People

MARK SEERY, PhD (he/him), is a Professor in the UB Department of Psychology, where he has been a member of the faculty since 2005. He received his AB in Psychology from Dartmouth College in 1998, his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2004, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Seery studies stress and coping, with emphases on resilience, the self, and psychophysiology. He is fascinated by the social psychological processes underlying these topics and especially enjoys working with students on questions of mutual interest.

He currently serves as Area Head for the Social-Personality PhD Program and has previously served as an Associate Editor for Self and Identity and International Journal of Psychophysiology. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation.

At the undergraduate level, Dr. Seery regularly teaches Introduction to Social Psychology and The Mind-Body Connection in a Social World; at the graduate level, he teaches Social Psychophysiology. He has received awards for both undergraduate teaching and his mentorship of undergraduate Psychology Honors students.

Fun facts: He is eager to share photos of his faultless cats, random wildlife on campus, and obscure objects in space.

JAMES KENNEDY, BA (he/him), is in the doctoral program in Social-Personality Psychology at UB. James received his undergraduate degree from Pace University in 2024 with a major in Personality and Social Psychology and minors in Philosophy and Sociology and Anthropology. His research interests include 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. 

Fun facts: James likes exploring new hobbies and learning about others’ hobbies. His current hobbies include film photography, roasting and brewing coffee, cultivating plants, and cooking. 

SOPHIE LAYER, BA (she/her), is in UB’s master’s program in General Psychology, with a focus on Social-Personality Psychology. She earned her undergraduate degree from SUNY Potsdam in 2026 with a major in Psychology. Sophie’s research interests include stress, motivation, interpersonal relationships, and consumption patterns, specifically contemporary consumer trends.

Fun facts: In her free time, Sophie enjoys working out, reading fantasy novels, and painting.

KATIE SARICH, BA (she/her), is in UB’s master’s program in General Psychology, with a focus on Social-Personality Psychology. She graduated from Buffalo State University, in 2024, majoring in Psychology. Katie’s research interests include stress, motivation, and decision making, especially in individuals and teams working in fast-paced and high-stakes situations such as athletics and the military.

Fun facts: Katie enjoys tending to her garden during the summer months and is a connoisseur of energy drinks.

NATHANIEL ZEDOMI, BA (he/him), is in the doctoral program in Social-Personality Psychology at UB. He received his undergraduate degree 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.

Fun facts: Nathaniel enjoys participating in recreational sports and cherishes spending quality time with his family and friends.

JILLIAN ASH (she/her), Psychology major, is interested in gaining a deeper understanding of how social comparison tendencies influence self-perception, as well as the ways in which those psychological processes impact subsequent behavioral patterns. After graduation, Jillian intends to apply to medical school and pursue a career as a physician. 

Fun facts: Jillian enjoys horseback riding, making music, spending quality time with her somewhat random assortment of pets, and experiencing Buffalo Bills-induced anxiety. 

ROSY BOCHNER (she/her), double major in Psychology and Criminology, is interested in understanding how the lens through which people process emotions shapes the way they feel and, in turn, their behavior. Her research focuses on self-distancing and how it influences positive feelings. After graduation, Rosy plans on pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Fun Facts: Rosy loves skateboarding, weightlifting, and can chef-up a mean vodka pasta.