Undergraduate Lab Members
Welcome to our new and returning undergraduate lab members!
Payton Sheffield
I am an undergraduate junior with a double major in Psychology & Criminology and a minor in Forensic Sciences. My interests lie primarily in the intersection of psychology and law, specifically in understanding how emotional processes influence decision-making and contribute to criminal behavior. I love learning more about how emotional regulation, cognitive biases, and situational factors shape actions that may lead to legal or ethical violations.
Personal Interests: In my free time, I love trying new foods, doing pilates, and spending time with friends and family!
Illeana Epps

I am an undergraduate senior with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology at NC State University. My research interests surround emotion-cognition interactions, especially how they affect social behaviors and interpersonal relationships. Currently, I am conducting research on the interlink between a person’s critical thinking disposition and emotional intelligence to determine how they overlap with and influence each other. Using my understanding of these interactions and my passion for mental health, I hope to implement these concepts into the workplace after earning my Master’s Degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Personal Interests: I love to be creative in any form, especially painting and journaling! I also enjoy trying new foods (I’m always looking forward to my next meal) and reading books in my free time.
Madelyn Perry

I am an undergraduate student majoring in psychology. My research interests include cognition and emotion, especially how they manifest in different relationship types. Currently, I am examining the relationship between sex differences and trust in the ACE Lab at NC State. In the future, I plan to pursue a PhD in psychology so that I can work as a clinical psychologist.
Personal interests: In my free time, I enjoy nature photography, playing the guitar, and writing. I have also been self-teaching French for ten years!
ACE lab undergraduate Alumni
Susannah Throckmorton
Susannah is a sophomore double majoring in psychology and sociology, and minoring in forensic science. She is interested in exploring how emotions and trauma play a role in criminality, and is also drawn to impacts that relationships can have on our emotions and behavior.
Fun fact: Susannah also works as a substitute teacher for toddlers and elementary students.
Macy Ferrell
Macy is a senior majoring in psychology with a double minor in philosophy and cognitive science. Her research interests include how emotions, specifically complex emotions, influence individual decision making. Outside of emotions, she is interested in how traumatic brain injury (TBI) and disease impact an individuals physical and psychological state.
Fun fact: Outside of work and school I love to spend time in nature, this love fuels my desire to travel one day.
Olivia Oakley
Olivia is a senior majoring in psychology with pre-health focus. Olivia is interested in researching emotional changes throughout life and the impact that having pets can have on an individual’s emotions.
Fun fact: Olivia did pole vault in high school.
Cinzia Boi
Emory Spivock
Emory is a junior in psychology. Her research interests include how how emotions may influence memory, and abstract psychology, specifically dissociate identity disorder.
Fun fact: Emory is a licensed animal rehabilitator!

Sarah Coffee
Sarah is a senior, whose research interests include memory and how memories of emotion events can vary across different ages or gender
Fun fact: I play 5 instruments
Daniel Craig
I am a senior majoring in sociology with concentration on crime, minoring in psychology. I am a Marine Corps infantry veteran and am focused on the veteran/therapist dynamic. Specifically, the validity in veterans seeking therapy from psychotherapists that are themselves veterans opposed to those therapist that are not. Additionally, I am concerned in the adaptive coping strategies veterans developed while serving and how they become maladaptive during their transition into their role as civilians.
Fun Facts: I am A Mental Health Ambassador at NCSU, I play guitar, enjoy camping, and exercising.

Amber Parker
Amber graduated in 2020 with a major in psychology after three semesters in the lab.

Aaron San Miguel 
