Dr. DeShong's Laboratory
Lab Manager
Hilary L. DeShong, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Graduate Coordinator
Clinical Psychology, Ph.D
Oklahoma State University, 2017
Clinical Psychology Internship:
Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, 2016-2017
Office: 208 Rice Hall
Email: hld166@msstate.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Courses Taught:
Psych 4203 Theories of Personality
Psych 8013 Advanced Topics in Clinical Psychotherapy and Intervention
Psych 8333 Systems of Psychotherapy
Psych 8364 Personality Appraisal
Psych 8450 Applied Clinical Practicum
Dr. DeShong is a first-generation college student who grew up in a small town in southcentral Pennsylvania. She attended WVU as an undergraduate and Villanova for an experimental master's degree before moving to Oklahoma for her doctoral training, working under the mentorship of Dr. Stephanie Mullins-Sweatt. Dr. DeShong's research focuses on personality traits and personality pathology in relation to overall well-being and general functioning, with the goal of improving the lives of individuals with maladaptive personality traits. In her free time, Dr. DeShong enjoys hiking, kickboxing, reading, writing, playing guitar, and game nights with friends.
**Dr. DeShong will be reviewing applications for the 2026 admission cycle. Please note, she will be relocating to West Virginia University and recruiting a student to start at WVU in Fall 2026. Interested students should apply to WVU's clinical psychology doctoral program (https://psychology.wvu.edu/graduate-students/ph-d-in-psychology-clinical-psychology).

Graduate Students

Abby Kukay
Abigail Kukay, M.S., (ak2015@msstate.edu) is a 3rd year clinical psychology doctoral student at MSU. Her research investigates how the family unit is impacted when a member has a chronic illness. She is also currently an Instructor of Record for Biological Psychology. Following graduation, she hopes to work in a children's hospital supporting families and children with a chronic illness. Abby works as part of the R-15 Emotion Regulation Study team. She assists with conducting clinical interviews and entering data.

Tram Nguyen
Tram Nguyen, M. A., (tn596@msstate.edu) is a 3rd year clinical psychology doctoral student at MSU. Her research investigates the impact of trauma related to child maltreatment and gender-based violence and psychological adjustment in emerging adults. She focuses on familial protective and risk factors related to child maltreatment, including parent-child relationship quality, discipline, and family functioning. Tram works as part of the R-15 Emotion Regulation Study team. She assists with conducting clinical interviews and entering data.
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Yasmine A. Griffin (She/Her)
Yasmine Griffin, M.A., (yg213@msstate.edu) is a 1st year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Mississippi State University. Yasmine’s research focus is on personality pathology and the assessment and evaluation of emotional and behavioral difficulties. As a first-year student, Yasmine will be working as a graduate assistant in the Mississippi State University Psychology Clinic. Being a new recruit to the lab, Yasmine hopes to begin working on various projects within the lab where she will be conducting clinical interviews and entering data.
Undergraduate Researchers

Landon Danial
Pronouns: He/ Him
Current Standing: Senior Psychology Major
Future Plans: Graduate School for Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Research Interests: Personality Disorders, Biological Psychology

Sarah Petersen
Pronouns: She/ Her
Current Standing: Senior Psychology Major
Future Plans: Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Spalding University
Research Interests: Childhood factors and psychopathology, Primary vs. Secondary Psychopathy, Mental health with incarcerated individuals

Johntavia Toliver
Current standing: Senior Psychology Major
Future Plans: Graduate Program in Behavioral Neuroscience/ Clinical Psychology
Research Interests: Borderline Personality Disorder, Substance Use Disorders, Developmental Disorders, Mental health within marginalized communities, maladaptive behaviors in coping mechanisms

Abby Pulver
Pronouns: She/Her
Current Standing: Senior Psychology Major
Future Plans: Graduate School for Clinical or Forensic Psychology
Research Interests:
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Gracie Walters
Pronouns: She/ Her
Current Standing: Senior Psychology major with a minor in International Studies
Future Plans:Grad school for Clinical Psychology with a concentration in trauma and/or global mental health
Research Interests: PTSD, trauma, personality disorders, child psychology

Claire Boudreaux
Pronouns:
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Chandleigh Barton
Pronouns: She/ Her
Current Standing: Senior Criminology and Psychology Major
Future Plans: Plan to attend grad school where she can do more research and find the field that she would like to concentrate in
Research Interests: Interested in the relationship between personality and delinquent behaviors, and how that impacts incarceration and recidivism.
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Gregory Shapiro
Pronouns: He/ Him
Current Standing: Senior Psychology major
Future Plans: work as a family therapist.
Research Interests: Families

Abigail Webb
Pronouns:She/ Her
Current Standing:Senior Psychology Major with minor in Applied Behavioral Analysis
Future Plans: Attend graduate school after graduation in the spring
Research Interests: personality, parenting, and trauma

Sydney Collum
Pronouns: She/ Her
Current Standing: Senior Psychology major
Future Plans:
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Benjamin Green
Pronouns: He/ Him
Current Standing: Junior Psychology major
Future Plans:
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Adyson Massengill
Pronouns: She/ Her
Current Standing: Senior Psychology major
Future Plans:
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Chastity Mathis
Pronouns: She/ Her
Current Standing: Senior Psychology major
Future Plans:
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Ashleigh Westbrook
Pronouns: She/ Her
Current Standing: Senior Psychology major
Future Plans:
Research Interests:
Honorary Lab Members

Romulus and Remus

Wrigley
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Ace

Violet

Layla

Oreo