Education:

·   1998

B.A., Psychology, Cum laude. 
University of Nevada , Las Vegas

·      2001

M.A., Clinical Psychology, Masters Thesis "The Integration of Facial and Auditory Affect: An Emotional McGurk Effect?". 
Advisor: Daniel Allen, Ph.D.                                                                                  University of Nevada , Las Vegas

·       2005

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Dissertation "Detection of Malingering using Forensic Neuropsychological Assessments". 
Advisor: Daniel Allen, Ph.D.                                                                                  University of Nevada , Las Vegas

Honors and Awards:

• Graduate Student Research Award, UNLV, Department of Psychology, 2001
• Graduate Student Research Award, UNLV, Department of Psychology, 2003
• American Psychology and Law Society Dissertation Award ( Second Place ), 2004

Research Experience:  

Research Assistant, October 2002 – May 2003

•   Supervisor: Daniel N. Allen, Ph.D.

Involved in coordination and oversight of research involving malingering during forensic neuropsychological assessment. Responsibilities include recruiting participants, data collection and entry, and analysis of results.

Research Assistant, October 1999 – May 2001

•   Supervisors: Michael D. Hall, Ph.D. and Daniel N. Allen, Ph.D.

Involved in coordination and oversight of research involving emotion perception in speech. Responsibilities include recruiting of participants, data collection and entry, and analysis of results.

Lab Manager/Research Assistant, August 1999 – May 2000

•   Supervisor: Marta Meana, Ph.D.

Involved in coordination and oversight of various research endeavors concerning women’s health and sexuality. Responsibilities include recruiting of participants, data entry, and analysis of results.

Professional Experience:

The Taylor Clinic , Brownwood, Texas

Predoctoral Intern, September 2003 – August 2004

•   Supervisors: Pennissi Taylor, Ph.D., Jerry Patrick, Ed.D., Greg Hupp, Ph.D., and 

    Ginger Kinsey. Ph.D.

Involved in various activities, including but not limited to adult and child psychological and neuropsychological assessment; group and individual classroom observations and evaluations; group presentations on various mental health issues; adult and child individual psychotherapy; couple, family, and group psychotherapy; biofeedback; crisis intervention; and chronic pain and work hardening programs. The Taylor Clinic services the psychological needs of many small rural communities within a ninety-mile radius of Brownwood .

Community Counseling Center , Las Vegas , Nevada

Intern Therapist, August 2002 – May 2003

•   Supervisors: Lillian Norton, M.D. and Mark Floyd, Ph.D.

Provided individual and group therapy to residents of the Las Vegas community. Clients issues were various and included HIV / AIDS-related issues, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. Group therapy was for court-mandated individuals recovering from alcohol / drug abuse and typically an arrest for DUI (driving under the influence), as well as for one group of men (predominately homosexual) and one group of men and women (primarily heterosexual) concerning issues of living with HIV / AIDS.

Lewis M. Etcoff, Ph.D., A.B.P.N., Las Vegas , Nevada

Psychological Assistant, March 1999 – August 2000; November 2000 – May 2001

Intern, June 2001 – July 2002

•   Supervisors: Lewis M. Etcoff, Ph.D. and Michelle G. Carro, Ph.D.

Involved in various activities, including the administration of various psychological and neuropsychological tests to children, adolescents, and adults; the compilation of records reviews in preparation for forensic evaluations; and the preparation of various materials for legal seminars, etc. presented to community and private agencies by Drs. Etcoff and Carro.

Center for Individual, Couple, and Family Counseling , University of Nevada , Las Vegas

Las Vegas , Nevada

Intern Therapist, June 2001 – August 2001

•   Supervisors: Marta Meana, Ph.D. and Colleen Peterson, Ph.D.

Provided individual and family therapy to UNLV students and residents of the Las Vegas community outside UNLV. Client issues included anxiety, depression, relationship issues, parent-child relational problems, communication problems, parenting skills, and decision-making and coping skills.

Student Counseling and Psychological Services , University of Nevada , Las Vegas

Las Vegas , Nevada

Intern Therapist, August 2000 – May 2001

•   Supervisors: Marta Meana, Ph.D., Mark Floyd, Ph.D., and Ken Swartz, Psy.D.

Provided individual therapy to UNLV students. Client issues included anxiety, depression, relationship issues, parent-child relational problems, communication problems, and decision-making and coping skills.

Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services , Las Vegas , Nevada

Intern, January 1999 – May 1999

•   Supervisor: Andrew Meyerson, Ph.D.

Participated in various activities, including intake examinations, assessments, and treatment teams, for adult clients with disorders of varying severity.

Desert Willow Treatment Center , Las Vegas , Nevada

Intern, September 1998 – December 1998; Volunteer, December 1998 – January 1999

•   Supervisor: Paula Squitieri, Ph.D.

Participated in a variety of activities, including assessment and treatment of adolescent sexual offenders (ages 12-17) and children and adolescents with various psychological disorders (ages 6-17). Desert Willow Treatment Center is Southern Nevada ’s only inpatient psychiatric facility for children. Oversaw various administrative functions, including the creation and implementation of an age-specific knowledge learning module and competency examination, completion of which will be required of all mental health technicians, and the production of a client-oriented monthly newsletter.

Teaching Experience:

University of Nevada , Las Vegas , Las Vegas , Nevada

Psychology 101 Instructor, Fall 2002 – Spring 2003

•   Teaching Coordinator: Christopher Heavey, Ph.D.

Instructed four sections of Psychology 101covering the traditional breadth topics of an introductory survey course in psychology. Duties included the preparation and delivery of syllabi, lectures, and examinations; the administration of grades; and the resolution of practical course administrative matters.

University of Nevada , Las Vegas , Las Vegas , Nevada

Teaching Assistant, Fall 1998 – Spring 2001

Involved in many aspects of assisting full-time and part-time instructors in classroom administration. Duties included teaching lectures as needed; proctoring and grading examinations; maintaining course grades; and the grading of homework assignments.

Professional and Honor Societies:

• National Academy of Neuropsychology - Student Member

• American Psychological Association (divisions 40 & 41) - Student Member

Current Research and Clinical Interests: