They study memory, cultural disparities and parenting, respectively. What they share is their enthusiasm for joining the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology.
The Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University welcomed three new faculty members this semester: Emily Cowan, PhD; Emma Freetly Porter, PhD; and Naama Gershy Tsahor, PhD.
Each has her own area of expertise. Dr. Cowan focuses on cognitive neuroscience of memory. Dr. Freetly Porter emphasizes cultural ruptures, cultural humility and reducing racial/ethnic disparities in psychotherapy outcomes, as well as gender-based violence and institutional violence prevention. And the focus for Dr. Gershy Tsahor is the cognitive and emotional processes underlying parenting and the parents’ role in the digital media world.
Here they describe their research specializations, why they came to Derner, what they’re teaching and what they’re looking forward to.
Emily Cowan, PhD, Assistant Professor
Dr. Cowan received her BA from Skidmore College, her doctorate from New York University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Temple University. She said her research is focused on the cognitive neuroscience of memory.
“More specifically, I study how our everyday experiences are translated into memories we can hold onto for days, months and years,” she said. “We rely on our ability to remember the past to adaptively guide our behaviors in the present; yet we can’t possibly remember everything we experience in a day.”
Dr. Cowan said she studies how aspects of learning—the timing and repetition of our experiences and our motivations and goals—impact what we remember, as well as how the brain stabilizes and transforms these new memories to be retained for the long term.
She said that every aspect of her time in the “vibrant community in Derner and at Adelphi has so far been a joy, from teaching students in the classroom, to setting up my research program and getting to know everyone in the department.”
She added: “I am also mentoring a student through the Emerging Scholars Program, as well as two undergraduate research assistants who already joined my lab. I feel so lucky to have a job where I get to think about and share my love for scientific ideas every day, and I’m so excited for everything to come.”
Emma Freetly Porter, PhD, Assistant Professor
Dr. Freetly Porter, who received her doctorate from the University of Denver, said her research interests include cultural ruptures, cultural humility and reducing racial/ethnic disparities in psychotherapy outcomes, as well as gender-based violence and institutional violence prevention. She also has past clinical experiences working in a variety of high-acuity settings, including with incarcerated individuals. Currently, she is teaching courses related to trauma, mental health counseling and research methods.
Dr. Freetly Porter said she was thrilled to join the Derner school.
“Specifically, I am looking forward to working with students who have diverse professional interests ranging from clinical practice and organizational practice to teaching and research,” she said. “I am also enthusiastic about joining a faculty with a rich tradition of psychotherapy research and a commitment to integrating research and practice. I am hopeful to learn from my colleagues, and I am eager for opportunities to collaborate.”
Naama Gershy Tsahor, PhD, Associate Professor
After completing her Master of Arts degree, Dr. Gershy Tsahor, a resident of Israel, was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue doctoral studies in the United States. She landed at Long Island University, Brooklyn, where she said she fell in love with relational theory and mentalization. Following her doctorate, she completed her postdoctoral training at the Yale Child Study Center where she learned about the immense power of systemic work. She returned to Israel for an academic position at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and this year came back to the United States where she said she had the privilege of joining the Derner faculty.
“I was seeking a new academic home where I could work with students who are curious, engaged and interested in both science and theory, and be part of a department that values theoretical thinking and writing alongside scientific work,” Dr. Gershy Tsahor said. “Although I have only been here for a few months, I already feel welcomed and at home in the PhD and PsyD programs. I enjoy every moment of teaching and interacting with my students—even when it’s 8:00 a.m. on a Monday.”
She said she looks forward to recruiting students to her lab, which will focus on the cognitive and emotional processes underlying parenting and the role of parents in the digital media world.