Children Overcoming Military-Based Adversities Together


About Us


Institute for the Study of Child Development Director:

Michael Lewis, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor


Institute for the Study of Child Development Associate Director & Project COMBAT Director:

Geraldine V. Oades-Sese, Ph.D., Associate Director & Associate Professor of Pediatrics,
Institute for the Study of Child Development, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School


Project COMBAT Administrative Team

Tracey Sharp
Stacey Napoli


Project COMBAT Coordinator

Beatriz Cruz-Rivera


Project COMBAT Research & Development Managers

Melanie Yu
Ashley Rodgers
Megan Daniele
Noor Mahmood


Project COMBAT Research Editorial Team

Christopher Capelli, Andrew Nesdill, Janki Patel, Steven Riesenberg, April Sese Sankary


Project COMBAT Research & Development Team

Marian Abdelmalek, Ileana Arce, Michael Avellan, Elizabeth Chern, Diane Cho, Maria Clara, Quintessa Davis, Melisa Dennis, Kelly Guzman, Ilija Karafiloski, Aleena Karim, Monica Karwowski, Julia Kong, Melissa (Giang) Le, Joyce Lee, Victoria Mille, Alexandria Quinere, Jessica Singh, Helly Shah, Kafu Shoda, Isrin Srisethnil, Shahrukh Syed


Project COMBAT Advisory Board Members

Stephen Abel, Colonel, US Army (Retired), Director, Veteran and Military Programs and Services Rutgers University; John Backovsky, Commander of VFW Marines (Retired), VFW Post 9111; Curtis Branch, PhD, Coordinator-Psychosocial Rehabilitation & Recovery Center-Newark, New Jersey VA Healthcare System; Kathleen Facon, Educational Partnership and Non-DOD School Program Lead, Department of Defense Education Activity Partnership Branch; Michael Faran, MD, PhD, Chief Child, Adolescent and Family Behavioral Health Office, Medical Command Behavioral Health Division; Health Policy and Services HQ US Army Medical Command; Sharon Gardner, School Liaison Specialist, Military and Family Support Center, Statewide Parent Network; 87 FSS/FSR Military and Family Support Center Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst; Mark Graham, Major General, US Army (Retired), Senior Director, Rutgers UBHC National Call Center; Kathy Hyland, Special Education Teacher; Patti L. Johnson, PhD, Deputy Chief and Training Director, Child, Adolescent and Family Behavioral Health Office, Madigan Army Medical Center, Mary M. Keller, EdD, President & CEO, Military Child Education Coalition; Peg Kinsell, Director, 360° Military Family Support Project, Statewide Family Advocacy Network; Wai-Ling Rubic, MA, Assistant Professor, Child Development, San Diego Miramar College; Nicole Sanyigo, Teacher, South Brunswick High School; Andrew Savicky PhD, 177th Fighter Wing Director of Psychological Health, Air National Guard Psychological Health Program, Family Assistance Center; Barbara Thompson, Director, Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense


Community-Based Focus Group Members

Julia Palacios, Jamillah Key, Qadriyyah Hill, Veronica Coston, Karlotha Botreau, Kimberly Thompson, Nicole Eaddy, Janet Schultz Leon, Ph.D., Daniel Wiley, Ashley Hynes