Haley Skymba, daughter of Tammie and Stephen Skymba of Lansford, graduated on May 11 from the University of Illinois, where she attained her doctorate (Ph.D.) in psychology and earned the title of neuropsychologist.

A 2009 graduate of Panther Valley High School, she graduated magna cum laude in 2013 from Moravian College before beginning her postgraduate journey.

Initially, Haley acquired a job at the University of California-Davis, where she worked in the psychology field for three years before being accepted in the graduate program at UI in 2017.

She studied neuropsychology there for six years, attaining her master’s degree in psychology, and then completed her internship on June 5 of this year at West Virginia University.

Haley, who plans a career in the pediatric field, began a two-year residence at the Medical College of Wisconsin in August.

Her clinical experience includes working in the Advanced Practicum in Clinical Neuropsychology for adults and children; and working with children on the autism spectrum, the VA, veterans with PTSD and other neurological issues, and many others of all ages with mental health concerns.

In addition, she studied under Dr. Neil Pliskin in Advanced Practicum in Clinical Neuropsychology for a year at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Haley trained in various trauma-informed and evidence-based treatments, including Trauma- Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Preschool PTSD Treatment, Contingency Management, Interpersonal Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral Activation, and Mastery of Your Anxiety and Worry protocols.

She was named as a main contributor in four publications and a contributor in another 9. Over her career, she was lead contributor on 14 presentations and assisted in 11 more, in 11 different states. She also has taught courses at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for seven years, and in Ph.D. Clinical/Community Psychology, Concentration in Developmental Psychopathology, Minors: Quantitative Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Dissertation: “The Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Adolescence: Associations with Adversity and Depressive Symptoms.”

Haley’s awards include receiving the Graduate College Conference Presentation Award, UIUC Fall 2018, Spring 2022; Teachers Ranked as Excellent Award, UIUC Fall 2018, Spring 2019; Award to top 10% of faculty; Dean’s Honor List, Moravian College 2010-13; Fall and Spring 2010-13; Honors Thesis, Moravian College 2012-13; Trustee Scholarship, Moravian College 2009-13; and the President’s Volunteer Service Award 2010.