DOMINIC M. ALIFANO, B.A.
Dominic is beginning his second year in the master’s program in General Psychology, with a focus on Social-Personality Psychology at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. Dominic Graduated from the University at Buffalo, SUNY in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology. Dominic’s research interests include stress, coping, self-motivation, and social comparison.
SHERIKA CALISTE, B.S., LMSW
Sherika is beginning her third year of the doctoral program in Social-Personality Psychology at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Howard University in 2014, and her MSW degree from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2020. Sherika’s research interests are rooted in social justice and aimed at understanding the relationship between historical and social factors and attachment.
Publications
- Jemal, A. & Caliste, S. (in press). Focus groups evaluate and inform revisions of a socio-behavioral health intervention. Evaluation and Program Planning.
- Bussey, S.R., Jemal, A., & Caliste, S. (2021). Transforming social work’s potential in the field: A radical framework. Social Work Education, 40, 140-154.
- Jemal, A., Urmey, L.S., & Caliste, S. (2021). From sculpting an intervention to healing in action. Social Work with Groups, 44, 1-18.
Selected Conference Presentations
- Jemal, A., Bussey, S., Frasier, J., & Caliste, S. (2021, November). Transformative social work education bridges the liminal space between consciousness and action. Workshop held at the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
JAMES KENNEDY, B.A.
James is beginning his first year of the doctoral program in Social-Personality Psychology at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. He received his B.A. in 2024 from Pace University with a major in Personality & Social Psychology and minors in Philosophy and Sociology & Anthropology. James’s research interests stem from exploring social behavior in close relationships both romantic and non-romantic, and understanding the connection between close relationships and emotion-regulation, self-control, goal conflict, capitalization, and social support.
Publications
- Gosnell, C. & Kennedy, J. (in press). Politics, relationships, and moral foundations. Transactions.
Selected Conference Presentations
- Kennedy, J. (2023, April). What challenges generation Z faces from the usage of social media. Poster presented at WorldCUR, Coventry, UK.
NATHANIEL ZEDOMI, B.A.
Nathaniel is beginning his third year of the doctoral program in Social-Personality Psychology at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. He received his B.A. in 2021 from Houghton University, with majors in Psychology and Physics and minors in Mathematics and Diversity Studies. Nathaniel is interested in understanding the complex dynamics between stress, prosociality, and various influencing factors such as adversity and intergroup interactions. He is especially interested in how egalitarian motivations shape physiological responses in intergroup contexts. Outside of academia, Nathaniel enjoys participating in recreational sports and cherishes spending quality time with his family and friends.
Selected Conference Presentations
- Zedomi, I.N., & Poulin, M. (2024, April). Why suffering leads to compassion. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
- Zedomi, I.N., Tetta, O., & Young-Reusser, A. (2021, April). The impact of community expectations on how a benevolent response to a toxic comment online is perceived by observers. Poster presented at the Western NY Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Buffalo, NY.