Undergraduate School
University of Alabama
Graduate School
Washington State University
Interests and Career Goals
I find that my “dream job” is constantly evolving with each new clinical, research and service experience I undertake. But what has remained constant are my passions for increasing access to care, working with children and their families and making psychology a more diverse and equitable field. I appreciate the power of integrated primary care, in particular, to convey the message that mental and physical health are one in the same, as well as provide an entry point to psychological services for many patients who may otherwise be missed. Through my practicum work in rural Idaho, I have also discovered a passion for working within rural communities, where integrated care is especially important. Long term, I hope to work in an integrated setting where I can provide targeted interventions and assessments for children and families, collaborate with medical providers and contribute to quality improvement projects.
Favorite Pastimes
I love to spend time outside, enjoying nature with my partner, our dog, and my friends and family. Hiking is my favorite, but I also enjoy climbing, biking, and kayaking whenever I get the chance. I’m also an avid consumer of podcasts, especially true crime and investigative journalism, and I love to travel and discover new restaurants and coffee shops.
Why I Chose Duke
I chose Duke for many reasons! The clinical opportunities align well with my training goals for internship, especially the opportunities to provide consultation-liaison services at the children’s hospital and complete pediatric neuropsych evaluations for children with complex medical needs. I am excited to train in an academic medical center, where I will be able to collaborate with and learn from professionals across various disciplines, including medical residents. Lastly, I could tell from the interview process that the faculty at Duke are genuinely passionate about training, and that I will be well supported and encouraged during my time here.
Research
Graduate Research Assistant, Culture, Behavior, and Development Lab, Department of Psychology, Washington State University, 2017 – present
- Co-develop and manage studies that examine children’s social values development, attachment patterns, and cognitive variables (e.g., executive functioning, analytic versus holistic thinking style) through a cross-cultural lens.
- Coordinate a data collection effort including experimental task and questionnaires across 21 Head Start locations.
- Train undergraduate lab assistants in data collection procedures and dataset usage.
- Assist with questionnaire and measure development (e.g., online cognitive task).
- Conduct statistical analyses; manage original and archival datasets.
- Write and edit manuscripts.
Research Collaborator, Utah Regional LEND Interdisciplinary Project, 2020 – 2021
- Conceptualized and co-developed project with an interdisciplinary team.
- Completed a systematic literature review examining emotional, behavioral, health, and academic outcomes for children with special healthcare needs who experience abuse and neglect.
- Prepared manuscript for publication (i.e., writing and editing).
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Center for Youth Development and Intervention, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, 2012 – 2013
- Conducted home-based data collection visits with families enrolled in the Coping Power behavioral intervention (computerized task, questionnaires, and psychophysiological data).
- Administered sociometric surveys in middle school classrooms.
- Assisted with writing of SPSS syntax to streamline statistical analyses.
- Entered, cleaned, and analyzed data for ongoing lab-wide projects and individual research.
Publications
- Strand, P. S., Vossen, J. J., & Savage, E. (2019). Culture and Child Attachment Patterns: A Behavioral Systems Synthesis. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 42(4), 835-850.
- Savage, E.E. & Strand, P.S. (2021). What Motivates the Cooperative Behavior of Collectivist Children, Egalitarianism or Generosity? (Invited for Revision).
- Thayer, M., Lau, A. F., Savage, E. E., Larson, J., & Mason, K. (2021). CPS Involvement Following Abuse and Neglect of Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs: A Systematic Review of the Outcomes. (Invited for revision).
Poster Presentations
- Savage, E., Strand, P.S. (July 2021). Exploring Social Values Orientation in Mixed Cultural Background Children. Poster presented at the Biennial APA Division 45 Research Conference, Virtual.
- Savage, E., Strand, P.S. (April 2021). Cultural Differences in Social Values Orientation: A Closer Look at Cooperative Behavior in Preschool-age Children. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Virtual.
- Savage, E., Kwon, P. (April 2021). Review of Barriers to Mental Health Care for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency. Talk presented at the Flip the Script Diversifying Research Symposium at Washington State University, Virtual.
- Savage, E., Strand, P.S. (February 2021). Cultural Differences in Social Values Orientation: A Closer Look at Cooperative Behavior in Preschool-age Children. Talk presented at the Washington State Psychological Association Annual Conference, Virtual
- Savage, E., Lochman, J., & Kelly, M. (March 2013). Predictors of Change in Child Emotional and Behavioral Functioning Following a Natural Disaster. Poster presented at the South Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.