Resources and Collaborators

Assistant Professor, University of Memphis

Jennifer Renick’s research is focused on the intersection of community, developmental, and educational psychology. Her research interests include school climate and sense of school belonging, specifically how to improve school climate and connection for historically underserved adolescents. Another area of her research includes best practices for ethical social science research, considering different community based and participatory approaches. She is a community-engaged researcher, with prior experience facilitating research-practice partnerships with both schools and educational nonprofit organizations, and conducting youth-participatory action research.

Professor, University of Memphis

Research Interests:

• Environmental, psychological, and physiological mechanisms that promote resilience or reduce risk for psychiatric problems in the context of early traumatic stress
• Evidence-based interventions for children and families exposed to traumatic events, such as family violence and interpersonal loss
• Community-oriented studies to explore the various pathways to positive and negative functioning following exposure to traumatic events in childhood

Research Assistant Professor, University of Memphis

Dr. Rory Pfund is Clinic and Research Director of the Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education & Research at the University of Memphis. His research program focuses on evaluating and personalizing psychological treatments for gambling disorder and substance use disorder. Dr. Pfund is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience in the provision of cognitive-behavioral therapy and contingency management. He has received research support from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the International Center for Responsible Gambling, and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Dr. Pfund currently serves as an Associate Editor for Addiction and a Consulting Editor for Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.