David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP (Forensic)

David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP (Forensic), is a Professor of Psychology and Professor of Law at Drexel University, and Director of Drexel’s JD/PhD Program in Law and Psychology. He received a BA in psychology from Rutgers University, an MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from MCP Hahnemann University, and a JD from Villanova Law School.

Dr. DeMatteo’s research interests include mental health law, psychopathic personality, forensic mental health assessment, offender diversion, and drug-involved criminal offenders. His research has been funded by several federal agencies, state agencies, and private foundations, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Laura and John Arnold Foundation, and the American Psychology-Law Society.

Dr. DeMatteo has co-authored 12 books and more than 160 articles and book chapters, and he has given more than 200 conference presentations and workshops. As Chair of the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Legal Issues, he assisted with several amicus curiae briefs submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Divisions 12 and 41) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. He is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, and he is currently President of the American Board of Forensic Psychology. Dr. DeMatteo is also a former President of the American Psychology-Law Society (APA Division 41). He is currently Chair of the Committee to Revise the APA Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, and he was recently appointed as incoming Editor-in-Chief of Law and Human Behavior. He conducts forensic mental health assessments of adults and adolescents on a variety of legal issues, and he has testified as an expert witness in several state and federal courts.

Vita (PDF)

JD/PhD Students

Chelsea Jackson

Chelsea is a 5th-year student in the JD/PhD Program. She received her Master of Science in Investigative Forensic Psychology from the University of Liverpool in 2017. Her thesis was titled “Determining Threat Perception in United Kingdom Police Officers Using the Implicit Association Test.” She received a BS in Psychology on the pre-medial track at Lafayette College in 2016. As an undergrad, Chelsea worked as a sexual assault advocate and a lab assistant for an Introduction to Psychology course. She also has a background as a forensic case manager, helping clients with serious mental illness navigate the legal system. Her current research interests include forensic assessment, reforming Megan’s Law and the treatment and rehabilitation of sex offenders, and recidivism in adult populations. In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys working out, playing with her rescue Pitbull Barney, and exploring new restaurants and bars around Philadelphia.

Vita (PDF)

Haleh Kanani

Haleh is a 3rd-year student in the JD/PhD Program. She received an MA in Forensic Psychology from the University of Denver in 2021 and a BA in English from Kenyon College in 2016. She recently completed a legal internship with the National Defense Center for Criminalized Survivors. Haleh’s research interests include diversion and reentry programs, risk assessment and reduction, and reducing hospital recidivism for people with serious mental illness. She is also interested in bridging the gap between forensic psychology and prison abolition. In her free time, Haleh enjoys reading, cooking, and smelling candles in the checkout line at TJ Maxx.

Vita (PDF)

Kellie Wiltsie

Kellie is a 6th-year student in the JD/PhD Program. She received a BS with Honors in Criminal Justice and a BS in National Security from the University of New Haven in 2018. During her time at the University of New Haven, she completed a summer research fellowship and an honors thesis evaluating a community re-entry program, and she worked in a research lab interested in public perception of mental illness and criminality. Kellie’s research interests include formerly incarcerated individuals' reentry into the community, diversion programs, and the intersection of research and policy. In her free time, Kellie enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and watching terrible reality TV.

Vita (PDF)

PhD Students

Simone Grisamore

Simone is a 1st-year student in the PhD Program. She received a BA in Psychology from DePaul University, and an MS in Psychology from Drexel University. Her research interests focus on the intersection of substance use disorders and the criminal justice system. Simone has experience with community-based recovery models in both clinical and research capacities for various at-risk populations. While at Drexel, she is interested in studying interventions and alternatives to incarceration for individuals who use substances. In her spare time, Simone enjoys spending time outdoors, rock climbing, cooking, and making oil paintings.

Vita (PDF)

MS Students

Avery Chard

Avery is a 1st year student in the master’s program. She received her BS in Psychology and BA in Anthropology at the University of Florida, as well as a certificate in Medical Anthropology. While at UF her research projects focused on helping behaviors, decision making, and procrastination. She also spent some time in a forensic anthropology lab working to identify human remains. Her primary research interests include forensic risk assessment, alternatives to incarceration, reentry programs, and the intersection of policy and research. In her free time she enjoys reading, running, watching TV, and playing with her cats, Obi and Ani.

Vita (PDF)

BS/JD Students

Joseph Barrett

Joe is a second-year undergraduate psychology major in the B.S./J.D. (3+3) program. His research interests include prison reform as well as substance abuse disorder and its correlation with crime. In his free time, Joe is a musician and plays at local restaurants and bars in the Philadelphia area.

BS/MS Students

Gwyneth Rothman

Gwyneth Rothman is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice Studies. Her research interests focus on psychopathy, white-collar crime, and the effects psychopathy and crime have on different parts of society. In her free time, Gwyneth enjoys exploring Philadelphia, cooking, playing video games, and watching reality TV.

Vita (PDF)

DeMatteo Lab Alumni

Shelby Arnold, PhD

Shelby graduated from the PhD program in 2019. She completed her predoctoral internship at Friends Hospital in Philadelphia and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Beck Institute. Shelby is currently a Staff Psychologist at the Beck Institute.

Natalie Anumba, PhD

Natalie received her PhD in clinical psychology in September 2011. Her predoctoral internship was jointly sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and she is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Ashley Batastini, PhD

Ashley graduated from Drexel's MS program in June 2010. She completed her PhD in Counseling Psychology at Texas Tech University, and she is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Rachel Bomysoad

Rachel earned her undergraduate degree from Drexel in 2018, and she is currently a Research Technologist/Lab Manager for Penn State’s Alcohol Habits Study.

Jeff Burl, PhD

Jeff received his PhD in clinical psychology in August 2012 after completing his predoctoral internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital and currently works at Bridgewater State Hospital in Massachusetts.

Jennifer Cox, PhD

Jenni graduated from Drexel's MS Program in Psychology in 2009 and went on to complete her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Texas A&M University followed by a predoctoral clinical internship at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Psychology-Law concentration at the University of Alabama.

Jaymes Fairfax-Columbo, JD, PhD

Jaymes is Policy, Planning, and Development Supervisor for the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services for the City of Philadelphia.

Sarah Filone, PhD

Sarah earned her PhD in 2017, and she is currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Providence VA Medical Center.

Sarah Fishel, JD, PhD

Sarah is a post-doctoral fellow at the Institute of Law, Psychiatry, & Public Policy at the University of Virginia

Dan Flack, JD, PhD

Dan is a clinical/forensic psychologist at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut

Dana Formon

Dana graduated from Drexel with a BS in psychology in 2013, and she is currently in the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Sam Houston State University.

Elizabeth Foster, PhD

Lizzy received her PhD in clinical psychology in 2013. She completed her predoctoral internship at UNC-Chapel Hill and a postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Widener University.

Samantha Guth

Samantha graduated from Drexel University with a BS in psychology in 2014, and she is currently in the MA in Forensic Psychology Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Emily Haney-Caron, JD, PhD

Emily graduated from the JD/PhD Program in 2018, and she is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Elizabeth Hunt, MS

Betsy graduated from Drexel's MS Program in Psychology in June 2010. After earning her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of South Florida, she will be completing a postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Michael Keesler, JD, PhD

After graduating from the JD/PhD Program, Michael completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical and forensic neuropsychology with the University of Pennsylvania and Diversified Psychological Resources, PC. He currently maintains a practice in Center City, Philadelphia, where he does a mixture of assessment, therapy, and consultation (see http://www.michaelkeesler.com). Dr. Keesler also maintains an honorary faculty position with Drexel Psychology and frequently teaches courses in neuropsychology, physiological psychology, and forensic psychology.

Julie Present Koller, PhD

Julie received her PhD in 2016, and she currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

Casey LaDuke, PhD

Casey completed his PhD in 2016, and he currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Claire Lankford, PhD

Claire is a recent graduate of Drexel’s PhD Program in Clinical Psychology (Forensic)

Megan Murphy, JD, PhD

Megan graduated from the JD/PhD Program in 2018, and she is currently working as a psychologist at the British Columbia Operational Stress Injury Clinic in Vancouver.

Unnati Patel, MS

Unnati graduated from Drexel's MS Program in 2015. She is currently completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Simon Fraser University. Her research interests include community psychopathy, the assessment and treatment of sex offenders, and juvenile delinquency. While at Drexel, she had the opportunity to study psychopathy from both a legal and neuropsychological perspective. Away from school, Unnati enjoys board games, bike rides, cooking with an abundance of coconut oil, and she patiently awaits the release of The Winds of Winter.

Morgan Scully

After graduating from Villanova University and spending two years in the lab, Morgan recently took a position as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress.

Sanjay Shah, JD, PhD

Sanjay graduated from the JD/PhD Program in 2013. He completed his predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Emory School of Medicine/Grady Health System. He is currently employed by Georgia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities where he works as a Forensic Psychologist at Georgia Regional Hospital/Atlanta. His research and practice interests include forensic mental health assessment, cognitive functioning of justice-involved individuals, and competency restoration.

Heidi Strohmaier, PhD

Heidi completed her PhD in 2015. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Tampa VA, and she is completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the Hennepin County Medical Center. Heidi's clinical interests include conducting forensic mental health assessments and delivering brief interventions to patients in health care settings.

Alice Thornewill, JD/PhD

Alice is Co-Founder and Director of the Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Mindfulness.

Julie Vayner

Julie graduated from Drexel's undergraduate program in September 2013 with her B.S. in Psychology. She is attending La Salle University for her PsyD in Clinical Psychology with a focus in forensic psychology.

Jennie Wilusz, MS, Esq.

Jennie is a principal attorney at Choate, Hall, & Stewart, LLP.