Dr. Lydia Emery is an Assistant Professor in Psychology in the social psychology area at the University of Chicago. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Northwestern University and her B.A. in Psychology and English from Haverford College, and she completed postdoctoral training in the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Her research broadly examines romantic relationships, social class, and identity. She studies how social class influences both the challenges and strengths that people bring to their closest relationships. She also examines how relationships shape people’s identities, both individually and as a couple, as well as how people’s identities affect their relationship experiences.

Click here for her CV.

Mystie Saturday is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Social Psychology program at the University of Chicago. Originally from the southeastern US, she graduated from Emory University in 2022 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. After graduating, she became a Chicago transplant, where she worked as a full-time research assistant at Northwestern University.

Her doctoral research broadly focuses on the overlap between the social world, identity, and well-being. Using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, Mystie examines the mechanisms that influence identity development, including close relationships (platonic, romantic, and familial), socioeconomic status, and personal narratives. Ultimately, she hopes to uncover why identity development is so crucial for well-being outcomes, and to conceptualize a model for how identity development can be reimagined as a learnable skill.

Amy Diaby is a third year majoring in cognitive science. She is interested in looking at how society impacts how people think about relationships and themselves, as well as the psychology behind that. She is also interested in efforts to diversify relationship science. Outside of class, she enjoys travel, watching new shows and hanging out with friends. And on campus, she is on the African & Caribbean Students Association Board.

Destiny is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Chicago, majoring in Psychology and Comparative Human Development. She is interested in exploring the psychology behind relationships, and the influence of an individual’s self-perception. She’s also interested in exploring techniques to analyze human behavior. In her free time, she enjoys exploring nature, working out, spending time with friends, and going to concerts.

Meghana Halbe is a third-year student in the College majoring in Psychology and Public Policy. She is interested in researching the factors that influence student learning, the psychology of relationships, and how people develop self-schemas. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, singing in her acapella group, and going to restaurants in Chicago.

Esther is a third-year student at UChicago majoring in psychology. She has a particular curiosity about how individuals’ personal identities (especially physical/mental disability) impact the quality, content, and valence of their interpersonal relationships (and vice versa). In time not spent with psychology studies and research, Esther also likes to keep up some knowledge of statistical tools, and rewatch and read critical analyses of her favorite Shakespeare plays. In the past, she’s had experience working as a teaching artist, backstage supervisor, intern, and fight-choreography assistant for a number of educational theatre companies, where her interest in more deeply understanding the behavior and feelings of others rapidly grew.

Litzy Tafolla is a second year in The College. She is a psychology major with the intention of following the pre-health track. Her areas of study in psychology include the internal workings of relationships, human development, and emotional ties to physical features. Her interest in medicine is prevalent in her outside activities such as being a writer for PULSE, distance running, and serving the community through numerous works of service.