Board & Staff

The Center for Rural Mental Health Studies (CRMHS) was approved and chartered by the Medical School within the University of Minnesota's Academic Health Center in 2000.

Planning group

James G. Boulger, Ph.D. (Director)*
Boulger is a psychologist who has been in the Department of Biobehavioral Health & Population Sciences (previously known as the Behavioral Science Dept) since 1974. He holds a joint appointment as professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

His research interests include the role of the family physician in the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral and emotional difficulties, particularly in smaller communities and the assessment of the need for health care personnel in rural Minnesota. He believes the center serves to foster community/University alliances of great benefit to all.

Gary Davis, Ph.D. (Associate Director)*
Davis serves as the regional campus dean for the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus. He is a licensed psychologist who believes the center provides a structure within the University to meaningfully investigate the mental health needs of rural communities and create solutions to problems.

Jane Hovland, R.N., Ph.D. (Associate Director)*
Hovland is a licensed psychologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School in the Department of Biobehavioral Health & Population Sciences. Hovland has provided psychological services to individuals and couples for the past 16 years. Her areas of expertise include mood disorders in adults and adolescents, the impact that chronic illness has on mental health, and issues of loss and grief.

Claudia Weber, RPh, PhD (Licensed Psychologist)
Weber is a licensed psychologist and licensed pharmacist who has worked with the Center for Rural Mental Health Studies in the Biobehavioral Health and Population Sciences Department since 2009. Her areas of expertise include mood and anxiety disorders, grieving, and chronic pain.

Mark Schneiderhan, PharmD*
Schneiderhan is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is a board certified psychiatric pharmacist. His research interests include: metabolic-related side effects from anti-psychotic medications, the utilization of medication therapy management pharmacists providing comprehensive medication reviews and management in psychiatry, and the integration of primary care and psychiatry services.

Melissa L. Walls, Ph.D. (Researcher)*
Walls is assistant professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health & Population Sciences at the University of Minnesota Medical School-Duluth. Her research interests include American Indian/First Nations behavioral health issues, community based participatory research, the sociology of mental health and deviance, substance use/abuse, and quantitative methods.

Michelle Johnson-Jennings, PhD (Researcher)*
Dr. Johnson-Jennings (Choctaw Nation) is an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duluth campus. She is a license eligible, integrated primary care psychologist. Her research interests include addressing American Indian healthcare inequities in chronic health diseases and interventions to improve the provider and patient relationship, especially in reducing prescription drug misuse among reservation communities.

Derek R. Jennings, Ph.D. (Researcher)*
Jennings is a research associate in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Minnesota. His research interests include health and well being and obesity prevention in American Indian communities, using research methods and approaches such as, community based participatory research, photovoice, photomapping, and video storytelling.

Angie Forsberg, BS (Program Specialist)
Forsberg serves as the CRMHS program specialist. She has a bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology with over 7 years of experience working with children and adults with mental illness and developmental disorders.

Board members

• Mustafa al/Absi, Ph.D., L.P., Department of Biobehavioral Health & Population Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus*

• Barbara Elliott, Ph.D., Department of Family Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth*

• Kami Norland, MA, ATR, Rural Health Resource Center, Duluth

• Jeff Plunkett, Telecommunications/Multimedia Coordinator, SISU Medical Solutions

* denotes University of Minnesota faculty