Meet the Team

Samuel N. Meisel, Ph.D (he/him/his), SUMMIT Lab Director, Assistant Professor, Boston University

Sam Meisel was born and raised in Glen Rock, New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate studies at Boston University and doctoral studies in clinical psychology at the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York. Sam completed his pre-doctoral internship and postdoctoral studies at Brown University and Bradley Hospital. He is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in treating adolescents and their families with substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. Sam’s interests include mentoring students passionate about improving the lives of adolescents and researching the roles of social relationships in adolescent substance use initiation, escalation, and treatment.

Piper LePree, B.A. (she/her/hers), Lab Manager

Piper is originally from Naples, Florida. She completed her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Boston University. Before joining the lab, Piper provided teaching support for Social Psychology and Introductory Psychology at BU as a Post-Baccalaureate Academic Fellow. Her research interests involve substance use, mental health, and memory, specifically in LGBTQIA+ and adolescent/young adult populations. She has a passion for encouraging diversity and inclusion in research and academia, as well as interests in mentorship and individual counseling.

Bianca Deras, B.A. (she/her/hers), Research Technician

Bianca received her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. In her undergraduate experience, Bianca was involved in labs studying early intervention in autistic children, and paternal-infant relationships and caregiving. Her research interests include substance use, intergenerational trauma and mental health, and kin networks in underserved populations. She is passionate about health equity and mental health in recent immigrant communities, and has a career interest in clinical psychology. 

Shane S. George, B.A. (he/him/his), Clinical Psychology PhD Student

Shane is originally from New Milford, NJ, and completed his undergraduate studies in Psychology and Public Health at The College of Saint Rose. He previously worked as a clinical research coordinator at the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he coordinated projects focused on supporting adolescents in treatment and recovery support services. He joined the SUMMIT Lab as a Clinical Psychology PhD student in Fall 2025 to investigate adolescent substance use, particularly with respect to the social, developmental, and health contexts of their use. Additionally, he is interested in leveraging longitudinal methods to understand these factors in the real world (e.g., through ecological momentary assessment).

Rebecca Sutton (she/her/hers), Master’s Research Assistant

Rebecca was born and raised in Frenchtown NJ and is a currently pursuing an MA in Psychology at BU. She earned her BS in Psychology at the University of Dayton and completed minors in both Music and English. She completed an Honors Thesis on how maternal attitudes towards food and body image shape college students’ eating habits, and her research interests include addiction, eating disorders, and social psychology. She hopes to eventually earn her PhD and pursue a career in clinical psychology. She has been playing trumpet and piano for over 10 years and loves to travel.

Yutong Shi (she/her/hers), Master’s Research Assistant

Yutong is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Psychology at Boston University. Her research interests focus on developmental psychology, including child and adolescent development, family and peer influences, and adolescent risk-taking behaviors and substance use. She plans to pursue a PhD in Developmental Psychology following graduation.

Alek Poyato (he/him/his), Undergraduate Research Assistant

Alek, originally from Puerto Rico, is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology, Chemistry & Physics, and Pure Mathematics. Alek has a deep passion for learning and is constantly fascinated by the connections between these seemingly disparate fields. With a goal of attending medical school to become a psychiatrist, Alek is committed to adopting a holistic approach to treatment and is particularly focused on addressing the mental health needs of underprivileged populations who lack access to essential resources.

Chelsea Ohene-Addo (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant

Chelsea is originally from Sherborn, Massachusetts, and is currently pursuing a major in Psychology with a minor in Public Health at Boston University. Her research interests are substance use and its effects on serious mental illnesses within minoritized communities. This summer, she is working on a UROP project with the lab and will begin her honors thesis during the upcoming academic year. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Christopher Banwart (he/him/his), Undergraduate Research Assistant

Chris, originally from the Bay Area, is currently studying Education and Human Development. During his time coaching wrestling, he discovered a passion for working with and supporting teens. His primary interest is in how sports impact youth development. He is also interested in gaining a deeper understanding of substance use and identifying effective pre and post preventive measures to best support young people.

Fini de la Fuente (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant

Fini, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is currently an undergraduate student at Boston University, majoring in Psychology and Sociology, with a minor in Applied Human Development. Previously, she worked as a therapeutic assistant in children’s equine therapy and as a research assistant at a neurorehabilitation center. As a Hispanic first-generation student, one of her goals is to make mental health resources more accessible for children, regardless of cultural or linguistic barriers. After graduation, she hopes to pursue higher education in clinical psychology.

Gabi Casals (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant

Gabriella is currently studying psychology and public health as an undergraduate at Boston University. Her particular interests in child and family psychology are guiding her dreams of completing a PhD in clinical psychology someday, with the hopes of becoming a scientist-practitioner working with children and families facing adversity. In the meantime, she delves into her interests at BU by assisting at SUMMIT Lab, where she will be completing her Senior Honors Thesis, managing at Boston University Twin Project, and taking seminar classes. When she’s not researching, she loves weightlifting, painting, doing jigsaw puzzles, and playing with her cat.

Jamila Rodriguez (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jamila, originally from New York, is currently studying Behavior & Health with a specialization in Psychology. As an aspiring clinical psychologist, she is deeply interested and inspired by the field of psychology. With several years of experience as a mentor/tutor for youth ages 10 to 18, Jamila has developed a strong passion for adolescent psychology, believing that this stage profoundly shapes an individual’s life like no other. Additionally, Jamila is committed to advancing health equity and enhancing access to both physical and mental health care for underserved communities. She is also very excited to work and grow with the SUMMIT Lab!

Lucy Thomson (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant

Lucy is an undergraduate psychology student at Northeastern University, originally from New Hampshire. She is deeply curious about trauma, intergenerational patterns, and interpersonal theories, particularly how these shape mental health and healing. Lucy aspires to become a clinical counselor specializing in anxiety and trauma, integrating somatic and holistic practices into her work. She also hopes to become a certified yoga teacher and build a practice that supports clients both mentally and physically. As a volunteer research assistant, she is excited to explore how research can inform compassionate, embodied approaches to care and further her work with adolescents in the community.