Alumni submissions are listed by chapter (school) name (Georgia State Univ; Lehman College, CUNY – Univ of Hartford) and then by class (graduating year). These submissions were printed in the Winter 2007 issue of
Eye on Psi Chi.Georgia State UniversityYashica Malanda Smith [03] received a masters in applied clinical psychology in 2006 from the University of South Carolina Aiken. She has enrolled in a doctoral program in clinical psychology at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA.
Lehman College, CUNY (NY)David Zallo [04] is deployed to Iraq as a member of 3-6 Field Artillery, 10th Mountain Division out of Ft. Drum, NY. He is a first lieutenant and serves as a fire direction officer and patrol leader.
Lewis University (IL)Keli Knight [03] graduated from the DePaul University College of Law and is preparing for the Illinois Bar exam.
Long Island Univ, Brooklyn Campus (NY)Rose C. (Denasse) Dumay [03] is a medical social worker at Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital, working in their rehabilitation medicine program unit.
Nancy Pierre [04] graduated from Long Island University with a masters in social work. She is married with three children.
Long Island Univ, C.W. Post Campus (NY)Wanda Chisolm [04] completed her masters in professional and academic counseling with a specialty in school counseling at Long Island University, Brentwood Campus.
Long Island Univ, Southampton Clg (NY)Matthew Murphy [05] is attending graduate school at Tufts University in Boston, pursuing a PhD in experimental psychology. His focus is animal cognition, and his dissertation will investigate the higher-order cognitive process of self-recognition using leading-edge technology.
Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Melissa Moran [03] worked for a year with autistic children before entering into a MFT/PPS program at Phillips Graduate Institute from which she graduated in May.
Ana Ceci Mel [04] worked for six months with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. She is in graduate training at California Lutheran University and works full-time for the University of California, Los Angeles at the Venice Family Clinic in Santa Monica.
Loyola University New Orleans (LA)Courtney Sloan [03] left New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and is currently employed by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to research the effects of various drugs on the differentiation process of cardiomyocytes with Dr. Ferid Murad.
Madonna University (MI)
Linda Bresette [03] graduated with a MS in clinical psychology and has a private practice in Livonia, Michigan. She is a therapist for The Guidance Center and Boys Hope Girls Hope, and is an adjunct instructor at Madonna University and Henry Ford Community College.
Manhattanville College (NY)
Ginger Villareal Armas [05] is pursuing a masters in general psychology at New York University. She is an HIV test center counselor at GMHC in Manhattan.
Marist College (NY)
Julia Rodriguez [05] works as a school psychologist at Fishkill Plains Elementary School in the Wappingers Central School District.
Marshall University (WV)Gerrod Negley [04] is a graduate student in the human resource management program at Marshall University. For the past year, he has been employed by the Department of Treasury (Bureau of the Public Debt) as a human resource specialist.
Marymount Manhattan College (NY)
Alicia Alvarez [03] was a senior client advocate at a women's domestic violence shelter. She has been accepted into the New York City Teaching Fellows program and will be working towards a masters in education in elementary bilingual education.
Marywood University (PA)
Richard A. Singer Jr., MA, CAC [05] is working on his PhD at Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center. He has recently released a book entitled
Your Daily Walk With the Great Minds of the Past and Present (see
www.yourdailywalk.org).
Mercy College (NY)
Joseph Summo [02] earned his masters degree in 2004 and plans to work as a school counselor for the 2006-07 school year.
Nickesha Francis [05] was promoted from a psychiatric technician in the Crisis Residence at the children's village to a WAY scholarship and aftercare counselor.
Meredith College (NC)
Ingrid Forsberg [02] worked as a residential counselor at a hospital in Winston-Salem for two years. She now stays home with her son.
Merrimack College (MA)
Jilane P. Buonopane [03] graduated from Suffolk Law in Boston, MA and will be working as a surrogacy attorney with a leading expert in the area. She has published two journals as student note editor of the Journal of Health and Biomedical Law.
Christina Doucette [04] works at Sanborn Regional High School and is pursuing a masters degree with a specialization in literacy at Lesley University. She is engaged to be married in May 2007.
Kimberly Jurczak [04] works at Germaine Lawrence in Arlington, MA, a program for emotionally and behaviorally challenged adolescent girls ages 10-18.
Metropolitan State University (MN)
John Souza [05] is pursuing a MA in marriage and family therapy from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology/Argosy University.Miami University
Bianca M. Jones [05] began Xavier University's five-year doctorate of psychology program in clinical psychology during fall 2006. She is also a graduate assistant at Xavier's Office of Multicultural Affairs. Visit
www.xavier.edu/oma/staff.cfm to learn more about Bianca.
Millersville University (PA)
Meghan (Shannon) Sidelnick [04] is working with children with behavioral disorders and autism at Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. She married Nicholas Sidelnick, a fellow Millersville graduate, who is pursuing a law degree at Widener University.
Janine Lehman [05] is working with children who have chronic problems at Philhaven Behavioral Health Hospital in Mt. Gretna.
Monmouth University (NJ)Dora Finamore, EdD [83] earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Sarasota/Argosy and has a private practice in South Florida. She is an adjunct professor at St. Thomas University and Kaplan University, and an associate professor for Northcentral University. She has several publications on parenting, bereavement, and loss, including a chapter in an Aronson Publishers book on Gestalt therapy with grieving children (2003).
Jennifer Waitts [05] is enrolled as a graduate student at Monmouth University pursuing a MS in professional counseling.
Montana State University-BillingsDon Ellingson [04] works in the department of developmental disabilities for the state of Montana as a targeted case manager. His psychology degree is beneficial in the position since statistical analysis, behavioral analysis, and a terminology background are used daily.
Montclair State University (NJ)Elyssa Ferrara [04] completed her masters in social work at New York University in May 2006.
Morehead State University (KY)Wendy L. Mullins-Blair [95] gained an interest in social work while working as a family counselor. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in May 2006 with a MSW in social work.
Mount Holyoke College (MA)Jessica Moore [04] is working for a large architectural firm in Boston as an interior designer, designing primarily healthcare facilities. She is taking classes towards a masters in interior design at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Nazareth College of Rochester (NY)Sarah Shorey [04] is a therapist for a placement diversion program in New York. She is also working on obtaining her masters in social work.
New Mexico State University
Gabrielle Nordman [05] worked as a manager at Victoria's Secret while maintaining an internship as a juvenile probation officer. She is now attending graduate school in Phoenix, AZ for a MBA in forensic psychology.
Niagara University (NY)
Daniel LaRosa [05] is attending graduate school at Canisius College for college student personnel administration. He also works in the office of Residence Life at Canisius.
North Carolina State University
Ronda Cowan [04] has accepted an offer of admissions from Alliant International University California School of Professional Psychology to their clinical psychology PhD program.
Northern Illinois University
Nate Blasa [03] is married and has a masters in social work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with certification for school social work. He is a school social worker for the Kaskaskia Special Ed co-op and does counseling for special ed students.
Northern Kentucky University
Chasity Staples [05] is working as a mental health specialist on an inpatient psychiatric unit for children under 13 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Frieda Kliewer [96] is the executive director of the Sandra Beasley Independent Living Center in Enid, OK. This nonprofit organization promotes independence for those with disabilities by providing independent living skills training, computer and finance classes, and banking.
Notre Dame de Namur University (CA)
Susan Heartlight Bellin [92] has a license as a marriage family therapist. She owned a private practice in the Bay Area from 1995-2002. She is now married, works for the Superior Court, and is in the process of opening another private practice in Monrovia.
Jessica Marie Britt [06] is a care manager for Lassahn Fiduciary Services in Menlo Park. She assists in court appointed cases and acts as a liaison between attorneys and clients.
Occidental College (CA)
Tara McKay [05] is a member of the research and evaluation core at AIDS Project Los Angeles. She has maintained a connection to Occidental's undergraduate research center, where she is conducting an analysis of the cross-discipline perceptions of the undergraduate research experience.
Oglethorpe University (GA)
Meiyen Bell [03] works for Victory World Church in Norcross, GA, as the assistant director for the nursery/preschool division.
Ohio State University
Holly Brothers [05] is working at Ohio State University as a lab technician in a behavioral neuroscience lab. She was awarded a psychology department fellowship and a neuroscience department university fellowship with plans to pursue a PhD in the behavioral neuroscience program at Ohio State.
Oklahoma City University
Niki (Murphy) Sims [01] and her husband Shaun live in the Phoenix area. She is in her fourth year of graduate studies at Argosy University, studying clinical psychology with an emphasis in sports.
Karen Mitchell [04] is in her second semester of graduate work at Oklahoma State University in educational psychology. She works for DHS and has a seven year-old daughter.
Oklahoma State University
Art Rousseau [74] completed his doctorate in medicine at the University of Oklahoma in 1978 and a psychiatric residency program at Oregon State Hospital in 1982. He is a board certified psychiatrist in Oklahoma City and an APA Distinguished Fellow. He is a clinical professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center where he teaches primarily in the clinical aspects of psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Steven Michael Brooks [03] obtained a masters degree in I/O psychology and works as an organizational development specialist at a Oklahoma hospital.
Deshawnt Jelani [05] recently was accepted to pharmacy school.
Pace University (NY)
Svetlana Finkelshteyn [03] is a third-year doctoral student in organizational psychology at Rutgers University. She has been working in executive development at Citigroup for the last two years.
Pennsylvania State University
Justin Eroh [05] has been working at Penn State as the manager of the cognitive and developmental electrophysiology lab and has also been bartending at State College.
Pepperdine University, Los Angeles (CA)Renee Haas [02] is licensed as a marriage and family therapist specializing in couples therapy and anger management, and is a fellow of the American Association of Anger Management Providers. For more information about Renee, go to
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/40309Mara Leigh Taylor [04] is the president and founder of Getting Out by Going In, a nonprofit organization dedicated to incarcerated and at-risk youth and adults. She is known as "Coach" Taylor by the prison population and is a frequent speaker on personal excellence and prison reform.
Charlie Mercer [05] accepted a position in May 2006 as a technical information analyst with the APA in Washington, D.C.
Pittsburg State University (KS)
Shannon Beason [05] is in Oklahoma State University's doctoral program for school psychology.
Plattsburgh State University of New York
Cari Brault [01] received her masters in forensic psychology from John Jay College in 2005.
Tasha Woodson [02] got her masters in social work from Stony Brook University. She works as a social worker for Odyssey House, a nonprofit adolescent facility.
Desiree Smith [04] graduated with honors in May 2006 from the psychology masters program at Northern Arizona University. She is currently completing an internship in the school district of Eden Prairie, MN.
Providence College (RI)
Jaime Ferreira [03] received her masters in school psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston and is enrolled at Arizona State University in the PhD program in educational psychology.
Purdue University (IN)
Kristine Trent [05] is a behavior rehabilitation technician with a Clubhouse Model program in Fort Wayne.
Queens College, CUNY
Andrea Berninger [04] is a graduate student at Molloy College, studying to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Janine Sanchez [05] works as a counselor at AHRC in Nassau County, counseling adults with developmental disabilities.
Ramapo College (NJ)
Alysia Battista [05] teaches second grade in Dover, NJ.
Randolph-Macon Woman's College (VA)Kimberly Rogers [03] completed her masters in experimental psychology at Wake Forest University. She is currently employed as manager of the social cognition research lab at Duke University and began doctoral study at Duke in fall of 2006.
Rowan University (NJ)
Heiddy Alcantara [04] graduated with a masters in criminal justice with a concentration in federal law enforcement from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. She completed an internship at the state of New Jersey office of the public defender in Camden as a criminal investigator.
Rutgers University Camden (NJ)
Michael C. McDonough, EdD [81] is in private practice on the island of Bermuda. He is licensed as a clinical psychologist in Virginia, a psychologist in Pennsylvania, and a registered psychologist in Bermuda and Ireland.
Rutgers University New Brunswick (NJ)Shari Friedland [04] is in the clinical psychology PsyD program at Immaculata University.
Sherree Pecci [05] has completed her first year of graduate studies in Rutgers School of Social Work in New Brunswick. She is living in Hillsborough, NJ.
St. Joseph's College (NY)Joanne Hamilton [03] received a masters in creative arts therapy from Hofstra University and is working as an art therapist in a private elementary school and a private alternative high school. She is beginning doctoral work in transpersonal psychology.
Saint Joseph's University (PA)Christina Masci [04] received her masters degree in psychology in 2005. She has been working as a research coordinator on a randomized clinical trial at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
St. Lawrence University (NY)
Elizabeth Gagnon [04] moved to Newport, RI, and worked for a year and a half as the produce manager at a small local health food store and then on a small local organic farm. She married a Newporter named Antone M. Silvia.
Saint Louis University (MO)
Christina Caltagirone [02] has been teaching elementary school in the Parkway School District for the past 4 years. She received a masters in school guidance and counseling in May 2005 and is a certified teacher and guidance counselor in the state of Missouri.
Victoria Kuzmich [04] received her masters in school psychology at Trinity University in San Antonio and is now doing a one-year internship with Leander ISD in Austin. Her job includes conducting personality evaluations, counseling students, and consulting with teachers regarding classroom problems.
Saint Peter's College (NJ)
Sandy Attanasio [02] received her doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Saint Augustine in December 2005. She is currently working at an outpatient physical therapy clinic in Los Angeles, CA.
Saint Xavier University (IL)
Paul Tobolski [96] has a masters in psychology and is a practicing school psychologist in the state of Illinois.
Salem State College (MA)
Andrea M. Joseph [96] earned a master of education in counseling psychology from Cambridge College, graduated from Salem State with a bachelors in nursing, and is licensed as a registered nurse in two New England states. She is married with four children.
Salisbury University (MD)
Christopher LaGarde [02] is working as a case manager for the Montgomery County DHHS Behavioral Health and Crisis Services.
San Francisco State University (CA)
Rachel Hightower [04] previously worked with children with autism at ACES Inc. in San Diego. She is now a full-time student at San Diego State University in the school psychology program. She is engaged to be married in 2006.
Sheryl Schindler [05] received a post-baccalaureate intramural research training award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The lab's major area of research involves the development and assessment of techniques for interviewing child witnesses and evaluating the credibility of their accounts.
San Jose State University (CA)
Ofelia J. Picanco [03] graduated in May 2006 with a masters in social work from San Jose State University and is pursuing a LCSW degree.
Shepherd University (WV)
Karen Chappelle [01] worked for local government as a community service director until taking a leave of absence to care for her mother who had Alzheimer's Disease and ultimately passed away in August 2005. She recently accepted a community service position at Danville Regional Medical Center in VA.
Sonoma State University (CA)
Rose "Rosa" Mary England [05] is assisting seventh and eighth grade children at Santa Rosa Middle School.
South Carolina State University
Mary E. Cartwright [02] is pursuing her masters in forensic psychology at Argosy University's Washington, D.C. campus. She is employed at Dekalb County's department of family and children services as a child protective services investigator.
Adrienne Harris [05] is in graduate school at Webster University working on her masters in counseling. She is working for York County board of disability and special needs.
Southeast Missouri State University
Chela Rutlin [05] is a first-year McNair Scholars graduate student at Southeast Missouri State in the community counseling program. She recently worked with elementary school autistic children at the Special School District in St. Louis serving as an ABA therapist.
Southeastern Louisiana University
Jesse D. Lambert [03] is working on her doctorate of psychology degree at Argosy University in Dallas, TX. For the past six years, she has been employed as a psychometric technician in the area of assessment of children and adolescents.
Southern Connecticut State University
Jeanette Bradley [05] is engaged in women's health research at Yale University, studying mood and cognition in conjunction with the physical changes occurring during the menstrual cycle.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Lisa Gooley [04] worked as a sex offender probation officer for the 4th Judicial Circuit Courts of Illinois and as a loss prevention detective for Marshall's department stores. She completed her intelligence analyst training at the FBI Academy and was assigned to the New York City office as an FBI Agent.
Southern Methodist University (TX)
Farah Beg [03] has finished two years of clinical science studies at St. Matthew's University School of Medicine in Grand Cayman Island, B.W.I.
Bianca Elliott [03] is working in Dallas, TX as a fashion editor for Weddings, a style editor for Beauty and Fitness, and is the stylist for Sally Beauty magazine.
Southern New Hampshire University
Carla Emery [02] runs a 24-hour residential home for mentally and physically handicapped individuals. She is also a clinical case manager for Riverbend Community Mental Health Center.
Stanford University (CA)
Diana Banks [04] began studies at Harvard Law School in fall 2006.
SUNY at Oswego
Deborah Mather [04] is in her last year at Syracuse University working on a masters in social work and is involved in disability issues, women's issues, and child welfare.
SUNY College at Brockport
Sara Nowakowski [02] worked as a research assistant and clinical trials coordinator at the University of Rochester's sleep and neurophysiology lab for two years. She is now doing doctoral work in clinical psychology at San Diego State University with concentrations on sleep and the chronobiology of reproductive mood disorders specific to women.
SUNY College at Potsdam
Leta Luguri [05] works as a job developer for the organization for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. In fall 2006, she began a clinical psychology masters program at Saint Michael's College.
Stetson University (FL)
Jessica Powers [03] is a student at the University of Florida in the masters of occupational therapy program.
Stony Brook University, SUNY
Candice Jennifer Nelson [03] received a masters in general psychology from the New School for Social Research in 2005. She is now in her first year of the PhD program in clinical psychology at the same school.
Sweet Briar College (VA)
Megan Owens [04] is working on her masters in counseling at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Thiel College (PA)
Emilie Theobald [04] is enrolled in Lutheran Theological Seminary's master of divinity program in Philadelphia. She completed her clinical pastoral education as a chaplain intern at the Pittsburgh Veterans Administration Healthcare System doing crisis counseling at the Highland Drive Division, which focuses on neuropsychiatric disorders.
Trinity University (DC)
Lucinda M. Nobles [05] is in the master of science in administration program with a concentration in organizational development.
Union University (TN)
Crystal Abel [04] graduated from Pittsburg State University with a master of science degree in general psychology.
University at Albany, SUNY
Alison Shirm [05] was admitted to the clinical psychology PhD program at Binghamton University. She is studying in the areas of clinical hypnosis, mindfulness, and acceptance.
University of Akron (OH)
Christine M. Abbuhl [04] is working on a masters degree in clinical psychology at the University of Dayton. Her thesis is on self-harm and alexithymia in adolescents. She graduated in August 2006.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Tak Sazmand [05] assisted with psychology research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and began osteopathic medical school in south Florida in August.
University of Alaska Anchorage
Kathryn Kajdan Bell [04] is currently working in Anchorage, AK as an activity therapist and professional artist.
University of California, Los Angeles
Sharon Gross [84] received her doctorate in social psychology from the University of Southern California in 1991. She is a research assistant professor at the same university and teaches social psychology and research methods. Visit
www.attituderesearch.com to learn more about Sharon.
Marat V. Ahmetzanov [04] is in the graduate psychology program at the University of Southern California. He is interested in implementation of recent developments in computer technology in the processes of psychological assessment and treatment.
Ian McDonough [05] is working as a lab manager at the University of California, Irvine doing psychology/education research in one lab and false memory research in another.
University of California, Riverside
Larissa Allen [04] is in graduate school at California State University, San Bernardino working on a masters of science in educational counseling. She works for Gear Up Inland Empire helping prepare underrepresented populations for post-secondary education.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Jeff Shannon [91] studied pharmacology and cell biology at Columbia and Yale Universities with a focus on exocytosis at the molecular level and earned a PhD. He is a biology and forensic science teacher at Greenwich High School in CT and also coaches baseball and field hockey.
University of Central Arkansas
David Pennington [03] received his masters in I/O psychology from Elmhurst College. He worked for Personnel Decisions International as a psychometrist and now works in recruiting for CNA Insurance. He is working on a thesis involving the efficacy of incentives in multicultural organizations.
University of Central Florida
Sandy Griffith [05] wrote a thesis entitled "Cross-Cultural Differences in Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence Between Trinidadian and American College Students." It will be published in the Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology and presented at the 18th International Congress of Cross-Cultural Psychology in Greece.
University of Central Florida at Cocoa
Jodie L. Valentine [05] is obtaining a masters in counseling at Webster University at the Palm Bay Campus in Florida. In summer 2006, she took counseling classes at Webster's Geneva, Switzerland campus.
University of Colorado at Colorado SpringsMickey Templar [04] received his commission in the Navy Reserve in March 2006 and is taking a naval officer course in Pensacola, FL. He will be testing for Legal, Coastal Warfare, and Intelligence work.
Don Faustino [05] is working on his MBA at the University of La Verne and is on active duty in the Air Force.
University of ConnecticutChristina Saccoccio [05] is pursuing a masters in school psychology at Southern Connecticut State University. She is involved in research at Yale University's The Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy and a literacy project at New York University's Family and Child Policy Center. Visit www.yale.edu/21C/staff.html to learn more about Christina.
University of Detroit Mercy-McNichols (MI)Dr. Donald G. Myers [61] retired as the psychology department chair at Marywood University in 1997 and has since been the director of forensic psychology at the Lackawanna County prison until his full retirement in 2006. He alternates residency between FL and PA.
University of FloridaNatarsha Davis [04] graduated from the interpersonal communications masters program at the University of Central Florida. She taught fundamentals of oral communication and worked as the electronic thesis and dissertation graduate assistant.
University of Hartford (CT)Gabrielle Dworkin [05] is a second-year graduate student at Springfield College working on a masters in education in clinical child mental health counseling and child life specialist training through the therapeutic recreation department.