LAB MEMBERS

Kayla A. Burd, PhD

Email: kburd@uwyo.edu

CV

Dr. Burd grew up in New Jersey and earned her BA in psychology at Hofstra University in 2010. She earned her MS in Psychology at Arizona State University in 2013, her MA in Developmental Psychology at Cornell University in 2016, and her PhD with a concentration in law, psychology, and human development at Cornell University in 2018. She then spent two years at Iowa State University as a postdoctoral research associate examining the impact of uncertainty and contextual bias on firearms examiner decision-making. She joined the faculty at the University of Wyoming in Fall 2020. Her research examines how individuals’ beliefs, backgrounds, and predispositions bias memory, reasoning, and decision-making within legal contexts, particularly with respect to juries and jurors. She spends her free time with her family (husband, daughter, son, two dogs) hiking, camping, rock climbing, and traveling.

Jaylan Aliev, HBS

Jaylan was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. In 2022 she received a HBS in Psychology and an AA in Criminology from Idaho State University. She is a first-year graduate student in the Psychology and Law PhD program. Her research interest include jury decision making in relation to discrimination/prejudice, child victims, and morality. In her free time, she enjoys reading and collecting houseplants.

Amanda Anzovino, MS

Amanda grew up in New Jersey and earned her BA in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College in 2019. In 2023, She earned her M.S. in Experimental Psychology from UW with a thesis exploring how victim prototypicality and emotional display influenced mock-investigators' decision-making and perceptions of victim credibility in a sexual assault case. More broadly, Amanda's research interests include legal decision-making, victim credibility and blame, victim impact statements, and rape myth endorsement with the goal of discovering ways in which we can better support all survivors of sexual assault as they navigate the criminal-legal system. In her free time, Amanda enjoys reading historical fiction novels, traveling, and rewatching Schitt's Creek.

Olivia Grella, MA

Olivia grew up in Watertown, CT and received her BS in Psychology from Eastern CT State University. After completing her undergraduate degree, she received her MA in Clinical Counseling Psychology from Assumption University. She is currently a graduate student in the Psychology and Law PhD program. Her research interests broadly focus on factor that influence jury decision making in sex crimes. Specifically, she focuses on defendant characteristics, rape myths, victim blame, and language use. In her spare time Olivia enjoys running, true crime podcasts, listening to Bruce Springsteen, and spending time with her partner, Thomas, and dog, Toulouse.

CJ Erion, MS

CJ grew up in Salem, Oregon, and received his BA in psychology at Point Loma Nazarene University. He is currently a second-year graduate student in the Motivation and Cognition Lab. His research interests broadly include intergroup behavior, public shaming, and goal striving mindsets. CJ is currently collaborating with the Social Cognition and Law lab, primarily investigating how cognitive and situational differences influence perceptions regarding police use of force. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, skiing, and playing various sports.

Jack MacDonald, M.M.

Jack MacDonald is a first-year Graduate Teaching Assistant at the UW Department of Music where he assists/teaches various undergraduate courses. In addition, he is absolutely elated to be a part of Dr. Burd’s Social Cognition and Law Lab. An avid musician, MacDonald has performed in various festivals and competitions up to the national level. His main research interests are in the realm of positive psychology, specifically in the matters of talent, learning, and perseverance. Besides learning new things, Jack likes thrifting, cooking, baking, petting dogs, and consuming vast amounts of ice cream.

Hannah Mulkey - Lab Manager

Hannah grew up just over the hill in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She is currently a senior and will graduate in December with a bachelor's in psychology and criminal justice. This is her third semester in the Social Cognition and Law Lab and is now the undergraduate lab manager. She plans on attending graduate school next fall to study psychology with a focus in special education or Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy as she wishes to develop programs for children with Autism. She loves all the true crime podcasts and the anything to do with the outdoors. As the picture may give away, she's also a pretty big fan of her German Shorthaired Pointer, Sage. 

Logan Nugent - Assistant Lab Manager

Logan grew up in Cody, Wyoming and is currently working on graduating with her BS in psychology with a minor in criminal justice in the spring. Following her graduation, she is planning to pursue her PhD in counseling psychology with an interest in either forensics or childhood and adolescence. When she is not busy with her studies: she enjoys reading, creative writing, and spending time with her friends and family.