Dr. Thayer joined the UCCS Psychology Department in Fall of 2019. She completed her dual doctoral training in clinical psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, and her predoctoral clinical internship at the UCSD/VA San Diego Healthcare System Internship Training Program specializing in neuropsychological assessment and cognitive rehabilitation. Her research has focused on how substance use influences cognitive functioning across lifespan development, with particular focus on cannabis use among older adults. More broadly, she is interested in factors influencing cognitive health with aging.

Neuropsychology, aging, alcohol and cannabis use

• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder, 2018
• Ph.D. Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 2018
• B.S. Psychology, University of California, San Diego, 2009

• PSY 3650 - Clinical Neuropsychology
• PSY 6870 - Clinical Neuropsychology Seminar
• PSY 6880 - Clinical Neuropsychology Lab

• Stypulkowski, K., Anquillare, E., Twamley, E.W., & Thayer, R.E. (2024). Feasibility of a telehealth compensatory cognitive training program for older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Clinical Gerontologist, 47(1), 17-25.
• Watson, K.K., Bryan, A.D., Thayer, R.E., Ellingson, J.M., Skrzynski, C.J., & Hutchison, K.E. (2022). Cannabis use and resting state functional connectivity in the aging brain. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 14:804890.
• Stypulkowski, K., & Thayer, R.E. (2021). Long-term recreational cannabis use is associated with lower executive function and processing speed in a pilot sample of older adults. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 35(5), 740-746.
• Thayer, R.E., YorkWilliams, S.L., Hutchison, K.E., & Bryan, A.D. (2019). Preliminary results from a pilot study examining brain structure in older adult cannabis users and nonusers. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 285, 58-63.

Rachel E. Thayer, PhD