Research Interests:

• Substance use disorder treatment
• Cultural centering of evidence-based treatment
• American Indian/Alaska Native populations
• Randomized controlled trials
• Implementation Science

Profile:

Selected Publications

• Paschen-Wolff, M. M., Campbell, A. N., Vásquez, Á., Kessler, J., Jansen, K., Arnatt, C. P., Rosa, C., Hebden, H. M., Radin, S., Stately, A., Shaw, J., Kennedy, F., Matthews, A., & Venner, K. L. (2025). Conducting an implementation intervention study with American Indian and Alaska Native communities: Methodological considerations. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 155, 107992.
• Campbell, A. N., Rieckmann, T., Pavlicova, M., Choo, T. H., Molina, K., McDonell, M., West, A. E., Daw, R., Marsch, L. A. & Venner, K. L. (2023). Culturally tailored digital therapeutic for substance use disorders with urban Indigenous people in the United States: A randomized controlled study. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 155, 209159.
• Venner, K. L., Hernandez-Vallant, A., Hirchak, K. A., & Herron, J. L. (2022). A Scoping Review of Cultural Adaptations of Substance Use Disorder Treatments Across Latinx Communities: Guidance for future research and practice. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 137, 108716.
• Herron, J. L., Hirchak, K. A., Venner, K. L., Tofighi, D., McDonell, M. G., & The HONOR Study Team. (2022). Cultural factors and alcohol use in American Indian adults: Results from a culturally tailored contingency management intervention. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.21-00400 
• Venner K. L., Serier K, Sarafin R, Greenfield, B., Hirchak, K., Smith, J. E., & Witkiewitz, K. (2021). Culturally tailored evidence-based substance use disorder treatments are efficacious with an American Indian Southwest Tribe: An open-label pilot-feasibility randomized controlled trial. Addiction, 116(4), 949-960, DOI: 10.1111/add.15191
• Dickerson, D., Venner, K. L., Duran, B., Annon, J. J., Hale, B, & Funmaker, G. (2014). Drum-Assisted Recovery Therapy for Native Americans (DARTNA): Results from a Pretest and Focus Groups. American Indian Alaska Native Mental Health Research, 21, 35-58. 
• Venner, K. L., Feldstein, S. W., & Tafoya, N. (2007). Helping Clients Feel Welcome: Principles of Adapting Treatment Cross-Culturally. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 25, 11-30.

Courses Taught

• Psych 636: Diversity and Multicultural Issues

• Psych 411 Evidence-based Treatment of Addictions

• Psych 600 Clinical Interviewing Practicum

• Psych 450 Drug Abuse

Lab

Our lab, RIVER (Revitalizing Indigenous Values in Empirical Research) broadly focuses on emphasizing American Indian/Alaska Native cultural strengths and ameliorating significant health inequities rooted in settler-colonialism and historical trauma. Specifically, we conduct research to culturally center evidence-based treatments such as medication treatment; culturally tailor evidence-based treatment in partnership with Tribes and Tribal communities, and analyze psychometric properties of measures to ensure validity and test measurement invariance.

Hanna Hebden

Antonia Young

Eunice Kim

Prospective students may contact Dr. Venner at kamilla@unm.edu.