Tammy Greer, Ph.D. (United Houma Nation) is a faculty member in the School of Psychology and Director of the Southern Miss Center for American Indian Research and Studies. She is faculty advisor to the Golden Eagles Intertribal Society, a Native focused student group who works with the Center to host a yearly powwow, Native Ways School Days and other Native-focused events on campus. In 2005, Dr. Greer, along with other tribal folks and Southern Miss faculty, built a 1000 square foot native plant "tended wild" garden on the Southern Miss Campus. The garden, in the shape of a Medicine Wheel, nurtures hundreds of plants that our Southeastern tribes used for food and drink, weapons and building materials, pigments and dyes, and medicines.

Khadiza Akter is a Ph.D. student in Experimental Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she also completed her M.A. in Health Psychology. Her academic journey began at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, where she earned her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in School Psychology, and it has shaped her passion for exploring the connection between psychology, health, and behavior. Her research focuses on stress and eating behavior, with broader interests in emotion regulation, emotional eating, impostor syndrome, obesity, substance use, digital dependency, and nature-based interventions. At the core of her work is a deep commitment to making the United States a healthier nation by promoting healthy eating and lifestyle practices and reducing preventable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension through a better understanding of the behavioral and psychological factors that contribute to them. Looking forward, she aspires to serve as a faculty member in psychology, where she can continue teaching and conducting research in health psychology, while also extending her mission globally to help create healthier citizens and stronger communities around the world.

Melinda Slay is a second-year Ph.D. student studying Experimental Psychology with a focus in health psychology. She graduated from William Carey University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science, where she double majored in Intercultural Studies and Psychology while minoring in Biology. After graduation, she hopes to work for the University of Mississippi Medical Center conducting research that will be a catalyst for a healthier Mississippi, especially in rural Mississippi.

Ibtesham Ahmed has gained valuable experience as an ABA therapy intern and as a counselor at True Friends, where he worked closely with children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Building on this foundation, his research explores health disparities, coping, and well-being, with the goal of developing approaches that address the diverse psychological and social challenges faced by underrepresented populations.

Neonta Mahjabin is a driven and insightful psychology student, passionate about translating theory into real-world solutions, with a specific focus on Experimental Health Psychology. Her strong academic foundation is reflected by her inclusion on the President's List and Dean's List of the College of Education and Human Sciences, as well as being a recipient of the Merit Scholarship from the College of Education and Human Sciences Development Fund–EHS NEST Retention Program. She is highly proficient in research methodologies, behavioral analysis, and mental health interventions. Neonta has been recognized for her dedication to community engagement, having been named Best Volunteer by the Bangladeshi Student Association at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her goal is to conduct transformative research that advances psychological knowledge and positively impacts lives globally.

A Bangladeshi high school graduate from WLFSC and a Computer Science sophomore at Southern Miss, Safwan is a detail-oriented AI and DS enthusiast with strong academic records—designated as Valedictorian for academic excellence at WLFSC and honored to be included on the Dean's List for two consecutive semesters at Southern Miss. He joined the Experimental Health Psychology Lab led by Dr. Tammy Greer to contribute a computer science perspective to interdisciplinary research exploring the intersection of mental health and emerging technologies.

Emma Bainer is a junior undergraduate student at the University of Southern Mississippi, majoring in psychology with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology upon graduation in December 2026. She is a member of the International Honor Society in Psychology, Phi Kappa Phi, and a Discovery Scholar in the USM Honors College. She is honored to be a part of Dr. Greer’s Experimental Health Lab and contribute to identifying relationships between the psychological processes of Mississippi residents and the subsequent varying health issues.