Professional Biography
Dr. Smith served as an assistant professor for 4 years at Loyola University Chicago in the psychology department before joining us at the University of Denver in 2025. Her research is focused on providing culturally responsive mental health services, including assessments and therapy. In particular, she works with Black and/or Latiné youth and their families with ADHD and also focuses on how systemic and interpersonal trauma effect youth. Dr. Smith uses community based participatory action research methods to understand the lived experiences of families. She is also a statistical consultant and provides workshops on culturally responsive work.
Degree(s)
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2020
Licensure / Accreditations
- Colorado, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- Illinois, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Media Sources
Research
- Project CRAFT (Culturally Responsive Assessments for Teens): This project will start recruiting Fall 2026 and will recruit Black and/or Latiné adolescents (grades 6th-12th) who suspect they might have ADHD. They will receive a full assessment, feedback session, and follow-ups from the Advancing Community Centered Intervention (ACCTION) Team. Key variables of interest include developmental trauma disorder, racism, and emotion dysregulation.
- Evaluating Theatre and Storytelling as Neuroarts-Informed Health Coaching: This project is in conjunction with Dr. Saharra Dixon and focuses on a story-based coaching session to support young adults living with obsessive-compulsive and related disorders and complex trauma.
- Excluded, Not Forgotten: This project is an online survey based project to learn more about the lived experiences of Black and/or Latiné youth with ADHD across the US. Recruitment will resume in fall 2026.
- Late Diagnosis of ADHD: Girls and women are often diagnosed with ADHD later in life. This project is in conjunction with Dr. Elizabeth Chan (Montclair University) and Dr. Kelsey Wiggs (Purdue University) and focuses on assessing women with suspected ADHD and what barriers may have led to a later diagnosis. This project will likely start recruiting Spring 2027.
- Misinformation or Misconstrued? ADHD and Autism on TikTok: This project has completed recruitment and is being written into a paper.
Featured Publications
Awards
- Change Leader, ABCT
- Faculty ACCESS Program Fellow, National Institute of Health
- CHADD Young Scientist Research Award, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
- Research Trainee of the Year, The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Rising Star, Alice B. Hayes Award for Advising and Mentoring, , LUC
Graduate Mentorship
Dr. Smith will be reviewing applications for Fall 2027 application. This does not mean she will definitely be able to accept a student.
