Michele L. Okun, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Research at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Director of the Sleep and Biobehavioral Health Research Laboratory. As one of the leading researchers on sleep during the perinatal period, her work also investigates how menopause and aging, as well as neuro-immune and neuro-endocrine pathways, influence physical and mental health outcomes. Dr. Okun has served as a peer reviewer for over two dozen journals and has authored or co-authored over five dozen scientific articles and book chapters.

Sleep Health, Health Psychology, Psychoneuroimmunology, Pregnancy/Postpartum

• B.A. University of California Santa Barbara 
• M.A. San Francisco State University
• Ph.D. University of Colorado Denver 

• PSY 3060 - Health Psychology
• PSY 3270 - Introduction to Biopsychology
• PSY 3480 - Sleep and Health (Special Topics in Psychology)
• PSY 4270 - Seminar in Biopsychology

Online Teaching Certificate

• Hux, VJ. Roberts, JM. Okun, ML. (2017). Allostatic load in early pregnancy is associated with poor sleep quality. Sleep Medicine.33:85-90. PMID: 28449913
• Okun ML, Luther JF, Wisniewski SR, and Wisner KL (2013)   Disturbed sleep and inflammatory cytokine in depressed and nondepressed pregnant women: An exploratory analysis of pregnant women.  Psychosomatic Medicine, 75(7):670-81. PMID: 23864582.
• Okun ML, Schetter CD, Glynn LM (2011). Poor sleep quality is associated with preterm birth. SLEEP, 34(11): 1493-8. PMID: 22043120.
• Okun ML, Luther J, Prather AA, Perel JM, Wisniewski S, Wisner KL. (2011). Changes in sleep quality, but not hormones predict time to postpartum depression recurrence. J Affective Disorders. 130(3): 378-84. PMID: 20708275
• Okun ML and Coussons-Read ME (2007). Sleep Disruption during Pregnancy: How Does it Influence Serum Cytokines? Journal of Reproductive Immunology 73(2):158-65 PMID: 17074396.
• Hux, VJ. Roberts, JM. Okun, ML. (2017). Allostatic load in early pregnancy is associated with poor sleep quality. Sleep Medicine.33:85-90. PMID: 28449913
• Okun ML, Luther JF, Wisniewski SR, and Wisner KL (2013)   Disturbed sleep and inflammatory cytokine in depressed and nondepressed pregnant women: An exploratory analysis of pregnant women.  Psychosomatic Medicine, 75(7):670-81. PMID: 23864582.
• Okun ML, Schetter CD, Glynn LM (2011). Poor sleep quality is associated with preterm birth. SLEEP, 34(11): 1493-8. PMID: 22043120.
• Okun ML, Luther J, Prather AA, Perel JM, Wisniewski S, Wisner KL. (2011). Changes in sleep quality, but not hormones predict time to postpartum depression recurrence. J Affective Disorders. 130(3): 378-84. PMID: 20708275
• Okun ML and Coussons-Read ME (2007). Sleep Disruption during Pregnancy: How Does it Influence Serum Cytokines? Journal of Reproductive Immunology 73(2):158-65 PMID: 17074396.

• Sleep Research Society 
• American Psychosomatic Society

IRB Reviewer
Served as ad hoc reviewer for more than 25 journals
Served on NIH and DOD study sections

Michele L. Okun, Ph.D.