The Health, Well-being, and Mindfulness Lab's research is primarily focused on

1. The prevention and treatment of disordered eating
2. Mindfulness-based approaches to improving health behaviors

Our lab's overall goal is to identify strategies that can help individuals, families, and communities improve their health and well-being. The lab is currently developing a mindful parenting intervention intended to reduce parent stress and improve parent feeding behaviors. We are also conducting research to explore strategies that might reduce weight bias in medical settings to improve patient care. We recently completed a nationwide study examining the antecedents and consequences of disinhibited eating in young men, in collaboration with the Renew Lab at the University of Oregon. Finally, the lab collaborates with Dr. Stacey Snelling’s Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Lab to implement Faithfully Fit, a peer-led health promotion program at faith-based organizations in DC, intended to reduce congregation members’ risk for chronic disease.

Research Team

Dr. Elizabeth Cotter, Director

Dr. Elizabeth Cotter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Studies at American University and the Director of the Health, Well-being, and Mindfulness Lab. She is a licensed psychologist with research interests related to 1) the prevention and treatment of disordered eating; and 2) mindfulness-based approaches to improving health behaviors. She has published in a variety of peer-reviewed journals in the areas of disordered eating and mindfulness. Her research lab is currently examining how parent mindfulness might influence parents' stress and feeding behaviors. Dr. Cotter is also examining factors associated with disordered eating in young men. In addition, Dr. Cotter is a collaborator on several community-based, chronic disease prevention studies.
 

Althea Bennett

Althea Bennett is a junior in the Public Health Honors program at American University. She joined the Mindfulness lab in 2023, where she discovered a passion for biostatistics. Althea is trained as a Spanish-language medical interpreter and is particularly interested in chronic disease prevention in migrant communities. After graduation, she will pursue a Masters in Public Health with a focus on food systems and health
 

Jianna Blunschi

Jianna Blunschi is a student at American University majoring in Public Health with a minor in Biology. She plans to pursue graduate studies in Public Health after completing her undergraduate degree. Jianna has a particular interest in nutrition and is passionate about promoting access to and consumption of nutritious foods, especially within vulnerable communities.
 

Jacqueline Guajardo

Jacqueline Guajardo is an undergraduate student in the accelerated Public Health Scholars Program at American University, where she is also on the Division I cheerleading team. She works as a Pediatric Patient Care Assistant and serves as a research assistant on two labs at American University, focusing on maternal health equity and community-based interventions. Jacqueline has over 4,000 hours of clinical volunteer experience in emergency medicine and labor and delivery, as well as leadership roles in campus organizations. She plans to pursue medical school after graduation, with a career goal of advancing pediatric care and health equity.
 

Amelia Rowniewski

Amelia Rowniewski is a senior at American University majoring in Public Health with a minor in Biology. On campus, she serves as the President and co-founder of Student Organ Donation Advocates, where she works to raise awareness about organ donation and encourages students to register as organ donors. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school. Her research interests include health equity, food insecurity, and organ donation.
 

Dylan Steinert

Dylan Steinert is in his first year of a Master’s in Psychology: Clinical Science program at American University, after graduating in May from the University of Richmond with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Latin American, Latino, and Iberian Studies. He aspires to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology after completing his master’s program. He is interested in how the surrounding environment influences the behavior of individuals from underserved communities, such as monolingual Spanish speakers in the United States.