MEET THE
PSYCHOLOGY
DEPARTMENT
The
Psychology
Department at
UCCS began offering
courses in 1967. At that
time, David Nichols was the
only instructor. Professor
Nichols became the first
Professor Emeritus in 1986.
In 1977, the Psychology
Department began offering
an MA in Psychology. In
the early 1980’s, the
Psychology Department
began planning for a
doctoral program (PhD) in
with an emphasis on aging.
In 2004, the Psychology
Department added a PhD
program in Clinical
Psychology with Curricular
Emphasis in
Geropsychology. The first
doctoral class of students
were accepted in 2004 and
the first PhD was awarded
in 2007. A Trauma
Psychology track was
added to the PhD program
in Clinical Psychology in
2014.
Michael A. Kisley
Frederick L. Coolidge
Department Chair, Professor
Professor
PhD Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania PhD Psychology, University of Florida
This is Mike’s 14th year at UCCS. He enjoys the
unique challenges and rewards of serving as the
Psychology Department chairperson. Mike’s
research is focused on how emotional events and
cues capture our attention, and conversely how we
control our attention to impact our emotions. Mike
loves teaching and offers both undergraduate and
graduate courses in neuroscience and biopsychology. Something you may not know about Mike is
that he travels to follow his favorite musical artists.
In the last 2 years he heard The Mountain Goats
and Neutral Milk Hotel 4 times each.
Thomas A. Pyszczynski
Distinguished Professor
PhD Social Psychology, University of Kansas
Fred Coolidge has taught at UCCS for the past 36
years. For the past 15 years, he has been
interested in the evolution of brains and minds. His
co-authored book (with Thomas Wynn), How to
Think like a Neandertal, published by Oxford
University Press, was recently featured in a display
in London’s Natural History Museum. Fred is codirector of the UCCS Center for Cognitive
Archaeology. Something you may not know about
Fred is that he has bicycled from Key West to
Seattle and the length of the United Kingdom, all
since his 60th birthday.
Hasker P. Davis
Professor
Tom Pyszczynski is interested in why people need PhD Biopsychology, University of California
self-esteem and meaning in life – what psychologi- Berkeley
cal functions do these things serve? These
questions led him and his colleagues to develop
Terror Management Theory, which suggests that
our beliefs, values, and self-concept are part of a
system that protects us from deeply rooted fears
regarding our vulnerability and mortality. Over the
years these ideas have been used to shed light on
questions about religion, politics, prejudice, war,
terrorism, trauma, love, and sex, all of which are
discussed in his recent book, The Worm at the
Core: The Role of Death in Life. Tom's other career
aspirations included Catholic priest (didn't happen)
and Reggae band member (did happen but didn't
pay the bills).
Charles C. Benight
Professor, Director of Clinical Training and
Trauma Clinical Ph.D. Program
PhD Counseling Psychology with an emphasis
in Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine,
Stanford University
Lori E. James
Professor, Director of Undergraduate Training
PhD Cognitive Psychology, Claremont
Graduate School
Lori James is a cognitive psychologist who has
been at UCCS since 2001. Her research tests how
various factors affect memory processes and
language production. For example, she is
interested in how aging impacts our ability to learn
the names of new people we meet, and in how
being stressed affects the fluency of our speech.
Lori is also interested in tip-of-the tongue states,
those instances when we know information but are
temporarily unable to produce it. She serves as the
Psychology Department’s Director of Undergraduate Training. Lori really enjoys exploring the
various hot springs around Colorado.
Sara H. Qualls
Professor, Kraemer Family Professor of Aging
PhD Clinical Psychology with Minors in Adult
Hasker Davis received his A.B. from the University Development and Aging; Brain Organization
of California at San Diego and his M.A. and Ph.D. and Function, Pennsylvania State University
(1980) from the University of California at Berkeley.
From 1980 to 1983 he held a postdoctoral
fellowship in cerebral metabolism at the Neurology
Department of Cornell University Medical College.
Hasker received the UCCS College of Letters, Arts
and Sciences Teaching Award in 1990, and was
the Senior Fulbright Research Fellow at the
University of Western Australia in 1999-2000. He
teaches Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Biopsychology in the undergraduate
curriculum and a seminar in memory and aging in
the graduate curriculum.
Edie L. Greene
Professor, Director of MA Program- Psychological Science Track
PhD Psychology and Law, University of
Washington
Sara Honn Qualls wears several hats, as
Psychology faculty, Faculty Director of the Lane
Center, and Gerontology Center Director. In her
30+ years at UCCS, she led the development of
the Geropsychology doctoral program and its
training clinic, the Aging Center. In the past
decade, she has focused on improving health by
collaborating with nursing and health sciences in
senior housing and primary care. She is passionate
about helping individuals and families age well.
Her books include Caregiver Family Therapy and
Aging and Mental Health. She’s also a proud mom
of 3 children and a puppy.
Daniel L. Segal
Professor
PhD Clinical Psychology, University of Miami
Dan Segal has taught in the UCCS Psychology
Department since 1995. His research interests
Edie Greene is interested in how people think
Chip Benight has taught at UCCS for the past 23
about and make decisions relevant to the law. She include the study of mental health problems
experienced by older adults, including personality
years. His work focuses on how people cope when is co-author of the leading textbook in her field,
disorders (or “difficult” individuals), resilience to
tragedy strikes. Chip started the Trauma, Health, Psychology and the Legal System, as well as
suicide, and assessment strategies suited for laterand Hazards Center in 1999 and most recently
Determining Damages: The Psychology of Jury
opened a clinic for Veterans and other trauma
Awards and The Jury under Fire: Myth, Controver- life. He developed a screening measure for anxiety
survivors at the Lane Center. Chip also has been
sy and Reform. Thinking that psychology should be in older adults, the Geriatric Anxiety Scale, which
collaborating with a colleague in Warsaw (Poland) useful to people, she testifies as an expert witness he affectionately calls the GAS. There is a 10-item
short version that is called the Baby GAS. When
for the past 8 years and spent time there as a
on jury decisions and eyewitness memory, and
not being a professor, he enjoys listening to music
visiting scholar in 2014. One thing you might not
works with judges and lawyers to make trial
know about Chip is that he played in a country
procedures more user-friendly. She is also a whiz- (especially artists from New Orleans) and playing
music band where the lead guitarist was wanted by bang pie maker, winning both the Manitou Springs tennis and golf. He has a lovely wife and 4 children,
3 of whom are cats.
the law. He was 13 years old and was known as
Pie Bake-Off and the county fair pie baking
the Yankee Drummer.
competition.
2
Sandy K. Wurtele
Professor, Associate Dean, LAS
PhD Clinical Psychology, University of
Alabama - Tuscaloosa
Sandy Wurtele joined the UCCS faculty in 1988.
She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in
1983, with a specialty in child clinical psychology,
from the University of Alabama. She completed an
APA-Approved internship at the University of
Mississippi Medical Center, and is a Licensed
Psychologist in Colorado. She teaches undergraduate courses in developmental psychology and an
internship course. Dr. Wurtele is currently the LAS
Associate Dean of Community Partnership and
Programs. Sandy is an avid cowgirl, and with her
husband (Medical Psychologist, Glenn
Kaplan) they breed and show their paint horses
in reining, cutting, and working cowhorse events.
Robert L. Durham
Associate Professor
PhD Experimental Psychology, Vanderbilt
University
Brandon E. Gavett
Assistant Professor
PhD Clinical Psychology, University of Albany,
State University of New York
Brandon Gavett is board certified in Clinical
Neuropsychology by the American Board of
Professional Psychology (ABPP). Prior to joining
the UCCS Psychology Department, Dr. Gavett was
an Instructor of Neurology at the Boston University
School of Medicine and the Director of Neuropsychology at the Center for the Study of Traumatic
Encephalopathy in Boston, MA. At UCCS, Dr.
Gavett provides clinical supervision in neuropsychology to graduate students at the UCCS Aging
Center and teaches a graduate course in Clinical
Neuropsychology.
Andrew Lac
Assistant Professor
PhD Psychology, Claremont Graduate
University
Andrew Lac is a newbie to UCCS. Notably, his
research interests are aligned with many people’s
Bob Durham has been a professor of psychology at personal interests. His research focuses on
UCCS for 40 years. At UCCS, he has taught a
substance use and addictive behaviors. Andrew’s
variety of topics, many centering on methodological most cited journal article involves alcohol use
issues (e.g., program evaluation, research design, among sorority sisters (the folks who live in
multivariate statistics, and psychometric theory).
buildings with large Greek characters). FurtherHe has been a principal investigator (or co-PI) on
more, he enjoys developing and validating
numerous grants and contracts. He has authored/ measurement scales, and hopes to be the first to
co-authored over 60 publications and presentapublish a scale on “clown phobia.” Although
tions. He has recently become involved in research Andrew has traveled to over 25 countries, he has
concerning the assessment of attitudes towards
only lived in one State (California) before moving to
child sexual abuse and the etiology of sexual
Colorado.
offending. He brings a strong psychometric and
methodological background to this content area.
Molly Maxfield
Jennifer Clarke
Senior Instructor
PhD Social Psychology, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jennifer Clarke is a social psychologist who has
taught at the college level since 1999. Her rather
eclectic research interests include romantic
relationships (specifically commitment and risktaking behaviors), leadership, self-interest in
volunteerism, and stereotype threat. Dr. Clarke
taught at UCCS from 2003-2004 and returned in
2008. Dr. Clarke is a dedicated community
volunteer, an avid sports fan, and a bit of a
gourmand; she enjoys hiking, gardening, and being
with family and friends. She is married to Craig
Foster, a Professor at the Air Force Academy, and
is mom to Langley and Gibson.
Tamra Cater
Instructor
PhD Developmental Psychology, University of
Southern Mississippi
Tamra Cater has taught at the University of
Southern Mississippi, University of Southern
Indiana, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Her research interests include attachment,
romantic relationships, and cognitive development
(language and analogical reasoning). She also
loves movies, reading, football, cooking, and
classic cars. Dr. Cater is married to Tom Cater, a
college football coach, and is a parent to 2 cats,
Crush and Jacko.
Andrea Williams
Program Assistant I
Andrea Williams began working in the Psychology
Department in 1993 after several years in the
Leilani Feliciano
Budget and Planning Office. She helps the
Associate Professor
department chairs, directors and PI’s with
operational and financial management. She has a
PhD Clinical Psychology, Western Michigan
BS degree in Biology and Environmental Science.
University
Interests outside of work include cooking and
Leilani Feliciano joined the faculty at UCCS in
Molly Maxfield is in her seventh year as a faculty
nutrition, hiking, reading, running, and spending
2007. Her research focuses on mental health and member at UCCS. Molly is the Director of the
aging with particular interest in the intersection of
Geropsychology Track of the doctoral program and time with family.
mental/physical health. As an example, she is
the Clinical MA program. She researches a variety
David DuBois
concerned with how depression impacts the ability of topics in social cognition and aging. Currently,
to manage a chronic illness. Leilani also enjoys
her research is focused on the anxiety people have Program Assistant II
her role as a mentor/teacher; recently winning the about developing dementia in later life. One thing
David DuBois has been with the Psychology
MOSAIC Outstanding Faculty Diversity Award, a
Department since early 2000. He is a UCCS alum
you may not know about Molly is that before she
student-driven award that speaks to her commitdecided to become a psychologist, she wanted to who earned his BA in English in 2008. As a
ment in this area. She is Past President of the
Program Assistant, David manages the application
be a professional musician and was awarded a
Psychological Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
and graduation processes for graduate students as
music scholarship for college; she played
In her off-time, she enjoys music, karate with her 7- percussion.
well as purchasing, accounts payable, travel, petty
year old daughter, and relaxing with her husband.
cash advances for study subject payments, and
temporary lecturer appointments for the departKristin Samuelson
ment. Outside of work he devotes time to his
Elizabeth Daniels
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
PhD Clinical Psychology, University of Virginia family, reading fiction, reality TV, cooking (and
PhD Developmental Psychology, University of Kristi Samuelson is new to the UCCS psychology eating), and attending concerts. Some might say
that David also has an obsession with Pugs!
California Santa Cruz
department, leaving behind the beautiful San
Beth Daniels is a developmental psychologist. This Francisco Bay Area where she resided for the past
Laura Chandler
is her second year at UCCS. Broadly-speaking,
18 years for the even more beautiful Colorado.
Administrative Assistant II
Beth is interested in girls’ and women’s developShe is a clinical psychologist who specializes in
ment; more specifically, she studies how media
trauma and teaches and conducts research within Laura Chandler has been the Psychology
Department’s Administrative Assistant since 2009.
and sexualization impact girls and women.
the Trauma Psychology track of the Clinical
She was a software trainer and worked for a
Something you may not know about Beth is that
Psychology PhD program. Passionate about
healthcare foundation prior to UCCS. She earned
she attended the oldest high school in the United
working with veterans and families who have
her BA degree in Economics from UCCS and her
States – Boston Latin School – and studied Latin
experienced trauma, her research focuses on
and ancient Greek there. She’s really good at the
biopsychosocial markers, particularly neuropsycho- MS degree in Information Technology Management
from Regis University. Laura has been an active
game – Free Rice.
logical functioning, and treatment of PTSD.
member of the UCCS Alumni Association for over 3
Something you may not know about Kristi is that
years and has given the alumni charge at the 2014
she is an avid poker player who has won many
and 2015 UCCS commencement ceremonies. She
small-stakes Las Vegas Texas Hold ‘Em
has a husband, a son, a daughter (who attends
tournaments.
UCCS) and a cat.
Assistant Professor, Director of the Clinical MA
and Geropsychology Clinical PhD Programs
PhD Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in
Geropsychology, University of Colorado
Colorado Springs
UCCS
Aging Center
The Aging Center is a community-based non-profit mental health services facility administered by the University of
Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), and is the primary practicum training site for the APA accredited clinical psychology
Ph.D. program. It is currently one of the few geropsychology training clinics in the nation linking the academic standards
of excellence and innovative clinical training with the practical needs of the community. The Aging Center provides
comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological assessment and treatment services to individuals 55+ as well as
their families, trains graduate students in clinical geropsychology and supports the study of psychological aging
processes.
3
D e g re e P l a n s
BA Psychology
We have a large
undergraduate program
in which students can earn
BA degrees while learning about
the science underlying the field of
psychology.
The Clinical track of our MA program
provides foundational research skills
and clinical training to prepare
students for training at the
doctoral level.
MA Psychology Clinical Track
The
MA Psychology
Psychological
Science track of the
Psychological
MA program gives
students a solid foundation
Science Track
in psychological research via
coursework on topics such as
development, cognition, social behavior,
and neuropsychology, and includes a
research-based thesis.
-
The Geropsychology PhD track promotes clinical work
and research concerning psychology and aging,
including mental health diagnosis, assessment,
and intervention for adults and older adults.
The Trauma PhD track is designed to
train students who have a
particular interest in
conducting research and
working clinically with
traumatized
individuals.
PhD
Geropsychology
&
PhD Trauma
Psychology
Alumni
KrisAnn McBroom graduated from
the MA in Clinical Psychology in 2012.
She is the Assistant Dean of the
Graduate School at UCCS. She
ensures that UCCS graduate
programs are upholding the quality
and standards of the graduate school.
Her educational background allows
her to bring empirical data driven
decisions to her job. She uses her
clinical and research skills every day
to bring high quality support to faculty,
staff, and graduate students at UCCS.
Matt Motyl is a political psychologist
at the University of Illinois, studying
how people’s moral and political
ideologies steer them into “Red” and
“Blue communities, and how this
enhances cooperation with likeminded people and causes conflict
with others. He writes a blog that uses
research to understand the psychology
of politics, and created a non-profit
organization to improve intergroup
civility. He earned his MA degree, in
the Psychological Science track from
UCCS in 2009.
Renee Pepin recently began her
position as a research scientist at
Dartmouth Centers for Health and
Aging. Renee is highly committed to
improving mental health for older
adults through community-based
services research. She focuses on the
delivery of evidence-based treatments
to older adults through communitybased aging service providers and
technology. Renee earned her PhD
degree in Geropsychology from UCCS
in 2012.
Ethan McMahan earned his BA
degree from UCCS in 2005. He went
on to complete his PhD in
Experimental Psychology (with a focus
on Developmental Psychology) at the
University of Wyoming. In 2010, Ethan
started his current position as a
psychology faculty member at the
Western Oregon University, where his
research explores aspects of wellbeing.
College of Letters, Arts & Sciences | Psychology Department
Location: Columbine Hall 4035 | psych@uccs.edu
Department Chair Dr. Mike Kisley | Phone: (719) 255-4177 | mkisley@uccs.edu
Administrative & Undergraduate Program Contact: Ms. Laura Chandler | Phone: (719) 255-4661 | lchandl2@uccs.edu
Graduate Program Contact: Mr. David DuBois | Phone: (719) 255-4500 | ddubois@uccs.edu
http://www.uccs.edu/psych