Psychology
Munroe-Meyer Institute
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450
Phone: 402-559-6408
E-mail
Professional Summary
Melissa Hunter, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) for Genetics and Rehabilitation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She received her doctorate in school psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. She completed her internship at the Munroe-Meyer Institute and her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – Child Study Center. Dr. Hunter practiced as a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania for 15 years, providing outpatient child psychological and behavioral health services and school-based consultation for children and adults with a wide range of presenting needs. She has also served as adjunct or teaching faculty at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Nebraska Omaha, and taught at Pennsylvania State University for 9 years, where she was an Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology. Currently, Dr. Hunter provides behavioral school-based consultation to the Madonna School, a private school for children and adults with developmental disabilities. In addition, she engages in clinical activities at the Munroe-Meyer Institute. In both settings, Dr. Hunter supervises pre-doctoral psychology interns, post-doctoral fellows, and undergraduate psychology students.
Education
- PhD, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 2005
- MA, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 2003
- BA, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, 1999
Research Interests and Projects
- Family values and preferences in the treatment process
- Interventions for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Group therapy approaches for childhood psychological disorders
- School-based mental health and consultation
Teaching
- Independent Study in Psychology
- Senior Seminar in Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Psychological Interventions in Childhood
- Child Psychopathology
- Adolescent Psychology
- Honors Thesis in Psychology
- Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- The Science and Profession of Psychology
- Developmental Problems in Childhood and Adolescence
- Elements of Psychology
Selected Publications
- Hunter, S.T. & Hunter, M.D. (2022). Career development, retention, and performance management considerations. In Bruyere and Colella (Eds.) SIOP Organizational Frontiers Series: Neurodiversity in the Workplace.
- Wilczynski, S. M., Rue, H., Hunter, M., & Christian, L. (2013). Elementary behavioral intervention strategies: Discrete trial instruction, differential reinforcement, and shaping. In Prelock and McCauley (Eds.) Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Evidence-Based Intervention Strategies for Communication and Social Interaction.
- Hunter, M., & Kleit, S. (2011). Family preferences and values in the treatment process. In A Parent’s Guide to Evidence-Based Practice and Autism: Providing Information and Resources to Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. National Autism Center: Randolph, MA.
- Wilczynski, S. M., Menousek, K., Hunter, M. & Mudgal, D. (2007). Individualized education programs for youth with autism spectrum disorders. Psychology in the Schools, 44, 653-666.
- Hunter, M., & Wilczynski, S. M. (2009). Values and preferences of families. In Evidence- Based Practice and Autism in the Schools: A Guide to Providing Appropriate Interventions to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. National Autism Center: Randolph, MA.
Professional Affiliations
- American Psychological Association
- National Association of School Psychologists
- Society for Pediatric Psychology (APA Division 54)
Awards
- Psychology Professor of the Year, Psi Chi Honors Society, Penn State University, 2018