Cynthia Hartung, PH.D.

Dr. Cynthia Hartung (she/her) is a Professor of Psychology; her research is aimed at developing treatments for adolescents and emerging adults with ADHD and understanding sex/gender differences in psychopathology. She and her colleagues published a treatment manual and a workbook for college students with ADHD that focuses on organization, time management, and planning skills (i.e., Thriving in College). Dr. Hartung is also pursuing external funding for a newer line of research examining the effects of physical exercise on academic performance in adolescents and emerging adults with ADHD. She teaches Developmental Psychopathology and Psychology of Gender to advanced undergraduates and Advanced Clinical Practicum and Diversity Issues in Psychology to graduate students. Dr. Hartung currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Attention Disorders and the Secretary/Treasurer of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (ISRCAP).

 

B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison

M.S., University of Kentucky

Ph.D., University of Kentucky

 

Academic Positions

2019 - Present   Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming

2010- Present Adjunct Professor of Gender and Women's Studies, University of Wyoming

2012 - 2024   Director of the Psychology Center, University of Wyoming

2010 - 2019  Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming

2007 - 2010      Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Wyoming

2002 - 2007      Assistant Professor of Psychology, Oklahoma State University

2001 - 2002      Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Denver

1999 - 2001      Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

1998 - 1999      Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow, Oregon Health Sciences University

 

Current Graduate Students

Emily Miller, M.S. 

Meisa Khaireddin, M.S.

Emma Hartman, B.A.

Lilliya Larson, B.S.

Chloe Nowak, B.A.

 

Former Graduate Students

John Vasko, Ph.D., Postdoc, Rutgers Center for Youth Social & Emotional Wellness

Tamara Abu-Ramadan, Ph.D., Psychologist, Children’s National Hospital

Judah Serrano, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Denver

Anne Stevens, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Wyoming

Patrick LaCount, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Practical Psychological Services

Christopher Shelton, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Penn State Behrend

Carolyn Stern, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Valley Psych Services

Elizabeth Lefler, Ph.D., Clinical Professor, University of Oregon - Ballmer Institute 

Benjamin Sigel, Ph.D., Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

               

Research Interests

Treatment development for adolescents and emerging adults with ADHD

Physical exercise as a treatment for ADHD in adolescents and emerging adults

Understanding sex/gender differences in psychopathology

 

Lab Website

http://www.uwyoall.com/

       

Teaching

PSYC 3300 - Psychology of Gender

PSYC 4310 - Developmental Psychopathology

PSYC 5450 - Clinical Practicum

PSYC 5460- Advanced Clinical Practicum

PSYC 5540 - Diversity Issues in Psychology

 

Representative Publications

Canu, W. H., Flory, K., Johnson, M. W., Knouse, L. E., McClure, K., *Miller, E. A., Bodalski, E. A., de Arellano, A., Rother, Y., Nelson, J. M., *Abu-Ramadan, T. M., *Vasko, J. M., Blum, J. E., Killius, E., & Hartung, C. M. (2026). Efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral group intervention for ADHD in college students via telehealth. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2026.2657432

 

*Vasko, J. M., Looby, A., Serrano, J. W., *Abu-Ramadan, T. M., *Miller, E. A., McGee, N., Smith, D. S., & Hartung, C. M. (2026). Effects of stimulant medication on neuropsychological functioning in college students without ADHD. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000853

 

Goh, P. K., Chung, S., Jhawar, N., Wong, A. W., Mellor, G. S., Banjeree, M., *Khaireddin, M. M. & Hartung, C. M. (2026). ADHD knowledge as a barrier to problem recognition in Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander versus White college students. Journal of Attention Disorders, 30(2), 234-248. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547251389337

 

*Serrano, J. W., *Abu-Ramadan, T. M., Stevens, A. E., *Vasko, J. M., *Miller, E., Willcutt, E. G., Flory, K., Smith, D. T., & Hartung, C. M. (2025). Self-reported physical exercise levels among college students with ADHD: Biological sex matters. Emerging Adulthood, 13(4), 845-860. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968251334851

 

Hartung, C. M., Lefler, E. K., *Abu-Ramadan, T. M., Stevens, A. E., Serrano, J. W., *Miller, E. A., & Shelton, C. R. (2025). A call to analyze sex, gender, and sexual orientation in psychopathology research: An illustration with ADHD and internalizing symptoms in emerging adults. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 47(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-024-10188-3

 

Lefler, E. K., Tabler, J., *Abu-Ramadan, T., Stevens, A. E., *Serrano, J. W., Shelton, C. R., & Hartung, C. M. (2025). Sex, gender, and sexual orientation in psychological research: Exploring data trends & research opinions. Psychological Reports, 128(5), 3825-3852. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231199959

 

*Abu-Ramadan, T. M., Lefler, E. K., Knouse, L. K. & Hartung, C. M. (2023). Positive illusory bias and self-handicapping in adults with ADHD: A literature review and recommendations for research and clinical practice. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 45(4), 917-936. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-023-10084-2

 

*Serrano, J. W., *Abu-Ramadan, T. M., *Vasko, J. M., Leopold, D. R., Canu, W. H., Willcutt, E. G. & Hartung, C. M. (2023). ADHD and psychological need fulfillment in college students. Journal of Attention Disorders, 27(8), 912-924. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547231161530

 

*LaCount, P. A., Hartung, C. M., *Vasko, J. M., *Serrano, J. W., *Wright, H. A., & Smith, D. T. (2022). Acute effects of physical exercise in college students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 22, 100443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2022.100443

 

Hartung, C. M., Canu, W. H., *Serrano, J. W., *Vasko, J. M., Stevens, A. E.,

*Abu-Ramadan, Tamara M., Neger, E. N., Bodalski, E. A., Gleason, L. L., Bridges, R. M., Anzalone, C., & Flory, K. (2022). A new organizational and study skills intervention designed specifically for college students with ADHD. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 29(2), 411-424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2020.09.005

 

Lefler, E. K., Flory, K., Canu, W. H., Willcutt, E. G., & Hartung, C. M. (2021). Unique considerations in the assessment of ADHD in college students. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 43, 352-369. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2021.1936462

 

Looby, A., *Cleveland, C. S., *Zimmerman, L. & Hartung, C. M. (2021). ADHD symptoms and sex moderate the relation between protective behavioral strategies and alcohol use among treatment-mandated college students. Behavioral Medicine., 47, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2019.1590798

 

Lefler, E. K., *Stevens, A. E., *Garner, A. M., *Serrano, J. W., Canu, W. H., & Hartung, C. M. (2020). Changes in college student endorsement of ADHD symptoms across DSM edition. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 42(3), 488-499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-020-09797-5

 

Hartung, C. M. & Lefler, E. K. (2019). Sex and gender in psychopathology: DSM-5 and beyond. Psychological Bulletin, 145, 390-409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000183

 

Hartung, C. M., Lefler, E. K., Canu, W. H., *Stevens, A.E., *Jaconis, M., *LaCount, P. A., *Shelton, C. R., Leopold, D. R. & Willcutt, E. G. (2019). DSM-5 and other symptom thresholds for ADHD: Which is the best predictor of impairment in college students? Journal of Attention Disorders, 23, 1637-1646. https://doi: 10.1177/1087054716629216

 

*LaCount, P. A., Hartung, C. M., *Shelton, C. R., & *Stevens, A. E. (2018). Efficacy of an organizational skills intervention for college students with ADHD symptomatology and academic difficulties. Journal of Attention Disorders, 22, 356-367. https://doi: 10.1177/1087054715594423

 

*LaCount, P. A., Hartung, C. M., *Shelton, C. R., Clapp, J. D. & Clapp, T. K. W. (2015). Preliminary evaluation of a psychosocial treatment for college students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 22, 152-160. https://doi: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2014.07.004

 

Hartung, C. M., Canu, W. H., *Cleveland, C. S., Lefler, E. K, *Mignogna, M. J., *Fedele, D. A., Correia, C. J., Leffingwell, T. R. & Clapp, J. D. (2013). Stimulant medication use in college students: Comparison of appropriate users, misusers and non-users. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27, 832-840. https://doi:10.1037/a0033822

 

Hartung, C. M., *Little, C. S., *Allen, E. K. & Page, M. (2011). A psychometric comparison of two self-report measures of bullying and victimization: Differences by sex and grade. School Mental Health, 3, 44-57. https://doi:10.1007/s12310-010-9046-1

 

Hartung, C. M. & *Lefler, E. K. (2010). Preliminary examination of a new mental health screener in a pediatric sample. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 24, 168-175. https://doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2009.05.006

 

Hartung, C. M., *Lefler, E. K., *Tempel, A., *Armendariz, M. L., *Sigel, B. A., & *Little, C. S. (2010). Halo effects in ratings of ADHD and ODD: Identification of susceptible symptoms. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32, 128-137. https://doi:10.1007/s10862-009-9135-3