Leah Arndt
Assistant Professor
Department of Educational Psychology
Leah Arndt teaches Master's courses in school and community counseling, and Doctoral Counseling Psychology Supervision and Practicum. Her research interests include trauma and stress studies with forensic populations and corrections, law enforcement and military personnel. She also consults with and on behalf of the American Indian community on issues of mental and behavioral health, including culturally-competent research practices, intergenerational historical trauma, and cross-cultural issues in service delivery. Dr. Arndt uses primarily qualitative research methods and focuses on matching population needs through specific research strategies based on cultural competence.
Dr. Arndt serves as a mental health consultant to corrections and law enforcement agencies and Police Officer Support Teams regionally. She provides curriculum consultation on multicultural issues in mental health and works with the Crisis Intervention Teams throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. Dr. Arndt provides pro bono debriefing/psychological first aid and counseling services to law-enforcement personnel, with a focus on critical incident recovery for and reintegration of law-enforcement officers returning from active military service. She also provides pro bono consultation and program-evaluation services for the American Indian community including: American Indian/Alaska Native issues in mental and behavioral health, intergenerational historical trauma, cross-cultural issues in service delivery, research, and practice; tobacco cessation and cancer prevention and treatment.
She received her M.S. in educational psychology-community counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
Recent Publications
Rouse Arndt L. M., Davis Stribling, A. R. (2011). Warrior Spirit: Soul Wound and Coping among American Indians in law enforcement. The Counseling Psychologist. 39(4), 527- 569. (refereed).
Current Research/Projects
Police Suicide Prevention Project — a mixed-method project examining the coping and risk themes for law-enforcement officers with the aim of identifying best-practices in suicide education, prevention, intervention, and post-vention for law enforcement.
Menominee Smoking Cessation Project — a mixed-method clinical trial examining the impact of a culturally-tailored smoking-cessation intervention. Funded 233 PRJ17JX [Smith PI; Arndt CI].
Qualitative Pilot Study — a qualitative study examining the possibility of restructuring existing theory on smoking-cessation with an American Indian sample. Funded 1U54CA153605- 01 [Kaur, PI Center grant; Arndt PI Pilot grant].
Providing for the Seventh Generation: Seven year retroactive case review of American Indian female detainees at a Wisconsin Department of Corrections site — a mixed-method project examining the treatment, education, service, and re-entry needs of female American Indian youth detainees.
Honoring Our Youth, Fostering Strong Minds: Improving American Indian School Success in the Milwaukee-metro Area—a qualitative project examining the academic and college readiness gap for American Indian youth in the Milwaukee Metropolitan area, partnership with Southeastern Oneida Tribal Services. Funded UWM CUP [Arndt PI].
