Laboratory Team
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.
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.
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.
Taha Elwefati
Faculty Research Assistant
Taha Elwefati serves as a faculty research assistant for the Laboratory for the America Conversation. Prior to joining the Laboratory, Taha graduated from OSU with with B.S. in social science and a minor in political science, completing two undergraduate research fellowships in partnership with the Laboratory and the OSU-Cascades Layman Fellowship program. He also spent four years on the Associated Students of Cascades Campus student government. Three of those years were spent as president, championing many projects including advocacy efforts both at the state and federal levels. He now sits on the Board of Directors for the Beaver Caucus which serves as the advocacy arm of the Oregon State University Foundation.
Board of Advisors
Katie Hayden-Lewis, Ph.D., L.P.C.
Rural Services Director, Early Assessment and Support Alliance
Oregon Health Sciences University
Portland State University, School of Public Health
Susan Keys, Ph.D.
Retired Associate Professor
Oregon State University - Cascades
Johns Hopkins University
David Katz, MBA
Vice President, Global Sales
Quid
San Francisco
Erin MacDonald, J.D.
Partner
Best Best & Krieger LLP
Bend
Josh Newton, J.D.
Partner
Best Best & Krieger LLP
Bend
Margaret Richardson, J.D.
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
GoFundMe
San Francisco