People

Project Staff and Partners

Janis Whitlock, Ph.D., MPH is the Director of the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injurious Behaviors. Janis has worked extensively in the area of adolescent and women's health and possesses formal training in Public Health and Human Development. She is particularly interested in the social, cultural, and contextual factors which influence adolescent development and identity formation. She has published in the areas of adolescent connectedness to school and community and, more recently, in self-injurious behavior in adolescents and young adults.

Amanda Purington, MPS, B.S. is the Study Coordinator for all studies undertaken as part of the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injurious Behaviors. Amanda is a graduate of Cornell University with degrees in Human Development as well as Community and Rural Development. She also works as a research support specialist with the ACT for Youth initiative. Amanda is interested in the ways in which collaborative community initiatives can be used to foster adolescent well-being.

John Eckenrode, Ph.D. is a project partner and co-PI on several of the studies currently underway. He is Professor of Human Development and Director of the Family Life Development Center. He is also Director of the National Data Archive of Child Abuse and Neglect. His research concerns child abuse and neglect, the effects of preventive interventions, and stress and coping processes and he has authored numerous books and articles in this and related areas.

Jane Powers, Ph.D. is a project partner. She has a special interest in the role the Internet plays in adolescent well being and mental health. Jane is longtime member of the research faculty in the Family Life Development Center and has worked on numerous projects related to adolescent risk and well being. Jane is also the Project Director for the New York State ACT for Youth Center of Excellence.

Student Research Assistants

Kate Bubrick is a senior in the College of Arts in Sciences. She is majoring in psychology and hopes to pursue a career in community development and mental health. Kate is currently researching protocol and prevention recommendations for schools dealing with self-injurious
student populations.

Jackie Goodman is a senior at Cornell University, majoring in Human Development. She hopes to pursue a career that involves mental health and the law. Jackie is interested in peers and their impact on help-seeking behavior and she is currently researching protocol and prevention strategies that would be useful for school settings.

Celeste Pietrusza is a post-baccalaureate student and Cornell employee preparing for graduate work in psychology. Celeste has a background in film, video and media studies and production. Her current long-term project explores the relationship between mind and body in philosophy, art, and psychology and looks toward the possibilities for the role of technology in the psychotherapeutic process.

Jose "Joe" Redondo is a junior in the College of Human Ecology majoring in Human Development. After graduation Joe plans to pursue a degree in Clinical Psychology while expanding Child's Play Inc., a non-profit organization he co-founded in which he and a partner teach drama to underprivileged children to include homeless families in transition, as well as counseling for family members through the volunteer efforts of mental heath providers in Miami and New York City.

Laura Transue is a junior Cornell Film major and College Scholar. With the College Scholars Program, she is studying media influence on and portrayal of women’s issues and adolescent issues, specifically in mainstream popular and teen film. She is interested in working to develop positive, supportive programming for teenage girls and marginalized women as well as working in British film and television. Laura is currently working on the Youtube Project and the development of the self-injury webpage.