Current Members

Dr. Mahoney joined the UNM Psychology Department in the Fall of 2025. He completed his doctoral training in clinical psychology at Idaho State University with specialized training in experimental methodology within the context of behavioral economics (i.e., impulsive choice and risk-taking). Dr. Mahoney completed his predoctoral clinical internship at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA as a Behavioral Medicine Intern. His research focuses on identifying risk, maintenance, and protective factors for the symptoms and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) among women following exposure to interpersonal violence (i.e., sexual violence, intimate partner violence [IPV], community violence) and among men following exposure to combat trauma through (1) experimental, (2) prospective, and (3) qualitative studies. The intention is to investigate these processes to inform, enhance, and develop evidence-based assessments and treatments for PTSD and comorbid SUDs.

Email: colinmahoney@unm.edu

Brigitta is a fourth-year graduate student at UCCS in the Clinical Psychology PhD program with an emphasis in Trauma Psychology. She graduated from Endicott College with a Psychology B.A. focused in Neuroscience. Brigitta conducted research for four years at the Translational Research Center for Traumatic Brain Injuries and Stress Disorders (TRACTS), part of the Boston VA Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School. At TRACTS she worked with combat veterans as well as female survivors of intimate partner violence to better understand the relationship between brain structure and functioning along with overall health outcomes. Under the mentorship of Dr. Colin Mahoney, she aspires to better understand the mechanisms of resiliency and the risk factors surrounding PTSD and substance use disorders. Brigitta’s long term goal is to continue working with survivors of trauma to advance therapeutic interventions for PTSD and comorbid disorders. In her free time, Brigitta enjoys baking, hiking, and competing in triathlons.

Email: bbeck2@uccs.edu

Nicole (she/her/hers) is an incoming first year PhD student in the Clinical Science program. She received her bachelor’s degree from Amherst College in 2024 with majors in Psychology and Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought. After graduating, Nicole worked as a Clinical Research Assistant at McLean Hospital managing a digital intervention for women who had recently initiated medication for opioid use disorder. Nicole is interested in using EMA and mixed methods to investigate factors associated with substance use in women who have experienced trauma. She is also interested in digital intervention development for individuals with co-occurring substance use and trauma. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys running, baking, hanging out with friends, and trying new coffee shops and restaurants.  

Jasper is an incoming first-year Ph.D. student in the UNM Clinical Science Ph.D. program. They graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. After graduation, they worked as a post-baccalaureate clinical research coordinator at the Institute for Trauma Recovery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In this role, they managed multiple clinical trials developing digital and brief telehealth interventions aimed at mitigating post-traumatic stress and substance use in survivors of sexual assault. Jasper’s current research interests include complex trauma, adverse childhood experiences, alcohol use, cannabis use, and resilience among women and sexual/gender minority survivors of sexual violence. Outside of the lab, they can be found hiking with their partner and dog, playing a myriad of musical instruments, and spending time with loved ones.

Shantel Horne is a third-year M.A. student and graduated with her B.A. from UCCS in 2023 double majoring in psychology and dance. She joined Dr. Mahoney’s Mixed Methods Promoting Wellness and Recovery Lab (MPWR) in Fall 2021 as an undergraduate research assistant and matriculated to the M.A. in clinical psychology program in 2023. Under the direction of Dr. Mahoney, she completed her undergraduate honors thesis on associations between trauma-related shame, PTSD, and health risk behaviors among women interpersonal trauma survivors. Her populations of interest include women and LGBTQ+ individuals who have experienced interpersonal trauma. Through research and clinical practice, she hopes to improve evidence-based practice and interventions for these populations while exploring emerging approaches such as dance and movement therapy. She is also interested in coping mechanisms, co-occurring PTSD and substance use, the impact trauma-related psychopathology may have on interpersonal relationships, trauma-related shame, and dismantling intersectional barriers to service-seeking among trauma-exposed populations. 

Email: shorne@uccs.edu

Ellie McLane is a Clinical Trauma M.A. student at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). She graduated with her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from UCCS in 2024. As an undergraduate she worked with Dr. Diana Selmeczy to conduct her honor’s thesis on the role of active help-seeking in supporting memory and Dr. Kristen Rudd to complete an independent project on how intergenerational trauma impacts children’s executive functioning development. As a master’s student, she has pursued several independent projects under Dr. Mahoney, including her thesis which investigates the role of emotional invalidation in predicting emotion dysregulation and psychosocial functioning in adults exposed to intimate partner violence during childhood. Broadly, she aims to support women and children survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and/or childhood maltreatment through mixed method and community-engaged approaches to inform prevention, intervention, and policy efforts. Additionally, she hopes to emphasize marginalized perspectives in her work to increase access to care and treatment efficacy within diverse populations. In her free time, Ellie volunteers at a local domestic violence non-profit, consumes copious amounts of media, and meanders about with her dog.  

Email: emclane@uccs.edu

Riley completed her BA in Psychology at Colorado College. She joined Dr. Mahoney’s Mixed Methods Promoting Wellness and Recovery lab in May of 2024. Riley’s undergraduate thesis explored the effects of shared laughter on romantic couples’ use of constructive relationship maintenance strategies during conflict resolution. She is broadly interested in family systems, interpersonal/relational work, emotion regulation/communication, and both women and LGBTQ+ specific issues. Riley has previous experience as an undergraduate clinical intern at a DV/IPV non-profit and currently works as a Case Manager at a community-based mental health organization in Denver. Riley hopes to use her clinical and research experiences to find ways to make mental health care more diverse, inclusive, and accessible for underserved and vulnerable communities. She plans to apply to Counseling and Clinical Psychology programs to further her academic and professional careers. She would particularly enjoy working with military couples and families one day.

Lela is an incoming MPH student at the University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Population Health. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Honors Psychology from UNM in 2025. Her honors proposal project, “Exploring the Role of Cultural Support and Ethnicity in Romantic Relationships,” aimed to examine how cultural support in romantic relationships influences overall relationship satisfaction and self-esteem, particularly among culturally and ethnically diverse couples. Currently, she works as a Clinical Research Technician, coordinating and supporting Phase II–IV clinical research trials involving medications and vaccines, while engaging directly with the local Albuquerque community through outreach events to educate individuals about research, science, and evidence-based practices. Lela’s research interests center on the intersection of public health and psychology, with an emphasis on how social and cultural factors shape mental health outcomes. She is particularly interested in cross-cultural approaches to research and treatment, expanding access to care for marginalized populations, and enhancing relationship satisfaction among diverse couples. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, baking, rock climbing, and attempting to teach her cat new tricks.

Danielle Davis is a junior at the University of New Mexico, double-majoring in Criminology and Psychology with a minor in Forensic Science, and is expected to graduate in May 2028. She joined Dr. Mahoney’s Mixed Methods Promoting Wellness and Recovery Lab (MPWR) in November 2025 and is passionate about research focused on trauma, PTSD, substance use, and interpersonal violence. Through her work in the lab, she is especially interested in understanding how individuals may turn to alcohol and other maladaptive coping strategies following traumatic experiences, as well as the broader psychological and behavioral impacts of trauma. She is also interested in juvenile crime and women’s mental health, particularly in understanding the factors that contribute to vulnerability, resilience, and long-term outcomes. Through research, she hopes to contribute to a deeper understanding of trauma-related behavior and support efforts to improve prevention and intervention. In the future, she aspires to become an FBI profiler. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, fishing, reading, and spending time with family.

Email: ddavis13@unm.edu