Denver FIRST

Our 2023-24 Fellows

Katherine Hanniball and Katherine Sterling

• Katherine Hanniball, PhD
  

  Dr. Katherine Hanniball is one of the 2023-2024 Postdoctoral Fellows in Forensic Psychology at Denver FIRST. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Washington State Office of Forensic Mental Health Services and received her Ph.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her doctoral research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and she was the recipient of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Award. Dr. Hanniball has treatment and evaluation experience in a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient, community-based, correctional, and private practice contexts. Her current responsibilities during the fellowship year include the forensic evaluation services, clinical supervision of students, teaching graduate coursework, and ongoing research projects. She maintains research interests in forensic related topics, including psychopathy and personality dysfunction, forensic risk assessment, and trauma.

• Katherine Sterling, PhD
  

  Dr. Katherine Sterling is one of the 2023-2024 Postdoctoral Fellows in Forensic Psychology at Denver FIRST. She graduated from Pacific University in Hillsboro, Oregon and completed a predoctoral internship at the Center for Behavioral Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Sterling has conducted treatment and evaluations in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including community mental health clinics and state hospitals. Her current responsibilities include forensic evaluations, research projects, teaching graduate coursework, and supervision of students. Her research interests include personality pathology, complex trauma, delusional disorder, juvenile justice topics, and competency restoration treatment.

Our Previous Fellows

Each of our fellows passed the EPPP during their fellowship years and had no problems obtaining their psychology licenses in Colorado or other states shortly after completing their fellowships.

• Josh Francis, PhD
  

  Ph.D., Sam Houston State University, 2022
  Josh.Francis@du.edu

  Dr. Francis was the 2022-2023 Denver FIRST Postdoctoral Fellow in Forensic Psychology. He graduated from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas and completed a predoctoral internship at the Center for Behavioral Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri. He has treatment and evaluation experience in a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient, community-based, and correctional contexts. He currently serves as a Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor in DU’s MAFP program, and he conducts forensic evaluations in the community as an affiliate of Denver FIRST. Dr. Francis maintains research interests in forensic related topics, including competency restoration outcomes, issues in forensic assessment, trauma, sensation seeking behavior, and personality.

• Cassandra Bailey, PhD
  

  PhD, Sam Houston State University, 2021
  Our 2021-2022 fellow, Dr. Bailey, is now employed as an Assistant Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She has established a private practice conducting forensic evaluations and works as an affiliate of Denver FIRST. She continues to research topics related to forensic psychology, immigration, Latinx mental health disparities, and psychometrics of Spanish-language psychological assessment measures.

• Katelyn Hernandez, PsyD
  

  Postdoctoral Fellow, Denver FIRST
  Nova Southeastern University

  Dr. Hernandez was the 2020-2021 Postdoctoral Fellow in Forensic Psychology at Denver FIRST, where she primarily completed forensic evaluations, supervised, and taught. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL and completed her predoctoral internship at Eastern Virginia Medical School/Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, VA. She previously worked in a variety of forensic settings, including correctional facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient diversion. Her primary clinical interests/career goals are in the areas of criminal and civil forensic evaluations, complex trauma, teaching, and supervising. She is particularly passionate about the impact of childhood adversity and trauma on adult functioning, specifically as it relates to criminal behavior and systemic change in reducing violence.

• Jennifer McMahon, PhD
  

  PhD, John Jay College, 2019

  Our 2019-20 fellow, Dr. McMahon, is employed as a forensic psychologist and lead clinical of the Jail Based Competency Evaluation and Restoration Program for the State of Colorado. She also teaches as adjunct faculty and works as an affiliate of Denver FIRST.

• Kate McCallum, PhD
  

  PhD, Sam Houston State University, 2018
  
  Our 2018-19 fellow, Dr. McCallum, is now employed as a forensic psychologist at a local Denver correctional facility. She also has a successful private practice conducting forensic evaluations, and she also works as an affiliate of Denver First.

• Karen Grabowski, PhD
  

  PhD, Texas Tech University, 2017

  
  Our 2017-18 fellow, Dr. Grabowski, is employed as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Masters of Forensic Psychology Program and is an affiliate of Denver First. She also has a private practice and is a Director of Training and Programs Consultant at the Colorado Forensic Services Division.

• Lauren Best, PsyD
  

  PsyD, Pacific University, 2016
  
  Our 2016-17 fellow, Dr. Best, operates a successful private practice andis also employed part-time as a forensic evaluator at a state hospital in Oregon.