

Heather E. Dark, M.S. '11, Psychology
Stephanie Flores-Koulish, Ph.D., Education Specialties
Community Agency: Greater Homewood Community Corporation along with Barclay & Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle Schools
Investigating the Digital Divide in Two Baltimore City Schools to Enhance Community Involvement

Drew Leder, Ph.D., Philosophy
Rev. Timothy B. Brown, S.J., Law and Social Responsibility
Community Agency: Jessup Correctional Institution
JCI - Loyola Partnership

2009

Ayla D. Badell '11, Psychology Community Agency: Maryland State Office of Infectious Disease Prevention & Care Services Refugees and Mental Health: The Search for Sanity C. Matthew Cairns '10, Finance and Interdisciplinary Political Science/Philosophy Community Agency: Loyola University Maryland's York Road Redevelopment Committee
Engaging Businesses in the Greater Govans Community: The Potential for Business Incubation on York Road

Alicia K. Condon '10, Interdisciplinary Philosophy/Theology
Community Agency: St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore/Beans and Bread Outreach Center
Evaluating the Experiences of Beans and Bread Volunteers: A Qualitative Investigation

JungGeum Im, M.S. '10 Psychology
Community Agency: Joseph Richey Hospice
Relation between Resilience-related Traits and Volunteerism at Hospice

Elliot King, Ph.D., Communication
Barbara Vann, Ph.D., Sociology
Community Agency: Maryland Correctional Institution for Women College Degree Program
Developing a Blueprint for Creating a Sustainable Degree-granting Higher Education Program at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women

Donna Pitts, Au.D., CCC-A, The Loyola Clinical Centers
Kathleen Ward, M.S., The Loyola Clinical Centers
Community Agency: The Stadium Place, Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO)
Strategies for Improving Communication in Older Adults with Hearing Impairment

Catherine Savell, M.A., Modern Languages and Literatures
Community Agency: Immigration Outreach Service Center of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Baltimore
Assessing Immigrant Needs at the Immigrant Outreach Service Center of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Baltimore