Community-Oriented Lab for Autism and Behavioral Interventions (COLAB)
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People of COLAB

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Lab Director

                   Dr. Sarah Edmunds

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Dr. Sarah Edmunds is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Carolina. She also has a joint appointment in the special education program within the Department of Educational Studies. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Washington and completed her predoctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center and postdoctoral fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is glad to be back in the south, where she grew up. At UofSC, Dr. Edmunds is a member of the CAN autism excellence initiative. She is also a member of the RISE research network’s implementation science team. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, theatre, and cooking for her friends. She can be reached at sredmunds@sc.edu. 


Graduate Students

Alayna Borowy

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​Alayna graduated from Ohio State University with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology in May of 2017. Before starting at UofSC, Alayna worked at Ohio State University Nisonger Center for the Families and Early Intervention Research Lab. She is currently pursuing her PhD in School Psychology at UofSC and is interested in understanding early social-emotional communication in young autistic children and implementation of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions within community settings. In her free time, Alayna loves to explore coffee shops and play with her dog!

Quentin Wedderburn

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​Quentin graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a psychology major and a history minor. He is interested in studying barriers and facilitators to inclusive classroom settings for autistic youth. In his free time, he enjoys learning how to play the bass and running long distance!

Research Coordinator

Katie Rowland

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​Katie is a Research Coordinator with COLAB. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in December 2021 with a double major in Experimental Psychology and English. Within the lab, she focuses on helping Dr. Edmunds with her research. In the future, she wants to get her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Laney Hankins

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Kynslea Philcox

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Sarai Deese



Laney is currently a junior at the University of South Carolina studying Psychology with a minor in Economics. She found her interest in studying Autism after her Behavioural and Mental Disorders class and found the COLAB as a perfect fit for her. She is hoping to go to graduate school for Occupational Therapy and continue her career in helping people have a better quality of life.
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Kynslea is a junior with a double major in Psychology and Dance. In addition to helping in the lab, she is writing her senior thesis under the direction of Dr. Edmunds on giving dance teachers better strategies to support young autistic students. After graduation, she plans to work as an Early Interventionist and then possibly attend graduate school for special education or clinical psychology.
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​Sarai is a Sophomore in the Honors college working toward a dual degree in Psychology (B.S.) and Public Health (B.A.). She has a passion for rural and family health. In the future, she wants to get her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and wants to be a children's therapist with a family focus.

Emily Thomas

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​Emily Thomas is a freshman at the University of South Carolina. She is a Psychology major and will be taking the role of a research assistant through this program. While Emily loves to try new foods, travel, and read, working with autistic individuals and individuals with intellectual disabilities is her passion.  She wants to open a program for adults with intellectual disabilities, and she is excited to take the knowledge and experiences she gains through this research to help make this dream a reality! ​

Coming Soon...

​Matina Vasilatos

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  • Home
  • About COLAB
  • People
  • COLAB Studies
  • Published Research
  • Joining COLAB