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College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences Psychology
Steffen Stress Resilience Lab

Meet the Team

The research team led by Professor Steffen is composed of dedicated graduate students, research assistants, and collaborators who work together to advance understanding in clinical psychology and applied social psychology, with a focus on health-related issues.

Graduate Students

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Mikel Cressman

Clinical Psychology Graduate Student
Mikel is a 4th year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Brigham Young University. He has been a member of Dr. Steffen’s research lab since 2019 and currently works as a clinician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, providing therapy to veterans. His dissertation project is examining the impact of an online heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback intervention on stress and emotional well-being in teachers. Mikel hopes to continue integrating psychophysiological approaches into clinical practice and research to promote resilience and mental health.
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Josh Marchant

Clinical Psychology Graduate Student
Josh is a 3rd year grad student studying the effects of biofeedback, especially as they relate to helping children with behavioral and emotional challenges. He plans on pursuing work in pediatric psychology when he graduates. He has two children and loves playing with them in his free time.
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Dantzel Petersen-Hancey

Biofeedback Technician and Researcher
Dantzel is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Brigham Young University, with an expected graduation in April 2029. She has been a member of Dr. Steffen’s research lab since 2022 and has worked as a biofeedback clinician for the past three years. Currently, Dantzel is developing a biofeedback program at Primary Children’s Hospital. One of her professional goals is to become a pediatric psychologist specializing in the integration of biofeedback techniques to support children coping with chronic pain.
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Kathleen Ririe

Clinical Psychology Graduate Student
I am a first-year clinical psychology student from Highland, Utah, passionate about exploring the physiological outcomes of psychological processes through the lens of positive psychology. My research interests focus on the brain–body connection, biofeedback, and natural avenues to wellness, including positive psychology tools, exercise, and yoga. I’m especially fascinated by how mind–body interventions can enhance emotional and physical well-being. Outside the lab, I love spending time outdoors, enjoying my family and am working toward my goal of visiting every U.S. national park.
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Lab Manager

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Ruth Jack

Stress Resilience Lab Manager
Ruth is a 3rd year Post-BACC student who is passionate about biofeedback, emotional regulation, stress management, and motivational interviewing. She plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. In her free time, she loves to read and care for her garden, which overflows with ten varieties of fruit—raspberries being her favorite.
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Research Assistants

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Kaisa Erikson

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Kaisa is majoring in Psychology at Brigham Young University. She plans to graduate in December 2025 and plans to get a masters in marriage and family therapy. In her free time, she loves to play with her cat and tend to her many house plants.
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Brooke Freeman

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Brooke is a senior studying psychology, with minors in French and anthropology. Her passion for people and culture is one of the driving forces behind her career goals. She is preparing to do a master's program to become a licensed therapist. When it comes to hobbies, Brooke cares less about what the activity is and more about who she's with—anything is more fun with friends!
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Alan Marin

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Alan is from Texas and is studying psychology at Brigham Young University. He plans to attend medical school after graduation and hopes to work in a field that connects neuroscience and mental health. Alan has a strong interest in how stress and emotion affect the body and how self-regulation can improve overall well-being. Outside of school, he spends his time lifting, traveling, and being outdoors with friends.
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Annemarie Hilton

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Annemarie is studying Psychology and Mandarin Chinese at Brigham Young University. She plans to attend graduate school and hopes to be involved in both clinical work and cross-cultural research. She is most interested in improving the psychological wellbeing of those in the fringes of society. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking and doing Taekwondo.
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Ashley Rino

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Ashley has a deep love for neuroscience and psychology, especially the ways they reveal how people can live healthier, more connected lives. She finds meaning in serving others and cherishes time spent with her husband, her best friend. She’s happiest when surrounded by good friends, fresh air, and a bit of friendly competition, whether on the slopes or around a card table.
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Bella Brooks

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Bella is double majoring in neuroscience and psychology. She has a passion for and interest in working with people with mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities. She is applying to med school in the future and hopes to learn more about the human body and how to help those in need.
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Brooke Evans

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Brooke is a senior, finishing up her bachelor's in psychology in the Winter of 2026. She loves analyzing behavior and all the factors that influence decision-making. Her underlying goal in pursuing psychology was learning how to understand people and show individuals their inherent worth.
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Camden Hansen

Biofeedback Research Assistant
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Claire Martin

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Claire is majoring in psychology at Brigham Young University. She plans to get her master’s and become a therapist working with kids and adolescents in order to positively impact their prime development stages. In her free time, she loves to write music and plays the piano, guitar, and violin.
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Divinity Evans

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Divinity is from Alberta, Canada. She is currently majoring in psychology at Brigham Young University. Later she plans to pursue a PhD in psychology with an emphasis on cognition and learning. She is passionate about serving and wants to help make the world a better place in multiple regards. In her free time she loves to spend time with family and friends, especially if it's outdoors or playing board games. She also loves to sew.
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Ellina Fisher

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Ellina is majoring in Psychology at BYU. She is passionate about stress management and reading. She plans to attend graduate school after graduation and hopes that wherever she ends up she is able to advance empathy, community, and human dignity.
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Emma Bird

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Emma enjoys walking dogs, solving puzzles, talking with loved ones, and eating cake—all of which relieve her stress. She is a senior studying psychology and plans to attend graduate school. Her main hope is to help others and walk with them on their unique journeys.
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Esther DeWitt

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Hi! I'm Esther DeWitt and I'm a psychology major with a minor in International Development in my Junior year at BYU. I love to sing, play the piano and guitar, hike, read, and do anything outdoors. I'm hoping to get my PhD in Clinical Psychology after undergrad and work in a multicultural context to some degree.
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Graham Lonsdale

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Graham is majoring in neuroscience and loves learning about how the brain and body work together to interact with the world around us. He enjoys working alongside a team to serve and help those around him. In his spare time Graham loves being in the mountains rock climbing or snowboarding and is a pickleball fanatic.
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Griffin Keller

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Griffin is majoring in psychology at Brigham Young University. He plans to attend graduate school to become a marriage and family therapist to help further the wellbeing of families. Griffin enjoys going on walks, swimming, reading, and spending time his family.
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Javiera Troncoso

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Javiera is majoring in Psychology at Brigham Young University, where she also conducts research in neuroscience and psychophysiology. She is passionate about understanding how the brain supports emotional regulation, resilience, and mind-body connection. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology or cognitive neuroscience. Outside of academics, Javiera enjoys cooking, journaling, and spending time outdoors or traveling with friends.
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Joey Hill

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Joey is studying psychology at Brigham Young University with a minor in statistics. He wants to go on to graduate school and study clinical psychology, focusing on health psychology. He hopes to fulfill BYU’s mission by going forth to serve.
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Kylie Bandorio

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Kylie is from the Philippines and is currently a junior studying Psychology at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. She has always been fascinated by how the human mind works and how it shapes behavior. She aspires to become a pediatric neuropsychologist or a child psychologist. In addition to her major, she is minoring in Visual Arts, which is also one of her favorite hobbies. Painting helps her manage her stress and maintain healthy cortisol levels.
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Lena Suckow

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Lena is passionate about psychology and stress management. She especially loves personality testing and understanding traits that differentiate individuals. Lena is studying to become a therapist and help adolescents and young adults who struggle with mental illnesses, especially eating disorders. She loves all things music and enjoys singing in choir and acapella groups.
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Lily Esplin

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Lily finds the ways that stress impacts the body interesting, along with the way the mind interacts with itself and the outside world. She has a small army of succulents that she (usually) manages to keep alive, and she loves taking photos of things that catch her eye. She tends to go exploring in her free time and loves having fun in the outdoors.
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Mia Richards

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Mia is a second-year undergraduate student at Brigham Young University, studying psychology. She is passionate about understanding everyday human experiences and reducing daily stress. In her free time, Mia enjoys baking, hiking, traveling, and watching movies.
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Rachel Smith

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Rachel is a junior majoring in psychology at Brigham Young University. After graduating, she plans to go to graduate school to get a master’s. She is passionate about learning about stress and its effect on people. She hopes to one day be an adolescent therapist. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and going to the beach.
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Ryan Hunt

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Ryan is a junior from Park City, Utah and is studying neuroscience at Brigham Young University. He plans to attend medical school after graduation and hopes to continue to help people improve their well-being. Outside of school, he spends his time skiing, playing all types of sports, and hiking with his wife.
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Sydney Vance

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Sydney is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Family Life at Brigham Young University. She is passionate about stress management and building healthy coping mechanisms. Some of her personal de-stress strategies are belting Broadway songs in her car, spending time in nature, and laughing with her favorite people. After gradation, she plans on earning a Masters degree and dreams of being a child therapist.
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Tyler Cloward

Biofeedback Research Assistant
Tyler’s professional mission is to advance human flourishing by empowering others to live their healthiest, happiest, and most fulfilling lives. This overarching purpose drives his undergraduate academic pursuits in Neuroscience and Psychology, equipping him to become the capable and compassionate physician he seeks to be.
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