[vc_custom_heading text=”About Dr. Deloney” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”title”]

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow & Project Manager

     University of Houston- Department of Educational Psychology

     Houston, TX – September 2014 – September 2015

    ▪   Managed the day-to-day activities of a $2.5 million dollar National Institutes of Health research project that analyzes biological and psychosocial data to better understand  substance abuse among Blacks.

    ▪   Daily activities included: supervising 12 graduate and undergraduate students; hiring and training volunteers; screening and  scheduling research participants; creating weekly work schedule;  maintaining the cash log; negotiating with vendors; running in-lab experiments; serving as a  researcher; collecting quantitative data; and managing multiple research datasets with Access, Excel and other software.

    ▪   Oversaw recruitment and retention of study participants, providing expertise on advertising via social media.

    ▪   Assisted with writing of Institutional Review Board proposal and implementation of second NIH study.

    ▪   Aided in the development and renewal of contracts and grants.

    ▪   Prepared weekly briefing memorandum for Principal Research Investigator Dr. Ezemenari Obasi.

Dissertation Research

Dept. of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

Western Michigan University- Kalamazoo, MI – September 2010- Nov 2014

    ▪       Planned, developed, and conducted research to understand the impact of being a young adult who

             serves as a caregiver for their severely mentally ill mother.

    ▪   Surveyed 84 participants recruited using strategic random sampling techniques.

    ▪   Analyzed concepts related to lifespan development; quality of life; coping; and resilience.

    ▪   Quantitative data was collected via online survey instruments and was analyzed with SAS software.

    ▪   Successfully defended this research before an audience of social scientists on Nov 21, 2014.

Graduate Research Assistant                                                          

Department of Psychology

Michigan State University – January 2009- August 2009

    ▪    Conducted interviews with Black gay/bisexual men in the northwest Michigan region to identify their unique  psychosocial needs.

    ▪   Participated in group sessions to develop/revise the study’s survey instrument

    ▪   Recruited new participants via direct community outreach.

    ▪   The information collected from this study was used by Michigan’s Department of Community Health to make urgent changes to HIV-prevention for this population.         

Graduate Research Assistant                                                          

Dept. of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

Western Michigan University- Kalamazoo, MI – 2007- February 2009

    ▪        Assisted in data collection for a project to reveal more about several historic social scientists.  

    ▪    Participated in group discussions seeking to relate psychological theories to their work.

Graduate Research Assistant                                                          

Dept. of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

Western Michigan University- Kalamazoo, MI – September 2007- June 2008

    ▪   Assisted in data collection of articles, books and videos that reveal more about domestic violence.        

    ▪   The information collected from this project was used to teach a graduate-level course on gender issues.                           

Undergraduate Research Assistant                

Institute for Policy Research

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL – May 2002- November 2002

    ▪   Served as a research assistant for a sociologist seeking to determine how poor families have

             coped after welfare reform.

    ▪   Transcribed large sets of qualitative data (i.e. audiotaped interviews)

    ▪   Participated in group discussions to analyze and code the qualitative data.

    ▪    Helped develop and refine the data codes.

    ▪   The results of this study were published in a book entitled Work-Family Challenges for Low-Income Parents and Their Children.

Undergraduate Research Assistant                                              

Center for Learning Technologies

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL – February 2000- May 2002

    ▪   Served as a research assistant for a study that sought to determine how children use models to learn.

    ▪   Transcribed large sets of qualitative data (i.e. videotaped model-building sessions)

    ▪   Participated in group discussions to analyze and code the qualitative data.

    ▪   Helped develop and refine the data codes.

    ▪   The results of this study were published as part of a doctoral dissertation.

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CLINICAL EXPERIENCES

Clinical Service Provider (Pre-Doctoral Internship)

      Ohio Community Mental Health-  Community Corrections Center

      Lebanon, OH – August 2013- August 2014

      ▪ Counseled adult male felony offenders struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

      ▪ Addressed criminal thinking and trauma. Made professional decisions concerning diagnosis and treatment, especially as related to the  usefulness of psychiatric drugs with the offender.

      ▪ Participated in case consultations with clinical and non-clinical staff, including probation/parole officers, employment specialists, academic specialists, and security monitors.

      ▪ Assisted with discharge planning.

      ▪ Maintained electronic case notes and created reports for clinical staff members.

      ▪ Provided crisis intervention as needed, using active listening and safety skills.

Outpatient Therapist (Pre-Doctoral Internship)

      Ohio Community Mental Health- College Hill

      Cincinnati, OH – August 2013- August 2014

      ▪      Counseled adult clients struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

      ▪ Conducted intake assessments and created treatment plans.

      ▪ Addressed community-level needs and assist with case management.

      ▪ Consulted with and provided clinical reports to outside agencies including probation/parole officers and  

              Child Protective Services.

      ▪ Provided crisis intervention as needed, using active listening and safety skills

      ▪ Provided family counseling as needed

Clinical Social Worker/Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Specialist

        Michigan Community Mental Health

        Battle Creek, MI – November 2011- November 2012

         ▪      Worked with a multidisciplinary team to meet the psychiatric, medical, and service needs of 50 severely mentally ill adults, seeing clients at their homes and in the office.

         ▪      Taught independent living skills to prevent psychiatric re-hospitalization.

         ▪      Used motivational techniques to facilitate substance abuse recovery.

         ▪      Administered and monitored use of oral medications.

         ▪      Responded to after-hours crisis calls with active listening and safety skills.

         ▪      Provided testimony to judges, lawyers, and police officers regarding client welfare, issues of abuse/neglect, civil probate (i.e., hospitalization), and adult guardianship.

        ▪       Created written reports in both criminal and civil matters.

        ▪       Conducted annual and quarterly assessments and create treatment plans.

        ▪       Maintained electronic case notes.   

FOCUS Program Student Advisor

Kalamazoo Valley Community College – September 2008-  May 2011

        ▪ Met regularly with Kalamazoo Valley Community College students planning to transfer to 4-year colleges and universities.

        ▪ Discussed students’ current academic progress, career goals, and personal concerns.

        ▪ Met regularly with Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative (MPRI) students.

        ▪ Helped MPRI students overcome academic, financial, and social barriers related to having a criminal history.

        ▪ Developed and conducted presentations such as Overcoming Test and Math Anxiety and Express Yourself: Interpersonal Communication Skills for Students.   

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COMMUNITY SERVICE/ CONSULTATION

Policy Consultant

     University of Houston

     Office of the Vice Chancellor –  February 2015 – September 2015

    ▪        Assisted the Vice Chancellor in updating and rewriting the school’s sexual harassment policy.

    ▪    Provided consultation on matters related to gender dynamics, the role of mandated reporters, and social justice (e.g., the prohibitive costs of post-assault examinations).

    ▪    Assisted in the implementation of this policy (e.g., workshops, trainings, educating students/faculty about the  updated policy).

Houston City Council Workgroup

       Houston Commission on Disabilities

      Houston, Texas – January 2015- present

   ▪         Support the activities of the Houston Commission on Disabilities workgroup as needed.  

   ▪      Collaborating with local police and fire departments to improve the safety of group homes.

Disaster Mental Health Associate

           American Red Cross

          Greater Kalamazoo Chapter, Kalamazoo, MI – March 2010- April 2013

      ▪      Received 40 hours of disaster intervention training with a focus on psychological triage, crisis intervention, and psychological support of disaster victims.

      ▪ Stood  prepared to conduct disaster mental health activities  in a shelter or on a disaster site.

      ▪ Performed casework for affected individuals following a disaster.

      ▪ Assisted with the opening, operating, and closing of disaster relief shelters/kitchens.

      ▪ Performed other duties as requested by the American Red Cross.

Legislative Action Committee Member

           Various Community Organizations and Western Michigan University Students       

           Lansing, MI – August 2009

     ▪       Along with approximately 30 other community members, traveled to Michigan’s State Capitol building to speak to Congress members about voting against redistributing funds away from GSRP.

      ▪        Great Start Readiness Program (GSPR) provides preschool programs for children “at risk” of school failure.

Crisis Intervention Volunteer

         Gryphon Place

          Kalamazoo, MI – May 2008- January 2009

      ▪      Received 45 hours of crisis intervention training focusing on suicide prevention.

      ▪ Responded to crisis calls with active listening and safety skills.

      ▪ Worked closely with Adult and Child Protective Services taking abuse calls and making appropriate referrals.     

      ▪ Made referrals to domestic violence shelters, food banks, homeless shelters, rehab centers, etc. as needed.

      ▪ Helped train new volunteers by assisting with role plays and feedback sessions.

      ▪ Completed 200 hours of volunteer service (separate from the training).