Sandra Caramela-Miller

Dr. Caramela-Miller serves the field of psychology as a researcher, a professor, a consultant, and a practitioner. Professional areas of specialty include forensic psychology, developmental psychology, lifespan development, cognitive psychology, gerontology, trauma, and loss.

Education
University Graduate & Undergraduate Education:
Ph.D. – Department of Psychology, Developmental Psychology with subspecialties in Cognitive Aging & Gerontology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1997)
M.S. - Criminal Justice - Public Management and Leadership, Walden University, School of Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology, College of Psychology & Community Services, Walden University (2023)
M.A. – Department of Psychology, Developmental Psychology with a subspecialty in Cognitive Aging at The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1991)
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology – The Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology at The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1991)
B.A. – Department of Psychology at The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1980)

Postdoctoral Education:
Medical Investigator Certification – Diplomate, American College of Forensic Examiners International Institute (October, 2005) Certificate number 102605
Certification as a Forensic Consultant, Diplomate, American College of Forensic Examiners International Institute (January, 2005) Certificate number 102605
Certification in Thanatology: Death, Dying, and Bereavement, Association for Death Education and Counseling (2003)
Certification as Trauma and Loss School Specialist, National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (2001)
Certification as Trauma and Loss Clinical Consultant, National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (2000)

License Eligible – Ohio State Board of Psychology
Public Service:
Public Notary – State of Ohio
Elected to Nordonia Hills Board of Education 2026
Competed and served on the first annual Spelling Bee in 2016 and we came in second!

Honors
Semifinalist – Coroner’s Grief Counseling Intervention Program, Innovations in American Government Awards, Ash Institute, Kennedy Foundation at Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts (2008)
Invited and did serve the federal government as a participant on the White House Advisory Panel for Trauma following the events of September 11th, 2001 (2004)

University Undergraduate and Graduate Faculty Positions:

Research Reviewer, Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences (2016 to present).

Adjunct Professor in Forensic Psychology, Senior Contributing Faculty Member, Lead Faculty Member, Graduate Faculty – Walden University (Virtual online), College of Psychology and Community Services, appointed to teach online courses in General Psychology and Forensic Psychology, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Currently and/or have taught online courses in Psychology (Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis, Advanced Issues in Forensic Psychology, Introduction to Forensic Psychology, Understanding Forensic Psychology Research, Assessment in Forensic Psychology Settings, Abnormal Behavior, Ethical Issues and Professional Responsibilities in Psychology, Treatment of Forensic Populations, Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology, Writing a Quality Prospectus in Criminal Justice, Dissertation Literature Review Laboratory, Research Theory, Understanding Violence, Risk, and Threat Assessment, Interviewing in Psycholegal Settings, Welcome to the Dissertation Journey, Intersection of Crime, Psychology, and Law, and Psychology, Criminal Investigative Analysis and Profiling, and Thesis/Capstone Research, service as a Chair, Committee Member, and University Research Reviewer for Dissertations and MS Psychology Thesis/Capstone Research, service as a mentor to incoming faculty, and served in appointments to teach at doctoral residencies on ground and in virtual environments, teach dissertation intensives (2009-Present).

Fulltime Lecturer in Psychology, Undergraduate Faculty, Department of Liberal Arts - Cuyahoga Community College, Western Campus (Virtual online and on ground), Western Campus and Brunswick Campus. Appointed to teach online and on ground courses in First Year Experience: Second Semester Pathway in Liberal Arts, General Psychology, Child Growth and Development, Adolescent Psychology, Abnormal Psychology (August 2017 through May 2018).
Adjunct Instructor in Psychology, Undergraduate Faculty, Department of Liberal Arts - Cuyahoga Community College, Western Campus (Virtual online and on ground), Western Campus, Brunswick Campus, Corporate College West, Corporate College East. Appointed to teach online and on ground courses in General Psycholo-gy, Child Growth and Development, Life Span Development, Adolescent Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Introduction to Aging (2009-Present).
Adjunct Professor in Psychology, Lead Faculty, Graduate Faculty – Tiffin University. Department of Psychology (Virtual online) PhD & Master of Science in Criminal Justice Program, appointed to teach online courses in Cognitive Psychology, Introduction to Forensic Psychology, Advanced Psychological Assessment over the Lifespan and Criminogenic Psychopathology, Neuropsychology, Mental Health Law in Criminal Behavior, History and Systems of Psychology. Tiffin, Ohio (2012-Present).
Adjunct Professor, Graduate Faculty – University of Liverpool, UK (Virtual online), Psychology Programmes (Applied Psychology and Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigations), appointed to teach online courses in Command and Control: Leadership and Teams; Foundations for Academic Success; Fundamentals of Forensic and Investigative Psychology; Judgment and Decision Making in Critical and Major Incidents; Perspectives in Applied Psychology, and to serve as a mentor on dissertations from (2010-2013).
Adjunct Assistant Professor/Instructor, appointed to teach a seminar each semester on Critical Incident Stress Management courses in the Center for Emergency Preparedness, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (2004-2013) following the terrorist events of September 11, 2001.
Adjunct Professor, Graduate Faculty, Department of Psychology - Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, appointed to teach a special seminar on Grief Counseling to the clinical psychology students as they prepare for private practice, when scheduled (2005-2013).
Adjunct Research and Teaching Fellow, appointed by the Institute for Life-Span Development & Gerontology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1997-Present). Served as research consultant on theses and as outside research committee member (or fifth member) on dissertations.
Adjunct Assistant Professor/Instructor, Graduate Faculty, appointed to teach Cognitive Psychology – Distance Learning, College of Education, Department of Educational Foundations, The University of Akron (2000-2005), Akron, Ohio, distance learning graduate coursework to high school teachers working toward graduate degrees. Served on thesis and dissertation committees as research design, methods, and statistical analytic expert.
Adjunct Instructor, Distance Learning, Undergraduate Faculty, appointed by the Department of Psychology and the Credit Division, Adult Education Center, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio. Psychology courses innovatively taught through a microwave network as early form of distance learning. Interactive lectures where adult students located at Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) in Rootstown, Ohio and Akron General & Akron City Hospitals in Akron, Ohio were able to actively participate through desk microphones and camera crews during lecture and discussion would ensue between these sites (1992).
Graduate Research Assistant – Rehabilitation Research and Training Center - Consortium on Aging and Developmental Disabilities through The Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology at The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1991-1992).
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Undergraduate Faculty – appointed to teach Developmental Psychology in the Department of Psychology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1991).
Researcher, Training Developer, and Instructor – “Medigap Health Insurance Information Program” Collaborative Training Program between the State of Ohio Attorney General’s Office, State of Ohio Department of Aging, State of Ohio Department of Insurance, and The Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1989-1992).
Graduate Teaching Assistant Instructor – appointed to teach Test Development and Statistical Measurement in conjunction with the Department of Psychology and the College of Education, Department of Educational Foundations, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1989-1991).
Tutor for Learning and Physically Disabled College Students, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1988-1989).

Other College and Grant Professional Leadership Positions
Cuyahoga Community College Brunswick University Campus Participation – Provided the kick-off seminar workshop (Exploring Psychology Careers) for the Connect 4 Success week activities on February 13^th, 2018.
Cuyahoga Community College Brunswick University Campus Participation – Provided a seminar workshop (Managing Test Anxiety) for the Connect 4 Success week activities on February 15^th, 2018.
Cuyahoga Community College Brunswick University Campus Participation – Charter member of the committee to assess and also address the need for a food pantry in response to food insufficiency status for students at Brunswick University Center, during 2018.
Cuyahoga Community College Brunswick University Campus Participation – Planning and charter member of an ongoing committee designed to implement a series of psychology speakers based on the needs which were assessed at the Connect 4 Success week activities in February 2018.
Cuyahoga Community College Brunswick University Campus Participation – Planning and charter member of an ongoing committee designed to implement a psychology club or psychology forum at Brunswick University Center.
Cuyahoga Community College Brunswick University Campus Participation – Planning and charter member of an ongoing committee designed to implement an active minds psychology forum at Brunswick University Center.
Grant Reviewer, Federal Grants – National Institute of Health and Department of Education, hired as consultant to review potential grant applications to determine viability and whether the application falls within the program guidelines, Washington, D.C. (2012 to present).
Lead Grant Program Assessor/Auditor – National Forensic Science Technology Center, Largo, Florida (2007-August 2011), assessed and audited law enforcement agencies and forensic medical offices who are grant recipients of awards through the United States Department of Justice.

Program Director Positions
Director, Grant Programs – Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, Cleveland, Ohio (1994-2011), authored, directed, and monitored the progress of all research, training, and service delivery grant projects and programs.
Director, Grief Counseling Intervention Program – Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, Cleveland, Ohio (1999-2011) - Served as mentor to graduate and undergraduate student interns, developed and implemented research and service delivery projects in traumatic grief for survivors of sudden traumatic deaths such as homicide, suicide, accidental fatalities, and undetermined cases. This was the only coroner’s office in the nation that had a psychologist stationed to provide these unique and important services.
Director, Trauma and Loss Counseling Program – Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Major Trial Unit, Cleveland, Ohio (2001-2010) – Served as mentor to graduate and undergraduate student interns, developed and implemented research and service delivery projects in traumatic responses to major crimes of child abuse, kidnapping, domestic violence, felonious assault, criminal assault, and sex crimes.
Chief Statistician/Supervisor – Department of Statistics, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, Cleveland, Ohio (2002-2009), researched and maintained the statistical information regarding deaths in Cuyahoga County and worked with medical and investigative professionals from hospitals and universities in preparing statistical information and case public information for their research outside of the Coroner’s Office.
Grant Program Director
United States Department of Justice Funding:
Streamlining Coroner’s Data to Facilitate In-House Access, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2007– 03/2009)
Professional Continuing Education II, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2007– 09/2008)
2007 Forensic DNA, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2007–09/2008)
Rebalancing Trauma Therapy, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office & Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, (07/2007– 06/2008)
DNA Capacity Enhancement III Grant, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2006 – 09/2007)
Forensic Casework Backlog Reduction, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2006 – 09/2007)
Professional Continuing Education Grant, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2006 – 07/2007)
Open Homicides Grant (1980-2003), Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2006 – 12/2006)
Trauma in Vulnerable Victims Grant, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office & Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, (10/2006 –12/2006)
Unsolved Homicides Grant, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2005 – 07/2006)
DNA Capacity Enhancement II Grant, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2005 – 07/2006)
Forensic Casework Backlog Reduction, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2005 – 07/2006)
Youth Exposed to Violent Traumas Program, Grief Counseling Intervention Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (10/2005 – 12/2008)
Training Toward Accreditation, Departments of Toxicology, DNA, and Trace Evidence, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (04/2004 – 04/2005)
Forensic Casework Backlog Reduction and Unsolved Cases, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, funding (08/2004 – 01/2005)
DNA Capacity Enhancement, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (08/2004 – 01/2005)
Grief Counseling Intervention Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2005 – 12/2005)
Trauma and Loss Counseling Program, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, (01/2005 – 12/2005)
Evidence Collection Training Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2005 – 12/2005)
Grief Counseling Intervention Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, 01/2004 – 12/2004)
Trauma and Loss Counseling Program, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, (01/2004 – 12/2004)
Evidence Collection Training Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2004 – 12/2004)
Training Toward Accreditation, Departments of Toxicology, DNA, and Trace Evidence, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (06/2003 – 03/2004)
Grief Counseling Intervention Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2003 – 12/2003)
Trauma and Loss Counseling Program, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, (01/2003 – 12/2003)
Evidence Collection Training Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2003 – 12/2003)
Trace Evidence Study, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2003 – 12/2003)
Grief Counseling Intervention Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2002 – 12/2002)
Trauma and Loss Counseling Program, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, (01/2002 – 12/2002)
Evidence Collection Training Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2002 – 12/2002)
Trace Evidence Study, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/1002 – 12/2002)
Trace Evidence Study, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2001 – 12/2001)
Forensic Training Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/2000 – 12/2000)
Forensic Training Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/1999 – 12/1999)
Forensic Training Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/1998 – 12/1998)
Forensic Training Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/1997 – 12/1997)
Electronic Imaging Research Project, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, (01/1997 – 12/1997)
Private, Community, or Corporate Foundation Grants:
Grief Counseling Intervention Program, Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, Cleveland, Ohio - Funded through a generous grant of seed money through the Cleveland Foundation (04/2001 – 02/2002).
Child Abuse Investigations: A Professional, Multidisciplinary Training Program, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, Cleveland, Ohio - A collaborative project between the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, and Elizabeth K. Balraj, M.D., Cuyahoga County Coroner Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office - Funded by seed money generously granted from the Cleveland Foundation (04/1996 – 09/1996).
Child Abuse Investigations: A Professional, Interdisciplinary Training Program - A collaborative project between the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, and Elizabeth K. Balraj, M.D., Cuyahoga County Coroner Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office - funded by generous seed money grants from The Frost Foundation (04/1995 – 03/1996).
Exploring the Role of Personality in Selecting a Continuous Care Retirement Community (CCRC). Dissertation funding granted by the Ohio Presbyterian Retirement System, Columbus, Ohio (01/1994 – 12/1995).
Pediatric Community Research, Department of Pediatrics, Saint Luke’s Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio - Funded by a generous grant from the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation (11/1992 – 5/1994).
All Kids Count, Cuyahoga County Grant Initiative, Cleveland, Ohio - All Kids Count Grant in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. "All Kids Count: Establishing Immunization, Monitoring, and Follow-Up Systems" Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant managed by the City of Cleveland, Lead Agency - Department of Public Health in collaboration with The All Kids Count Community Consortium, Healthy Family, Healthy Start Consortium, Cleveland State University, and Case Western Reserve University (11/1993 – 05/1994).

Professional Presentations
Critical Incident Stress Management. Ohio Contingency Planners Annual Conference, Dublin, Ohio, October 25^th, 2011.

Keynote Address, Therapeutic Grief Counseling Intervention Program: Healing Pathways in Coroner’s Cases. Do Something Original: NAME that State – Regional Variation in Case Types Presenting to Medical Examiner Offices. National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), 42nd Annual Meeting. September 5th – 10th, 2008. Louisville, Kentucky

Managing Stress in the Aftermath of a Critical Incident: Attaining Healthy Balances Between Anxiety, Depression, Hostility, Dysphoria, and Sensation Seeking Behavior. 2008 National Conference of the American College of Forensic Examiners. September 4th – 6th, 2008. San Diego, California

Resiliency in Homicide, Suicide, Sexual Assault and Other Criminal Assaults: Trauma and Loss in Children Childhood Trauma Practitioners’ Assembly, National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. July 2008. Clinton Township, Michigan

Pracitioners’ Assembly Forum and Expert Panel Participant: Trauma and Loss in Children Childhood Trauma Practitioners’ Assembly, National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. July 2008. Clinton Township, Michigan

Developmental Therapeutic Responses to Accumulations in Violent Crime Aftermath: Trauma and Loss in Children Childhood Trauma Practitioners’ Assembly, National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. July 17th – 20th, 2007. Clinton Township, Michigan

Disturbing Dissonance in Quest for Consonance; Peace Following Suicide: Grief and Loss: Wisdom and Insight. Association for Death Education and Counseling, 28th Annual Meeting. March 29th – April 2nd, 2006. Tampa, Florida

Traumatic Dream Assessment: Analyzing the Author to Uncover Clues to Relevancy and Meaning to Estimate a Goodness of Fit: “Grief and Loss: Wisdom and Insight.” Association for Death Education and Counseling, 28th Annual Meeting. March 29th – April 2nd, 2006. Tampa, Florida
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There are many more, but not able to post.

Courses Taught

FPSY 6720 - Abnormal Behavior

Education

PhD, The University of Akron

MA, The University of Akron

BA, The University of Akron