Areas of Expertise

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

Background

I am a clinical psychologist with special interests in psychodynamic psychotherapy and short-term dynamic psychotherapy. Prior to joining the UIndy faculty, I was Affiliate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy in a Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy program (DMFT). Subsequently, I began conducting psychological evaluations with military Veterans who are in the process of claiming psychological disabilities incurred by military service. 

Research Interests

Case studies, psychotherapy outcomes, qualitative analysis of language 

Education

• PhD, Clinical Psychology, Fuller Graduate School of Psychology 
• MA, Clinical Psychology, Fuller Graduate School of Psychology
• MA, Theology 
• BS, Psychology, Southern Nazarene University 

Favorite Thing About UIndy

The liberal arts spirit! 

Fun Fact

I am in a pop punk band with my two brothers (lesterspecialband.com)

Areas of Expertise

Individuation, attachment, identity development, and technology use among emerging adults

Background

Prior to starting at UIndy in 2015, I spent the previous year completing a Harvard Medical School, clinically-oriented fellowship in child and adolescent psychology at Cambridge Hospital. I am the lead author on an encyclopedia chapter titled, 'Adolescence,' and have presented research at numerous nationally-recognized conferences. In addition to my clinical and research experiences, I have always thoroughly enjoyed teaching and mentoring students.

Research Interests

Individuation and identity development in emerging adulthood (with special interest in how technology interacts with these processes)

Education

• Post-doctoral Fellowship, Clinical Psychology, Harvard Medical School
• Intern in Clinical Psychology, Indiana University School of Medicine
• PhD, Psychology, University of Tennessee
• BA, Psychology, Purdue University

Fun fact

I enjoy walking labyrinths.

Favorite thing about UIndy

Cheering on the athletic teams. Go Greyhounds!

Areas of Expertise

Neuropsychology

Background

Prior to joining the University of Indianapolis PsyD faculty full time, I worked as a neuropsychologist at the Richard L. Roudebush VA. Here, I also served as the Subspecialty Psychology Program Manager, providing oversight to a number of areas, including geropsychology, polytrauma therapy, inpatient therapy programing, our DBT team, etc. In addition to my current role as assistant professor at UIndy, I also work as a neuropsychologist at the Indiana Neuropsychology Group (ING), part-time. I received my PsyD in clinical psychology from Wheaton College, completed an internship focused on neuropsychology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and furthered my specialized training at Indiana University’s Neuropsychology Fellowship.

Research Interests

My research interests within neuropsychology are broad, and have included recent studies focused on biomarkers for neurodegenerative illnesses, delirium, late-life depression and cognitive decline, and how to develop high quality training experiences in neuropsychology.

Education

• Neuropsychology Fellowship, Indiana University School of Medicine
• Predoctoral Internship, Henry Ford Hospital
• PsyD, Clinical Psychology , Wheaton College
• BA, Psychology & Biology, Purdue University

Fun Fact

I consider myself a huge "foodie" and am happy to spend hours talking about the newest trendy restaurant in Indianapolis.

Favorite Thing About UIndy

Mentoring students.

Areas of Expertise

Addiction, impulsivity, and neural function

Background

Prior to coming to UIndy this year, I spent 8 years as a Faculty Research Associate at IU School of Medicine, where I specialized in evaluating functional aberrations in alcohol use disorder, cancer survivors, and Alzheimer's Disease. I also spent several years as an adjunct professor before transitioning to full-time at Butler University last year. I have numerous publications in high-impact journals on substance use disorder and behavioral/personality traits contributing to continued over-consumption. I love to mentor students and look forward to introducing them to my research and the world of neuroscience.

Research Interests

While my research has primarily centered on addiction and impulsivity, I am currently adding investigations into the impact of social media use on drug consumption, depression, and anxiety, particularly in young adulthood.

Education

• Postdoctoral fellowship, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, IU School of Medicine
• PhD, Addiction Neuroscience, IUPUI
• MS, Psychobiology of Addiction, IUPUI
• BA, Psychology, IUPUI
• BS, Criminology, Indiana State University

Fun Fact

I was a professional singer for 18 years.

Favorite Thing About UIndy

Honestly, the parking. But the faculty and staff here are amazing!

Areas of Expertise

Clinical and forensic psychology

Background

I'm an academic forensic and clinical psychologist with particular interests in violence risk assessment and management, intimate partner violence and psychological assessment. I completed my pre-doctoral internship in the forensic specialty track at NYU School of Medicine/Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City and my post-doctoral fellowship in forensic psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston. In addition to my teaching and research I maintain a part-time private practice of clinical and forensic psychology.

Research Interests

Violence risk assessment and management; domestic violence perpetration;, forensic psychology

Education

• PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• MA, Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• BA, Psychology, Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.)

Favorite thing about UIndy

The opportunities to blend teaching, research and clinical practice on a daily basis.

Areas of Expertise

Clinical, developmental and family psychology

Background

I strive to integrate research, teaching and clinical work within my professional activities. My published research reflects questions that were inspired by my clinical work with adolescents, families, individuals and couples. I was nominated for the SoPS Teacher of the Year Award in 2014-15, which I believe in partly due to the use of my clinical and research experiences to enrich the classroom experience.

Research Interests

Adolescent emotion regulation - both typical and pathological - including antecedents (family and peer relationships); consequences (psychopathology and substance use) and treatment (CBT/DBT, motivational interviewing, relational psychoanalysis and family systems); program evaluation

Education

• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Brown University for Alcohol and Addictions
• Clinical Internship in Psychology, University of Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania Hospital
• PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee
• BA, Psychology, University of Virginia

Fun fact

I enjoy internet cat memes and spending time with horses.

Favorite thing about UIndy

Wonderful students, staff and fellow faculty members.

Areas of Expertise

Clinical psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, substance use treatments

Background

Before starting at UIndy in 2024, I engaged in a postdoctoral fellowship at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX where I focused on specializing in both substance use research and clinical work. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at the same site and gained advanced skills in cognitive behavioral therapy while working with veterans. I aim to integrate my findings and previous experiences into my research, clinical work, mentoring, and teaching.

Research Interests

Substance use (primarily alcohol and cannabis use), intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and high-risk behaviors among college students, young adults, and veterans

Education

• PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• MS, Clinical Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• BS, Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Fun Fact

I love animals and enjoy spending time outside via walking my dogs, hiking, and camping.

Favorite Thing About UIndy

The supportive environment created by the staff, faculty, and students

Areas of Expertise

Behavior analysis; autism spectrum disorders; transition into adulthood and young adulthood

Background

I am a behavior analyst with a particular interest in helping neurodivergent individuals achieve their goals, particularly individuals with autism diagnoses. My research and clinical work focus on behaviors associated with adult life, like managing finances, securing and keeping employment, and build adult social networks. I also have enjoyed many chances to work with neurodivergent students and community collaborators, several of whom I have published work with. I also have experience treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in neurodivergent individuals.

Research Interests

Financial literacy skills, self-advocacy skills, employment skills, executive functioning skills related to these tasks like time and motivation management. I am also interested in the lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals. I most commonly use single-subject designs in my research, and I have experience with systematic reviews, qualitative methods, and various quantitative designs.

Education

• PhD, Applied Psychology and Prevention Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• MS, Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• BS, Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Purdue University

Fun Fact

I am an amateur re-enactor who has operated a functioning M4 Sherman tank.

Favorite Thing About UIndy

The people! Everyone is friendly and helpful!

Areas of Expertise 

Community, Developmental, and Clinical Psychology

Background

I came to UIndy in 2022. My approach to teaching, research, and clinical work is interdisciplinary. Although there are many cross-cutting themes in my teaching and research, one theme I return to is social development, and how meaning is constructed through friendship and community. In addition, I am interested in the health, well-being, and educational outcomes of social development. My recent projects have combined social network analysis, which examines not only individuals’ immediate friendship groups but also their friends' networks, with phenomenological qualitative analysis to understand how meaning is created within these friendships.

Research Interests

• Social relations and social development
• Sense of place, the place of home, place attachment 
• Social network composition (e.g., diversity of the friendship group)
• Social network position (e.g., centrality, marginality, brokerage within social networks)
• Health, wellbeing, and educational outcomes of social development

Education

• PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Memphis

• MS, General Psychology, University of Memphis

• MA, Philosophy, University of Memphis

• BA, Humanities and Psychology, Marshall University

Fun Fact

I collect 8-bit and 16-bit computers and video game consoles.

Favorite thing about UIndy

The people!