Leadership
Joseph Gardella
Postdoctoral Research Associate
joseph.gardella@unl.edu
CURRICULUM VITAE
Joseph Gardella
Joseph Gardella is a mixed-methods community and applied social psychologist whose research focuses on better understanding individual and systemic causes of positive youth development in school settings, particularly with historically marginalized populations. His work focuses on developing, implementing and evaluating prevention and intervention programming and informing policy efforts, especially building structural interventions that increase opportunities to grow relationships and coach targeted skills. Gardella earned his Ph.D. in Community Research and Action from Vanderbilt University.
Christina Hitz
Senior Project Director
BiographyChristina Hitz
Christina Hitz provides leadership and development of staff, students at IVRL as a senior project director. Her interdisciplinary experience spans the fields of communication, law enforcement and community engaged public health practice. Hitz earned a Master of Public Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Bachelor of Arts in communication.
Melissa D. Zephier Olson
Postdoctoral Research Associate
melissa.olson@unl.edu
CURRICULUM VITAE
Melissa D. Zephier Olson
Melissa D. Zephier Olson, a Yankton Sioux tribal member and a descendant of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes, received her doctoral degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in global family health and well-being and ethnic studies. She is a qualitative researcher intent on exploring the impacts of colonization on Indigenous families and relationships. Zephier Olson will continue her research by exploring research aimed at reducing sexual violence among Indigenous youth through the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory’s grand challenges initiative to establish an Indigenous-led sexual violence prevention center on the Pine Ridge reservation.
Carly Wheeler
Research Manager
BiographyCarly Wheeler
Carly Wheeler is the research manager for the IVRL, specializing in project management and administration for the lab.
Great Plains
Madi Ahrlin
Research Staff,
Rapid City Family Project
Lloyd BigCrow Sr.
Program Facilitator,
Wahwala Iyohlogya
Crystal Bush
Research Staff
Marcey Edwards
Programming & Research Staff,
Rapid City Family Project
Karissa Ellis
Research Staff,
Rapid City Family Project
Ramona Herrington
Cultural Outreach Manager,
Rapid City Family Project & Youth VIP Project
Skyler Hopfauf
Project Coordinator, Youth VIP Project & Rapid City Family Project
BiographySkyler Hopfauf
Skyler Hopfauf is a project coordinator for the Youth VIP Project and the Rapid City Family Project.
Wamblee Looking Horse
Programming & Research Staff,
Rapid City Family Project
Tifanie Petro
Programming Staff,
Rapid City Family Project
Nationwide
Ramiro Angelino
Project Coordinator,
STAR-M
Biography
Ramiro Angelino
Ramiro Angelino is project coordinator for the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory’s initiative to better understand sexual assault experiences among U.S. sexual minority men, and to inform prevention and response efforts. He provides logistical, technical, organization and communications support to the project with input from an advisory board. Ramiro earned a bachelor’s degree in clinical community psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Candice Crutchfield
Research Staff
Shianne Dillion
Research Staff
Krista Edwards
Program Facilitator,
PRYSHM Project
Tessa Graf
Research Staff
Johnny Guaylupo
Program Facilitator,
PRYSHM Project
Ellis Jennings
Program Facilitator,
PRYSHM Project
Sebastian McNary
Research Staff
Victoria Oestmann
Research Staff
Tori Richardson
Program Facilitator,
PRYSHM Project
Meena Wilwerding
Research Staff
Community Partners
Bridget Diamond-Welch
Faculty Affiliate
Lenny Hayes
Cultural Consultant
Lee Paiva
Executive Director, IMPower
Leon Leader Charge
Consultant (Prevention Specialist, Research Associate),
Rapid City Family Project
Students
Additional Team Members
| Name | Title | Project |
|---|---|---|
| Cree Black | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Sonji Black Bear | Research Staff | Rapid City Family Project |
| Ivis Black Elk | Research Staff | Rapid City Family Project |
| Jeremiah Brave Heart Sr | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Sharay Brewer | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Janessa Garnett | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Jaylin Garnett | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Verlyn Garnier | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Benjamin Jas | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Rebecca Lone Elk-Two Bulls | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Orin Morrison | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Aleesa Nutting | Project Manager | Project LIVE |
| Meagan Pieper | Project Coordinator | Online Family Acceptance Project |
| Patricia Sattler | Senior Project Director | |
| Danielle Whirlwind Horse | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Raedean White Calf | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Steven Wilson | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |
| Thalia Wilson | Program Facilitator | Wahwala Iyohlogya |