THE OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE
PROGRAM IN SPORTS
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Ray Lopez
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology
Ray's goals are to become a licensed clinical psychologist, work with military veterans at the VA and with veterans and first responders in private practice. He intends to utilize optimization science to treat these populations in a stigma free, positive, and balanced environment that will improve the lives of those with or without psychopathology alike. He intends to improve their lives and performance with all that he learns at TOPPS. He would also like to conduct research on optimization science, specific phobias and other anxiety disorders.
Angelos Tsalafos
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology
Upon finishing graduate school with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Angelos envisions himself working in a clinical setting as a mental health professional where he will provide comprehensive mental and behavioral care services to individuals while giving them a safe space that protects and supports their physical and mental health. In addition to working in a clinical setting, he envision himself helping athletes of all levels and ages overcome the mental health struggles that stem from societal pressures, injuries, and personal expectations.
Lidia Wossen
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology
Upon completion of her doctoral degree, Lidia aspires to become a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice and major sports organizations. She intends to promote the physical and mental well-being of adolescents, young adults, and athletes of all levels through evidence-based approaches, her acquired skill sets from TOPPS, and by actively advocating for those around her within a positive environment.
Linnea Bacon
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology
Linnea is a fourth-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at UNLV. Prior to UNLV, she received her M.S. in Sport Psychology from the University of Stirling in the United Kingdom. Her research and clinical interests focus on improving athlete mental health and well-being and understanding sociocultural influences of mental health service utilization. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and fighting mental health stigma in sports.
Eibhlís Moriarty
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology
Eibhlís is a third-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas researching sport performance and optimization. As a former competitive and professional Irish dancer on the world stage, along with having been a touring performer and musician, she is intent on developing and utilizing evidence-based interventions to aid elite athletes and performers in achieving optimal execution in their arena. She graduated with an honors B.A. in Psychology and Irish Music & Dance in 2017 and honors M.A. in Psychology in 2019 from the University of Limerick, Ireland. Passionate about leadership and mental health advocacy, she earned a degree in leadership and community action at the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2014 prior to collaborations with US Embassy and The European Commission.
Sydney Lee
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology
Sydney is a first-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A former professional ballet dancer and actor, Sydney researches evidence-based interventions for the unique psychological demands of high-performance careers, particularly in the performing arts. Her current work explores the role of social media in performance anxiety, the pressures high-visibility careers place on intimate relationships, and the development of novel, programmatic approaches that help performers thrive. Ultimately, she aims to translate research into lasting change by advancing mental health resources and policy reform across entertainment unions, arts organizations, and training programs.
Dustyn Ransom
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology
Dustyn is a first year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at UNLV. Broadly, he's interested in the relationship between mental health and performance, and evidence-based interventions that improve both domains simultaneously. He believes such interventions can be utilized to help athletes, performers, and many other populations. His first research experiences were primarily as an applied statistician, and he remains passionate about the data analysis process and coding in R. Outside of his life as a graduate student, he enjoys watching EPL games and finding ways to be active and connected with others.
VOLUNTEERS
Jose Ramos
Jose is a first-year Clinical Mental Health Counseling student at UNLV. He graduated from Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela, where he was a member of the División de Atención Integral al Atleta. His main interest is in the development and delivery of evidence-based interventions for different individuals and communities.