the EMBERcenter
Encouraging Mothers and Babies Everywhere - Research Center
Meet the EMBERcenter team
Jennifer E. McCabe, Ph.D.
Director
Dr. McCabe is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Western Washington University. She completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Iowa where she began her studies in maternal-child health. During postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. McCabe received specialty training in couples and family health, and some of her clinical experiences include providing couples therapy, parent coaching, and treatment for postpartum depression. At the EMBERcenter, Dr. McCabe studies pregnancy and postpartum health and its consequences for parenting and child development. Dr. McCabe also teaches courses at WWU and supervises undergraduate and graduate students in their studies. When she's not in the office, Dr. McCabe enjoys taking dance classes, listening to music, and spending time with her three young daughters.
Lisa Segre, Ph.D.
Associate
Dr. Segre is a Clinical/Community psychologist and Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa. She has a national and international reputation for perinatal depression and intervention research, and consistent funding record from NIH, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and others. Her implementation of the ‘Listening Visits’ intervention for reducing postpartum depression received the University of Iowa award for Distinguished Achievement in Publicly Engaged Research. In 2021, she was awarded the President and Provost Teaching Award, reflecting her outstanding teaching accomplishments and ability to engage students, both at the University and in the social services settings where she teaches about postpartum emotional well-being
Shaun Sowell, Ph.D.
Associate
Dr. Sowell is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate and Counselor Education faculty member in the Western Washington University Department of Psychology. Dr. Sowell trains graduate students to become School and Clinical Mental Health Counselors. Her teaching and research focus is multicultural counseling, with an emphasis on power and privilege, consequences of structural racism (access to opportunity and mental health), social, historical, and political impacts on counseling outcomes, and training anti-racist and culturally competent counselors. She has over 10 years of experience in creating and implementing programs to address systems-level inequities. As an Associate of the Center for Cross Cultural Research, Dr. Sowell studies barriers to mental health services for culturally and linguistically diverse community members.
Cara Libman
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Areas of study: Psychology Major; English Minor; Sociology Minor
Expected graduation: Spring 2022, Bachelor of Science
Cara is a Western Washington University junior with interests in Clinical and Cognitive Psychology, acquiring minors in English and Sociology. She looks forward to furthering her education in clinical work and working with children in the future.
Finn McGuinness
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Areas of Study: Neuroscience Major; Chemistry Minor
Expected Graduation: Spring 2021, Bachelor of Science
Finn is interested in how drugs impact individuals and society. His primary career goals are: to conduct research while investigating the medicinal utility of under-researched compounds at treating mental illness; inform the public, reduce drug-related harm, and help to promote scientific literacy; and reform unfair, racially-biased, scientifically outdated policies. Finn spends most of his free time listening to music, dabbling in mycology, speaking german, or hanging out with his ball python, Michael.
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Gabriel Byram
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Areas of Study: Behavioral Neuroscience Major; Chemistry Minor
Expected Graduation: Spring 2021, Bachelor of Science
I found the EMBERcenter a couple of years ago as a student of Western Washington University, and it's been a privilege to support our mission. I graduated from Western in 2021 and am now beginning my career in healthcare. I love watching soccer games, but I don't play anymore because it hurts my knees. Instead, I bike, which I enjoy a lot because I like going fast.
Jenika Staben
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Areas of study: Behavioral Neuroscience Major, Chemistry Minor, German Minor, Honors Interdisciplinary Studies Minor
Expected Graduation: Spring 2023, Bachelor of Science
After graduating from Western, Jenika plans to go to medical school with interests in neuropharmacology and neurodevelopmental disorders. During her academic career, she hopes to conduct research that will improve individuals’ quality of life and promote accessibility to all communities. Outside of school, Jenika enjoys practicing yoga, spending time outdoors, and traveling.
Meagan Brooks
Community Volunteer
Meagan currently works at an inpatient facility with at risk teenage girls. She also volunteers on PS-WA's warm line offering peer support to pregnant and postpartum parents. Her personal life is filled with spending time with her son, pulling weeds and planting seeds in her garden, and devouring feminist fiction and psychology focused non-fiction.
Previous Lab Members:
Danielle Charles, Gillian Conkling, Kat Deboodt, Mariah Deck, Maddy Garcia, Natalie Gorski, Jenny Harding,
Robyn Kuntz, Jasmine Midgley, Samantha Moore, Steph Padich, Anamika Paulay, Devon Reynolds, Cindy Sahuagan, Shoshana Schrenk, Kaitlin Troy, Ashley Twenter, Yareli Vazquez Verduzco, Valdon Watkins