Learn more about the early-career scholars whose work strengthens the SPARK Lab.
Amber Fischer -- P3 Research Coordinator
Amber Fischer is a Research Coordinator at Wayne State University. After graduating from Oakland University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and Criminal Justice, she received her MSW from the University of Michigan with a concentration in Policy Evaluation. Amber co-coordinates P3 and previously co-coordinated YES-HR for Drs. Smith-Darden & Kernsmith. Amber is currently earning a Research Certificate, with intentions of pursuing her PhD from the Wayne State University School of Social Work. Amber's ultimate goal is to contribute to the institution of equitable and effective justice policy that foster the growth and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Jamie Kynn, MA, MSW -- SPARK Lab Co-Coordinator
Jamie Kynn is a third year doctoral student in the School of Social Work at Michigan State University. Jamie received their MA in Gender Studies from Central European University, and their MSW from Rutgers University. They have previously worked at The Center on Violence Against Women and Children and Education Development Center. Jamie's research has included human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and compassion fatigue in violence researchers. Their work mainly focuses on gender-based violence policies, program evaluations, assessments, trainings, and developing non-academic research dissemination media.
Meara MacWilliams, MSW -- P3 Project Coordinator
Meara MacWilliams is one half of the co-coordinating team that oversees P3. She previously coordinated Youth Empowerment Solutions- Healthy Relationships (YES-HR), the Michigan Study of Teenagers' Relationships (MI-STAR) and the Singing to Babies in Motown!: The Detroit Lullaby Study. In the past, she was also a case manager for a project that evaluated the impact of collaborative goal setting to empower Metro-Detroit families with children aged 5 and under, through a home-visiting model. She received her BSW from MSU with a certificate in Child Welfare, and her MSW from Wayne State University with a dual-title in Infant Mental Health. Meara’s work has spanned from early childhood into adolescence, with a focus on promoting healthy relationship development and understanding the impact of trauma and violence.
Taylor A. Reid, BA -- SPARK Lab Co-Coordinator; Project Director, Drama Club
Taylor A. Reid, BA is a fifth year doctoral student in the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at Michigan State University. Her research focuses on intimate partner violence as experienced by sexual minority women, with added emphasis on the resilience these women display. She is particularly interested in understanding the power dynamics that occur in women’s same-sex relationships. Through mixed-methods research, Taylor strives to provide a platform for marginalized communities to tell their stories. She was previously awarded the Dean’s Assistantship in 2017 and has since served on multiple committees aimed at diversity as a representative for the LGBT community.
Tamara Robaciu
Tamara Robaciu is a junior at the College of Natural Sciences at Michigan State University studying Biomedical Laboratory Science. She intends to graduate with a BS degree and pursue medical school with the aim of becoming a practicing physician. The SPARK Lab has been her first research experience and she intends to combine the research skills and empathetic mindset obtained in the lab to work towards greater equity and equality in the healthcare industry.
Rouan Salim - SPARK Lab Co-Coordinator; Project Director, Cultivating Communities for Change
Rouan Salim is a SPARK lab project director and doctoral student in University of Michigan's Department of Psychology. Her research interests revolve around the examination of organizational dynamics among vulnerable populations. Specifically, Rouan aims to assess incidences of harassment and incivility victimization among minoritized and marginalized women, refugees, and immigrants. She is also interested in investigating the influence of romance in organizational settings on wellbeing and productivity.
James Tulppo
James Tulppo is the Policy Intervention Coordinator at the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health (MOASH), working on the Promoting Protective Policies (P3) Project. He graduated from Michigan State University in 2020 with a BA in Public Policy, minoring in Leadership of Organizations. He is especially passionate about creating and implementing inclusive K-12 school policy, and served on the Michigan Department of Education’s LGBTQ+ Students’ Project before joining P3. Fun facts include: he is an identical twin and a car enthusiast.
Dana William
Dana William is currently a sophomore at the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University studying Human Biology. She is part of the Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program and intends to pursue medical school and specialize in women’s health. The Spark Lab is her first research experience as an undergraduate student, and she plans to use the skills she learns to promote awareness of sexual violence and support victims as she furthers in her medical career.