Team
Principal Investigator
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Heather Agazzi, Ph.D.
Lab Director
Heather Agazzi, Ph.D.
Lab DirectorHeather Agazzi, PhD, MS, ABPP, is a Professor in Pediatrics and Psychiatry, a licensed psychologist, and Division Chief of Child & Adolescent Psychology at the University of South Florida. Dr. Agazzi directs the Mindsets in Motion Lab, and her research and clinical work focuses on effective interventions for children and families with developmental disabilities, disruptive behavior disorders and social-emotional problems associated with adverse experiences. Dr. Agazzi is a board-certified psychologist and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor (Research/Faculty) in Florida. She has received multiple teaching and service awards.
Faculty
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Sarah Dickinson, Ph.D.
Project Director
Sarah Dickinson, Ph.D.
Project DirectorDr. Sarah Dickinson, Ph.D., ABPP Dr. Dickinson is an Assistant Professor, licensed psychologist, and board certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Dickinson is a Professional Trainer of the DOCS parenting programs, a PCIT Therapist, and a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy certified therapist. Her clinical and research interests include assessment and intervention for young children with developmental disabilities, disruptive behavior disorders, and/or trauma exposures.
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Melissa Whitebread, M.A.
DOCS Parenting Project Coordinator
Melissa Whitebread, M.A.
DOCS Parenting Project CoordinatorMelissa Whitebread holds a Master of Education in Special Education, with a focus on Challenging Behaviors, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She began her career as a Case Manager in suburban Chicago schools where she co-developed and taught a research-based social skills curriculum. She later served as an Assistant Professor at Illinois State University, where she supervised and evaluated teacher candidates.Since October 2023, Melissa has been a DOCS Program Instructor, bringing her expertise in behavior support and family-centered practices to her work with parents and caregivers. Her professional interests include applying the problem-solving model within family contexts and exploring attachment theory to strengthen parent-child relationships. She is passionate about the impact of positive behavioral support and meaningful interactions and is committed to fostering strong family connections through the DOCS Parenting Programs.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
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Rose Johnson Rodriguez, Psy.D.
Long Island University, Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Postdoctoral Fellow
Rose Johnson Rodriguez, Psy.D.
Long Island University, Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Postdoctoral FellowRose Johnson Rodriguez, Psy.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow within the Department of Pediatrics at the University of South Florida. She earned her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University, Post Campus. Her clinical training has included work with high-risk families and youth across outpatient, inpatient, school-based, and integrated behavioral health settings. Her clinical interests include trauma, disruptive behaviors, social-emotional development, and family relationships. Dr. Johnson Rodriguez has extensive experience working with youth with complex emotional and behavioral needs. She takes an integrative approach to clinical care, incorporating evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), as well as relational, systemic, and trauma-informed approaches. She also has experience providing parent coaching, couples therapy, and family therapy.
Dr. Johnson Rodriguez’s research interests center on child and family mental health, trauma, emotional development, family relationships, and culturally responsive mental health care. Her doctoral dissertation examined the relationship between family structure, childhood trauma, and emotional intelligence. She has also contributed to research focused on maternal mental health, child development, family relationships, and culturally diverse populations. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has provided individual, group, couples, and family therapy in both languages.
