Faculty Member

Dr. Malisa Brooks

Biography

Dr. Malisa Brooks is a Masters- and PhD-level Social Worker who currently is an Assistant Professor at Utah Valley University in the Social Work program. She teaches upper-level research methods and clinical classes, specializing in work with survivors of sexual assault, Veterans, and first responders. She focuses her research on psychometric properties of instruments, the treatment of trauma and suicide, and the mental health of college students. Malisa is an experienced clinician, having worked both in private practice and on DoD-funded clinical research trials, and specializes in the treatment of trauma and trauma-related disorders.

Education

PhD, University of Utah, 2022

Major: Social Work

Master of Social Work, University of Utah, 2017

Major: Social Work

BS, Utah Valley University, 2016

Major: Behavioral Science/Psychology

Bachelor of Social Work, Utah Valley University, 2016

Major: Social Work

Teaching

SW 6630

Mental Health Assessment in Social Work Practice, Summer 2026

SW 6630

Mental Health Assessment in Social Work Practice, Summer 2026

SW 6950

Advanced Applied Research--MSW Capstone, Spring 2026

SW 6950

Advanced Applied Research--MSW Capstone, Spring 2026

SW 4500

Crisis Intervention, Spring 2026

SW 6400

Social Work Research Methods, Spring 2026

SW 6400

Social Work Research Methods, Spring 2026

Presentations

Brooks, Malisa (Presenter & Author), Hinkson, Kent (Presenter & Author), 42nd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, "Beyond the Battlefield_ Psychosocial Outcomes and Motivations of Civilian Psychiatric Service Dog Handlers", International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Antonio, Texas. (May, 2026)
Hinkson, Kent (Presenter & Author), Brooks, Malisa (Presenter & Author), 42nd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, "Decision Pathways and Perceived Need in the Acquisition of Psychiatric Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals", International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Antonio, Texas. (May, 2026)
Hinkson, Kent (Presenter & Author), Brooks, Malisa (Presenter & Author), 42nd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, "Not All Symptom Change is Deterioration_ Sudden Gains and Exacerbation in Prolonged Exposure Therapy", International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Antonio, Texas. (May, 2026)
Brooks, Malisa , Hinkson, Kent , 42nd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, "When Traditional Treatment Is Not Enough_ Veteran Perspectives on Service Dogs and Collaborative Care for PTSD", International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Antonio, Texas. (May, 2026)
Fisher, Abbie (Presenter & Author), Hinkson, Kent (Author Only), Brooks, Malisa (Author Only), 2026 Annual Convention of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, "A psychometric evaluation of the posttraumatic checklist for PTSD (PCL-5) in student veterans", Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Boise, Idaho. (March 28, 2026)
Fisher, Abbie (Presenter & Author), Hinkson, Kent (Author Only), Brooks, Malisa (Author Only), 2026 Annual Convention of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, "Measuremtn Invariance of the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 across two trauma-exposed samples", Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Boise, Idaho. (March 28, 2026)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Brooks, Malisa , Hinkson, Kent , Bryan, Craig J, Osteen, Philip , "An evaluation of the psychometric properties of the PCL-5 in student veterans" .
Brooks, Malisa , Hinkson, Kent , Bryan, Craig J, Osteen, Philip , "Measurement invariance of the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 across two trauma-exposed samples" .
Hinkson, Kent , Brooks, Malisa , Baird, Bailey B., Aamodt, Morgan , Peterson-Covarrubias, Emily R. , Davenport, Krisin J., Fausett, Alley M., Jensen, Daphne , Jones, Cadence Y. , Lara, Ayleen A., Martin, Megan R., McCullough, Robert M. , Roberts, Ryan , Ryan, Gerolyn B. , Sego, Avalie M., Seppie, Tasha , Trias, Sebastian , "Beyond the Dog_ Behavioral Engagement Predicts Symptom Reduction in Veterans Participating in a Service-Dog Training Program" . Anthrozoos.
Brooks, Malisa , Hinkson, Kent , Lara, Ayleen Amaret, Peterson-Covarrubias, Emily Rey, Gilliam, Sara , Osteen, Philip , Bryan, Craig J, (2025) "An exploratory examination of trauma-related characteristics among student veterans" (vol. 15). International Journal of Humanitites and Social Sciences.
Hinkson, Kent , Brooks, Malisa , Fausett, Alley M, Davenport, Kristin J, Martin, Megan R, Bryan, Craig J, "Disaggregating the Effects of PTSD on Academic Performance among Student Veterans" .

Awards

Cultural Competency Workshop Series 2025

Office of Institutional Engagement and Effectiveness - April 23, 2025

The Cultural Competency Workshops are a professional development opportunity designed to help participants gain the tools and skills to improve self-reflection and awareness, communicate effectively across different experiences and cultures, foster mutual respect, and promote an inclusive campus.