KIERSTEN FALCK

I am from a suburb of Minneapolis called Ham Lake, MN and got good at playing ice hockey. I played Division I at Princeton and professionally in Germany. Afterwords, I worked in pizza and in schools. My goal of living in the mountains for a period of my life and my continued drive for education led me here to the University of Montana in the Department of Communication Studies. One specific objective of my research is parent-child communication about alcohol, and another is devising measures that capture the moment-to-moment interactions in the parent-child relationship which deeply impact adolescent development and well-being. I buy far too many books that I have no time to read, and I am excited to buy more. Please reach out with any questions or interest in connecting.

KATELYN MELCHER

I grew up in Iowa and attended the University of Northern Iowa for my bachelor's in psychology. I then received my master's in clinical-counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. I worked as a clinician and researcher before starting in the Clinical Psychology PhD program here at UMT. I am interested in eating disorders, health psychology, teaching medical professionals how to have conversations about mental health with patients, and making psychological science more accessible to everyone. In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, reading, baking, and generally being active and outside.

ADYASHA NAYAK

I am an international student from India, pursuing a PhD in Forestry & Conservation at UM. My research focuses on community engagement in protected area management. My love for storytelling and art keeps me company through the ups and downs of grad school. On free days, you can find me elbow deep in watercolors or exploring all things cultural Missoula has to offer. Reach out with questions (and for very detailed book and movie recommendations)!

SOFIA REIS

I am a non-traditional international student from Lisbon, Portugal. After working for more than 20 years with K-12 schools in Europe, I decided to come to the University of Montana and join the International Educational Leadership doctoral program. I sought to strengthen my knowledge and intervention capabilities in the field of education by immersing myself in a different educational system and refining my research skills. Currently, my research interests are in systems and complexity theories in the educational leadership field. I intertwine with Missoula’s diverse and exciting community life upon which I am reliant, and to which I actively contribute.