Dr. Dena Abbott
Dr. Dena Abbott (she/her) earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas Woman’s University in 2017. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Nebraska. Dr. Abbott’s research focuses on the psychology of nonreligious people in the United States. Specifically, she is interested in the impact of anti-atheist discrimination and Christian hegemony on psychological well-being and the psychological strengths associated with nonreligious identities. Her other area of research focuses on sexuality competence among mental health professionals and positive sexuality including sexual self-esteem, pleasure, and sexual expression. Dr. Abbott is certified as a Sexuality Educator by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. In her free time, Dr. Abbott enjoys cozy video games, playing board games, reading, logic puzzles, baking, and true crime documentaries and podcasts.
Faculty Profile
Elyxcus Anaya, B.S.
Elyxcus J. Anaya (she/her) received her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in child and family studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is a doctoral candidate in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and current intern at Creighton University's Student Counseling Services. Her research interests include centering voices of sexual assault survivors, and her career goals include providing assessment and play therapy to children and adolescents. In her free time, Elyxcus enjoys painting, drawing, dancing, makeup, and watching documentaries.
Carrie Bohmer, M.S.
Carrie Bohmer, M.S. is a third-year doctoral candidate in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She received her master's degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kentucky in 2021. Her research interests center on the sexual subjectivity and pleasure of people with vulvas, sex-positive sex education, and reproductive justice. She is a provisionally licensed mental health practitioner in the state of Nebraska and is currently gaining practicum experience at Creighton University offering assessment services, as well as St. Monica’s residential treatment center for self-identified women with substance use and mental health concerns. She hopes to focus clinically on sexuality, pleasure, relationships and reproduction.
Jessica Boyles, M.S.Ed.
Jessica Boyles, M.S.Ed. (she/her) is a doctoral candidate in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and current intern at Veterans Affairs Northern Arizona Health Care. She received her master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Miami in 2019. Her research interests center on sexual liberation and sex-positive, rights-based sex education. Jessica aspires to work in academia and continue to close the comprehensive sex education gap. In her free time, Jessica enjoys outdoor adventures, binging good TV shows, listening to true crime podcasts, cooking, spending time with her cats, and reading.
Genevieve Dashiell, B.S.
Genevieve Bryson Dashiell (she/her) received her bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in sociology and business administration at the University of Florida. She is currently a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research interests are in how sexual satisfaction is impacted by marginalization, especially in women and further marginalized groups of women, and also interactions between sexual satisfaction and religious beliefs and environment. In her free time, Genevieve enjoys sewing, baking, country line dancing, watching any reality dating show, and animals of all shapes and sizes. That includes cats, which she is allergic to, and especially rats!
Paige Hespe, M.S., Ed.S.
Paige Hespe, M.S., Ed.S. (they/them), is a second-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at UNL. They received their master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida State University in 2021. Paige's research interests largely revolve around the experiences of transgender individuals. Specifically, they are interested in how atheist queer and trans folks make meaning in life and identify reasons for living as well as what motivates religious queer and trans individuals to continue their practice. After graduation, Paige intends to stay in academia to conduct research and teach while maintaining a connection to clinical work. In their free time, Paige enjoys playing video games, indoor cycling, yoga, and listening to dad rock.
Patrick Meyer
Patrick Meyer (he/they) is a second-year doctoral student in the counseling psychology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in women’s and gender studies from the College of Charleston. Their research interests include religious trauma, LGBTQIA+ mental health and well-being, and psychotherapy process and outcome. Patrick hopes to integrate the scientist-practitioner model into their career by conducting research, teaching, and engaging in clinical work. In his free time, Patrick enjoys baking, watching The Real Housewives, listening to Ariana Grande, and trying Starbucks secret menu drinks.
Millie Myers, B.S.
Millie Myers (she/her) is a third-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Millie received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology at Texas A&M University. Her research interests center around the sexual and reproductive health of marginalized women. Millie hopes to pursue a career in private practice to work with young people and advocate from a platform of self-compassion, body liberation, and social justice. In her free time, Millie enjoys walking her dog, baking, reading murder mysteries, and writing letters.
Rin Nguyen, B.A.
Rin Nguyen (she/they/he) received their undergraduate degree in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies with minors in Japanese, Sexuality Studies, Global Studies, Asian Studies, and English at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL). They are now a third-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at UNL. Rin’s research interests broadly encompass all topics related to human sexuality with an emphasis on concerns within the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) and transgender and gender diverse (TGD) communities. Rin looks forward to a career in academia where they can engage with underserved and marginalized populations through research, clinical work, and teaching. In their free time, Rin enjoys taking care of their hamsters, cosplay, anime, sandbox video games, MMORPGs, paint, graphite, charcoal, arts and crafts, board games, sewing, violin, stationary, KPOP, Kdramas, camping, and road trips. Rin also plans to start taking hip-hop dance lessons.
Teagan Wilson, M.A.
Teagan Wilson, MA is a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Ball State University in 2022. Her research interests are in the area of sexual health and satisfaction, specifically how hegemonic and healthy masculinity impact sexual satisfaction and relationships. In her free time, Teagan enjoys puzzles, games, reading, and going for walks.