J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law 2012
Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University (Clinical Psychology; Forensic Psychology Concentration) 2007
M.S., Nova Southeastern University (Clinical Psychology) 2004
B.A., Macalester College (Psychology) 1999
Dr. Coker received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Forensic Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. He received his clinical postdoctoral training through Northwestern University at the Cook County Juvenile Court Clinic, where he conducted sentencing evaluations on youth involved with the Department of Probation. He then received his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he graduated with cum laude honors and was an entering Health Law scholarship recipient and also served as the Editor-in-Chief for the law school's Health Law and Policy Review, Annals of Health Law. He served as a council member on the Juvenile Defense Resource Institute at Northwestern University School of Law, which was a project designed to strategize ways to reduce recidivism and improve legal representation of juveniles involved in the criminal justice system. Dr. Coker also was a NIDA T-32 postdoctoral fellow at Yale University Department of Psychiatry's Forensic Drug Diversion Program (FORDD).
"I began teaching because I love having the opportunity to inspire eager minds who come to me to learn. I also believe that although learning can be difficult, it should be fun. I also stay actively involved in my professional field and in projects that help improve people’s lives. I like to think of myself as someone who cares about others, and I want to find ways to promote positive changes that matter."
Talley, D. Warner, S. W., Perry, D., Brissette, E., Consiglio, F. L., Capri, R., Violano, P., & Coker, K. L. (2021). Understanding Situational Factors and Conditions Contributing to Suicide among Black Youth and Young Adults. Aggression & Violence Behavior, 58 (May-June), 101614.
Dinwiddie, K., Zawadzki, S., Ristau, K. I., Luneburg, A. F., Earley, T. A., Ruiz, M., Talley, D., Iaccino, J., & Coker, K. L. (2020). A Sample of Predominately African American Domestic Violence Victims Responses to Objective Risk Assessments. Violence Against Women, 26(8), 870-888.
Torres-Pagan, B., Wyant, K., Chien, J., & Coker, K. L. (2019). Prevalence Rates of Acute Stress Disorder Symptomatology and Association to Juvenile Crime Involvement. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 47(1), 53-60.
Hefner, K., Sollazzo, A., Mullaney, S., Coker, K. L., & Sofuoglu, M. (2019). E-cigarettes, Alcohol Use, and Mental Health: Use and perceptions of e-cigarettes among college students by alcohol use and mental health status. Addictive Behaviors, 91, 12-20.
Torres-Pagan, B., Wyant, K., Chien, J., & Coker, K. L. (in press). Prevalence Rates of Acute Stress Disorder Symptomatology and Association to Reported Crime Involvement: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 44(4), 451-456.
Chien, J., Coker, K. L., Parke, S., Tejani, N., Sirken, R. A., Sanchez-Jaquez, C., Rausch, F., & Azeem, M. W. (2016). Predictors of Competency to Stand Trial in Connecticut’s Inpatient Juvenile Competency Restoration Program. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 44(4), 451-456.
Coker, K. L., Stefanovics, E., Rosenheck, R. (2016). Correlates of Improvement in Substance Abuse among Dually Diagnosed Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Specialized Intensive VA Treatment. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 8(1), 41-48.
Wiedeman, A. M., Black, J. A., Dolle, A. L., Finney, E. J., & Coker, K. L. (2015). Factors Influencing the Impact of Aggressive and Violent Media on Children and Adolescents. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 25, 191-198.
Russell, A. A., Johnson, C. L., Hammad, A., Ristau, K. I., Zawadzki, S., Alba Villar, L. D., & Coker, K. L. (2015). Prenatal and Neighborhood Correlates of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 32(4), 375-381.
Sylwestrzak, A., Overholt, C. E., Ristau, K. I., & Coker, K. L. (2015). Self-Reported Barriers to Treatment Engagement: Adolescent Perspectives from the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). Community Mental Health Journal, 51(7), 775-781.
Rubio, J. S., Krieger, M. A., Finney, E. J., & Coker, K. L. (2014). A Review of the Relationship between Sociocultural Factors and Juvenile Psychopathy. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(1), 23-31.
Coker, K. L. & Rosenheck, R. (2014). Race and Incarceration in an Aging Cohort of Vietnam Veterans in Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Psychiatric Quarterly, 85(1), 79-89.
Coker, K. L., Wernsman, J. R., Ikpe, U. N., Brooks, J. S., Bushell, L., & Kahn, B. (2014). Using the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version 2 (MAYSI-2) on a Community Sample of African American and Latino/a Juvenile Offenders to Identify Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Needs. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 41(4), 492-511.
Coker, K.L., Ikpe, U., Brooks, J., Page, B., & Sobell, M. (2014). Social Problem Solving Skills Mediates the Relationship between Traumatic Stress and Moral Disengagement among Inner-City African American High School Students. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 7(2), 87-95.
Coker, K.L., Smith, P.H., Westphal, A., Zonana, H.V., & McKee, S.A. (2014). Crime and psychiatric disorders among youth in the US population: An analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(8), 888-898.e2.
Coker, K. L. The Application of the Fourth Amendment in the School Context May Create a Safe Learning Environment for Some but Creates the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Others: The Challenges of Inner City School Violence. Loyola University Chicago ChildLaw and Education Institute Forum. 2011 Volume.
Ikpe, U. & Coker, K. L. Encouraging the Use of Community Involvement and Restorative Practices as Treatment for Trauma with Black Juvenile Offenders. Loyola Public Interest Law Report. 2010, 15(3), 220-233.
Coker, K. L. Regulation of Investigational Medical Devices. Annals of Health Law Advanced Directive. 2008, 18(1), 29-37.
Brooks, J.S., & Coker, K.L. (2016). Overview of the Juvenile Justice System and Best Practices. In T. Masson (ed.), Inside Forensic Psychology (Ch. 12). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Publishers.
Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission. (2014). Improving Illinois’ Response to Sexual Offenses Committed by Youth: Recommendations for Law, Policy, and Practice. (Member of research team).
Coker, K. L. & Baranoski, M. V. (2013). Difficulties in Determining Competency and Appropriate Sentences for Defendants with Intellectual Impairments. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, 41(1): 129-132.
Coker, K. L. & Brooks, J. (2012). Effectiveness of Community Corrections. In Encyclopedia of Community Corrections. (pp.129-135). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Coker, K. L. & Gudeman, R. Perceptions of Race and its Effects in Academic Settings. Macalester College Internal Multicultural Audit Task Force Report (1999).
Robinson, M., DeLoach, C., Kringen, A., Talley, D., & Coker, K. L. (2015). The Psychological Impact of Police Brutality and Excessive Use of Force on Black Communities. Presentation to the Missouri Advisory Committee for the Commission on Civil Rights.
Amos, B. R., Perry, D., & Coker, K. L. (2011). Applying Cultural Competent Group Interventions to African American and Latino Adolescents in Juvenile Justice Settings. Paper presented at the 119th American Psychological Association (APA) Convention, Washington, DC
Coker, K. L. (2011). Broader Legal Implications of Juvenile Psychopathy Research and Incarceration Racial Disparities among Juvenile Offenders. Paper presented as part of a symposium entitled: Juvenile psychopathy and juvenile punishment: What the psychological literature and the Supreme Court tell us? Presented at the 119th APA Convention, Washington, DC
Coker, K. L., Baute, S., Baca, J., Robinson, M., Ipke, U., Dorsainville, A., & Walker, L. (2005). Born To Be Wild: Bad Girls or Trauma Victims? Paper presented at the 113th APA Conference Symposium, Washington, DC
Houska, J. & Coker, K. L. (2019). Understanding the risk and prevalence of intimate partner homicide: Comparing same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Poster presented at the 127th APA Convention, Chicago, IL
Mills, G., Raskin, S. A., & Coker, K. L. (2019). Associations between head injury and psychiatric disorders in a national sample of adolescents. Poster presented at the 127th APA Convention, Chicago, IL
Ristau, K. I. & Coker, K. L. (2017). Trauma and externalizing disorder correlations in a national sample of American youth. Poster presented at the 125th APA Convention, Washington, D.C.
Benson, V., Meyerson, N., & Coker, K. L. (2017). The effects of violence exposure, moral disengagement, and substance use on self-reported offending: A longitudinal study among serious youthful offenders. Poster presented at the 125th APA Convention, Washington, D.C.
Hicks, H. N. & Coker, K. L. (2017). Code of the Street and cognitive distortions predict moral disengagement. Poster presented at the 125th APA Convention, Washington, D.C.
Hicks, H. N. & Coker, K. L. (2015). Community Violence Exposure (CVE) related to inner-city youth’s moral disengagement and adoption of the Code of the Street. Poster presented at the 123rd APA Convention, Toronto, Canada.
Galligan, M. J., Brigantty, C. A., Kelly, J. C., Singer, T. M., Hoy-Watkins, M., Liljedahl, E. L., Coker, K. L. (2015). Hierarchy of needs and its relation to gang membership. Poster presented at the 123rd APA Convention, Toronto, Canada.
Malave, M., Graham, E. A., Wilborne, L. E., & Coker, K. L. (2015). Unmet needs among inner city African American males involved in the Cook County juvenile probation system. Poster presented at the 123rd APA Convention, Toronto, Canada.
Chien, J., Coker, K. L., Rausch, F., Siegel, L., & Azeem, M.W. (2013). Competency to Stand Trial Remediation in a Juvenile Population. Poster presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Orlando, FL
Howell, N. N., Amos, B. R., & Coker, K. L. (2013). Respect, the Two-Edged Sword: Inner City Youth’s Survival Through Respect. Poster presented at the 121st APA Convention, Honolulu, HI
Malave, M. & Coker, K. L. (2013). Unmet Needs and Moral Disengagement Among Inner City African American Youth. Poster presented at the 121st APA Convention, Honolulu, HI
Coker, K. L., Dorfman, W., Sellers, A., Doud, T., McNulty, M., Golden, C., Schneider, B., & Shapiro, D. (2005). The Relationship between MMPI-2 Code Types and the Restructured Clinical Scales. Preliminary analysis poster presented at the 40th Annual MMPI-2 Symposium and Workshops, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Follow up analysis with the addition of MMPI-2 content scales poster presented at the 113th Annual APA Conference, Washington, DC
Fishgold, A., Ricca, J., Landrum, I., Coker, K. L., Carrio, C., & Walker, L. (2005). Ethnic Differences in Reporting Patterns within a Sample of Female Juvenile Delinquents. Poster presented at the 2005 Florida Psychological Association (FPA) Conference, Palm Beach, FL
Cochran, C. K., Bernstein, M. S., Coker, K. L., Brantley, K.L., & Walker, L. (2003). Psychosocial Characteristics of Detainees at Magistrate Court: A Preliminary Analysis. Poster presented at the 2003 FPA Conference, Hutchinson Island, FL
Juvenile Justice, Racial Disparities in CJ System, Violence
Forensic Psychology; Law, Psychology, and the Mental Health System; Theories of Violence; Introduction to Psychology; Child and Family Intervention Strategies; Juvenile Justice; Abnormal Psychology; Honors Thesis Advising; I have also taught some of these courses at the University of New Haven campus in Prato, Italy
In the Media
Kendell Coker, associate professor of psychology, says it’s essential to try to find a sense of peace amid so much conflict that may disenfranchise groups of people following the recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
In the Media
Kendell Coker, associate professor of psychology, talks about the comparison of the Sandy Hook school shooting and the mass shooting in a Texas school and the impact these tragedies have on our mental health.
In the Media
Kendell Coker, associate professor of psychology, and Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, comment on a rise in school threats across the country and the severe consequences facing juveniles making them.
In the Media
Kendell Coker, associate professor of psychology, comments on mental health issues impacting those facing discrimination from adolescence to adulthood.
The Charger Blog
Nominated by their students and colleagues, five professors have been recognized for their research, leadership, and dedication to students’ success.
In the Media
Kendell Coker, assistant professor of psychology, says that it’s rare for someone with no record of violent crime to suddenly commit such a heinous act, however it isn’t impossible.