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.

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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, BA

Amanda grew up in New Jersey and earned her BA in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College in 2019. She is currently a graduate student in the Psychology and Law PhD program. Her research interests broadly include juror decision making, victim impact statements, victim credibility and blame, types of and the weighing of evidence at trial, and sexual assault survivors' navigation of the legal system. In her free time, Amanda enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and rewatching Schitt’s Creek.

Brittany Cangialosi, MS

Brittany grew up in Jacksonville, Alabama and obtained her BS in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Jacksonville State University and her MS in Experimental Psychology from the University of Wyoming. She is currently a third-year graduate student in the Psychology and Law PhD program. Her research interests broadly include probation officer decision making, disparities in the juvenile justice system, and perceptions of justice-involved youth. Outside of academics, Brittany enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with her husband, Chase, and her pets, Honey and Boba.

Olivia Grella, MA

Olivia grew up in Watertown, Connecticut and obtained her BS in Psychology from Eastern CT State University. She is a doctoral student in the Psychology and Law PhD program. Her research interests broadly include jury decision making in criminal cases, victim blaming in cases of sexual violence, and the social psychological factors that influence criminal acts of violence. In her free time she enjoys running, listening to all types of music (specifically Little Mix and Bruce Springsteen), and spending time with her boyfriend and her dog.  

CJ Erion

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.

Cassandra Flick, MA

Cassie grew up in Maryland and earned her BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice from University of Delaware in 2015. She earned her MA in Forensic and Legal Psychology at Roger Williams University in 2019. She is currently a doctoral student in the Psychology and Law PhD program. Her research interests broadly include juror decision-making in civil litigation cases, jurors’ processing of trial information, perceptions of expert testimony, and capital sentencing decisions. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, trying new foods (although not always cooking them) and spending time with her dog, Oakley.

Nicholas Michalski, MS

Nick grew up in Buffalo, New York. He obtained his BA in Psychology from SUNY Buffalo State and his MS here at the University of Wyoming. Nick is a third-year graduate student in the Psychology and Law PhD program. His research interests include jury decision making, stereotyping/prejudice/discrimination, juror perceptions of evidence, and moral psychology. In his free time, Nick enjoys both playing and watching sports as well as exploring Wyoming’s beautiful scenery.

Emilio Rivera

Originally from Junction City, Kansas, Emilio obtained his B.S. in psychology from Kansas State University in May of 2018. Emilio joined the Emotion and Cognition lab, with advisor Ben Wilkowski, as a graduate student in August of 2018. Emilio is primarily interested in the various ways in which individuals perceive situations within an interdependence theory perspective and how these perceptions impact overall behavior, with a focus on aggressive behavior. Emilio is an active collaborator with the Social Cognition and Law lab, where he is primarily interested in police shooting decisions, general misuse of force, and the social-cognitive perspectives surrounding such instances of misuse of force. In his free time, Emilio enjoys cooking, playing video games, and watching college and professional sports.

Haley Sturges, MS

Haley was raised in Omaha, NE and received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Creighton University. She is a third-year graduate student in the Psychology and Law Program. Her research interests include jury decision making, specifically in relation to: (1) child victims, (2) vulnerable adults, and (3) sexual abuse or sexual assault crimes; post-exoneration compensation in civil trials; policing; and individuals with disabilities in the criminal justice system. Outside of academics and research, Haley likes to explore the outdoors, read, and spend time with family and friends.

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Kyle Otminski - Lab Manager

Kyle grew up in Niagara Falls, New York and is currently working towards a BS in Psychology with minors in Honors and Neuroscience.  After graduation, he plans to apply to a PhD program studying Criminology/Criminal Psychology and Behavior.  Kyle has helped in previous research looking at Spatial Cognition in the UW Psych Department.  During his free time, he enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and playing volleyball.

Morgan Martinez

Morgan Martinez grew up in Laramie, Wyoming and is currently obtaining her BS in Psychology with a Sociology minor at the University of Wyoming. She is currently a third-year undergraduate student in Psychology and Sociology. Her research interests include probation officer decision making, jury decision making, and perceptions of juvenile offenders. In her free time, Morgan enjoys playing video games such as Terraria, reading, cooking, and spending time with animals and friends.

Hannah Arnold, BS

Hannah transferred from Casper College to University of Wyoming and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminal Justice in Spring 2022. During her time at University of Wyoming, she worked as the Lab Manager for the Social Cognition and Law Lab, interned with the Defender Aid Clinic and Applied Decision Making Lab. While working in the Lab, she was able to author two posters and accompany prominent Psychologists at the American Psychology and Law Society Conference. Her educational and career goal is to obtain her Ph.D. in Criminology, her J.D., and work for non-profits in the Criminal Justice sector. Until then, Hannah plans to spend the next few years roaming and working in the Big Horn Basin and other parts of Northwest.