Danielle Irene Rynczak

Danielle Irene Rynczak serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School with dual affiliation at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, conducting clinical work at Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital. Board-certified in Forensic Psychology (ABPP) with dual doctorates in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) and Law (JD), she operates at the critical intersection of mental health and legal systems.

Education:

• BA in Psychology, Rollins College
• MA in Clinical-Community Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• PsyD in Clinical Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• JD, Florida State University College of Law

Her research centers on forensic psychological evaluations including competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and juvenile delinquency, with groundbreaking work integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks into forensic practice. She pioneers anti-racist approaches to expert testimony and mental health assessments, examining systemic inequities in death penalty cases and Adam Walsh Act proceedings while developing culturally humble evaluation protocols that account for racial trauma and prior police contact.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2022-2024) reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) legal-forensic intersections addressing insanity defense boundaries and Miranda evaluation reforms; (2) systemic critiques of racial disparities in capital punishment and sexual violence risk assessment; and (3) transformative educational frameworks for embedding DEIB principles in psychology training. Her work consistently bridges clinical practice, legal scholarship, and social justice advocacy with increasing emphasis on actionable anti-racist methodologies.

Scientific Awards:

• Early Career Achievement Award, American Psychological Association Division 18 Criminal Justice Section (2021)

Dr. Rynczak actively mentors psychology interns through UMass/WRCH professional development programs targeting career barriers and self-care, while collaborating with colleagues like Putney and Kavanaugh on national initiatives to transform forensic training. Her clinical-academic role at Worcester Recovery Center positions her at the frontline of public mental health service delivery within forensic contexts, directly informing her research on real-world systemic challenges.