Current Team Members

Alysa Longo is a second year master’s student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss, where she studied Special Education. After graduation Alysa wants to be a middle school Special Education teacher for a few years before she wants to be a school based BCBA. Her favorite childhood book is The Giving Tree.

Brooke Edelstein is a second-year master’s student in Early Childhood Special Education with the Applied Behavioral Analysis add-on. She received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University. Brooke has experience working for Northeast Arc as a in-home behavior technician for children with autism. Her favorite childhood book is Giraffes Can’t Dance.

Kelly Root is a second-year Master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education Program and is from Naples Florida. She recently graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Healthcare with a concentration in Applied Behavioral Analysis and a minor in Deaf Studies. During her time at the University of South Florida, she worked as a Registered Behavioral Therapist (RBT) where she provided in-home and clinical behavioral support to children with behavioral and developmental disorders. Her favorite childhood book is Goodnight Moon.

Emily Payne is a second-year Master’s student in the Early Childhood Special Education Program and is from Half Moon Bay, California. She graduated from Sonoma State, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development. Emily has experience in an array of child-related services including providing behavioral support to children with developmental disabilities as a registered behavioral therapist (RBT), working as a preschool intern teacher, and as an assistant camp counselor. Emily’s favorite childhood games are monopoly and the game of life.

Marissa Stinson is a second-year Master’s student in the Child Studies Program and is from Denver, Colorado. Marissa obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Colorado State University. Marissa has experience in the field of behavioral healthcare via providing services to children as a Registered Behavioral Therapist (RBT) as well as a Youth Treatment Counselor at a residential facility for children displaced out of foster care. Marissa’s favorite childhood book is The Giving Tree.

Sophie Williams is a second-year Master’s student in the Applied Behavioral Analysis Program and she is from Roswell Georgia. She recently graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Collaborative Special Education (K-12). During her time at Auburn Sophie worked as a Health and Wellness mentor for the EAGLES Program where she worked supporting students to make healthy lifestyle choices, additionally, she also led equine-assisted activities for children with developmental disabilities via her internship at Storybrook Farm. Sophie’s favorite childhood movie is Ratatouille.

Preschool and Early Elementary Learning (PEEL) Lab

Doctoral Students

Class of 2024

Preschool and Early Elementary Learning (PEEL) Lab Lab Members