A Singular Opportunity
UNLV’s College of Liberal Arts is proposing a new Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program, pending approval by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents, with a specialized focus on pediatric psychology. This professional doctoral degree is designed to prepare highly skilled clinical psychologists who will serve youth and families across Nevada. The program will offer focused training in trauma, substance use, and neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as bilingual service delivery — all critical areas of need in Nevada’s communities.
Why The Program Matters
Nevada ranks last in the nation for access to mental health care and faces a critical shortage of mental health professionals, particularly those trained to work with children and adolescents. By 2030, the state is projected to face a shortfall of 420 psychologists, and this program is a key means of closing the gap.
Part of a greater university effort, the PsyD program aims to expand mental health services and doctoral training in the state. This will supplement already established doctoral programs in psychology at UNLV and prepare graduates to work in high-need settings such as community mental health centers, residential settings, hospitals, schools, integrated primary care, and private practice — all places where Nevada currently faces the greatest shortages. The program is intentionally designed to recruit students from Nevada and prepare them to remain in the state to work after graduation, helping to strengthen and expand the state’s mental health workforce for generations to come.
Distinction
The PsyD follows a practitioner-scholar model that focuses more heavily on applied clinical practice than the research-intensive Ph.D. programs at UNLV that follow the scientist-practitioner model. The program aims to provide extensive supervised training in comprehensive psychological assessment, intervention, ethics and professional practice, and culturally responsive care in alignment with APA accreditation standards and Nevada licensure requirements.
Funding
The program is supported by the Fund for a Resilient Nevada with plans for long-term sustainability. A $3 million fundraising campaign is underway to fully fund scholarships for the inaugural cohort of 24 PsyD students.
Contact Information
Program inquiries:
Erica L. Hanna, PsyD
Program Director
PsyD in Clinical Psychology/Assistant Professor-in-Residence
College of Liberal Arts
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Office phone: 702-895-1532
Email: erica.hanna@unlv.edu
Heather Thompson, PhD, NCSP
Director of Clinical Training
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
College of Liberal Arts
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Office phone: 702-774-7795
Email: heather.thompson@unlv.edu
Giving opportunities:
Heather Torgersen, DPP
Senior Executive Director of External Affairs
College of Liberal Arts
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Office phone: 702-895-2945
Email: heather.torgersen@unlv.edu