Steven P. Verney

Steven P. Verney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico (UNM), specializing in cultural psychology, cognitive aging, and health disparities among Indigenous populations. He holds leadership roles as the Area Head for Multicultural/Diversity Psychology Emphasis and Chair of the Department’s Diversity Committee. His research focuses on cognitive aging and neurocognitive disparities in older American Indians, leveraging community-based participatory approaches. He has led or co-led multiple NIH-funded grants, including the NIMHD-funded TREE Center, and developed initiatives like the Cultural Counseling Center and Diversity Organization (DO!) to enhance diversity training.

Education: Ph.D., San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego (2000). Research emphases include neuropsychological assessment, cultural competence in healthcare, and health literacy. He has published extensively on topics like cognitive correlates of vascular abnormalities and sociocultural factors influencing neuropsychological outcomes in Indigenous communities.

Current research projects include interventions for cerebrovascular disease in Native elders and studies on early education experiences and health disparities. He has been a Fellow in the American Indian Alaska Native Program at the University of Colorado and actively mentors underrepresented minority students. His teaching spans courses on health disparities, cultural psychology, and research with diverse populations.

Recent articles highlight his work on selenium exposure’s cognitive impacts, cultural adaptations in neuropsychological testing, and disparities in Alzheimer’s assessment across racial groups. Awards include recognition for his role in promoting diversity and equity in academic psychology.