Recent Graduates and Former Students

Tess M. S. Neal, PhD
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with emphases in Forensics and Statistics, 2012
- The University of Nebraska Lincoln, B.A., 2005; Majors: Psychology and English, Minors: Criminal Justice and Sociology
- Master’s Thesis: Are Male Experts More Believable than Female Experts? Credibility of Expert Witnesses as a Function of Gender and Eye Contact Behavior. (See Neal, T.M.S.& Brodsky, S.L., 2008, Expert witness credibility as a function of eye contact behavior and gender. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35, 1515-1526.)
- Dissertation: The Objectivity Demand: Experiences and Behaviors of Psychologists in Capital Case Evaluations
- Internship Site: University of Massachusetts Medical School & Worcester State Hospital
- Current Position: Tess recently accepted a 2-year postdoctoral position at UMass Medical School (clinical-forensic training and research) (tmneal@crimson.ua.edu)

Mitch Ziemke, PhD
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2012
- University of Wisconsin, 2007, BA, Majors: Psychology, Legal Studies; Minor: Criminal Justice
- Master’s Thesis: To Flatter The Jury: Ingratiation Effects During Closing Arguments (2009)
- Dissertation: Unloading The Hired Gun: Inoculation Effects In Expert Witness Testimony (2011)
- Internship Site: Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Rochester, Minnesota
- Current Position: Mitch recently accepted a position at the Federal Correctional Institution in Waseca, Minnesota (mhziemke@crimson.ua.edu)
Shalene M. Kirkley, PhD
Virginia Cooper, PhD
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2008
- Simmons College, Boston, BA in psychology, 1997
- Master’s Thesis: Attitudes towards Mentally Ill Offenders: A Comparison of College and Forensic Staff Populations (Carl Clements, Chair)
- Dissertation: The Impact of Neuropsychological Testimony: Malingering, Cognitive Impairment, and Language Complexity
- Current position: Private practice conducting forensic evaluations and providing consultation (Arizona PsychServices, PLLC) and part-time Assistant Professor at Argosy University-Phoenix teaching assessment courses
Virginia Cooper, PhD
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2004
- Kenyon College, BA in Psychology, 1996
- Master’s Thesis: Competency to stand trial decisions: Predictor variables and examiner differences. Cooper, V.G. & Zapf, P.A. (2003). Predictor variables in competency to stand trial decisions. Law and Human Behavior, 27, 423-436.
- Dissertation: Waiver of Miranda rights in psychiatric patients. Cooper, V.G., & Zapf, P.A. (2008). Comprehension of Miranda rights in psychiatric patients. Law and Human Behavior, 32, 390-405.
- Current Position: Instructor, University of South Carolina

Michael Griffin, PhD
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2007
- Loyola University Maryland, BA in Psychology, 1999
- The College of William & Mary, MA
- Master’s Thesis: “Anger, Meditation, and Mindfulness”
- Dissertation – “The effects of presentation software, need for cognition, and evidence complexity on persuasiveness of closing arguments”
- Current Position: Psychologist at HRC Behavioral Health & Psychiatry, PA in Chapel Hill, NC
Marla Domino, PhD
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2001
- University of Santa Cruz, BA in Psychology, 1992
- Northeastern University, MA in Criminal Justice
- Master’s Thesis: Mental health services in the Massachusetts correctional system
- Dissertation: Homophobia and fear of AIDS among mock jurors
- Current Position: Chief Psychologist at the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, Asst Professor at the University of South Carolina’s Dept. of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral health

Rob Cramer, PhD
Looking back… My research interests include witness testimony, hate crimes & LGB issues, suicidality & depression. While at UA, the best part of being in Stan’s lab was Stan’s mentorship and modeling a true collaborative spirit!
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2010
- Loyola University, BA in Psychology, 2004
- Master’s Thesis: Juror Personality and Expert Witness Confidence as Predictors of Expert Witness Credibility and Sentencing Outcomes
- Dissertation: Witness Self-Efficacy: Development and Validation of the Construct
- Current Position: Assistant Professor of Psychology, Sam Houston State University
Looking back… My research interests include witness testimony, hate crimes & LGB issues, suicidality & depression. While at UA, the best part of being in Stan’s lab was Stan’s mentorship and modeling a true collaborative spirit!

David Cannon, PhD
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2006
- The University of Southern California, BA in Biology, 1998
- Masters Thesis: Effects of Ingratiation in Attorney Conducted Voir Dire
- Dissertation: Coming Out Bad
- Current Position: Co-founder of Trial Innovations, a California based national trial consulting firm. I’m a trial consultant based in the Los Angeles area with interests in the practical applications of psychology to the legal field. I use both traditional and online methods to study juror perceptions of a variety of cases throughout the country.

Mark Boccaccini, PhD
- UA Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, 2003
- Santa Clara University, BA in Psychology, 1995
- Master’s Thesis: The Attorney-Client Trust Scale: A Measure of Affect- and Cognition-Based Trust in the Attorney-Client Relationship (see Boccaccini, M. T., & Brodsky, S. L. (2002). Attorney-client trust among convicted criminal defendants: Preliminary examination of the Attorney-Client Trust Scale. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 20, 69-87.)
- Dissertation: Impact of Witness Preparation Training on the Use of Targeted Testimony Delivery Skills, Perceived Credibility, and Evaluations of Guilt (see Boccaccini, M.T., Gordon, T., & Brodsky, S.L. (2005). Witness preparation with real and simulated criminal defendants. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 23, 659-687; and Boccaccini, M.T., Gordon, T., & Brodsky, S.L. (2003). Effects of witness preparation on witness confidence and nervousness. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, 3, 39-51).
- Current Position: Associate Professor, Psychology Department, Sam Houston State University