Team Bio

Dr. Félix E. Rivera-Mariani – Associate Professor at Lynn University with expertise in biochemistry, immunology, environmental health, data science, and computational biology, focusing on biomarkers discovery.

Dr. Jon Sperry – Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lynn University, specializing in counseling theories, psychopathology, and case conceptualization.

Megan Roumsey – Research assistant specializing in music therapy and stress-related physiological responses.

Felix E. Rivera-Mariani

I am an Associate Professor at Lynn University with a passion for interfacing biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, environmental health, and computational biology, focusing on biomarker discovery. My research centers on discovering biomarkers to characterize different physiological disease states to deploy intervention strategies. After completing my Ph.D. in Microbiology and Medical Zoology at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and a postdoctoral fellowship in Environmental Health Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, I served as an Assistant Scientist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and as an Assistant Professor at Larkin University.

I am the founder, principal investigator, and director of the RIPLRT Institute, which mentors aspiring scientists—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—while pioneering interdisciplinary research in environmental and respiratory health. I am also the founder of Vistazo A La Ciencia, a science communication platform that brings biomedical research to broader audiences. My scholarly achievements include peer-reviewed publications, extramurally-funded projects ( with grants from NIH, CDC, Puerto Rico Public Health Trust, etc.), and presentations at major scientific regional, national, and international conferences. I am also a computational biologist and data scientist trained in data science, genomics, bioinformatics, and AI (including from Johns Hopkins, UC San Diego, Mt. Sinai, and Vanderbilt University); I use R, Python, and MATLAB to build reproducible analytical pipelines. At Lynn University, I teach biochemistry, microbiology, and advanced topics in biology while mentoring students to cultivate a new generation of innovators committed to advancing health equity through science, education, and mentorship.

Here is my website: https://www.friveram.com

Megan Ramsey

I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Lynn University, completing the three-year track and graduating summa cum laude. I am now a graduate student in their Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. As a Research Assistant for Exploring Group Drumming's Effects on Stress Biomarkers and Social Well-Being Among College Students, I work with lead investigators Dr. Felix E. Rivera-Mariani and Dr. Jon Sperry to examine the potential influences of group drumming on physiological stress responses and social dynamics. My role involves assisting in data collection and analysis.

I co-authored a poster presentation with Dr. Jon Sperry, Immediate Effects of an Adlerian-Based Group Drumming Intervention on Cortisol, Mood, and Social Interest Among College Students, which was presented at the 71st Annual Conference for the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP).

My research interests include creative arts therapies and evidence-based interventions that promote mental health and well-being.

Jon Sperry

Jon Sperry, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Lynn University and works in private practice in the United States.He served as President of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP) from 2017-2018; and, he is currently the co-editor of the Journal of Individual Psychology (JIP). He has co-authored eight psychotherapy textbooks and has lectured in 28 different countries.