Dr. Wood joined the faculty at Sam Houston State University in 2024. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Psychology and the Law from the University of Alabama, where she completed focused coursework, research, and clinical work in forensic psychology. She subsequently completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship in Forensic Psychology at Patton State Hospital. From 2017-2024, Dr. Wood was faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). While there, Dr. Wood was a member of the Vanderbilt Forensic Evaluation Team and primary faculty in the Vanderbilt Forensic Psychiatry Clinic. She was also a supervisor in the Forensic Psychology Internship Program, and she was the director of the Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Wood maintains a voluntary faculty appointment in the VUMC Psychiatry Department, where she continues to be the primary research supervisor for both the forensic intern and postdoctoral fellow (see below for current and former trainees).

Dr. Wood is licensed as a psychologist in Tennessee, Texas, and through PSYPACT. She is also board certified in Forensic Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). She has conducted over 1,500 forensic evaluations for a myriad of issues including adjudicative competence, conservatorship, capacity to waive Miranda, mental state at the time of the alleged offense, sentencing mitigation, Atkins, etc., and she has testified numerous times in juvenile, criminal, and federal courts. Dr. Wood’s primary clinical and research interests fall at the interface of psychology and the law, with a particular emphasis on the appropriate identification, assessment, and treatment of individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) in forensic settings. She has provided trainings to various groups of professionals, including trainees, mental health providers, and lawyers, in addition to frequently serving as an expert witness in this area. She is principal owner of Wood Forensic Evaluation & Consulting, PLLC, where she continues to conduct forensic evaluations and consult with legal professionals, as well as provide trainings nationwide. 

Professionally, Dr. Wood is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS), and the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), and she is a fellow of the  American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP). She is actively involved in service for both AP-LS and ABFP (see C.V. for details). 

Ashley Layne is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Alabama, she completed her pre-doctoral internship at VUMC. Ashley's clinical work focuses on forensic evaluations, particularly competency to proceed and criminal responsibility. Her research focuses on competency-related topics and forensic report writing. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys cuddling with her three dogs, Zuko, Nala, and Princess. 

Liz MacNeil is a graduate student at the University of Alabama and completing her predoctoral internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her research has focused on decision-making in the legal system (e.g., defendant plea-bargaining, prosecutor case processing), particularly within gender-based crimes. At VUMC, she is expanding her research program to explore if and how testing provides incremental utility in forensic evaluations under the supervision of Dr. Wood. Clinically, Liz has provided assessment and therapy services at adult and juvenile forensic institutions, a state hospital, and outpatient clinics. She is primarily interested in competency to proceed and criminal responsibility evaluations. 

Haley Potts, Ph.D. , is an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). She completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship years at VUMC, where she researched defense attorney referrals for evaluations of competency to stand trial under Dr. Wood’s mentorship. Dr. Potts loves all things forensic assessment, especially competency and psychosis.