Who we are
Julie M. Olomi, Ph.D.
Director
Broadly, my research focuses on investigating gender-based and family violence and subsequent system response and revictimization. Specifically, I investigate how systemic responses (e.g., child welfare, campus, legal) can perpetuate oppressive practices or injustice towards survivors of gender-based and family violence, and how that response can be addressed to reduce risk for revictimization. For example, a mother who purposely arrives late for child visitation to avoid her former abusive partner’s threats as he finishes his own visitation may be viewed negatively by the court, and may result in important consequences. How can we use research to understand the individual and social context underlying this mother’s decision? How can research be used to inform different practices?
Research approach: I value research that can inform policy and practice while also advancing our scientific understanding of gender-based and family violence. As such, I seek to build partnerships with community stakeholders who directly work with survivors, and together develop research questions. In this way, I hope that findings can help answer practical questions and inform sustainable and applicable recommendations.
Sheeva, L.D. (Lab Dog)
She likes carrots and cheese.
Graduate Students
Hannah Christensen, M.A.
Hannah is a fourth-year clinical psychology doctoral student in the RISE Research Group. Before to coming to UM, she volunteered as a survivor advocate and worked as a research coordinator at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where she studied equine-assisted interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her current research interest is focused on identifying predictors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and strangulation-related assault. In her free time, you can find her hiking in the beautiful Montana wilderness, unfortunately watching reality TV, and spending time with her partner and their six rescue dogs.
Meg Denny, M.A.
Meg is a fourth year graduate student in child clinical psychology and a member of the RISE Research Group. Her research focuses on how children and adolescents respond to trauma, with particular attention to developmental trauma disorder and moral injury. She is interested in supporting youth involved in the juvenile legal system, aiming to bridge research, clinical work, and public policy to improve outcomes for a significantly underserved population. Her work is driven by years of experience in youth mental health, including advocacy as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), work in schools, and managing youth services at the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter and Family Housing Center. Outside of research, she is an active member of the Missoula arts scene as a musician and performer.
Klaudia Malik, B.S.
I am a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. I grew up in a small town in southeast Poland and then completed my BA at the University of Notre Dame. I am mainly interested in research on non-fatal strangulation in the context of IPV and the efficacy of risk-assessment tools for predicting recidivism rates for violent offenders. I have three wonderful dogs (Nika, Figa, and Beza), and my fun fact is that there is someone in my hometown who owns a lion.
Paris Cloutier, B.A.
Paris is a first-year doctoral student in clinical psychology and a member of the RISE research group. Prior to enrolling at UM, she worked as a research assistant and victim services intern investigating intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention and effective practices in community supervision. She values partnerships with law enforcement and front-line community members to employ empirically driven interventions for sexual violence survivors. Her other research interests include trauma-informed policing, supervision strategies for reducing recidivism, and clinical treatment of paraphilic disorders and sex offenders. After work hours, you’ll find her watching movies, playing video games, or occasionally wandering a trail with a digital camera in hand.
Undergraduate Students
Current Students
Aelish Barrs
Esmeralda Gutamafennessy
Maggie Hackethorn
Haley Jochim
Jesse Koelliker
Libby Peltz
Graduates
Cyrus Gertz
Kaitlin Woitkielewicz
