ABOUT US
OUR TEAM
Committed. Methodical. Empathetic.
Our team is comprised of talented inter-disciplinary scientist-practitioners at every level of training. Both undergraduate and graduate research assistants collaborate and work closely with Dr. Will to contribute to this research. Reach out to Dr. Will if you are interested in joining our team. 
Dr. Will is not accepting graduate students for the 2024 – 2025 academic year.

Dr. Kimberly Hills

​

Kimberly J Hills, PhD, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Hills received her Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina and worked in the public schools in the Columbia area until joining the USC faculty in 2008. Her current research interests focus on autism diagnosis, psychological assessment, prevention and intervention for at-risk youth and positive psychology.

Brandii Brunson​​

​

Brandii graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Social Work. During her time at the university, she worked for three years as a research assistant under a Ph.D. in the sociology department. 

She also co-authored a national sociological publication focused on racial justice activism, demonstrating a passion for addressing systemic inequalities and contributing to meaningful societal change. 

She plans to further her education and training to become a Public Health Professional. She is eager to acquire the knowledge and clinical skills that the DD Lab offers as complimentary of her sociological expertise, while continuing to provide assistance and compassionate care to individuals from all walks of life.

Natalie Wilson

​

Natalie received her B.S. In Psychology from East Tennessee State University. Natalie's professional experience stems from working as a research assistant in three laboratories throughout her undergraduate studies, where she is well prepared to serve in this role for the DD Lab.. She plans to continue her education to earn her Ph.D. in Psychology.

Kali Kecskemeti 

​

Kali (she/her) is a current doctoral student in the School Psychology program. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she majored in Intensive Psychology and minored in Education. From there, she worked as a research coordinator at UC Davis examining the development of autism in adolescents with varying support needs. In her time at UC Davis, she gained experience working with children and young adults with ASD, leading neurodiversity focused groups and therapies, and working with families to disseminate information and care. Her interest in working with neurodiverse populations initially came from her experiences working in public schools in San Francisco. Her current research and clinical interests include increased accessibility for those with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD), school-based anxiety for children with ASD, and communication and development in children with NDDs.

Mary Blakeney​

​

Mary is a Master of Science graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of South Carolina. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Clemson University in May of 2022. Much of Mary's professional experience has come from working with children in the educational setting. Mary plans to expand this experience to the clinical setting as well where she hopes to focus her graduate training on pediatric care, specifically regarding communication and early childhood development. Her clinical interests also extend into intervention strategies for co-occurring conditions affecting children with Down Syndrome

Megan Padgett

​

Megan is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of South Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in Speech Communication Disorders from the University of Virginia. While working in a local preschool during her undergraduate studies, Megan gained experience working with children, and discovered her affinity for working with young minds. Megan plans to become a pediatric speech language pathologist, where she hopes to work closely with families to provide the best support and care to her clients and their families.

Skylar Pettigrew

​

Skylar is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of South Carolina, where she also completed her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health. Skylar has prior research experience working with the Center for the Study of Aphasia Recovery, and is passionate about language and communication, with a particular focus on supporting populations with increased risk for speech and language disorders. Her future career goals include specializing in auditory verbal therapy for adults. Skylar’s dedication to enhancing communication skills in individuals reflects her commitment to improving quality of life for those affected by communication challenges.

Amaya Bailey​

​

Amaya is a senior at the University of South Carolina. She is majoring in Public Health and minoring in Psychology. She is planning to continue her education through attending an Occupational Therapy program to earn a doctorate degree in OT. She currently assists with data entry and behavior coding in the DD Lab.

Andrew Gart​

​

Andrew is a senior at the University of South Carolina, studying Public Health with minors in Biology and Spanish. He plans to attend medical school and work as a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician in the future. His current research project with Dr. Will focuses on differences in attentional regulation between infants with Down syndrome who have Congenital Heart Defects and infants with Down syndrome who do not have Congenital Heart Defects.

Annamarie Holden​

​

Annamarie is a senior at the University of South Carolina. She is a Biological Sciences major with a minor in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. She joined the Developmental Dynamics Lab in the spring of 2022, and she is super excited to continue working on new projects throughout the fall. 

Mattison Knight​

​

Mattison is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina, majoring in Public Health and minoring in Psychology. She plans to attend graduate school to earn her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology with the goal of working with children with disabilities, focusing on articulation, communication, and feeding. Mattison just recently joined Dr. Will's lab in the Fall of 2024 and is currently assisting with data scoring, behavior coding, and entry. She is excited to be active in the DD lab and assist on current and new projects!

Fallon Limberg​

​

Fallon is a junior at The University of South Carolina, majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and minoring in Psychology. She recently joined our team and is excited to keep learning about Heart Rate Data processing. Fallon has plans to attend medical school and aspires to be an OB/GYN. Fallon hopes to observe mother-child relationships and how the research at the DD lab can influence this. 

Connor Rudisill​

​

Connor is a junior in the Honors College at the University of South Carolina majoring in biological sciences with a minor in medical humanities and culture.  Connor has plans to pursue medical school after graduation with aspirations of becoming a pediatrician.  This is his second semester assisting Dr. Will in the lab.  His primary research focus is in the field of heart rate variability data found in infants with Down syndrome.

Jolie Slobodin​

​

Jolie is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina, studying Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Counseling Education. She plans to attend graduate school to earn her PhD and work as a pediatric neuropsychologist. Jolie just recently joined the lab in Fall of 2024 and is currently assisting primarily with data scoring and entry. She is excited to learn new things in the lab and assist on new projects!