Andre Kehn, Ph.D., University of Wyoming
Lab Director
My research interests lie in the areas of social and cognitive psychological processes relevant to the law. I am specifically interested in [1] eyewitness memory, [2] juror decision-making, and [3] perception of witnesses. My research involving eyewitness memory focuses on the cross-race effect and false memory distortions. My research on juror decision-making focuses on the impact of emotion on juror memory and sentencing decisions in capital trials and perceptions and judgments in hate crimes. My research interests involving perception of witnesses concern the perceived veracity of child and alibi witnesses. Generally speaking, I am interested in applying basic theory in social and cognitive psychology to gain a better understanding of how individuals remember witnessed events and make decisions in a legal context.
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I also have broader interests in race and gender based discrimination. We have explored some of those issues with our SPARTE group.
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Click here for my CV.
Kimberly Schweitzer, Ph.D., University of Wyoming
Kimberly Schweitzer, Ph.D., is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of North Dakota. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Dakota in 2010 and went on to earn her Ph.D. in Psychology (with a focus on legal psychology and a minor in statistics) from the University of Wyoming in 2016. Prior to coming to UND, she served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology at the University of Wyoming for six years. Her primary area of research is broadly focused on decision-making in the U.S. legal system, including juror/jury decision-making in criminal and civil contexts, the role of emotions at trial, and factors that influence probation outcomes.
Cassandra Flick, Ph.D., University of Wyoming
Broadly construed, my research examines decision-making related biases in the US legal system using social and cognitive theories to form and test my hypotheses. My research aims to inform policies and improve fairness in our justice system by understanding legal actors’ perceptions and decision-making, particularly during trials. While I focus on applied research, my work is commonly rooted in psychological theory or legal principle. I aim to question and test assumptions of these theories and laws to determine their validity and effectiveness. My interdisciplinary training and collaboration with scholars from other fields have led me to study a variety of topics, but my main research subtopics include (1) civil litigation cases, (2) police use of force, and (3) felon-juror exclusion laws.
Mary Cops, M.S., University of North Dakota
Graduate Research Assistant
Mary is a second year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at University of North Dakota. She graduated from University of Wisconsin - Stout in 2019 with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in criminal justice. In 2022, she graduated with a M.S. in Forensic Psychology from the University of North Dakota. Her research interests include eyewitness testimony, juror perceptions of defendants and eyewitnesses, false memory, and alibis. Mary enjoys playing tennis, baking, and spending time with friends and family in her free time.
Lauren Stornelli, M.A., Roger Williams University
Graduate Research Assistant
Lauren is a third-year student in the General/ Experimental Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of North Dakota. In 2019, she graduated from Westfield State University with a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish and a minor in Criminal Justice. In 2021, she graduated from Roger Williams University with a M.A. in Forensic and Legal Psychology. Her research interests include juror decision-making, eyewitness testimony and identification accuracy, and juror perceptions of evidence and eyewitnesses. Lauren enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
Feel free to contact me at: Lauren.stornelli@und.edu
Madison Adrian, M.S., University of North Dakota
Graduate Research Assistant
Madison is a third year graduate student within the General/Experimental Psychology Ph.D. program. In 2020, she graduated summa cum laude from Biola University with a B.A. in Psychology. In 2023, she graduated with a M.S. in Psychology at the University of North Dakota. Her research interests lie in the intersection of mental health and the legal system, including juror perceptions of mental disorders, as well as in child witnesses. Outside of eduction, she has a love for marine life, adventure, and calligraphy.
James Owens, B.A., Adams State University
Graduate Research Assistant
James is a second year graduate student in the M.S. Forensic Psychology program at the University of North Dakota. He graduated Magna cum Laude from Adams State University with a B.A in Psychology. His research interests include eyewitness memory and eyewitness identification. Outside of the classroom, he likes to spend his time fishing, playing video games, or playing with his dog.
Kaden Bollinger, B.S., University of Wyoming
Graduate Research Assistant
Kaden is a second-year graduate student in the M.S. Forensic Psychology program at the University of North Dakota. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. His research interests include eyewitness testimony, memory, and juror decision-making. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, snowboarding, and spending time with family.
Sophie Johnson, B.S., Carroll University
Graduate Research Assistant
Sophie is a first-year student in the General/Experimental psychology Ph.D. program at the University of North Dakota. She graduated from Carroll University 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology and Chemistry with a Forensic Science emphasis. Her research interests include juror decision making, expert decision making, and evidentiary impact. In her free time, you can find Sophie trying new recipes, reading, enjoying the outdoors, and being with her friends and family.
Jas Woods, B.S., University of North Dakota
Graduate Research Assistant
Jas is a first-year graduate student in the M.S. Forensic Psychology program at the University of North Dakota. They graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Their research interests include juror perceptions of hate crime, intergroup contact, and juror decision-making. Jas enjoys reading, listening to music/podcasts, and spending time with friends and family.
Lab Alumni
Mariah Sorby, Ph.D. - Currently in a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of North Dakota
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Emily Haynes, M.S. in Forensic Psychology
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Emily Carstens Namie, Ph.D. - Currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lewis-Clark State College
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Megan Blackburn, M.S. in Forensic Psychology
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Stephanie Weigel, Ph.D. - Currently the Director of Assessment & Institutional Research at Northcentral University
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Brittney Long, M.S. in Forensic Psychology - Currently the Competency Program Director at North Texas State Hospital
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Bradlee W. Gamblin, Ph.D. - Currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Gannon University
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Joshua Reynolds, Ph.D. (former M.S. in Forensic Psychology Student) - Currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Scranton
Collaborators
Robert J. Cramer, Ph.D. - University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Joelle Ruthig, Ph.D. - University of North Dakota
Heather Price, Ph.D. - Thompson Rivers University
Bradlee W. Gamblin, Ph.D. - Gannon University
Narina L. Nunez, Ph.D. - University of Wyoming
Bryan Myers, Ph.D. - University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Amye Warren, Ph.D. - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga