Forensic clinical research

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Research Team

Dr. Costopoulos

Dr. Julie Costopoulos is currently coordinating and teaching in the Forensic concentration for the Clinical Psychology PsyD program and teaches in the undergraduate Psychology and Forensic Psychology degree programs.

Dr. Costopoulos has a passion for helping students inform their clinical work with empirical findings. Her research team supports students as they develop comfort with the scientific exploration of the empirical foundations of knowledge in the field of psychology. Dr. Costopoulos' career has been in the area of forensic psychology. She comes to Florida Tech after serving as a senior forensic psychologist for the Sexually Violent Predator Program of Florida. Previously she served at a forensic psychiatric inpatient unit at Florida State Hospital where she conducted therapy and assessments, and testified to the court on issues of residents' competency to stand trial, commitment for hospitalization and other forensic matters. Dr. Costopoulos has taught at several universities including psychology, statistics, and research methods courses to undergraduate and graduate students.

More information on Dr. Costopoulos

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Bethany Wellman

Bethany Wellman, M.S. is a clinical psychology doctoral student with a concentration in Forensics. Bethany graduated from Radford University in Radford Virginia with a Masters degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology, having completed a one year internship with Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute, a state psychiatric hospital. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Marshall University in Huntington WV. Bethany has worked with Dr. Costopoulos since her first year in the Psy.D. program. She has served on multiple project teams, including the PCL-R and Math Team, and is a coauthor on the Mental Health Court effectiveness study. Bethany is now beginning work on a new study looking at the malingering of psychopathology.

Chelsea Bennett

Chelsea is a first year clinical psychology doctoral student with a concentration in Forensics. Chelsea graduated from the University of Florida where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. She continued her education at George Washington University where she earned her Master of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology. Chelsea's research and clinical interests include forensic assessment, expert testimony, malingering, and competency. Chelsea started working with Dr. Costopoulos during her first year of the program as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and is currently a member of the Math Anxiety team.

Hayley Rodriguez

Hayley Rodriguez, M.A. is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student pursuing a concentration in Forensics. Hayley graduated from The University of Akron where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She later received a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from The University of Central Florida. Hayley’s primary areas of interest include adolescent offenders, forensic evaluations, and recidivism. Hayley has been working with Dr. Costopoulos as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and is currently serving on the Mental Health Court research team.

Lauren Price

Lauren Price, M.A. is a 1st year Clinical Psychology doctoral student pursuing a concentration in Forensics. Lauren graduated from Ohio University where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology-Criminology with a minor in Psychology. She later received a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University located in Arlington, Virginia. Lauren’s primary areas of interests are forensic evaluations and expert testimony. Lauren has been working with Dr. Costopoulos as a Graduate Teaching Assistant throughout her first year at FIT and is currently serving on the Math Anxiety team

Shannon Cantalupo

Shannon Cantalupo is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student pursuing a concentration in Forensics. Shannon graduated from the University of Central Florida where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. She spent the past year before coming to the Florida Institute of Technology working at the Child Protection Center in Sarasota, Florida. Her interests include forensic evaluations and working with juvenile offenders. Shannon has been working with Dr. Costopoulos as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and is currently serving on the Drug Mental Health Court team.