Dr. Onnie Rogers, Principal Investigator of the DICE lab, is a developmental psychologist and identity scholar whose research curiosities converge at the intersection of human development, diversity and equity, and education. Dr. Rogers is interested in social and educational inequities and the mechanisms through which macro-level disparities are both perpetuated and disrupted at the micro-level of identities and relationships. Her research centers the perspectives and experiences of racial/ethnic and gender diverse children and adolescents.  As a professor and a researcher, Dr. Rogers advocates for equity with an intersectional lens and does research on race and gender, and their role in identity development among youth in urban contexts. When not in the office, Dr. Rogers enjoys practicing yoga, eating chocolate, or shuttling her daughters (ages 10 and 14) to various activities. 

Dr. Rogers’ research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Spencer Foundation among others, and her scholarship is published in American Psychologist, Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Human Development, and Journal of Adolescent Research. She is also President-Elect for the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA).

Education:
2004   B. A.  | Psychology | University of California Los Angeles
2012   Ph.D. | Applied Developmental Psychology | New York University
2013   Postdoctoral Fellow | University of Washington
– Spencer Foundation/National Academy of Education
– National Science Foundation (NSF)
2019   Human Development and Social Policy Faculty Fellow | Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy

Julianna is the Lab Manager of the DICE Lab. Originally from Miami, FL, she earned her B.A. in Public Policy Analysis with a concentration in Psychology from Pomona College in 2024. Her research interests center on ethnic and racial identity development in early and middle childhood, the role of children’s literature in promoting inclusive classroom environments, and how parents and educators discuss race, racism, and discrimination with young children. Long term, Julianna plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology/Education, with the goal of supporting the development of inclusive and culturally responsive school environments. In her free time, Julianna enjoys baking, writing short stories, and visiting museums. 

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Brandon is a fourth-year Comparative Human Development Ph.D. student in the DICE lab. Broadly, his research focuses on using critical theories and perspectives to examine how ideologies of white supremacy manifest in human development, education, and identity. Currently, he is using qualitative and participatory methods to explore the possibilities and limits of schools in challenging whiteness and white identity. Outside of research, Brandon enjoys spending time with his partner and dog, going for runs, and trying new vegan restaurants.

Amanda-Joy Wright is a third-year Comparative Human Development student. Her research investigates the mental health, well-being, and identity development of Black women and girls, with an emphasis on how systemic inequities and social contexts shape their lived experiences. Through qualitative methodologies and community-centered approaches, she examines the impact of race- and gender-based oppression on identity formation and mental health, particularly within school and community contexts. Through her work, she hopes to advocate for a more nuanced and contextually informed understanding of Black women and girls to drive the development and reimagination of equitable policies and practices. Prior to starting her Ph.D., Amanda earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University. In Amanda’s free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, photography, and live jazz music.

Vanessa Cordova Lopez is a first-year Comparative Human Development Ph.D. student in the DICE lab. Originally from Valparaiso, Chile, Vanessa completed her BA in Music Education at the University of Playa Ancha (Chile) and worked as an educator in both public and private schools. Vanessa migrated to the United States in 2018, and inspired by her lived experiences as an immigrant, decided to pursue a career in psychology. Through her research Vanessa seeks to investigate the processes and factors that inform how immigrant youth racialized as Latinx in the U.S. (re)form their identities, navigate their social positions, and negotiate– and resist– oppressive ideologies and social structures across national borders. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys playing music, hiking, traveling, and discovering new brunch spots!  

Ana is a PhD candidate and interdisciplinary social scientist in the Department of Comparative Human Development. Her research uses qualitative methods to explore how transformative change against and away from institutional and macrosystemic oppression can take place in the relationships between adults and children. In particular, she is interested in the possibilities of liberatory education as conceived by Black and other non-dominant students educators who teach and learn in school spaces built on capitalist and carceral logics. Through her research, she practices locating the relationships between individual healing, interpersonal coalition, and system-wide transformation of educational organizations.

Kenya Tuttle is a fifth-year doctoral student at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in the area of Pastoral Theology, Personality and Culture. She is currently completing a 3^rd year clinical fellowship at the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago.  Her research interest centers Black girls’ interpersonal relationships and attachment styles and ask how Black girls are affected by intergenerational trauma.  Prior to starting the PhD, Kenya taught middle school English and Social Studies for five years to Black and Hispanic girls, where she was also a girls’ basketball Coach and Audubon Conservation Leader. Before teaching, she was a Theological Editor for youth Sunday school materials for a Baptist denominational publishing house.  Kenya has a Master of Theological Studies degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a Master of Arts degree in Religion from Vanderbilt University. She was a student-athlete at Rice University obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Managerial Studies and Psychology. In her free time, Kenya enjoys traveling, holistic natural remedies, hiking, sports, and anything in nature or by the water.

Juan, a PhD student at Northwestern, is originally from Vallejo, California. He earned his B.A. in psychology at UC Davis in 2021 and worked in both research and clinical settings before deciding to pursue a PhD in 2023. Juan’s current research focuses on ethnic-racial identity development within societal, cultural, and interpersonal contexts for Latine adolescents and adults, ultimately with goals of understanding how these moments of identity exploration leads to a greater understanding of oneself. His current projects include understanding how the 2024 election impacts critical consciousness and one’s identity for Latine adults, and another project intends to understand how grief impacts ethnic racial identity for Latine adolescents and young adults. Whenever Juan has time to relax, he enjoys learning guitar, spending time with his friends, going to concerts, and exploring new coffee spots.

Sarah Jennings is a third-year doctoral student in the Personality, Development, and Health Psychology PhD program at Northwestern University. Her research in narrative identity examines how people construct evolving, internalized life stories that integrate past events, present states, and imagined futures into their sense of self and meaning in life. Sarah engages in mixed-method and qualitative research to study identity from multiple, intersecting levels of analysis, with specific interest in the psychosocial processes of how cultural scripts and structural forces shape narrative identity development. Her work centers intersectionality, interdisciplinary frameworks, and feminist approaches with the hopes of exploring how narrative can be a vehicle for both individual and societal transformation.

Hello! My name is Elleiana Green (she/her/hers), and I’m a rising senior from Omaha, Nebraska. I’m a pre-law student double-majoring in Journalism and Political Science with an integrated marketing and communications certificateficate. With prior experience in diversity and inclusion, I hope to work toward expanding the rights of marginalized communities. As a research assistant in the DICE lab, I am really interested in investigating biracial identity crises in children growing up in predominantly white environments. After Northwestern, I plan to be a political reporter and eventually head off to law school. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, cooking, reading, and taking long walks down Lake Michigan.

Hey, I’m Precious Ogundiran! I’m currently studying Public Health with a growing interest in psychology and health communication. I’m deeply passionate about understanding how people think, behave, and connect—especially in the context of culture, identity, and youth development. My heart is especially drawn to children and teens, and I’m committed to helping the next generation find healing, hope, and purpose.

I love building meaningful connections with others, whether through conversations, shared experiences, or simply doing life together. Outside of my studies, you’ll often find me watching shows that make me think or feel deeply, journaling my thoughts, or worshiping through Gospel music. Let’s connect on Instagram or LinkedIn—I’d love to grow, learn, and walk in purpose together!

Hello! My name is Isaac, and I’m a rising sophomore at UChicago, originally from New York City. I’m majoring in mathematics and am particularly interested in how quantitative and mathematical models can be used to study human behavior. I’m also curious about how psychological principles can be applied to math education. At the DICE lab, I am excited to develop these interests by studying the effectiveness and impact of the Causeway mathematics program. In my free time, I enjoy running along the Chicago lakefront and playing the piano.