Mad Topics: Research
Introducing the Mad Corps
The Mad Corps is a collaborative research and praxis collective emerging from the Mad Topics Initiative. Born from the need for inclusive, interdisciplinary, and action-oriented scholarship, the Mad Corps brings together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and community partners committed to reimagining mental health, education, and leadership through lived experience and human-centered inquiry. The Mad Corps model was developed in summer 2025 by Dr. Kinsey Simone, Founder and Director of Mad Topics, in collaboration with Dr. David T. Culkin, an influential changemaker, researcher, and independent scholar with extensive experience in adult education at Kansas State University. Dr. Culkin provides expertise in both leadership development and qualitative research methods.
Dr. Simone first connected with Dr. Culkin in 2022 after reading his book OCD and Marriage, co-authored with Michaela Culkin, PhD. What began as a single Zoom meeting grew into over three years of professional collaboration and shared lived experience—demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary work and the transformative potential of a single email. Mad Topics is honored to learn from Dr. Culkin’s insights and to continue expanding this collaborative model in partnership with students, scholars, and practitioners across disciplines.
Unlike traditional "research teams," the Mad Corps framework invites whole-person participation—emphasizing shared leadership, ethical reflexivity, and creative contribution across disciplines. Members are empowered to co-develop applied research projects, design community resources, lead symposia and outreach efforts, and contribute to publications that challenge dominant narratives in mental health, education, and equity work.
Our work spans qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies, always grounded in values of transparency, rigor, and care. Whether you're a data analyst, poet, engineer, educator, or activist—you belong here.
The publications below represent just a portion of our ongoing efforts. Together, we are building a new culture of research: one that listens, reflects, and transforms.
Mad Corps Members
Current Mad Corps Primary Researchers
- » Kinsey Simone, PhD, Tennessee Tech
Founder/Director, quantitative researcher with lived experience of OCD, ADHD, & Complex PTSD
- » David T. Culkin, PhD, Kansas State University
Co-author of OCD and Marriage, veteran, qualitative researcher with lived OCD & autism experience
Current Mad Corps Faculty
- » Doug Talbert, PhD, Tennessee Tech
Dr. Talbert is the Associate Chair of the Department of Computer Science, a Co-Director for the Machine Intelligence and Data Science (MInDS) Center, and a Professor. Dr. Talbert’s research interests include machine learning, data mining, medical informatics, and usability. Current collaborative projects incorporating Mad frameworks include investigations of student mental health and identity, as well as the role those play in their experience within their programs.
- » Leann Taylor, PhD, Tennessee Tech
Instructional leadership, lived ADHD experience, former school principal (2024 lived experience panelist)
- » Amy Callender, PhD, Tennessee Tech
SPED professor, former school psychologist, autism in children focus (2024 clinical perspective panelist)
External Mad Corps Researchers
- » Cole Wise, EdD, Rutherford County Schools
SPED instructional coach in Tennessee, lived OCD experience, member of OCD Tn (Tn Chapter of International OCD Foundation)
- » Louise Struwe, BA, University of Vienna, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Masters student in Slovenia studying Cognitive Science; lived OCD experience, framing thesis in Mad Studies, focus on obsessive-compulsive experience (OCE)
Current Mad Corps PhD Students
- » Yongmei Shi, MA, Tennessee Tech
International doctoral student researcher from China, past school principal and founder
- » Wenyong Qu, EdD
- » Kate Phillips, MS, Tennessee Tech
Kate Phillips is a PhD student in Computer Science with experience and scholarship in data science and medical informatics. Kate is collaborating with faculty and leading a project surrounding student experience in consideration of mental health and identity.
Current Mad Corps Master Students
- » Lydia Schultz, BA, Tennessee Tech
MA student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- » McClane Oakley, BS, Tennessee Tech
MS student in School Counseling, research focus surrounding Mad Topics benefits for school counselors
Publications
Below we have included publications that our Mad Topics Corps Members have worked on or are currently working on. We have included direct links (if applicable) as well as APA citations for all of our publications. Please check back regularly as we will continue to update future publications and updated links.
- » Ongoing Mad Research Projects
The below research projects are in progress to be submitted to peer-reviewed journals or are in revision stages. *Denotes (co)author is a student.
Simone, K. (2025). Examining stigmas towards obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): A Mad Study on perceptions of pre-service teachers. Submitted to the International Mad Studies Journal (Currently under revisions for resubmission Summer 2025).
Culkin, D. T., Simone, K., Callender, A., Taylor, F. L., Wise, C., & *Shi, Y. A comparative-case analysis of Mad symposia for community building (qualitative project in progress).
- » Mad Projects in Publication Review
The below scholarly contributions have been submitted to peer-reviewed journals (primary contributions) or renown entities, like the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, the International OCD Foundation, etc. *Denotes (co)author is a student.
Simone, K., Culkin, D. T., Taylor, F. L., Callender, A., & *Oakley, M. (2025). Mad Studies in education: Attendees’ perceived effectiveness of a symposium on OCD and ADHD. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, SAGE. [Confirmed by SAGE as first quantitative Mad Study to date, accepted June 2025 with minor edits].
Simone, K. (2025, June 23). Holding the line: Leadership, trauma recovery, and the backlash against boundaries [co-developed using ChatGPT-4o “Sol”, an AI writing partner who helped structure the author’s reflections and refine tone for publication; under review for publication in American Evaluation Association AEA365 June 2025].
- » Latest Publications
July 20, 2025 — MAD Corps Member Dr. Simone Kinsey
Abstract: In this AEA365 post, Dr. Kinsey Simone reflects on leadership through the lens of trauma recovery and boundary-setting. Blending personal narrative with research-informed insights, she explores the complex dynamics of leading with vulnerability in systems that often resist change. Drawing from the Mad Topics framework, the piece challenges traditional notions of professionalism and offers a call to action for evaluators and educators to honor lived experience, hold the line on values, and resist the backlash that can follow authentic leadership.
Simone, K. (2025, July 20). Holding the line: Leadership, trauma recovery, and the backlash against boundaries. AEA365. https://aea365.org/blog/holding-the-line-leadership-trauma-recovery-and-the-backlash-against-boundaries-by-kinsey-simone/
- » Mad Topics Scholarly Contributions
Below are published scholarly contributions, including secondary works, conference proceedings, and presentations. *Denotes (co)author is a student. *Denotes (co)author is a student.
Culkin, D. T., Simone, K., Callender, A., Taylor, F. L., *Shi, Y., *Oakley, M., & Wise, C. (2025). Evaluating “Mad Topics” community symposia: An interdisciplinary & collaborative approach to transformative mental health education. Paper session submitted to 2025 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference (under review).
*Oakley, M., & Simone, K. (2025, April 23). Mad Topics in education 2024: Building partnerships with school counselors to support teachers’ mental health literacy [Poster]. 2025 Office of Sponsored Programs Research & Creative Inquiry Day. Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.tntech.edu/research/pdf/researchday/2025Proceedings.pdf
Simone, K. (2025, April 17th). Let’s get “Mad” in evaluation: Using formative findings for and unpacking takeaways from Mad Topics Symposia [Virtual Featured Presentation]. Presented to the American Educational Evaluation (AEA) Educational Evaluation Topic Interest Group (TIG) [Virtual presentation]. https://comm.eval.org/educationalevaluation/home
Culkin, D. T. (2025, April 6). Mad Topics Symposia: A case of community building. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ocd-and-marriage/202504/mad-topics-symposia-a-case-of-community-building
Simone, K. (2025, March 27). Mad Topics: Why first-gen voices matter in mental health conversations [Invited speaker]. Presented to Office of First-Generation Student Success (FGSS) First-Gen Friday event. Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tn.
Simone, K. (2025, March 10). Mad Topics: Get interested & get involved. [Invited speaker]. Presented to Student Government Association (SGA) Senate. Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tn.
Simone, K. (2024, September 19th). Evaluation of a large panel discussion on sensitive topics: Major takeaways. [Virtual presentation]. Presented to the American Evaluation Association Educational Evaluation Topic Interest Group
Talking about mental health can sometimes be uncomfortable. We have mental health professionals at all Mad Topics events who are available to direct attendees to supportive resources. Virtual attendees and readers at any point can call the Tennessee Tech Center for Counseling and Mental Wellness at 931-372-3331 or the Eagle Eye After Hours Crisis Hotline at 855-206-8997. You can also call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, for free and confidential support 24/7.
Center for Counseling and Mental Health Wellness
Did you know?
- Some courses offer students extra credit for attending Mad Topics!
- Educators can receive Professional Development Hours for attending Mad Topics!
- Licensed mental health professionals should determine whether this panel is suitable for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) hours for their division, as per Board of Psychology requirements. Mad Topics symposia aligns with requirements for a professional workshop (see 1180-01-.08, 2.C.2.) and/or academic preparation (see 1180-01-.08, 2.D.ii), and could also pertain to cultural diversity due to discussion of disability stigmas (see 1180-01.-08, 1.d.). It is up to each licensed professional to determine the merit of this event for their specific CE requirements.
To learn more about getting involved with IMPACT TTU, Mad Topics Scholars Program, being a campus sponsor, extra credit, PD, and/or CEU opportunities, email Dr. Kinsey Simone at madtopics@tntech.edu.