Lab Director
Saida Heshmati
Saida Heshmati is an associate professor of psychology in the Division of Behavioral & Organizational Sciences at Claremont Graduate University. She is a positive developmental psychologist interested in how optimal development unfolds over time in diverse samples, especially in at-risk adults. Using her expertise in positive relationships and love, positive education, human development, and state-of-the-art analytical methods, Heshmati examines authentic or embedded assessments of large data sets related to individual and group characteristics that influence everyday well-being and positive development. Her work has brought together a suite of measurement tools such as experience sampling methods, observational analysis, cognitive psychometric modeling, and wearable physiology monitors in the service of understanding how individuals’ sense of well-being unfolds moment-to-moment in their everyday lives.
Lab Manager
Jaymes Paolo Rombaoa (he/him)
Jaymes is currently a Positive Developmental Psychology PhD Candidate at Claremont Graduate University. He has many broad research interests, including mindfulness, positive psychology interventions, college students and higher education, the use of technology to regulate emotions, emerging adulthood populations, and figuring out “how to live your best life.” He is also interested in advanced research and statistical methods, including multilevel modeling, network modeling, structural equation modeling, experience sampling methods/ecological momentary assessments, bibliometric methods, and longitudinal data analyses. His signature character strengths are Love of Learning, Humor, Honesty, Perseverance, and Creativity. Jaymes enjoys teaching, mentoring students, and loves collaborating on new research projects. Outside of academia, Jaymes enjoys running, music festivals/concerts, remembering how to play piano, and anything related to Pokémon (games, fashion, cards, toys, etc.).
Andrew Villamil
Andrew Villamil, completed his Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Pepperdine University. Currently, he is a PhD student in the Positive Developmental Psychology Program at the Claremont University Consortium. For over 10 years, Andrew has worked at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, gaining experience in international research and organization/clinical programs. He believes there are always valuable opportunities to bridge basic research with translational applications. As a researcher, he has been involved in five research labs with some of the most influential researchers in the field of Psychology, including Drs. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Daniel J. Siegel, Saida Heshmati, Michelle Craske, Alan Castel, and many other wonderful collaborators.
Andrew seeks to understand mechanisms in well-being that contribute to the fundamental processes and changes that have, and continue to shape the landscape of future applications. Andrew leverages his experience in Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs), Meditative practices, Technology, Neuroscience, Life Satisfaction, Flow, Cognitive Strategies, and Interpersonal Neurobiology; to explore the best methodologies and comprehensive artifacts that integrate subjective well-being (happiness) into every facet of our lives.
Baohua Liu
Baohua is an international PhD graduate student in the Positive Developmental Psychology program at CGU, where she studies and investigates positive close relationships, positive education, and resilience, particularly among adolescents and emerging adults with multicultural background, who are at critical transitional lifetime featuring possibilities/uncertainty in relationship and value. She firmly believes that positive social connections are the core strength of an individual’s resilience. Positive relationships, subject to change and interacting with context and time, play a crucial role in one’s flourishing and have profound impact on one’s well-being across lifespan.
Her BA degree was in Applied English and her MA degrees was in Education. She also holds a MA degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Positive Developmental Psychology. Baohua has been a language instructor both in China and California and hopes to continue working with students and applying research findings in educational settings to enhance student’s flourishing through positive social supports and resilience. Besides academic and professional pursuits, Baohua enjoys being with family and friends, doing sports, watching movies, dancing, painting, reading, hiking and exploring different places.
Catalina Oselio
Catalina is a second-year PhD student in the Positive Developmental Psychology program at Claremont Graduate University. Her research explores experiences that make life purposeful—particularly love, humor, and awe—and how these qualities emerge and evolve across the lifespan. A native of Chimayó, New Mexico, she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, statistics, and communication from the University of New Mexico. She hopes to build a career in academia centered on collaboration and compassion—working with people, for people and not on people.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Catalina enjoys time in nature, playing pool, dancing flamenco, and being with loved ones. Her top strengths include love, gratitude, appreciation of beauty and excellence, love of learning, humor, and honesty; these values strongly guide both her research and her everyday life.
Dana Hussein (She/Her)
Dana completed her B.A. in Cognitive Science (with a concentration in Psychology) at Pitzer College in May, 2025. After studying culturally shaped cognitive conceptions of love & empathy for her undergraduate thesis, she developed a passion for conducting cross-cultural research on love, emotion, and human connection. She is currently managing the HEART Lab’s Cross-Cultural Love Project and the HEART Lab’s social media, and she plans on pursuing a PhD in Developmental Psychology in the future.
Dana’s favorite part of the research process is engaging with the community and situating findings within their broader social and cultural contexts. She is especially interested in how research can move beyond status quo assumptions in mainstream psychology to better reflect lived experiences.
Outside of the lab, Dana loves spending time in the sun with friends—with a lot of psychoanalysis conversations—as well as painting and experimenting with different creative pursuits.
dana.hussein2@cgu.edu
Fabiana Memmolo
Fabiana is passionate about researching positive psychology and coaching effectiveness within organizations. She earned a master’s degree in Positive Developmental Psychology and Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University and is pursuing her studies with a Ph.D. in Positive Organizational Psychology.
Her research focuses on positive psychology, coaching, and quantitative research methods.
She firmly believes in the growth mindset and has dedicated herself to constant personal and professional development. She has obtained an MA and BA in Philosophy in Italy and an MSc in Psychology from the University of East London.
Fabiana integrates executive coaching skills and positive psychology research theories into her professional expertise to support individuals in developing their leadership potential, cultivating positive work environments, and thriving in their personal and professional settings. She has worked in Europe and the USA with individuals and teams who desire to realize something meaningful and act in alignment with their values. She supports her clients to become authentic leaders and develop effective strategies to succeed personally and professionally.
She aims to pursue a career within academia and continue bringing evidence-based knowledge to organizations.
Her top five character strengths are honesty, love of learning, fairness, humility, and prudence.
Heidi J Kellam
Heidi is a PhD student in the Positive Developmental Psychology program at CGU where she studies mindfulness, interpersonal emotion regulation, and close relationships. Heidi holds an MA in Positive Developmental Psychology and Evaluation from CGU and a BA in Psychology with departmental honors from the University of Oregon as a McNair Scholar. Heidi formerly lectured for the Psychology Department at CSUF and served as a Teaching and Research Associate at The Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development at CMC. She is currently studying the effects of Child Protective Services investigations on parents. Here's a link to my updated CV:
Kresimir “Kresh” Reil
Kresh is a PhD Positive Developmental Psychology student at Claremont Graduate University. He has many research interests that include resilience, gratitude, life satisfaction and well-being, as well as a broadly inquisitive attitude toward humankind’s interaction with nature and technology. Kresh has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and hopes to continue working in the academic and clinical arenas, pursuing academic research that may generate positive psychology interventions applicable in clinical and everyday settings with a focus on young adult and elderly populations. Besides academic and professional pursuits, Kresh enjoys being in nature, the cinema, the theater, music, fiction novels, and travel.
kresimir.reil@cgu.edu
