The Laboratory for The American Conversation

Laboratory Team

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Elizabeth Marino, Ph.D.

Co-Director; Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sustainability

Dr. Marino is interested in how people perceive risk, make decisions and create meaning in their social and environmental contexts. Her research focuses on climate change policy, traditional and local knowledge, and the use of core values to navigate novel situations. In the Laboratory for the American Conversation, Dr. Marino is a qualitative researcher who specializes in discourse analysis. She also loves hanging out with hunters, gatherers, fishers, farmers and other people who pay close attention to the land and water.
 

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Christopher Wolsko, Ph.D.

Co-Director, Associate Professor of Psychology

Dr. Wolsko is oriented toward promoting the health and well-being of diverse peoples and the places they inhabit. His research examines the cultural construction of health behaviors, experiences of flourishing in natural environments, and communication about contentious societal issues. Chris supports the Laboratory for the American Conversation's work with expertise in social psychology, experimental methods, quantitative analysis and extended rumination on vicious cycles of fear mongering and existential threat.
 

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Susan Keys, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Public Health (retired)

Prior to her academic career, Dr. Keys was the executive director of the Inspire USA Foundation, a nonprofit focused on using technology to promote well-being among young Americans and prevent youth suicide. Dr. Keys served as branch chief for prevention at the Center for Mental Health Services within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, where she oversaw national programs for suicide prevention, school-based youth violence prevention and young child wellness.
 

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Shereen Soliman

Project Manager 

Shereen Soliman (she/her/hers) serves as the project manager for the Laboratory for the American Conversation, and the program coordinator for the political science and economics departments at OSU-Cascades. Prior to joining OSU, she worked overseas for more than 20 years with the United Nations, the International Rescue Committee, and the International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among other organizations. She provided humanitarian assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons and victims of human rights violations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Shereen has a deep passion for social justice, education and human rights and enjoys working with students to help them reach their full potential. She has a B.A. in political science from the American University in Cairo, an M.A. in human rights from University College London, and an MEd in education from the University of Essex in the UK.