Mission
Researching Effective Actions Concerning HIV among Youth
The mission of the REACH Youth Center is to conduct and disseminate research designed to improve outcomes for youth living with or at risk for HIV.
The center’s director is Dr. Tiffany Chenneville.
Current Projects
HIV SEERs Project
Stigma-reduction through Education, Empowerment, and Research
The HIV SEERs Project is a community-based participatory research project designed to increase HIV knowledge and decrease HIV stigma among youth. SEERs was developed in partnership with communities in Kenya, and work on the project is ongoing there. The HIV SEERs Project is also being expanded locally and in other parts of the world. For more information about the SEERs Project, visit the HIV SEERs Project Facebook page.
DeCIDER Study
Decisional Capacity In Determining Eligibility for Research
The DeCIDER study is designed to explore methods for improving decisional capacity for research among minor adolescents living with HIV. Data collection for a pilot study to assess the benefits of a multimedia assent process currently is under way.
Research Team
Tiffany Chenneville, PhD
REACH Youth Center Director
Dr. Tiffany Chenneville is the REACH Youth Center Director. Dr. Chenneville is the Marie E. and E. Leslie Cole Endowed Chair in Ethics and is a Professor and Campus Chair of the Psychology Department at USF St. Petersburg campus. For more information about Dr. Chenneville, visit her faculty webpage.
Kemesha Gabbidon, PhD
Director of the ICARE lab
Dr. Kemesha Gabbidon is an Assistant Professor in Psychology and the Director of the ICARE lab.
Kaitlyn Ligman, MA
Project Manager
Kaitlyn Ligman is a graduate research assistant in the REACH Youth Center. Kaitlyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Tampa in 2017. She currently is enrolled as a graduate student in the Master’s degree program in Experimental Psychology at USF St. Petersburg campus. She will graduate in 2020 after which she plans to pursue a doctoral degree in social psychology.
Josh Stanz, BA
Research Assistant
Josh Stanz is a graduate research assistant in the REACH Youth Center. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Biology from Florida Southern College in 2016. He currently is currently enrolled as a graduate student in the Master’s degree program in Experimental Psychology at USF St. Petersburg campus. He will graduate in 2021 after which he plans to pursue a doctoral degree in a health profession.
Serena Wasilewski, BA
Research Assistant
Serena Wasilewski is a research assistant in the REACH Youth Center. Serena earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from USF in 2019. She plans to attend graduate school. After obtaining a doctoral degree in psychology, Serena aspires to work in academia. She is interested in clinical, health, and social psychology.
Mykenzie King, AA
Research Assistant
Mykenzie King is an undergraduate research assistant in the REACH Youth Center. She currently is working toward her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at USF St. Petersburg campus. She plans to graduate in May 2020 after which she hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.
Noah Miller
Research Assistant
Noah Miller is an undergraduate research assistant in the REACH Youth Center. He is an Honors student who is working toward his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at USF St. Petersburg campus. He plans to graduate in May 2020 after which he plans to pursue a Master’s degree in higher education and student affairs.
Sage Robert
Research Assistant
Sage Robert earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in BioPsychology in 2019 and her Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology in 2021. She plans on attending graduate school for her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She aims to work in a hospital setting to diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders. Her interests include clinical and health psychology.
Scholarly Works
To view scholarly works emanating from the REACH Youth Center, please visit Dr. Chenneville’s Digital Archive
Media
Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Award
TedX Tampa Bay
Photo Gallery
 |
 |
 |
| Dr. Tiffany Chenneville (USF St. Petersburg campus), Stefanie Hornschuh Vermaak (PHRU/WITS), and Dr. Janan Dietrich (PHRU/WITS) meet with Dr. Max Owens (USF St. Petersburg campus Psychology Faculty) and Dr. Kemesha Gabbidon (USF St. Petersburg campus Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow). January 2020 | Dr. Tiffany Chenneville (USF St. Petersburg campus) and her collaborators from the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at the University of Witwatersrand (PHRU/WITS) in Johannesburg, South Africa, Stefanie Hornschuh Vermaak and Dr. Janan Dietrich, enjoy an outdoor meeting at the beautiful waterfront at USF St. Petersburg campus. January 2020 | PHRU/WITS collaborators from South Africa meet with members of the USF St. Petersburg campus REACH Youth Center (RYC).From left to right: Kaitlyn Ligman (Graduate Student Research Assistant), Serena Wasilewski (Research Assistant), Hunter Drake (RYC Project Manager), Dr. Kemesha Gabbidon (USF St. Petersburg campus Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow), Dr. Janan Dietrich (PHRU/WITS), Stefanie Hornschuh Vermaak (PHRU/WITS), Dr. Tiffany Chenneville (USF St. Petersburg campus Psychology Professor and Campus Chair, RYC Director), Mykenzie King (Undergraduate Research Assistant). Jan. 2020 |
 |
||
| Meet our 2019 research team: From left to right: Dr. Kemesha Gabbidon (USF St. Petersburg campus Psychology Assistant Professor), Serena Wasilewski (Research Assistant), Dr. Tiffany Chenneville (USF St. Petersburg campus Psychology Professor and Campus Chair, RYC Director), Hunter Drake (RYC Project Manager), Mykenzie King (Undergraduate Research Assistant), Josh Stanz (Undergraduate Research Assistant), Kaitlyn Ligman (RYC Project Manager). | ||
Connect with Us
Contact
For more information about the REACH Youth Center,
please contact Dr. Chenneville at chennevi@usf.edu