Molly Franz

Molly Franz, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), part of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She leads the Family Adversity Lab, focusing on trauma-related psychopathology's impact on family relationships and interventions to strengthen support networks. Her lab emphasizes mentorship for graduate and undergraduate students in research, analysis, and professional development.

Dr. Franz holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2019). Her research interests center on PTSD, intimate partner and parent-child relationships, and trauma prevention/treatment. She teaches courses like Abnormal Psychology (Psyc 285) and Clinical Interventions II (PSYC 623).

Her work bridges clinical psychology and family dynamics, with studies on veteran mental health, parenting under trauma, and intimate partner violence. Recent publications highlight interventions for caregiver PTSD and the role of neighborhood cohesion in parental functioning. She actively mentors students in independent research and grants.

Dr. Franz’s lab offers undergraduate research opportunities in data collection, coding, and publication, alongside professional development discussions. Her training philosophy scaffolds students toward independent investigation through collaborative mentorship.