Meagan J. Brem, Ph.D.
Lab Director
Dr. Meagan Brem (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Science program within Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Tennessee in 2021 after completing an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at the Charleston Consortium/Medical University of South Carolina (Substance Abuse Track). Dr. Brem's research investigates the intersection of alcohol use and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. To date, her research has focused on mechanistic testing of distal and proximal moderators of the association between alcohol use and IPV, broadening the definition and reach of alcohol-related IPV theories, testing brief, laboratory-based interventions for aggression, and examining IPV correlates among various populations (e.g., college students, adolescents, adults arrested for domestic violence, adults with substance use disorders, community couples, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+). Her research has been funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; R21AA030858; F31AA026489) of the National Institutes of Health, and the American Psychological Foundation (2017 Visionary Grant Recipient).
When she is not in the lab, Dr. Brem might be found going for a run, hiking through one of the local trails with her family, or exploring a new restaurant.
Chip & Moxie
Lab Mascots
Chip and Moxie make meaningful contributions to the REACH Lab, particularly by sharing their expertise in effective emotion regulation strategies. Chip encourages birdwatching and a healthy dose of sleeping. Moxie is an energetic pup who encourages (ahem, demands) daily exercise, social outings, and "treating" yourself.
Meet Our Team!
Allison Tobar (she/her), M.S.
Graduate Student, Department of Psychology
Allison is a fourth-year Ph.D. student and received a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a B.S. in Psychology at the University of Rhode Island. In undergrad, she was in various research labs exploring substance use, health disparities, and intimate partner violence on a NIDA K23 grant. After undergrad, she spent two years as a research assistant on a PCORI-funded comparative effectiveness study examining different models of care for pregnant women with opioid use disorder. Additionally, she studied how COVID-19 impacted recovery and prenatal care for mothers with substance use disorders. Allison’s research interests include sexual assault and risky behaviors with an emphasis on substance use while using mixed methods and a community-focused approach. She also has a particular interest in underrepresented populations within these topics.
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E-mail: atobar@vt.edu
Marisa Alkalay (she/her) B.A.
Graduate Student, Department of Psychology
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Marisa is a first-year Ph.D. student and received a B.A in Psychology from Bucknell University. During her time as an undergraduate, she was involved in the Campus Sexual Assault Research Lab and helped to create and distribute the annual Campus Climate Survey. She successfully defended her Honors Thesis, which was a mixed methods study examining the effects of gender and Greek life on rape myth acceptance among college students. She spent the last two years as a research technician at the National Center for PTSD at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Marisa was mainly involved in the civilian implementation of a group intervention program for those who use violence in their relationships, as well as a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of a brief motivational enhancement therapy alcohol intervention for veterans prior to the group intervention program. Marisa's research interests include campus sexual assault, rape myth acceptance and intimate partner violence. Overall, she is passionate about using mixed methods to explore the ecological factors associated with an increased risk for violence perpetration, primarily among college students, young adults and underrepresented populations.
Julia Krugh (she/her)
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Research Assistant
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Julia is a senior pursuing dual majors in Psychology and Political Science. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, she plans to pursue either a Master’s in Public Policy or a Juris Doctor, or the possibility of a joint J.D./Ph.D. program. Her research interests include Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which she explores through her work with the REACH Lab. Beyond academics and research, Julia enjoys staying active through skiing and dance.
Cassandra Ward (she/her/hers)
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Research Assistant
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Cassandra is a senior majoring in Public Health with a minor in Health Communication and Science, Technology, and Society (STS). Cassandra’s studies at Virginia Tech have focused on health equity, substance use disorder, and health promotion. Postgrad she hopes to continue working in research or further her education in mental health counseling. She hopes to one day open a comprehensive wellness center with treatments such as SUD counseling, family counseling, and outdoor therapies! In her free time, Cassandra works as a Recovery Chair for Students for Sensible Drug Policy VT and loves attending local live music.
Ella Reitmeier (she/her)
Research Assistant
Ella is a senior majoring in psychology and neuroscience with a minor in peace studies. She is currently applying to clinical psychology PhD programs in order to continue working in the area of substance use and intimate partner/sexual violence. In doing so, she hopes to contribute to evidence-based violence prevention and treatment programs. Outside of academics, Ella is a facilitator for the Connection Project run by Hokie Wellness and can be found spending too much money on coffee and books.
Noa Croitoru (she/her)
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Research Assistant
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Noa is a junior majoring in Psychology and Criminology with an Honors minor in Collaborative Discovery. Noa hopes to earn a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus in Forensic Psychology. Noa is interested in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and continues to learn about it through the REACH Lab. Noa is from Fairfax, Virginia and enjoys hiking and reading in her free time.
Rebecca Lichtenstein (she/her)
Research Assistant
Rebecca is a sophomore pursuing dual majors in Biology, with a concentration in Biomedical Science, and Psychology. She is originally from California, and moved to Virginia at 11. She plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon. Her research interests include Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which she explores through her work as a research assistant with Virginia Tech's REACH Lab. Outside of academics and research, Rebecca works as a peer educator at Virginia Tech's Department of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education (SVPE). She also enjoys spending Thursday nights eating dinner and playing games with her friends
