Meet AIAFS' Expert Trainers

Click on each individual trainer to see their full biography

AIAFS is proud to work with experts who are top-notch professionals in a variety of Forensic Mental Health fields.

Allison Feigh, MS

Alison Feigh, MS, has been working in the sexual abuse prevention field for more than 15 years. She trains nationally on a variety of topics...

Amanda (Mandy) Fenrich, Ph.D., M-CAPS

Amanda (Mandy) Fenrich, Ph.D., M-CAPS, obtained her Master of Arts degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Forensic Mental Health and her Bachelor of Criminal Justice from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in the Advanced Studies of Human Behavior from Capella University. Mandy is the Associate Director for Project Pathfinder, Inc., a community sex offender treatment program.

Anthony (Tony) Wartnik

Anthony P. (Tony) Wartnik served as a trial judge for 34 years, 9 years as a limited jurisdiction court judge, followed by almost 25 years...

Barbara Luskin, Ph.D., LP

Dr. Barbara Luskin, PhD, LP is a licensed psychologist who has worked closely with children and adults with ASD for more than 30 years in professional and...

Beth A. Quinby, MA, LPCC

Elizabeth A. Quinby, M.A., LPCC, is a Positive Supports Professional for Integrity Living Options, Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, working with individuals diagnosed with SPMI to remain in the community by providing clinical oversight and cognitive behavioral training to skills workers.

Bethany Hastings, MA

Bethany Hastings, MA, is the Program Supervisor at People Incorporated, Riverwind Crisis Residence. Riverwind serves adults with severe and persistent...

Brittany Miskowiec, Ph.D., MSW, LICSW

Dr. Miskowiec is a Director on the Board of Directors for the Strub Caulkins Center for Suicide Research. She has worked as a licensed independent clinical ...

Brooke Luckhardt, MS, CBIS

Brooke Luckhardt, MS, CBIS obtained her Masters in Forensic Psychology at Walden University. She specializes in traumatic brain injury and has worked with the physicians at Associates...

Carlo A. Giacomoni, PsyD, ABPP

Carlo A. Giacomoni, PsyD, ABPP is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He graduated from the Chicago ...

Charles (Charlie) Schutt, MA, LADC, CAMS-II

Charles Schutt, MA, LADC, CAMS-II, works as an outpatient Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He has a Master of the Arts in Clinical Psychology, is...

Charlotte Gerth Haanen, Ph.D., LP

Dr. Charlotte Gerth Haanen has worked in the field of psychology with a variety of populations, including children, adolescents, and adults. This has involved ...

Chris G. Caulkins, MPH, MA, EdD

Chris is executive director of the Strub Caulkins Center for Suicide Research, program director /faculty for the emergency medical services (EMS) program a...

Christine Fietek, MA

Christine Fietek has 16 years of experience in the Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement field as Police Officer. Specialization areas include but not limited to: Crime ...

Crystal Clancy, LMFT

Crystal Clancy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, specializing in perinatal mood and anxiety, trauma, pregnancy/infant loss...

Debbie Minsky-Kelly, LCSW

Debbie Minsky-Kelly is a licensed clinical social worker who is the field director and clinical assistant professor

Deborah Eckberg, Ph.D.

Deborah Eckberg, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University (MN) and the Director of the Master of Science in ...

Diana Barnes, Psy.D.

Diana Lynn Barnes is a psychotherapist who has been specializing in women’s reproductive mental health for over 25 years. Frequently interviewed by the media, Dr. Barnes is widely published on all facets of women’s mental health around the child-bearing years.

Diane Neal, MS, LPCC

Diane Neal, MS, LPCC, has been working with issues related to sexual abuse for over 30 years. She has worked with juvenile and adult offenders including...

Don Porth

Don Porth has been a member of the fire service since 1980. He began his career with Happy Valley RFPD as a student and volunteer...

Elizabeth A. Quinby

Elizabeth A. Quinby, M.A., LPCC, is a doctoral student at Texas State University’s Criminal Justice program. She also has a counseling psychology background working with victims, survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence.

Eric Hickey, Ph.D.

Dr. Eric Hickey is a senior core faculty member in Walden University’s Forensic Psychology doctoral program. As the former Dean of the California School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University and Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fresno, Dr. Hickey has taught many courses involving the psychology of crime.

Eric Skog, MA

Eric Skog, MA, is a Sergeant with the St. Paul Police Department and currently serves in the Homicide/Robbery unit as an investigator. He has eighteen...

Ernest (Ernie) Marshall, LCSW

Ernie Marshall, LCSW, has worked in the non-profit and public sectors in both clinical and administrative roles since 1996. His work has focused on populations...

Hal Pickett, Psy.D.

Hal Pickett, Psy.D., LP, ABPP, is a Clinical Psychologist with Diplomat Status in Child and Adolescent Psychology. Over the last 20 years, he has worked...

Harmony Goorley, MA

Harmony Goorley, MA, obtained her Masters of Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a concentration in corrections...

James (Jim) Robinson, Ph.D.

James Robinson has a dual career: he is a professional improviser with over 20 years of experience at the Brave New Workshop, Table Salt Productions...

James Densley, PhD

James Densley, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University, part of the Minnesota State system. He has received ...

Janet R. Yeats, MA, LMFT

Janet R. Yeats, MA, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) is a trauma, grief, and loss specialist located in Minneapolis, MN. She holds two master’s degrees: marriage and family therapy from Bethel University, and family social science from the University of Minnesota.

Jeff Haun, Psy.D., LP, ABPP

Jeff Haun, PsyD, LP, ABPP has worked as a forensic psychologist in Minnesota since 2008. His practice includes consultation, conducting a variety of forensic evaluations...

Jennifer Sweeton, Psy.D., M.S., M.A.

Originally trained as a neuroscientist, Dr. Jennifer Sweeton is a licensed clinical psychologist, best-selling author, and internationally-recognized expert on trauma, anxiety, and the neuroscience of mental health.

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., MA, MS, MS, MS

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod has also been employed with Pathways Counseling Center, Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota for the past eighteen years.

Jillian Peterson, Ph.D.

Dr. Jillian Peterson is an Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Hamline University in St. Paul, where she teaches classes in forensic ...

Joe Arvidson, MS, GCERT

Joseph Arvidson, MS, GCERT, is Executive Director of The Paragon Group, LLC. The Paragon Group strives to promote and advance evidence-based practices...

Joshua Kirven, Ph.D.

Joshua Kirven, Ph.D. is currently an associate professor in the Department of Social Work at Winthrop University and Part-Time Instructor at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC. He is also a Forensic Mental Health Columnist with the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies.

Karina Forrest-Perkins, LADC

Karina Forrest-Perkins, LADC, is a national speaker and consultant related to early childhood and adolescent neuro-development, the adaptive impact of overwhelming ...

Kathi Osmonson, MA

Kathi Osmonson is a global speaker, author, and youth fire intervention practitioner. She has been working with children who start fires, and their families, for more than 20 years.

Kimberly D. Dodson, Ph.D.

Kimberly D. Dodson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Criminology Program Director in the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences at the University ...

Kostas A. Katsavdakis, PhD, ABPP

Kostas A. Katsavdakis, Ph.D., ABPP is a Licensed Psychologist and Diplomate in Forensic Psychology with the American Board of Professional...

Kristy Donaldson, Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S, CHST

Kristy Donaldson, Ph.D., owns Premier Neurofeedback & Counseling Services in Waco, Texas.

Lane Pederson, Psy.D., LP

Dr. Lane Pederson has provided DBT training and consultation to over 10,000 professionals in the United States, Australia, South Africa, Dubai, Canada, and Mexico through his training and consultation company, Lane Pederson and Associates, LLC.

Laura Cooney-Koss, Psy.D. M.CJ.

Laura Cooney-Koss, Psy.D. M.CJ. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Delaware and New Jersey and is the owner and Clinical Director of Forensic Associates of...

Leslie Barfknecht, LCSW

Leslie Barfknecht is a licensed clinical social worker in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She has a background in criminal justice and has spent her career working...

Lindsay Herron

Lindsay Herron is a Sergeant with the Minneapolis Police Department. She was the Animal Crimes Investigator for the city of Minneapolis for four years...

Lisa Krause, MA

Lisa Krause, M.A. is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) and Parenting Coach and is an adjunct professor at Concordia University where she teaches family science and parent coaching.

Lucas Volini, DMFT, LFMT

Lucas Volini, DMFT, LMFT, is an assistant professor at St. Cloud State University in the Department of Community Psychology, Counseling, and Family...

Manfred Tatzmann

Mr. Tatzmann has over eighteen years of experience in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI). First, as TBI Program Director for the State of...

Mario L. Hesse, Ph.D.

Mario L. Hesse, PhD is a professor of criminal justice at the St. Cloud State University (MN). Dr. Hesse's research and teaching interests are in corrections, gangs...

Matthew Krasowski, MD, Ph.D.

Matthew D. Krasowski, MD, PhD is a pathologist, Clinical Professor, and Vice Chair of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Services in the Department of Pathology ...

Megan Carter, Psy.D., ABPP

Megan N. Carter, PsyD, ABPP received her master’s in applied social psychology from Portland State University in 2004. She then completed a master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from Pacific University (near Portland, Oregon, USA) in 2007. In 2008, she completed a forensic post-doctoral fellowship through the University of Washington, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Mihaela Dranoff, Ph.D.

Mihaela Dranoff, Ph.D., holds a Master's degree in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology from Montclair State University, and a PhD in Clinical...

Nancee Blum, MSW

Nancee Blum, MSW, is a social work specialist, adjunct clinical faculty member, and researcher in the Department of Psychiatry, at the University of Iowa Carver...

Nicole Kimberley-Staeheli, MATS

Nicole Kimberley-Staeheli, MATS, is the lead consultant for Nicole Ranae Consulting, LLC and has over 25 years of experience in field of Corrections. The primary focus for much of her career has been in the training, facilitation and implementation of evidence-based practices.