Valerie Slaymaker, Ph.D., L.P.
Chief Academic Officer and Provost of Hazelden's Graduate School of Addiction Studies

Valerie Slaymaker, Ph.D., L.P. is Chief Academic Officer and Provost of Hazelden's Graduate School of Addiction Studies, a world-class provider of graduate-level counselor preparation. She also serves as the Executive Director of Hazelden's Butler Center for Research.  She presents research results at regional and national conferences and publishes in scholarly journals and books.  She holds doctorate and master's degrees in clinical psychology and trained as a scientist-practitioner.  Dr. Slaymaker's scholarly and research interests include addictions treatment research, academic program evaluation, and the implementation of evidence-based practices into clinical programming.  

A selection of recent research projects.

Butler Center Staff

• Patricia Owen, Ph.D., M.H.A., Director Emeritus
• Candice L. Walker, Ph.D., Research Scientist
• Audrey A. Klein, Ph.D., Senior Analyst
• Research Assistants
• Barbara Weiner, MLS, Staff Librarian
• Delores A. Reilly, Supervisor, Treatment Outcomes
• Administrative Staff

Patricia Owen, Ph.D., M.H.A., Director Emeritus

Patricia Owen, Ph.D., Director of the Butler Center for Research, is a clinical psychologist who was a member of the Hazelden Foundation staff for over 20 years. In addition, she was a Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry.

In previous years, Dr. Owen served as Hazelden's vice president for Professional and Community Services. She also has served the Foundation as manager of Employee Assistance Services and as Senior Research Psychologist.

Dr. Owen earned her BA summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota, with membership in Phi Beta Kappa. She obtained her doctorate in psychology in 1984, and a masters degree in health services administration in 1992, from the University of Minnesota.

She is the author of several articles and a book entitled I Can See Tomorrow: A Guide for Living with Depression, and has appeared on several radio and TV shows, including the Bill Moyers' series Close to Home.

Candice L. Walker, Ph.D., Research Scientist

Dr. Walker received her Ph.D. in Human Development focusing on Applied Cognition and Neuroscience, from the University of Texas at Dallas where she was trained in general psychological experimental procedure. She completed her bachelor's degree in psychology and master's degree in applied cognition also from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Prior to joining the Butler Center for Research, Dr. Walker participated in research involving child victims and families of sexual abuse in Houston, Texas. Additionally, she has worked with head injury patients, stroke victims, and patients with neurological disease in therapy and administering psychometrics while in Dallas.

Dr. Walker will be continuing the work established by Drs. Slaymaker and Owen, through collaboration with others as well as initiation of new projects. Additionally, she will be working with the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies.

Dr. Klein received her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Case Western Reserve University in 1999. She completed her Master's degree in Cognitive Psychology (also from Case Western) in 1997. She was trained as an experimentalist with a focus on information processing methodologies. She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Kenyon College in 1994.

Prior to joining the Butler Center for Research in October 2007, Dr. Klein was an assistant professor of Psychology at Knox College, a small liberal arts college in Galesburg, IL. She recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in alcohol research at the Research Institute on Addictions in Buffalo, NY.

Dr. Klein will be responsible for the ongoing analysis, interpretation and dissemination of institutional data, as well as assisting with the research activities of the department. She will also work in the Graduate School of Addiction Studies.

Publications:

• Tussing, A. A., & Greene, R. L. (1997). False recognition of associates: How robust is the effect? Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 4, 572-576.
• Tussing, A. A., & Greene, R. L. (1999). The effects of similarity on frequency judgments of presented and nonpresented words. American Journal of Psychology, 112, 259-275.
• Tussing, A. A. & Greene, R. L. (1999). Differential effects of repetition on true and false recognition. Journal of Memory and Language, 40, 520-533.
• Greene, R. L. & Tussing, A. A. (2001). Similarity and associative recognition. Journal of Memory & Language, 45, 573-585.
• Greene, R. L. & Tussing, A. A. (2004). Does recognition of single words predict recognition of two? American Journal of Psychology, 117, 215-227.
• Klein, A. A. (2007). Suppression-induced hyperaccessibility of thoughts in abstinent alcoholics: a preliminary investigation. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 169-177.
• Klein, A., A., Stasiewicz, P. R., Koutsky, J. R., Bradizza, C. M., & Coffey, S. F. (in press). A psychometric evaluation of the Approach and Avoidance of Alcohol Questionnaire (AAAQ) in alcohol dependent outpatients. Journal of Psychopathology & Behavioral Assessment.  

Gerald Franchere, Ph.D., Research Assistant

Dr. Franchere received his Ph.D. in Adult Education and Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota in 1995.  He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado and Master of Science degree in Psychology from San Jose State University, the latter of which was a clinically focused, 3 year program of Psychology in the Schools.  Gerald has conducted both quantitative, positivistic research, as well as qualitative, grounded theory.  Examples of some of his research include Leadership Values, Behavior Change, the Prediction of Discipline Problems, and Multi-cultural Perspectives that lead to Successful Technical Leadership.  Gerald has consulted and presented research internationally.

Dr. Franchere will be assisting in the conduct of donor-funded and grant-produced research studies.  Currently, he is engaged in a 3-year study regarding craving and medication for the chemically dependent.

Katie George, Research Assistant

Katie George received her B. A. in psychology from Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. She joined the Butler Center for Research as a research assistant in the summer of 2007. Her work includes recruiting and interviewing patients at HCYF (Hazelden Center for Youth and Families) for a longitudinal study examining treatment processes and outcomes in young adults with drug and/or alcohol dependence.

Lindsay Nelson, Research Assistant

Lindsay Nelson received her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. While pursuing her degree she worked as a research assistant, conducted her own research projects, and participated in an internship program with the Superior Police Department as an investigative intern.

Lindsay recruits and interviews patients who are participating in Hazelden studies. She is also be involved in the coordination, design, and data management of research projects. 

Barbara Weiner, MLS, Staff Librarian 

Barbara Weiner received her Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis, and her B.A. Degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota-Morris. She just completed her 15th year with the Hazelden Foundation. Her previous work includes positions in a medical library and an academic library. She is the author of a book, journal articles, and has presented at national conferences.

Barbara Weiner manages all aspects of Hazelden's research library, a special collection and information center focusing on addictions. She is currently Treasurer for SALIS (Substance Abuse Librarians and Information Specialists),an international organization of information professionals in this field. She is also responsible for maintaining Hazelden Library and Information Resources as a Specialty Site in the federal government's Regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resources (RADAR) Network.

Cynthia Reitzel, Measurement and Data Analyst

Cynthia Reitzel received her B.A. in Information Technology in Management from Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. She previously worked as a Training Program Manager at the Pillsbury Technology Center in Minneapolis and more recently as Database Manager for National Youth Leadership Council in St. Paul. She processes scheduled and Ad Hoc data query requests and produces quarterly reports and charts for the organization.

Renee Volgren - Sr. Measurement Technician and Survey Administrator

Renee creates monthly and quarterly quality reports for all Hazelden facilities and programs.  She also produces and maintains scannable client satisfaction surveys for data collection and charting.  Renee has been employed at Hazelden since 1988.

Delores A. Reilly, Supervisor, Treatment Outcomes

Dee Reilly oversees the administration of numerous patient surveys. She has been employed at Hazelden since 1979.

Her responsibilities include overseeing the systems to provide data for routine healthcare operations, data collection of research surveys, and the supervision of a large staff of interviewers.

Heidi Solomonson, Senior Administrative Assistant

Heidi Solomonson provides administrative support to the Director of the Butler Center for Research. She coordinates department communications, oversees department events, manages the process for the annual Dan Anderson Award, processes research data requests, tracks department expenses and budget, and supervises the Administrative Assistant, among other duties.

Linda Foster, Administrative Assistant

Linda Foster provides administrative support to the Butler Center for Research and Treatment Outcomes staff. She responds to internal and external requests for research information, assists with research data requests, research events, and provides support in creating and revising surveys. She has been employed with Hazelden since 1991.

Data Collection Specialists

Sally Barott, Peggy E., Toni Grundhauser, Marj Stucky
Conduct telephone interviews with former Hazelden patients, referents, and family members to provide data for routine follow-up and special research studies. The data are used to report and improve treatment outcomes.