Dr. Lisa Cromer is a professor of psychology at The University of Tulsa, where she mentors graduate students in both the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. and clinically-oriented Master’s programs. She directs the SPARTA Lab (Study of the Prevention, Adjustment, and Resilience to Trauma and Adversity) and serves as Executive Director of TITAN, TU’s Institute of Trauma, Adversity, and Injustice. Her research program has two primary arms:

Sleep, Nightmares, and Health
This line of research focuses on how brief, sleep-based interventions can support mental health and well-being. Dr. Cromer’s lab has developed and tested adaptations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares in children (CBT-NC), including telehealth delivery and mindfulness-integrated approaches. The current clinical trial examines whether improvements in sleep and nightmare reduction are associated with improvements in quality of life and decreases in suicidality.

Historical Trauma and Intergenerational Resilience
Dr. Cromer also studies how historical trauma—such as genocide and colonization—shapes identity, psychological health, and collective meaning-making. Past projects have explored historical loss, family communication about trauma, and institutional betrayal among Indigenous and Jewish populations. Her research often incorporates mindfulness and contemplative practices as strength-based pathways to resilience and healing. She leads TU’s Historical Trauma and Transformation (H2T) minor, an interdisciplinary, place-based program that invites students to examine how communities remember and respond to historical harm.

Dr. Cromer is also a licensed clinical psychologist and offers individual services through her private practice. Learn more at www.sportpsychdoc.com.

Dr Cromer offers continuing education workshops locally and nationally on topics related to ethics, sleep, trauma, and sport psychology.

Dr. Cromer completed her M.S. and Ph.D. in the Psychology Department at the University of Oregon. She completed a clinical internship at SUNY Upstate Medical University in the Child Psychiatry Department. She was a visiting professor at Syracuse University before moving to Tulsa. Dr. Cromer was the chair for the Early Career Psychologist Committee for Division 56 (Trauma Psychology) of the American Psychological Association from 2008-2011 and is currently the co-chair of its science committee. She is on the editorial board of the APA Journal Psychological Trauma. She was awarded APA Division 56’s Award for Outstanding Early Career Achievement in Trauma Psychology in 2012, and TU’s Medicine Wheel Award for outstanding community service in 2019.

Teaching

Dr. Cromer currently teaches Applied Sports Psychology (PSY 2153), Historical Trauma and Transformation (PSY 3893), Diversity, Ethics, and Law (PSY 7543), and Intervention Science (PSY 8063). In addition to the courses she currently teaches at The University of Tulsa, Dr. Cromer also supervises several independent studies and Capstone projects each year. Dr Cromer has received numerous “Most Valuable Professor” (MVP) awards from Student Athletes.

CV

Dr. Cromer’s Curriculum Vitae