Who We Are

Director

Dr. Raiker is a licensed clinical psychologist in Florida and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and serves currently as the Chair of the ADHD Special Interest Group for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). Additionally, he is the founder and director of the Program for Attention, Learning, and Memory (PALM) at Florida International University and author of the blog Debunking Distracted Development at Psychology Today. He received his B.S. in Psychology as well as his M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Additionally, he completed his clinical internship training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he was the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Research Award. He is a 2015 National Institutes of Mental Health CHIPS Fellow, was awarded a 2015 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and was selected to receive a 2016 CHADD Young Scientist Research Award. Additionally, he is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Child and Family Studies and a member of multiple editorial boards (e.g., Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, Research on Child & Adolescent Psychopathology [formerly Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology]). His program of research focuses broadly on understanding neurocognitive dysfunction in individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Specifically, he is interested in the extent to which deficits in neurocognitive processes are associated with the functional outcomes (e.g., learning problems) experienced by individuals with ADHD and how knowledge about these deficits can be leveraged to improve assessment and treatment of the disorder. Currently, he is examining the interaction of multiple dysfunctional cognitive processes and their implications for optimizing assessment and treatment of ADHD. Additionally, his work currently incorporates additional levels of analysis (e.g., neuroimaging) to increase our understanding of the disorder.

Graduate Students

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Mileini Campez, M.S.

Originally from Miami, I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from FIU in 2013 and am a sixth year Clinical Psychology Student. My goal is to become a professor at a university conducting research on the core neuropsychological deficits underlying Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and their relation to treatment outcome. In my free time I enjoy attending cultural events such as art festivals, book fairs, and concerts which Miami has plenty to offer!

 

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Morgan Jusko, M.A.

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. I received my Master’s in Psychology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. I am a third year doctoral student in the PALM lab. Broadly, I am interested in studying why reaction time variability occurs more frequently in children with ADHD. More specifically, I’m interested in understanding if internal distraction has any role in the occurrence of reaction time variability. Eventually, I hope to become an academic at a research university. In my free time, I enjoy working out, reading, and cooking.

 

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Jess N. Smith, M.S.

I grew up in Ohio and received my B.A. in Psychology from Ohio University. I am currently in my third year of the Clinical Science program at Florida International University. I hope to have a research career where I can continue my line of work on the measurement of executive functioning and cognitive mechanisms of heterogeneity and comorbidity in youth externalizing psychopathology. In my free time, I enjoy baking and spending time with my dog, Bernie.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Jessica Brito

I am originally from Rockville, MD and I am currently a Freshman at FIU pursuing my bachelor’s in Psychology. In the future, I hope to earn my Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology. My main future goal is to conduct more research into children with ADHD and how they process and learn information. In my free time, I love to paint, read novels, and watch Netflix.

Lilliana Garcia

My name is Lilliana Garcia and I was born and raised here in Miami. I am majoring in Biological Sciences on the Pre-Med track. I love to work with kids and imagine myself in a Pediatric career field in the future. In my free time, I love to cook and try new recipes.

Andrea Pedroza

I was born and lived for fourteen years in Mexico City, then I came to Miami to do high school. I completed my freshman year at FSU and then came back to FIU. I am a Psychology major with a Social Work minor, thinking of pursuing either an MSW or a Psy.D. program for the future. I love traveling, and in my free time, I paint.

Diana Suarez

I’m currently a senior, graduating with my Bachelor’s in Psychology Spring 2020. I was born in Cuba but raised in the US. My current work role is as an RBT and a part time Uber driver. I am very passionate about the field of psychology! Upon graduating I plan on entering a Clinical Psychology program. For fun I love to go to the beach, workout, practice yoga, and travel.

Undergraduate Alumni

Alvaro Ampudia: Alvaro is currently finishing his last year at FIU before pursuing a career in the medical field

Micaela Baldivieso: Micaela is currently a post-baccalaureate IRTA at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Rebecca Cespedes: Rebecca is currently a research assistant for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study at Virginia Commonwealth University

Brianna Dawkins: Brianna currently attending FIU as part of the Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy

Roxanna Flores: Roxanna is currently working toward her Masters in Clinical Psychology with a Neuropsychology concentration at Columbia University. She works for the Developmental Affective Neuroscience Lab as a clinical interviewer for the Parents and Children Coming Together (PAACT) project. She is a graduate researcher at the CUMC/NY Presbyterian Hospital at the Taub Institute for Aging Research

Yanelys Fernandez: Yanelys is currently attending the University of Miami as part of the Medical Doctorate (MD) program. She will soon begin research in the Immunology/Microbiology department and is involved in multiple organizations on campus such as: San Juan Boso DOCS and the Latino Medical Student Association

Sophia Gutierrez: Sophia is finishing her last year at FIU before pursuing a nursing track

Odette Manresa: Odette is currently attending the Professional Counseling Program (PCP) at FIU. She is a counselor for the Saturday Treatment Program and the assessor for the Culturally Informed and Flexible Family Treatment for Adolescents (CIFFTA) at the University of Miami with Connect Familias

Ashley May: Ashley is currently a Functional Family Therapist with the Institute for Child and Family Health as a registered mental health counseling intern

Carlos Menendez: Carlos is finishing his last year at FIU before pursuing medical school

Stephanie Morris: Stephanie is currently attending FIU in the Child and Adolescent Clinical Science PhD program

Karla Navarez: Karla is currently finishing her last semester at FIU and studying for the MCAT

Diana Ugalde: Diana is currently a student in the PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program at FIU

Stephanie Padron: Stephanie got hired by Trial Tech where she is a research associate

Paolo Raymundo: Paolo is currently attending University of the Pacific where he is working toward his Masters in Behavior Analysis. He is a teaching assistant for Statistical and Research Methods in Psychology

Jonathan Rivero: Jonathan is finishing up his final semester at FIU and will be starting his Masters in Business Management at the University of Florida in the Fall

Odile Saint-Flour: Odile is currently an intern for the Folklife Festival at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in Washington DC

Shermain White: Shermain graduated from FIU and currently has a career as a case manager in the community

Leonel Horta: Leo is currently a student in the PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program at FIU

Natalia Bruni: Natalia graduated from FIU and currently has a career as a case manager in the community

Kendra Chandon: Kendra recently graduated from FIU

Hannah Bowley: Hannah graduated from FIU and currently works as a project coordinator for the Project on Language and Spatial Development with Dr. Pruden

Graduate Student Alumni

Kelcey Little, M.S., Research Administrative Coordinator, Marcus Autism Center, Emory University

Postdoctoral Alumni

Dr. Whitney Fosco, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State Hershey Medical Center