Meet the SPANH Team

Lab Director

Dr. Anna Finley. Dr. Finley is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at NDSU since 2024 and director of the Social Psychology and Affective Neuroscience in Health Lab. She earned her Bachelors in Psychology and Statistics from the University of Wyoming and her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University before joining the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Affective Neuroscience Project team as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research aims to understand how cognitive and affective processes are connected and how they relate to well-being across the lifespan in diverse populations. In her free time, Dr. Finley enjoys cross stitching while watching movies, and loves exploring nature with her husband, daughter, and dog.

Office: 134D8 Minard Hall
Email: anna.finley@ndsu.edu

Google Scholar//ResearchGate//OSF//ORCID// Faculty Profile

Graduate Students

Dr. Finley is recruiting Experimental Psychology Ph.D. students to work with her in the SPANH Lab for Fall 2025. Please see the Psychology Department webpage for information about the program and how to apply. 

 

Undergraduate Students

If you are an NDSU student and you are interested in joining the SPANH Lab, please fill out this short interest form!

 

Current Students

Amy Berg, Undergraduate Honors Thesis Student, SPANH lab member since 2025. Amy is an undergrad psychology student hoping to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and eventually work as a clinical psychologist. Her current research interests include understanding the psychology of the adoptee experience i.e. racial discrimination and identity formation and learning more about gut health in relation to mental health. In her free time, she likes to hike, travel, experiment with fashion, and hang out with friends.

Alexa Bendixen, SPANH lab member since 2025. About Alexa coming soon!

Jennifer Brudwick, SPANH lab member since 2025. Jennifer is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience and Human Development and Family Science (HDFS). She aspires to be a clinical psychologist specializing in both therapy and research. In her free time, Jennifer enjoy spending time with her family, being outdoors, and practicing martial arts. 

Ethan Cox, SPANH lab member since 2025. Ethan is an undergraduate student majoring in psychology with minors in both criminal justice and neuroscience. He intends to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology. Ethan is interested in studying mental health, psychotherapy, and neuroscience. In his free time, Ethan enjoys cooking, music, and martial arts.

Russi Kermee, SPANH lab member since 2025. About Russi coming soon!

Cora Larson, SPANH lab member since 2025. Cora is a psychology major with a double minor in business administration and human development and family sciences. After NDSU, she is hoping to obtain either a PhD or a PsyD in clinical psychology but is not sure exactly what she wants to do in the field yet. In her free time, Cora likes to golf, travel, and read. 

Cherish Morin, SPANH lab member since 2025. Cherish is a Freshman studying Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. In the future she wants to get a PhD in either developmental psychology or neuropsychology. She interested in research about how certain events effect the brain and its makeup. In her free time Cherish likes to read, play sudoku, go for walks, and play with her dogs.  

Maggie Preussler, SPANH lab member since 2025. About Maggie coming soon!

Emily Wehri, SPANH lab member since 2025. Emily is an undergraduate Psychology major with minors in Women and Gender Studies and Human Development and Family Sciences. After graduating, they hope to pursue a graduate degree in counseling or pursue research. In their free time, Emily enjoys video games, D&D, and writing poetry.

Former Students

Brandi King, SPANH lab member 2024. About Brandi coming soon!

Top of page