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Faculty Research Areas

The interdisciplinary nature of the Behavioral and Community Sciences PhD is reflected in the diverse backgrounds and interest areas of our faculty. Among the areas of expertise, you will find faculty interested in preparing students to pursue research careers in early intervention and prevention, integrated care, policy and system change, implementation science, etc. We are dedicated to improving outcomes in community settings that address behavioral health, substance use, developmental disabilities, and education.

PhD programs require significant commitments from both students and faculty, making it essential to ensure a strong match between research mentors and students. The brief descriptions and links below are meant to help you find faculty members with whom you would like to work. We encourage prospective students to contact (via email and phone/virtual meeting discussions) at least two potential faculty advisors whose research aligns with their interests. When reaching out, please share your research goals and explain how they may complement the faculty member’s work. You will be asked to discuss this in the letter of intent that is part of your application to the program.

Good luck with your career explorations.

Howard Goldstein

Dr. Howard Goldstein
Program Director

Alejandra Montoya, MPH
Academic Services Administrator

	Dr. Anna Davidson Abella Ph.D. in Applied Cultural Anthropology Research Areas: Implementation of mental health programs and services; Experiences of families and staff in child welfare and prevention services; Effectiveness of police/mental health collaboratives; Mixed-method program evaluation and ethnographic methods.
	Dr. Jason Anthony Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology; Ed.S. in School Psychology Research Areas: Language and Literacy Development; Early Childhood Education Policy and Evaluation; School Readiness Assessment
	Dr. Judith Biesen Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Research Areas: Co-occurrence of relationship distress (e.g., verbal and physical conflict behaviors, relationship dissolution), mental health, and substance use in couples, including those from underserved populations, quantitative methods, and implementation/intervention research.
	Dr. Donna Burton Ph.D. in Public Health Research Area: School Based Mental Health Services Integration
	Dr. Linda M. Callejas Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology Research Areas: Behavioral health disparities in children, youth, and families of color; Experiences of parents involved in child welfare systems; Community-engaged research; Qualitative methods.
	Dr. Maria Carlo Ph.D. in Psychology Research Area: Bilingualism and Biliteracy Development
	Dr. Annette Christy Ph.D. in Applied/Experimental Psychology Research Areas: Involuntary care, justice system diversions for people with behavioral health disorders, process of using external data/large data sets, program evaluation
	Dr. Chih-Chin Chou Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Psychology Research Area: Psychiatric Rehabilitation
	Dr. Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science Research Area: Reintegration of Veterans with TBI
	Dr. Matthew Foster Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology Research Area: Early Mathematics Intervention, Measurement and Evaluation, Developmental Disabilities and Special Education
	Dr. Heather Peshak George Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction/Special Instruction Research Area: Positive Behavior Support, School-wide Discipline Systems-level
	Dr. Howard Goldstein Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology Research Area: Early Language and Literacy Intervention, Developmental Disabilities, Multi-Tiered System of Supports
	Dr. Amber Gum Ph.D.in Clinical Psychology Research Area: Mental Health Services for Older Adults
	Dr. Holly Hills Ph.D. in Clinical and Health Psychology Research Areas: Women and their children in contact with the justice system, Trauma Informed Care / PTSD, Structured interviewing and assessment, Substance use disorder, Re-entry from jails and prison
	Dr. Rose Iovannone Ph.D. in Educational Psychology Research Area: Functional behavior assessment and individualized behavior supports, Autism spectrum disorder and evidence based practices, Tier 3 behavior systems.
	Dr. Kimberly Johnson Ph.D. in Population Health Research Area: Quality of care for substance use disorders, Data driven quality improvement and use of technology to improve access and quality of care for people with SUDs
	Dr. Tammy Jorgensen-Smith Ph.D. in Counselor Education/Rehabilitation Research Areas: Inclusion and Supportive Services; Employment and Education
	Dr. Don Kincaid Ph.D. in Educational Psychology Research Area: Positive Behavior Support
	Dr. Kristin Kosyluk Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling Education Research Area: Mental illness and psychiatric disability, with a special interest in social justice issues and stigma.
	Dr. Nik Lampe Ph.D. in Sociology Research Areas: LGBTQIA+ Behavioral Health and Healthcare; Dementia Care and Caregiving; Aging and Older Adulthood
	Dr. Bruce Lubotsky Levin Ph.D. in Health Services Research & Policy Research Area: Behavioral Health Services Delivery, Policy, Informatics, Translational Research, Education, and Integration with Public Health.
	Dr. Oliver Tom Massey Ph.D. in Psychology Research Area: Implementation Science in Behavioral Health and School Based Mental Health Services
	Dr. Kathleen Moore Ph.D. in Social/Health Psychology Research Area: Co-occurring Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders
	Dr. Khary Rigg Ph.D. in Medical Sociology Research Area: Drug prevention and treatment; Drug overdose/mortality; Harm reduction; Drug policy; Mixed-methods and qualitative research
	Dr. Alison Salloum Ph.D. in Social Work Research Area: Childhood Trauma/PTSD, Child Mental Health, Child Welfare
	Dr. Julianne Serovich Ph.D. in Child and Family Development Research Area: HIV Disclosure
	Dr. Marilyn Stern Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology Research Area: Overweight/Obese Children and Adolescents
	Dr. Roxann (McNeish) Taormina Ph.D. in Public Health Research Area: Child and Adult Behavioral/Mental Health, Behavioral/Mental Health Disparities, Child Maltreatment
	Dr. Gregory Teague Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice Research Areas: Fidelity to program models, esp. assertive community treatment, Involvement of persons with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system, Effectiveness of consumer-operated services, Performance measurement, Self-directed care, Consumer-provider relationships
	Dr. Jeffrey Williams Ph.D. in Social Psychology, Quantitative concentration Research area: Modeling factors in preschool that predict children’s later performance in kindergarten
	Dr. Lana Yampolskaya Ph.D. in Sociology Research Areas: Child maltreatment, child welfare, children’s mental health, quantitative methods.
	Dr. M. Scott Young Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Research Areas: Coerced treatment of substance use disorders, Co-Occurring mental health and substance use disorders, Intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors affecting substance abuse treatment participation and outcomes, Alternative case processing approaches for non-violent drug offenders, Drug policy, Program evaluation

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