MEET THE TEAM
Our Lab Directors
Sam Ehrenreich, Ph.D.
Dr. Sam Ehrenreich’s research focuses on the role of digital communication in adolescent development. Adolescents spend a great deal of time engaged with digital communication platforms, including text messaging and social media platforms. Although these new media have the potential to impact adolescents meaningfully, there is a growing debate about how these platforms help or hinder adolescent development.
Dr. Ehrenreich has used several observational research methods to understand how adolescent communication relates to teens’ relationships and mental health. Dr. Ehrenreich has examined how digital communication relates to the development of problematic behaviors (substance use and rule-breaking behaviors, sexual behaviors, aggressive behavior, and experiences with bullying) as well as benefits (developing autonomy, identity exploration, supporting peer relationships).
Dr. Ehrenreich earned his Ph.D. in Psychological Science from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2012. He is currently an associate professor of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has lived in Reno, NV, for the past 8 years, where he loves skiing with his family and living without being harassed by mosquitoes!
Email: sam@teenscrolllab.com
Ashley Greenwald, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Dr. Ashley Greenwald is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst and an Associate Research Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is the Project Director and Principal Investigator of the Nevada Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Technical Assistance Center (Nevada PBIS) located within the College of Education and Human Development.
Dr. Greenwald directs numerous service-based programs for youth in school and community settings and engages in large scale program evaluation. Her projects span the service array of behavioral and mental health interventions at the individual and systems levels and she is currently serving over 200 schools and youth-serving organizations throughout Nevada. Due to her ongoing success, Dr. Greenwald has been awarded over $25 million in state and federal grant funds to support her work.
Dr. Greenwald received her Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Florida in 2007 (Go Gators!) and her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2016 (Go Pack!). Her research interests include behavioral medicine, behavioral systems change, and youth mental health.
Email: ashley@teenscrolllab.com
Our Lab Members
Research Coordinator
Kathryn Roose, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Dr. Kathryn Roose is a consultant in the fields of government administration, public policy, and human services. She brings over a decade of experience in public service, including roles as Administrative Faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno, and as Deputy Administrator and Consultant for the Division of Child and Family Services within the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Kathryn’s areas of expertise include juvenile justice, child welfare, children’s mental health, and victim services, with a strong emphasis on systems analysis, program implementation, and quality assurance.
Kathryn’s public service experience also includes active participation in legislative sessions. Her work has involved bill analysis, legislative research, providing testimony on proposed legislation, and supporting legislative implementation. She has secured over $24 million in competitive federal grants and is a respected academic with peer-reviewed publications focused on performance improvement, social and environmental justice, and collective violence. Kathryn serves on the Editorial Board and as a Guest Editor for the scientific journal Behavior and Social Issues.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, as well as Master of Arts and Doctoral degrees in Behavior Analysis from the University of Nevada, Reno. When she’s not working, you can find Kathryn practicing yoga, traveling, or enjoying a good novel.
Email: kathryn@teenscrolllab.com
Graduate Researcher
Alexandra Paredes Rivera, B.A.
Alexandra Paredes Rivera (Alex) is a first-generation Latina scholar whose work centers on mental health and suicide prevention, particularly among youth. Her research focuses on how social media use and online social comparison influence emotional well-being and self-perception.
Alex has previously served as the Youth Suicide Prevention Specialist for the State of Nevada, where she supported school-based mental health efforts with a focus on Spanish-speaking and underserved communities. She’s passionate about breaking stigma and helping communities feel understood and supported.
Alex earned her B.A. in Psychology and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is preparing to apply to Ph.D. programs in Clinical Psychology for Fall 2025 and hopes to continue advancing research and prevention efforts. She loves working out, booking trips she probably can’t afford, and sipping iced coffee even in freezing weather!
Email: alex@teenscrolllab.com