From exploring the effects of historical trauma to the benefits of animal-assisted therapy, Adler University has awarded the Chicago Campus Seed Grant to four faculty members. This funding will support their ongoing research project, in recognition of the potential impact of their work.
“This award highlights the innovation and scholarly contributions of our faculty, whose work advances knowledge for educators and mental health practitioners,” said Cheryl R. Richardson, Ph.D., associate vice president of Faculty Affairs. “We look forward to the outcomes these seed grants. Their research have the potential to inform practice, influence policy, and create meaningful change.”
The recipients of the seed grants and their proposed research are:
Neil Bockian, Ph.D., EEG Patterns in Borderline and Antisocial Personality Disorders.
Currently, steady progress has been made in studying the biological markers of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). However, an extremely limited number of studies have concentrated on examining the brain activity of individuals with BPD or ASPD. This study will assess brain wave activity associated with BPD and ASPD, and then compares them to a similar non-BPD/ASPD sample, providing quantitative evidence of the brain functioning of people with ASPD and BPD.
Sandra Kakacek, Ed.D., Fields of Growth: Animal-Assisted Therapy to Reduce Trauma and Complex Trauma.
Research on animal-assisted therapy for trauma has been a relatively new conceptualization to study, since the majority of studies are primarily focused on equine-assisted therapy and dog therapy. This research, which will consider the setting, various animals, and metaphorical application, examines the impact of animal-assisted therapy on trauma symptoms on adults and children who have received animal-assisted therapy.
Elvita Kondili, Ph.D., Cultural Humility Among Counselor Educators with Marginalized Identities.
Cultural humility is an emerging theoretical construct in multicultural and cross-cultural counseling. It has been described as a type of presence or way of being, which can facilitate trust, self-disclosure, and mutual learning, with the potential to contribute to both therapeutic processes and outcomes. In her research, Dr. Kondili seeks to put cultural humility in the context for counselor educators with marginalized identities because looking at nuances has implications to how educators teach and practice.
Geraldine Palmer, Ph.D., Centering the Voices of African Americans on Historical Trauma Effects, Transmission Pathways, and Community Health.
Historical trauma lived experiences among contemporary African Americans has its roots in centuries of enslavement, systemic oppression, and racial discrimination, leaving enduring biopsychosocial effects on individuals, families, and communities. Building on earlier quantitative studies, this qualitative study aims to deepen our understanding of how historical trauma, conceptualized as historical loss, is perceived and manifested, how it affects mindsets and behaviors, and identify viable ways to engage in healing at the community level. This study is part of a larger advocacy effort to advance health equity in African American communities.
As recipients, the faculty members are expected to provide a progress summary to the Seed Grant Committee by February 2026 and present a project summary to the Adler community by February 2027. Faculty members of the Seed Grant Committee in the Chicago campus are Lauren Melamed, Ph.D., Ryan Tobiasz, Psy.D., and Michael Madson, Ph.D.
“Our faculty’s ongoing work and research prove they are leaders in their field of study,” said Dr. Richardson. “At Adler, we’re proud to assist them because we are confident their contributions will enrich the academic community.”