People
Kaylin Ratner, Ph.D.
Director, Self and Psychological Well-being (SAP) Lab
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Dept. of Educational Psychology
Developmental Sciences | Counseling Psychology
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Dept. of Human Development & Family Studies
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Dept. of Psychology
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I am an interdisciplinary researcher specializing in the developmental areas of adolescence and emerging adulthood. Within this field, my research tends to focus on one of three things.
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First, I am interested in how young people make strides in adult development. Toward this end, I focus on how they reconcile important developmental milestones, like establishing who they are (identity), where they are going in life (purpose), and what it means to be here (meaning). My work looking at how people distinguish between purpose and meaning, as well as my research defining problems that young people face in contemporary transitions to adulthood (e.g., hurry up and wait) tends to fall into this camp.
Second, I am interested in how identity, purpose, and meaning interface with well-being. Within this area of research, I am focused on both directions of this association: how psychosocial development informs well-being (for the better and the worse; see derailment), and how experiences with mental illness shape our senses of self and self-direction. In the past, I have focused on certain individual differences (e.g., subclinical depressive symptoms, subclinical autistic traits), but I am looking forward to expanding my repertoire.
Finally, I am passionate about how environments support the development of identity, purpose, and meaning. In the spirit of this aim, I have studied how educational contexts and experiences (e.g., the transition to and through college, out-of-school time programs like GripTape and 4-H) inform psychosocial development. I also have an emerging line of research focused on how young people see environments as being capable of supporting their personal development. Once this work is better established, we can ask how such judgments affect important outcomes, like motivation, engagement, knowledge acquisition, and well-being.
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I earned my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University in 2020, with concentrations in Social and Personality Development, Developmental Psychopathology, and Applied Statistics. Thus, my work tends to sit at the intersection of developmental, clinical, and personality sciences—I use perspectives and methods from each of these fields to strengthen the questions that I ask. Prior to my Ph.D., I earned a master's degree in Clinical Psychology ('15) from the University of Central Florida, a bachelor's degree in Psychology (with Honors in the Major, '13) from the University of Central Florida, and a terminal associate degree ('11) from Daytona State College. Over the years, I have been privileged to work with a wonderful collection of mentors, programs, and collaborators. Since working as a Postdoctoral Associate at Cornell University, I have been partnered with GripTape, an out-of-school time program that supports youth as they learn about their passions. When I was a graduate student, I worked closely with Drs. Tony Burrow, Jane Mendle, and Felix Thoemmes, and had the invaluable opportunity to work with the New York State 4-H Program through the Program for Research on Youth Development and Engagement (PRYDE). I have co-authored several projects with Dr. Patrick Hill at Washington University in St. Louis and also my advisor from the University of Central Florida, Dr. Steven Berman. My research is heavily informed by my past clinical therapy experiences working with youth in acute psychiatric crisis, as well as my translational research experiences across these aforementioned youth programs.
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When I'm not working, I'm usually trying out new restaurants, playing video games, catching up on my favorite shows, doing fun stuff with my pets, listening to pop-punk bands from the mid-to-late 2000s and 2010s (e.g., Green Day, Motion City Soundtrack, Fall Out Boy), practicing Japanese, or cross-stitching.
Graduate Students
Developmental Sciences
Hou Xie
I am a PhD student in the Educational Psychology Program. My research interests revolve around the development of identity, purpose, and meaning during adolescence and emerging adulthood, as well as the design, implementation, and evaluation of intervention programs that support such development. Besides this, I’m also passionate about exploring the cultural nuances of identity, purpose, and meaning development in different social contexts.
Before joining Illinois, I completed my master’s studies at the University of Pennsylvania, dual majoring in Human Development and Quantitative Methods. However, as an undergraduate student, I earned a bachelor's degree in Drama, TV, and Cinematic Arts from the Communication University of China. I have also worked as an editor and director for children’s radio drama and a user researcher for an online pre-K education platform. These previous experiences have shown me that life is full of serendipity, making it hard for us to predict our future selves. But it is this uncertainty that ignites my passion for studying human beings.
Apart from being a graduate student, I enjoy most of my time indoors, reading non-academic books, watching documentaries, listening to music, playing flute, and practicing guitar.
Counseling Psychology
Lillian Dine Young
I completed my undergraduate education at Smith College with a major in Psychology and a minor in Education. After college I worked as a case manager for individuals who were homeless and had a severe mental illness, and with an organization that reunites foster youth with their families. These experiences deepened my interest in understanding how people find purpose even—and especially— in times of transition and hardship.
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I am currently a doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Kaylin Ratner. My research focuses on the ways individuals construct stories about their experiences to find meaning and purpose in their lives. I am particularly interested in exploring how these narratives contribute to personal development and psychological well-being for children and adolescents.
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In addition to my research, I am also a teaching assistant for various courses in the department. In my free time, I love spending time with my cats, doing crafts, and taking long walks.
Counseling Psychology
Giovanina Kelly
I am a current PhD student in Educational Psychology within the Counseling Psychology Division. My research interests include LGBTQIA+ identity and development and how stigmatization of this social identity impacts psychological well-being. Additionally, I am interested in the developmental processes of “coming out” within the LGB population.
I completed my master’s degree at Illinois in Mental Health Counseling, where I was trained as a clinician utilizing therapeutic techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), while taking a person-centered/humanistic approach. I have worked as a practicum intern at the Disability Resource and Educational Services and Counseling Center. Before coming to Illinois, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience from North Central College, where I first started my research career in the college’s Sleep Lab.
When I am not studying, I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee, watching New Girl (favorite TV show!), and spending time with my friends and family.