Founders of Early Steps:

Daniel S. Shaw

University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Daniel Shaw is the Director of the Pitt Parents and Children Laboratory and the Center for Parents and Children. He also serves as Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, with joint appointments in the Schools of Education and Medicine, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and the Center for Social and Urban Research. Since receiving his Ph.D. in child clinical and developmental psychology from the University of Virginia in 1988, his primary interest has been studying the development and prevention of early problem behavior among at-risk children.

Melvin N. Wilson

University of Virginia

Dr. Melvin Wilson worked on Early Steps until 2022, when he retired. His academic, research, and training activities generally focus on understanding contextual processes and outcomes and conducting parental interventions in low-income, ethnic minority families. Specifically, he has conducted analyses on young, low-income, unwed, and nonresident fathers and their involvement with their children. In addition, he is interested in developing intervention protocols aimed at helping young men meet family responsibilities and involvements. Dr. Wilson is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia.

In Memoriam, Thomas J. Dishion

University of Oregon and Oregon Research Institute

Dr. Dishion passed in June of 2018. His research work spanned the domains of developmental psychopathology, theoretical models of child and adolescent socialization, family and peer interaction methodology, child and adolescent substance use and problem behavior, adolescent depression, family-based intervention, behavior-change theory, prevention science, dynamic systems, social neuroscience, and translational research. Dr. Dishion’s work had a profound impact on these fields, restructuring what is known about child development, developmental psychopathology, and prevention science, and reshaping how that knowledge is translated into clinical and preventive interventions.

Other Investigators:

Erika Westling

Oregon Research Institute

As a Research Scientist at ORI, Dr. Erika Westling’s research interests concern the intersection of contextual and individual factors that influence health behaviors in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, and how to leverage technology in the development of effective, evidence-based prevention and intervention programs.  Dr. Westling works with colleagues to develop and evaluate school-based digital curricula targeting a variety of health and social behaviors, including tobacco/nicotine and cannabis use, vaping, physical activity, dental health, and bullying/victimization. She has been working with Early Steps since 2018, following the passing of Dr. Tom Dishion.

Jazmin (Jazi) Brown-Iannuzzi

University of Virginia

As an Associate Professor of Psychology and Public Policy, Jazmin Brown-Iannuzzi’s research seeks to understand why social group disparities may persist, and in some cases grow. In order to address this question, she uses her training in social psychology to investigate the psychological mechanisms which perpetuate group-based inequalities and the consequences of status-related disparities. Dr. Brown-Iannuzzi has worked with Early Steps since 2022 when Dr. Wilson stepped down from his lead role on the project.

Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant

Arizona State University

Dr. Lemery-Chalfant has been a professor of psychology at Arizona State University for over 20 years. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon’s Clark Honors College in 1994, and obtained her Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1999.  Her research focuses on how genes and environments work together to influence child and adolescent development, and she has published over 100 scientific articles on this topic. Dr. Lemery-Chalfant has been working with the Early Steps team since 2014 when we first collected youth saliva for genotyping.

Project Coordinators:

Margarita C. Caldentey

University of Virginia

Margarita has been working with Early Steps since 2004, when the youth were just toddlers. She now works as the Project Coordinator on Early Steps Charlottesville.

Holly Chedester

Oregon Research Institute

Holly joined the Early Steps team in 2022(?). She is the Co-Coordinator of Early Steps Eugene.

Erika James

Oregon Research Institute

Erika has worked on Early Steps since 2022(?). She is the Data Manager on Early Steps and the Co-Coordinator of Early Steps Eugene.

Melanie Muraco

University of Pittsburgh

Melanie joined Early Steps in 2025 as the Project Coordinator of Early Steps Pittsburgh. She also works on another research project in Dr. Shaw’s lab that partners with community agencies to promote family wellness.

Research Staff:

Eleanor VanRheenen

University of Pittsburgh

Eleanor has worked on Early Steps since 2024. She is a Research Assistant and Interviewer on the project.

Callie Benson-Williams

University of Pittsburgh

Callie joined the team in 2024 as part of her PhD in Clinical/Developmental Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She is an Interviewer for Early Steps.

Steph Butler

Oregon Research Institute

Steph has worked on the Early Steps project since XXXX. She works as a Research Assistant and Interviewer.

Shannon McGill

Oregon Research Institute

Shannon joined the Early Steps team in XXXX as the Data Manager. She is now an Interviewer on the project.

McKenna Barber

Oregon Research Institute

McKenna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and joined the project as a Mental Health Consultant in 2024.

Carla Gerber

Oregon Research Institute

Carla is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She joined the Early Steps team in 2025 as a Mental Health Consultant, and also works on another project researching treatment for schizophrenia.

THANK YOU!