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Graduate Students
Rachel Fidler, EdS
School Psychology Doctoral Candidatebrous@usf.edu
Rachel is a doctoral student in the USF School Psychology program. Rachel obtained her B.A. in Psychology (minoring in Spanish and Counseling) from SUNY Buffalo, in 2017 and completed graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she obtained an M.S. in Educational Psychology, and an Ed.S. in School Psychology, graduating in 2020. Rachel is excited about her work in the Institute for School-Community Partnerships, Integrated Services, and Child Mental Health and Educational Policy due and opportunities to collaborate with school districts to implement preventative systems.
Daijah Hines, MA
School Psychology Doctoral Studentdaijahhines@usf.edu
Daijah is a doctoral student in the USF School Psychology Program. She is originally from Wesley Chapel, FL, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Family & Child Sciences from Florida State University. Daijah's current research interests include promoting youth resiliency through School-Based Mental Health Supports tailored to meet the needs of racially and culturally diverse youth, and promoting social justice through systems change.
Caroline Mierzwa, MA
School Psychology Doctoral Studentcarolinemierzwa@usf.edu
Caroline is a doctoral student in the USF School Psychology program and is from Big Sur, CA. She completed a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a double minor in Education and Applied Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2020. Her current research interests include school climate, school connectedness, behavioral threat assessment, suicide prevention, and consultation to promote systems change.
Niara Savage, EdS
School Psychology Doctoral Studentniarasavage@usf.edu
Niara is a doctoral student in the USF school psychology program. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fisk University in 2020, and completed an EdS in school psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2024. Her research interests center around community and family-involved interventions and protective factors in early childhood development.
Gary Schaffer, MS/CAS
School Psychology Doctoral Candidategaryschaffer@usf.edu
Gary is a doctoral student in the USF School Psychology program. He completed an undergraduate degree in Special Education and English (Grades 7-12) at Niagara University in 2007. He also completed a graduate degree in School Psychology in 2012, and a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2020, both at Niagara University.