Boxer is Director of the Social Development Research Program and Professor of Psychology at Rutgers-Newark. He holds affiliate appointments in the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice and the Rutgers School of Social Work, and is an adjunct faculty associate at the Institute for Social Research of the University of Michigan. Boxer was also the founding research director of the Rutgers-NJ Gun Violence Research Center. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Bowling Green State University after completing his predoctoral internship at Wayne State University and undergraduate degree at Williams College. Boxer’s research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Centers for Disease Control, the US Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the National Science Foundation, as well as many other state, local, and private funding agencies. Boxer is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Society for Research on Aggression.

Kaylise received her B.A. from Marquette University. She continued her education at Seton Hall University where she completed an M.S. in Experimental Psychology under the mentorship of Dr. Fanli Jia. Her research broadly focuses on adolescent development and violence exposure, particularly focusing on interactions between young people and law enforcement. She worked at the Chicago-based youth empowerment program Girls in the Game, where she was first introduced to community-based research. Kaylise is currently developing work on in-school law enforcement and school violence.

Romi Paldi received her B.A. in Psychology from The Interdisciplinary Center in Israel, where she also completed her M.A. in Clinical Psychology. Her research interests include bullying behavior as a risk factor among children and adolescents (e.g., peer-bullying, cyberbullying, sibling bullying), parental influence on the development of aggression among children and adolescents, and the role of bystanders in bullying situations. Before she moved to the United States, she worked as a practitioner in a psychiatric hospital for two years.

Danny received his B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers-Newark. He is currently a second-year Masters student whose research examines parental influence on motivation for athletic participation and academic achievement in student-athletes. In addition to his studies, Danny is also the Pitching Coach for our Rutgers-Newark baseball team. After completing his Masters, Danny hopes to enroll in a PhD program that examines outcomes from sports participation across the lifespan. 

Samantha R. Simon received her B.S. in Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation from Rutgers University and is currently a first-year Master’s student. Her research focuses on intervention programs for juvenile offenders and their potential to transform the juvenile justice system. She examines the complexities of youth delinquency by investigating factors such as social media influence, peer pressure, bullying, home environment, and generational trauma. By employing a comprehensive approach, Samantha aims to identify and assess effective strategies for reshaping interventions and preventing future offenses. Ultimately, her goal is to contribute to a supportive and rehabilitative framework that ensures at-risk youth receive the guidance and resources necessary to build positive futures.