Laura Proctor

Dr. Laura Proctor is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at San Diego State University (SDSU) and a research scientist at the CASRC. She holds a Ph.D. in child and family clinical psychology from the University of Southern California. Her work focuses on understanding the long-term impacts of childhood adversities such as maltreatment and violence exposure on socioemotional and behavioral development. Dr. Proctor leads a NIH/NIDA-funded study examining drug use trajectories among foster youth using longitudinal data from the LONGSCAN consortium, aiming to inform targeted interventions.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Child and Family Clinical Psychology, University of Southern California

Research Interests:

Dr. Proctor investigates how early adversities shape developmental trajectories, particularly in foster care populations. Her studies explore pathways linking maltreatment to substance use, delinquency, and mental health outcomes. She employs mixed-methods approaches to analyze longitudinal datasets and identify modifiable risk factors.

Awards:

• NIH/NIDA K01 Career Development Award
• NIH/NIMH F31 Predoctoral Fellowship

Grants & Projects:

• Principal Investigator: NIH/NIDA R21 Study on foster youth drug use trajectories
• NIH/NIDA-funded K01 Award examining adverse childhood experiences and substance use

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Center for Advocacy, Service & Research (CASRC) and the LONGSCAN consortium.