Margo Hurlocker

Dr. Margo Hurlocker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico. She holds a PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi. Her research focuses on health risk behaviors leading to chronic conditions, prevention practices for substance use disorders, and improving healthcare system implementation. She leads the Behavioral Health, Implementation, and Prevention (BHIP) lab, which investigates interventions for young adults with co-occurring substance use and mental health issues, as well as strategies to enhance healthcare delivery systems.

Her academic background includes advanced training in health psychology and clinical psychology. Dr. Hurlocker teaches courses such as PSYC 332 (Abnormal Psychology), PSYC 514 (Health Psychology Interventions), and PSYC 650 (Advanced Health Psychology). Her work spans topics like alcohol and substance use patterns, mental health comorbidity, and the impact of social anxiety on drinking behaviors. She has contributed to studies analyzing the effectiveness of motivational interviewing and protective behavioral strategies in reducing hazardous drinking.

Dr. Hurlocker’s research has explored the prevalence of racial/ethnic discrimination among college students and its mental health consequences, as well as the role of coping styles in stimulant use disorders. Her publications often address gaps in healthcare training, such as the integration of SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) curricula in health professions education.

Currently, she is not accepting students for Fall 2025. Her lab’s ongoing projects emphasize translational research, aiming to bridge evidence-based practices with real-world healthcare challenges.