Lab Members

Dr. Willroth (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. Her current research examines how different components of wellbeing (e.g., emotion, life satisfaction, sense of purpose) vary and change across time, both in the short-term from moment-to-moment and in the long-term across the adult lifespan. She applies insights from this research to examine links between wellbeing and important health outcomes in middle and older adulthood, such as chronic illness, mortality, and dementia risk. In her free time, Dr. Willroth enjoys hosting Sunday night dinners, attending game nights, watching movies, and long-distance running. CV

Karysa Britton (she/her) is a PhD student in the clinical psychology program within the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. Broadly, she is interested in healthy aging, Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, and neuropsychological assessment. Her specific research interests include investigating modifiable risk factors as prevention and intervention mechanisms for dementia. She aims to understand how these risk factors interact and affect cognition across time. Karysa is also interested in early indicators of cognitive impairment. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring new places, cooking with her partner, and game nights with friends and family. CV

Payton Rule (she/her) is a PhD student in the clinical psychology program within the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. Broadly, her research interests focus on wellbeing promotion among individuals with disabilities across the lifespan. Specifically, Payton’s research focuses on investigating factors (e.g., disability identity) that may help protect wellbeing and mental health from the negative impact of common societal barriers, such as ableism. In addition, Payton is interested in investigating wellbeing as a protective factor against the development of impairment or disability. In her free time, Payton enjoys playing wheelchair pickleball and soccer, game nights with friends and family, and exploring local parks with her dog, Whitt. CV

Eleanor (Ellie) Skemp (she/her) graduated from WashU in 2024. Prior to joining the WELLab as a post-baccalaureate researcher, Ellie was involved in other aging-related research in the department of Psychological & Brain Sciences as an undergraduate. Her research interests include social determinants of healthy aging, access to healthcare, mistrust in the healthcare system, and Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. Ellie hopes to pursue graduate education in public health and eventually focus on the intersection it has with aging and older populations. In her free time, she enjoys exploring St. Louis, spending time with friends, and anything related to being outdoors. CV

Tori (she/her) graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 2022. While she was an undergraduate, Tori gained research experience in Developmental, Personality, and Clinical Psychology. Her research focused on child temperament and its relation to both internal and external symptoms, as well as resiliency across the lifespan. She also organized and presented a poster on attachment security and self-compassion among young adults at the University of Missouri 2022 Undergraduate Research Week. These experiences sparked her interest in mental health and the promotion of wellbeing and led her to her current position as a joint lab manager for the WELLab and WAM Lab at WashU. Tori is also a part-time Master of Social Work student at the Brown School and is interested in working with socially, culturally, and economically diverse (SCED) children and youth in the future. In her free time, she enjoys reading, visiting coffee shops, spending time with friends and family, exploring different spots in Saint Louis, and expanding her vinyl record collection. CV