WHAT: Psychologists with expertise in what motivates mass shooters and how to help children and parents deal with trauma and grief are available to speak with journalists in the aftermath of the Umpqua Community College shooting. The American Psychological Association also has available an expert panel report on Gun Violence: Prediction, Prevention, and Policy.
WHO: Erik Mankowski, PhDPortland, Ore.Work: (503) 725-3901Email: [email protected]
Expertise: Professor, applied social and community psychology at Portland State University, Mankowski is a community and social psychologist, broadly interested in the relationship among individual, group and community functioning, especially in the area of mental health. He focuses on understanding how masculinity is socially constructed and how it is connected to violence, substance abuse and other health and social problems.
Susan Silk, PhDSouthfield, Mich.Work: (248) 350-9890 Cell: (248) 320-0608 Email: [email protected]
Expertise: Silk is disaster mental health volunteer and trainer for the American Red Cross and has responded to hurricanes (Andrew, George, Katrina), flooding (Mississippi, Northern California), airplane accidents, (Detroit, Guam), earthquakes (Loma Prieta, Northridge, Seattle), terrorism (Oklahoma City, 9/11) and school shootings (Virginia Tech).
Dorothy Espelage, PhDChampaign, Ill. Work: (217) 333-9139Email: [email protected]Website: http://www.dorothyespelage.com
Expertise: Professor and chair of the Child Development Division at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Espelage specializes in teacher safety and increased violence against teachers. Her research has focused on bullying, homophobic teasing, sexual harassment and dating violence. She was chair of APA’s Task Force on Classroom Violence Directed against Teachers, which issued a report in 2011.
Peter Langman, PhDAllentown, Pa. Work: (610) 351-3191Cell: (610) 349-2877Email: [email protected]Website: https://schoolshooters.info/
Expertise: Clinical psychologist in private practice as well as an author/lecturer, Langman can talk about the psychology of rampaging school shooters; potential school shooters and warning signs; and prevention of rampage attacks. He is the author of "Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters."
Daniel Davis, PhDColumbus, OhioWork: (614) 488-3680Cell: (614) 395-6782Email: [email protected]
Expertise: A forensic psychologist in private practice, Davis can speak about violence and aggression in children and adolescents; anger and behavioral issues in children and adolescents; and the psychological aftermath of violence and traumatic incidents, as well as risk and threat assessment in shooters.
Dewey Cornell, PhDCharlottesville, Va.Work: (434) 924-0793Email: [email protected]Website: http://curry.virginia.edu/research/labs/youth-violence-project
Expertise: A professor of education at the University of Virginia, Cornell specializes in school bullying and school violence prevention. He is a forensic clinical psychologist and developed threat assessment guidelines for schools that are used nationwide. He has testified as an expert witness in juvenile homicide cases and other criminal matters and before Congress on violence prevention and school shootings.
Peter Sheras, PhDCharlottesville, Va.Work: (434) 924-0795Cell: (434) 531-1281Email: [email protected]
Expertise: A clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Virginia, Sheras focuses on school violence prevention, bullying, youth violence, adolescent depression and suicide and the influence of media. He is an expert on school response to crises.
Robin H. Gurwitch, PhDDurham, N.C. Cell: (405) 659-9513Email: [email protected]
Expertise: Professor and clinical psychologist at Duke University Medical Center and the Center for Child and Family Health, Gurwitch has worked with numerous national organizations, including APA, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the American Red Cross, on information and materials for assist parents and other caregivers to help children deal with traumatic events.
Joel Dvoskin, PhDTucson, Ariz. Cell: (520) 906-0366Email: [email protected]Website: http://www.joeldvoskin.com/
Expertise: A clinical psychologist, Dvoskin can talk about how to recognize danger signs before shootings and how to talk to children about tragedy. He is author of numerous articles and chapters in professional journals and texts, including a number of articles that deal with treatment of people with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Emily Thomas Johnson, PhDSardis, Miss.Cell: (662) 609-4950Email: [email protected]
Expertise: An independent practitioner, Johnson is the Mississippi Psychological Association's disaster response coordinator. She works closely with school districts and children with special needs on such challenges as autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities and emotional disabilities.
Daniel J. Mosley, EdD, PCLittleton, Colo.Cell: (303) 905-4575Email: [email protected]
Expertise: Mosley is a licensed psychologist who has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services for more than 20 years. He has responded to numerous disasters including mass shootings (Columbine High School and Aurora movie theater), wildfires, floods and the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Red Cross frequently calls upon him to direct/manage the mental health response to these disasters.
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