Photo of Hoke Smith Annex building where the CARE Lab is located.

Meet The Team

The CARE Lab includes a collaborative team of faculty, students, and professionals working to advance the science and practice of relationship health.

Lab Directors and Staff  

  • Headshot of Dr. Ted Futris

    Dr. Ted Futris

    Lab Director, Professor & Extension Specialist, Human Development and Family Science  

    Email: tfutris@uga.edu

    Dr. Futris translates research into practice to advance the implementation and evaluation of couples relationship education.  His passion to elevate the relationship quality of couples is deeply rooted in his love for his wife, two sons, and their fur babies. He also values community and takes great joy in supporting students, colleagues, and family-serving professionals as they work together to advance the science and practice that strengthens families.

  • Headshot of Dr. Evin Richardson

    Dr. Evin Richardson

    Lab Co-Director, Assistant Research Scientist, Human Development and Family Science 

    Email: evinr@uga.edu

    Dr. Richardson studies couple and co-parenting relationships of families who experience frequent transitions, including foster families and military families, and the benefits of family life education programs to improve their individual, couple, and family well-being. Outside of work, Dr. Richardson loves spending time with her husband and two young children. She also enjoys bringing people together and often hosts gatherings in her home! 

  • Headshot of Matt Hampl

    Matt Hampl

    Project Manager

    Email: Matthew.Hampl@uga.edu

    As the Project Manager for Elevate Couples Georgia, Matt oversees planning, organization, and financial management to ensure our federally funded project runs smoothly. He enjoys supporting his team in problem-solving and takes pride in enhancing participants’ experiences. Outside of work, Matt loves the outdoors and has adventured with his family from hiking to volcanoes to exploring the Appalachian Trail.  

  • Headshot of Brigette Love

    Brigette Love

    Virtual Program Coordinator

    Email: bdlove@uga.edu

    As the Virtual Program Coordinator for Elevate Couples Georgia, Brigette coordinates our virtual ELEVATE workshops, website and social media. With a background in supporting foster and adoptive parents, she is passionate about supporting healthy relationships and really enjoys being part of couples’ Elevate journeys! In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and caring for their cows, chickens, and cattle dog. 

  • Headshot of Ufuoma Itedjere

    Ufuomaoghene Itedjere

    Social Media & Marketing Specialist

    Email: Ufuomaoghene.Itedjere@uga.edu

    As the Social Media and Marketing Specialist for Elevate Couples Georgia, Ufuoma where she develops creative content and digital strategies to recruit and engage couples. She manages Elevate’s online presence, helping translate program offerings into accessible, engaging messaging for couples and community partners. Outside of work, Ufuoma enjoys playing video games and watching TV.

Graduate Students

  • Michael Cataluna

    Michael is a PhD student in Human Development and Family Science. He joined the CARE Lab in Summer 2025, and supports data processing and analysis. He enjoys performing improv comedy and previously served as president of UGA’s improv troupe.  

  • Shuangyue “Tracy” Cui

    Tracy is a PhD student in Human Development and Family Science. She joined the CARE Lab in Fall 2022, and is currently our CARE Lab Manager. With experience in data cleaning and analysis, fidelity coding, and project management, she leads multiple teams to support research coordination and quality. Outside of the lab, Tracy enjoys a variety of crafting projects. 

  • Jenna Lawlor

    Jenna is a PhD student in Human Development and Family Science at Auburn University. Her collaboration with the CARE Lab, which began in Spring 2025, focuses on the effects of ADHD on couple relationships. Jenna enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, daughter, and golden-doodle. She also teaches swim lessons in her free time.

  • Gabriella Salazar

    Gabriella is a M.S. student in the Couples and Family Therapy program within the Department of Human Development and Family Science. She joined the CARE Lab as an undergraduate researcher in Spring 2025 and continues to support the lab's research and outreach efforts. Fun fact: Gabriella has been unicycling since she was 8 years old and even taught unicycling at summer camp.

  • Jessica Starke

    Jessica is a MS student in the Couples and Family Therapy program within the department of Human Development and Family Science. She joined the CARE Lab in Spring 2026, providing support with ELEVATE program recruitment and evaluation. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar and piano, watching horror movies, and spending time with her two cats.

  • Daniela Zibenberg

    Daniela is a PhD student in the Department of Psychology at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio De Janeiro in Brazil. Her collaboration with the CARE Lab, which began in Spring 2025, centers on adapting and piloting the ELEVATE program for Portuguese-speaking couples in Brazil. She runs a private practice as a clinical psychologist, and enjoys spending time with friends and family, going for walks in nature, and playing board games and puzzles.

Undergraduate Students

  • Morgan Arrington

    Morgan is majoring in Women's and Gender Studies, Psychology, Asian Languages and Literature with an emphasis on Chinese, and Comparative Literature. They are expected to graduate in Spring 2027. She joined the CARE Lab in March 2026 and volunteers to assist with ELEVATE program support and outreach. Their hobbies include birdwatching, scuba diving, and cosplay!

  • Bella Jessop

    Bella is a Human Development and Family Science major, expecting to graduate in the spring of 2027. She joined the CARE Lab in Spring 2026. As a volunteer, Bella helps recruit couples and supports program implementation. When she's not in the lab, Bella enjoys playing volleyball for the UGA Club Beach Volleyball team!

  • Megan Machan

    Megan is a Psychology major with a minor in Italian at the University of Georgia and is expected to graduate in Summer 2026. She joined the CARE Lab in May 2026, where she supports program implementation and evaluation efforts as a volunteer. Megan plans to pursue a graduate degree in counseling, with the goal of promoting healthy sexuality and relationship well-being. In her free time, she enjoys rescuing and rehoming cats and staying active through hiking and weightlifting.

  • Brenna McConnell

    Brenna is a Psychology major, in the Double Dawgs HDFS program, and expecting to graduate in May 2027. She joined the CARE Lab in Spring 2026. As a volunteer, Brenna supports couple recruitment and assists with workshop implementation. When not in the lab, Brenna loves to perform with theatre groups on campus and train in kickboxing!

Collaborators

We are fortunate to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners who advance the research on couples’ relationship education.