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

Ailish Hanly is a sophomore Human Development major in the College of Human Ecology.  She feels strongly about the importance of research on the topic of self-injury and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.  Ailish plans on pursuing a career in psychiatry and is particularly interested in working with teenagers.  

Anne Kim is a junior Psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology.

Celeste Pietrusza is a post-baccalaureate student preparing for graduate work in clinical psychology. Celeste is currently researching the role of therapy in recovering from self-injury and investigating different pathways to recovery.

Patricia Rothenberg is a sophomore Human Development major in the College of Human Ecology. She plans to attend medical school.  

Stephanie Shea is a junior Biology and Society major in the College of Human Ecology.  She first researched self-injury in high school under the mentorship of Dr. E. David Klonsky.  She is very excited to have the opportunity to research the subject again as a college undergraduate. Her current career aspirations are to go to medical school and possibly pursue a career in psychiatry.