Expert Bios & CVs
Mark Cunningham, PhD, ABPP
Daniel Ferster, PsyD
Trayci Dahl, PhD, ABPP
Kimberly Miller, PhD, ABPP-CN
Mark Cunningham, PhD, ABPP
Board Certified in Forensic & Clinical Psychology
Practice Peer Consultant
Practice Peer Consultant
Dr. Cunningham, a nationally sought forensic psychologist, and award-winning researcher, provides peer consultation to practice members.
In both peer-reviewed journals and edited books, Dr. Cunningham has published groundbreaking research and authored treatises on recommendations for best practices in forensic evaluations. He has pioneered innovative digital demonstrative exhibits and graphic models to compellingly illustrate his testimony. Dr. Cunningham has provided consultation and/or testimony in state or federal litigation in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
At its annual conference in Chicago in November 2022, the American Academy of Forensic Psychology honored Dr. Cunningham’s seminal contributions to the field with the AAFP Award for Distinguished Contribution to Forensic Psychology. Dr. Cunningham was honored in January 2019 in New Orleans with the American Correctional Association Peter P. Lejins Research Award. Dr. Cunningham was recognized in November 2017 with a commendation in London by the judges for the John Maddox Prize, an annual international award for promoting sound science in the face of difficulty and hostility. Dr. Cunningham's scholarship and that of other chapter authors were recognized in 2016 with an award by the American Psychology-Law Society for a text for which he had contributed a chapter. Dr. Cunningham's scholarship and practice were recognized by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists A. M. Welner, Ph.D. Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by this organization of 15,000 psychologists. His research was previously honored with the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research in Public Policy and the Texas Psychological Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science. Dr. Cunningham was elected to Fellow status in the American Psychological Association, a distinction reflecting uncommon and outstanding contributions to the practice and science of psychology on a national level.
Dr. Ferster is a Senior Psychologist Specialist in Napa State Hospital’s Forensic Service Department. He has been a Napa State Hospital medical staff member for the past six years.
Dr. Ferster attended graduate school at the Wright Institute, where he focused on medical-decision making during his dissertation. He subsequently gained valuable experience evaluating cognitive functioning for varying neurologic dysfunctions and treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the competitive Northport VA Medical Center Predoctoral Internship. After that, Dr. Ferster completed a Post-Doctoral Residency at the Kaiser Permanente Group, where he gained experience providing assessment and treatment to a broad-based mental health population.
As a forensic psychologist at Napa State Hospital, Dr. Ferster has completed various complex forensic evaluations, including competency to stand trial, violence risk assessment, commitment extensions, and readiness for conditional release. Dr. Ferster routinely consults interdisciplinary treatment teams regarding issues pertaining to violence risk mitigation. He has provided expert witness testimony on multiple occasions.
Dr. Trayci Dahl specializes in severe mental illness, filicide, violence risk, malingering, and threat assessment and management. Her practice is unique in having been retained in over 15 capital cases.
Dr. Dahl is one of a limited number of psychologists who are both Board Certified in Forensic Psychology and a Certified Threat Manager of the Association of Threat Assessment Professions. Dr. Dahl was selected to serve on the Examination Faculty for the American Board of Forensic Psychology, where she conducts oral examinations on candidates pursuing board certification.
Dr. Dahl received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and subsequently completed a predoctoral internship at Patton State Hospital in California. She has devoted her practice to forensic evaluations since 2003. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Dahl is a consulting psychologist for the California Department of State Hospitals Forensic Services Division, where she conducts violence risk assessments of offenders with severe mental health disorders. Dr. Dahl is actively involved in education, research, and training. Dr. Dahl serves on the Quality Assurance and Training team for the Forensic Services Division, frequently presents at conferences, conducts research on forensic evaluations, and provides training and mentorship for the Department of State Hospitals.
Dr. Miller specializes in brain injury in both adults and children, brain development and maturity, posttraumatic stress disorder, and neurodevelopmental conditions including autism and intellectual disability.
Dr. Miller has been retained in civil cases to opine on allegations of brain injury and posttraumatic stress, and in criminal cases to opine on brain maturity, impact of childhood adverse experiences on brain development, and competency to stand trial in individuals with brain injury, dementia, stroke, and developmental disorders.
Dr. Miller serves as Associate Clinical Professor at UC Davis School of Medicine, Department of Neurology. She is a former Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley, Department of Clinical Sciences. Dr. Miller serves as an expert consultant to the California Board of Psychology and to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California.
Prior to going into private practice in Sacramento, CA, Dr. Miller worked with veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at Department of Veteran’s Affairs and served as Associate Training Director in Neuropsychology for VA Northern California Health Care System. Dr. Miller previously worked with patients with acute TBI in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit and Acute Rehabilitation Unit at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek.
Dr. Miller earned her undergraduate degree in psychology at UC Berkeley. She completed her doctoral degree and internship in Clinical Psychology, specialization in neuropsychology, at University of Florida. She completed her fellowship in neuropsychology at VA Northern California Health Care System.