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 and scholarly interests include mental health law, psychopathic personality, forensic mental health assessment, and offender diversion. His research has been funded by several federal agencies, state agencies, and private foundations, including the American Psychology-Law Society, Laura and John Arnold Foundation, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Pennsylvania Department of Welfare. He has published 100+ peer-reviewed articles, 50+ book chapters, and 12+ books, and he has given more than 200 conference presentations and workshops.

Dr. DeMatteo has been involved with numerous professional organizations and committees. 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 1, 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. He is a former President of the American Psychology-Law Society (APA Division 41) and the American Board of Forensic Psychology. He is Chair of the Committee to Revise the APA Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, and he is the Editor-in-Chief of Law and Human Behavior. Dr. DeMatteo consults with city agencies, state agencies, legislators, correctional facilities, and law enforcement. 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)

Kellie Wiltsie

Kellie is a 7th-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. She is currently completing her pre-doctoral internship in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. In her free time, Kellie enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and watching terrible reality TV.

Vita (PDF)

Chelsea Jackson

Chelsea is a 6th-year student in the JD/PhD Program. She received her Master of Science in Investigative Forensic Psychology from the University of Liverpool in 2017. She received a BS in Psychology on the pre-medial track at Lafayette College in 2016. Chelsea has interest in clinical work with early psychosis, forensic, and sex offender populations. 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 silly dog Herschel, and exploring new restaurants and bars around Philadelphia.
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Haleh Kanani

Haleh is a 4th-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.

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Sam Barans

Sam is a 1st-year student in the JD/PhD program. He received a BS in Psychology and BA in Math at Michigan State University (MSU). As an undergrad, Sam worked for a diversion program at the Lansing Juvenile Court, did measurement research for a personality and well-being lab at MSU, and spent his summers in Albuquerque doing measurement and program outcomes research for the University of New Mexico's psychosis treatment programs. Sam's research interests include forensic assessment, reentry and diversion, and drug policy. In his free time, Sam likes to run, go to local Philly bands' shows, and see if Trader Joe's has any free samples.

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Simone Grisamore

Simone is a 2nd-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.

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Avery Chard

Avery is currently a 2nd-year student in the Master of Science in Psychology program at Drexel University. In 2023, she received her BS in Psychology and BA in Anthropology at the University of Florida, as well as a certificate in Medical Anthropology. Avery is also a Forensic Associate at the Behavioral Health and Justice Division (BHJD) at the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services. Her primary research interests include forensic risk assessment, alternatives to incarceration, reentry after incarceration, and the intersection of policy and research. In her free time, she enjoys reading, working out, and playing with her cats, Obi and Ani.

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Joseph Barrett

Joe is a 3rd-year undergraduate psychology major in the B.S./J.D. (3+3) program. After this year, he will continue his education at Kline School of Law at Drexel. His research interests include substance abuse disorder’s interaction with the law, expert admissibility and evidentiary policies during criminal trials, and rehabilitation within the prison system. In his free time, Joe loves to travel, having most recently visited South Africa this year, and is also a musician that plays at local restaurants and bars in the Philadelphia area.

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Gwyneth Rothman

Gwyneth is a 2nd-year BS/MS student. She received her BS in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice Studies from Drexel University. 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.

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Hayden Adams

Hayden is a 3rd-year undergraduate psychology major. His research interests include decision making processes and their implications on the insanity defense, substance use and its intersection with the criminal justice system , and competence/restoration policy reform. In his free time, Hayden enjoys playing guitar with friends, finding hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and surf fishing.

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Leah Guerra

Leah is a 2nd-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. Her research interests include psychopathy, juvenile incarceration, layperson’s perception of defendants with mental illness, reentry progress, and how modern-day depictions of violence may mentally affect the younger generation. In her free time, Leah enjoys watching superhero films, sewing, discovering new restaurants, and learning how to play guitar.