| Cindy M. Meston, Ph.D. | Current Graduate Students | Former Graduate Students | Research Staff | Lab Scrapbook |
Mackenzie Sears-Greer, M.A.
Graduate student
E-mail: mackenzie.sears@utexas.edu
Curriculum Vita [PDF]
Mackenzie Sears was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She completed her Bachelors degree at the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. During her time as an undergraduate student, she worked as a research assistant in the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory and The Lifespan Development Laboratory. She also completed an undergraduate thesis evaluating the role of shared environmental influences on depression in child and adolescent twin pairs.
Mackenzie joined the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory as a graduate student in the Fall of 2019. She primarily researches sexual functioning and satisfaction within romantic relationships. More specifically, her current research evaluates relationship satisfaction and sexual intimacy in couples who have been impacted by sexual trauma or nonconsensual sexual
experiences.
When Mackenzie is not in the lab, she enjoys trying new restaurants in Austin, cooking, traveling, and having game nights with her friends.
Kate Metcalfe, B.A.
Graduate Student
E-mail: kmetcalfe@utexas.edu
Curriculum Vita [PDF]
Kate Metcalfe was raised in Airdrie, Alberta (Canada). She completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of New Brunswick with an Honors in Psychology and a Minor in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies. After graduating, she worked as a research coordinator on various sexuality related projects. Kate has previously published research on topics related to human sexuality, including sexual motivations and dysfunction, infidelity, transactional sexual relationships, and sexual violence prevention. She has also conducted two meta-analyses on executive functioning—specifically ADHD-related time perception deficits and spatial abilities.
Kate entered the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory in the Fall of 2023. Kate’s current research broadly focuses on sexual agency and motivation across different contexts and life stages. Her Master’s thesis, for example, examined the motivations for and outcomes of engaging in “duty sex” (i.e., engaging in sex out of obligation). She is currently studying psychological interventions aimed at reducing sexual dysfunction and relationship distress among menopausal women.
On a personal note, Kate was a competitive gymnast growing up and still enjoys staying active and practicing handstands—though with considerably less grace than before.
Anna Grace Clark Coates, M.S.
Graduate Student
E-mail: annagraceclark825@gmail.com
Curriculum Vita [PDF]
Anna Grace Coates spent much of her life in the Carolinas, growing up in North Carolina and attending Anderson University in South Carolina. She graduated with highest honors, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Clinical and Research concentrations. Her passion for research was solidified during her undergraduate years, but it was her graduate studies that truly cemented her interest in sex and sexuality. Anna Grace received her Master of Science in Forensic Psychology from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, where she researched child sexual abuse and individuals with a sexual interest in children.
Anna Grace joined the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory as a graduate student in the fall of 2024. Her primary research interests include the context of nonconsensual sexual experiences and their influence on future sexual well-being, as well as the life trajectories of those who commit sexually violent acts. Currently, she is investigating the role of spirituality in sexually violent experiences and its impact on future sexual and spiritual coping and well-being.
Outside of the lab, Anna Grace can be found running with her partner, cataloging literary adventures on Goodreads, or playing card games.
