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Class Notes
Tina Alessandria, Ph.D. (1995) is an assistant professor of counseling and educational psychology at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She is a licensed professional counselor of mental health (LPCMH) in Delaware, a national certified counselor (NCC), and an approved clinical supervisor (ACS). After graduating from JMU with a bachelor’s degree in 1995, Tina completed the counseling psychology graduate program at JMU in 1999, and then earned a Ph.D. in counselor education from the University of Virginia in 2003. 3/09
Linda (Jackson) Alexander, Ed.D. (1977) is an associate professor and academic dean at the University of Kentucky. She conducts research in cultural competency applied to health interventions and tobacco related health disparities. After JMU, Linda received a master’s in education from JMU, then earned a doctorate in education from the University of Virginia in 1985. She has taught at UVa, the University of Houston, the University of Maryland and Texas A&M University. She also completed NIH-funded post doctoral research at Howard University in 1994. 4/09
Joann (Morales) Altiero, Ph.D. (1981) teaches psychology at the University of Maryland, University College, and teaches doctoral students at Walden University. She was recently nominated to run for the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. She wrote an internationally-sold children's workbook entitled No More Stinking Thinking, published in 2007, which encourages positive thinking. It will be published in Arabic in 2010. After graduating from JMU, Joann received a master’s in clinical psychology from Loyola College in Maryland and a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. 3/09
Belinda Ballew, Ed.S. (1997) is the site coordinator for the Appalachian State University (ASU) Center, over fifty miles from ASU’s main campus. The Center is the first site in North Carolina with full-time, off-campus day programming, and serves many students who cannot afford to live away from home while pursuing higher education degrees. Belinda enjoys being able to affect change and advocate for student needs in her work. Outside of work she spends time with her young son and runs races. After receiving a bachelor’s from JMU, Belinda earned a master’s of arts and an educational specialist degree from JMU in 2000. 3/09
Kacey Bardwell (2009) works for Accenture, a management consulting company, on a government contract. Kacey’s work focuses on process improvement and employee selection in the Department of Defense. 9/09
Emily Barlow, M.A. (2006) earned a master’s in school psychology from the University of Delaware in 2007. She will complete the University of Delaware's Specialist Program in School Psychology in May 2009. She currently works full time as a school psychologist intern in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. 3/09
Summer Barnett (2005) teaches at the Kinhaven School in Arlington, Virginia. She and Stephen Hockman (also a 2005 JMU graduate, and a SMAD major) are engaged to be married July 2009. 3/09
Christy Basabe (2005) is a consultant at Sierra Systems Group, Inc. in Washington, DC. After graduating from JMU she worked as a senior management analyst for BearingPoint in Washington, DC until starting at Sierra Systems in January 2008. Christy also became a Project Management Professional (PMP) through certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI).3/09
Melissa (Anderson) Becker (2005) is a mental health specialist at the Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center. She is also enrolled in a program at Tidewater Community College to become a registered nurse, and plans to graduate in 2010. 3/09
Erin Bennett (2008) is a graduate student in rehabilitation counseling at The Pennsylvania State University. Erin plans to graduate in 2010 and is interested in working for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation as a counselor after graduation. 3/09
Ray Bracken (2006) is Executive Assistant to the Artistic and Managing Directors at The Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. One recent stand out experience from his work was when Ray helped plan an event that welcomed the Obama administration to the D.C. performing arts. It was a one night event that included performances by artists from the Washington National Opera, Washington Ballet, and the Shakespeare Theatre, and Michelle Obama was in attendance. Ray has also been the managing director of a small local theater company in Virginia. In the next few years, Ray plans to pursue an M.F.A. degree. He would eventually like to teach about theater and communicate to students the ways in which theater can be therapeutic. 9/09
Michelle Gardner Brann (1991) works as a pharmacist at a CVS/Caremark pharmacy in Richmond, Virginia since 1995. After earning a bachelor’s in psychology and pre-med from JMU, she earned a B.S. in Pharmacy from the Medical College of Virginia in 1995. 4/09
Heather Brock (2006) is an account manager for mindSHIFT Technologies Inc, an IT Consulting Firm in Fairfax, Virginia. She plans to get a master’s degree in business administration before she turns thirty and is engaged to Scott McKissick (also a JMU Psychology major, who graduated in 2005). 3/09
Lauren Broussard, M.P.H., M.S.W. (2005) works with the U.S Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy in Washington, D.C. She received two master’s degrees at Tulane University in New Orleans, one in social work and one in public health. 3/09
Jeremy Bryan (2006) works outside of Washington, DC as a sales/service representative for CustomInk.com, an internet-based custom-printed t-shirt company. He intends to pursue further education, and is giving serious consideration to enrolling in a seminary program for a master’s in divinity in biblical counseling or missiology. After JMU, Jeremy worked for a year as a missionary in Nicaragua. 3/09
Jennifer Burnett, M.A. (2005) is currently in a Counseling and Personnel Services doctoral program at the University of Louisville, and expects to graduate in 2011. After attaining her B.S. in Psychology from JMU, Jen continued at JMU for a master’s in Psychological Sciences, graduating in 2007. 4/09
Brittani Burrows (2009) will be teaching English in Japan beginning November 2009. She will be living in Hamamatsu and teaching in a school run by the AEON Amity Corporation. After teaching for a year, Brittani plans to pursue a graduate degree. 9/09
Troy D. Cahill, J.D. (1991) is an attorney with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP. His legal practice is focused on appellate litigation before the Supreme Court of the United States and federal courts of appeals. Troy also devotes a significant portion of his practice to complex civil litigation before state and federal trial courts. After JMU, Troy received a law degree in 1999 from Wake Forest University School of Law, and served as staff attorney in the Supreme Court of the United States and as a law clerk to the Honorable Frank W. Bullock, Jr. 3/09
Lee (Smith) Carter, M.Ed., L.P.C. (1997) is the coordinator of Radford University’s Office of Substance Abuse and Sexual Assault Education. She does outreach, programming, and counseling with students on substance abuse, sexual assault, and related issues. Lee is a licensed professional counselor with an M.Ed. in community counseling from the University of Georgia. 3/09
Caitlin Cassidy (2007) works as a research assistant for the American Institutes of Research, a behavioral and social science research organization in Washington, D.C. She also volunteers at the Georgetown University Hospital Pediatric Occupational Therapy Department, shadowing and working with occupational therapists. Caitlin hopes to start an occupational therapy graduate program in fall 2010. 9/09
Aaron Cattell (2005) is the international employment and housing coordinator/human resources generalist with Kingsmill Resort and Spa in Williamsburg, Virginia. 3/09
Jessica Christin, M.A. (2006) currently lives in Medford, Massachusetts and teaches eighth grade special education in nearby Peabody, Massachusetts. She completed a master’s program in special education at JMU in 2007. 3/09
Tina Christopoulos (2008) is a support worker for autistic children in Chicago. In her work she tutors, works on behavioral development and sensory integration, and helps the children with social skills in the community. Tina plans to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and hopes to work as a licensed professional counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist. 9/09
Cassie Class (2007) is in her first year in the Interdisciplinary School Psychology Master’s and Specialist Program at Appalachian State University. Cassandra plans to graduate in 2011 and is interested in working in the public school system as a school psychologist after graduation. After JMU, she completed a year-long term of service in an AmeriCorps program in Atlanta, Georgia. 3/09
Steven Collins (2006) works for Central Virginia Community Services, starting in 2007. He is part of the day treatment therapeutic program within the public school system in Amherst County, Virginia. As part of the day treatment program, Steven provides mental heath supports to children in grades K-12 in the academic setting, leads group therapy sessions, and provides individual counseling. He primarily works with children of ADHD, ODD, and bipolar diagnosis. Steven hopes to start the master’s program for marriage and family counseling at Liberty University in the summer of 2009. 3/09
Nathalie Cooper (2007) is a graduate student at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education. In her studies, she is focusing on administration and supervision work within the Educational Policy and Planning Program. After JMU, Nathalie volunteered for the Peace Corps in Machala, Ecuador. In Ecuador, she worked with at-risk adolescents and children through workshops on family planning, leadership, and life-skills. Nathalie also involved the people of Machala in community development and organization projects. 9/09
Sarah Crist (2006) graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in December 2008 with a master’s in counseling. She is currently a middle school counselor in Charlotte. 3/09
Lindsay DeBoer (Dec 2008) is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at George Mason University. She plans to graduate in 2011 and hopes to work with children after graduation, preferably as a school social worker. 9/09
Colleen Dolan (2007) is pursuing a Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Pacific University in Portland, Oregon. After JMU, she was a day counselor at an adolescent girls group home in Richmond. Once Colleen earns the doctorate, she would like to be in private practice to conduct therapy and assessment with children and adolescents. 9/09
Leah Douglas (2009) is pursuing a master’s degree in college counseling at Old Dominion University. At ODU, Leah has an assistantship in the university’s Division of Student Affairs. She plans to graduate in 2011 and become a licensed professional counselor. Eventually Leah would like to pursue a Ph.D. in order to work in upper level administration. 9/09
Jennifer duVon (2008) works in the human resources department at an information technology consulting firm in Herndon, Virginia. She assists the director of human capital with all human resources activities. 4/09
John Ehlers, M.A. (2006) is a home-based family counselor in northern Virginia. He received a master’s degree in community counseling from The George Washington University in May 2008. 3/09
Dan Erickson (2006) is currently pursuing a master’s in arts and teaching in early childhood education at JMU and will graduate in the fall of 2009. At JMU, he is a graduate assistant in the Department of Outreach and Engagement. Once he has the master’s, Dan plans to teach in the Shenandoah Valley. During the summer after graduating from JMU with his bachelor’s, he was the program coordinator at Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp in Fort Valley, Virginia. He then substitute taught in Rockingham County and found his “true vocation.” After a cross country trip in 2007, he worked at VCU Health System in Richmond while preparing for the master’s program. 3/09
Stephanie Farruggio (2009) is working with elementary students in the Charlottesville area. She works as a first grade teacher’s assistant at Cale Elementary and as an extended day enrichment program teacher at Murray Elementary. Stephanie plans to start a graduate program in fall of 2010 for education or school psychology. 9/09
Javonne Flory (2006) anticipates completing a master’s of management- international degree from the University of Phoenix in 2012. She is also currently working in international logistics. 3/09
Katie Fox, M.A. (2006) works as a human resources specialist with the Executive Office for US Attorneys. She received her master’s in forensic psychology from Marymount University in December 2007. 3/09
Katy Frisch (2004) enrolled in a Psy.D. clinical psychology program at Loyola College in Maryland in 2005. As part of that program, she received her MS in Clinical Psychology in 2007. After earning her Psy.D., she intends to work with assessment and psychotherapy for adults. After JMU, Katy worked for a year as a psychology technician at Riverside Rehabilitation Institute where she conducted neuropsychological evaluations for both inpatient and outpatient clients. 3/09
Angela Fusco (2006) is currently pursuing a master's degree in school counseling at Old Dominion University. She also enjoys traveling to Italy to study abroad and working on research in adolescent substance abuse. Angie is a recipient of the master's student scholarship for academic excellence at ODU, and plans to be a school counselor in an elementary school after graduation. 4/09
Haley Gallinot, M.A., LGPC (2006) works full time in a Baltimore city elementary/middle school as a mental health therapist. She also works part time as a case manager and a social skills group leader for an agency in Baltimore County serving children with Autism and Asperger's Disorder. Haley graduated from Towson University in 2008 with a master's in counseling psychology, and became a licensed graduate professional counselor in the state of Maryland in the summer of 2008. 4/09
Lacey Gaters (2006) is a graduate student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and plans to earn her master’s in social work in 2010. She is a therapist intern at Woodbourne CDTC, where she works with adolescents who have emotional disorders and mental illnesses. 3/09
Kristin Gillen, M.A. (2004) works at Family Preservation Services (FPS) in Charlottesville, Virginia. At FPS, she provides wrap-around services to clients—in the home, school and community—to connect families with needed resources. After JMU, Kris managed a group home for adults with mental retardation at Pleasant View Inc. She has also worked in an inpatient mental health facility for adolescents, and at Region Ten CSB, with adults with Axis II characteristics. In 2009 Kris received a master’s degree in community counseling from Eastern Mennonite University. 9/09
Sarah Gottlieb (2006) will graduate from the JMU Psychological Sciences program in the spring of 2009 and plans to pursue a Ph.D. upon graduation. 3/09
Kristi Graves, Ph.D. (1995) is an assistant professor of oncology at the Georgetown University Medical Center. Her research areas include informing patients about genetic testing and cancer risk, cancer survivorship and expressive writing, and the quality of life for Latina breast cancer survivors. After JMU, Kristi obtained a master’s of arts in health psychology from Appalachian State University. In 2002, she earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech and then completed internship at the Medical University of South Carolina and postdoctoral training at the University of Kentucky. 9/09
Tracy Lambert Griggs, Ph.D. (2000) is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Her research topics include career development and work-family conflict. In 2006, Tracy earned a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Georgia. She taught in the Department of Management at UNC Asheville for two years before starting her current position at Winthrop University in the fall of 2008. 9/09
Farrah Gulum (2004) relocated to California in July 2008 and is working as a substitute teacher. She hopes to complete a master’s degree in counseling in the upcoming years, and to continue work in mental health and/or counseling. Since graduating from JMU, Farrah worked as a clinical social worker for Botetourt Correctional Center in Troutville, Virginia and also as a lead in-home family therapist for Roanoke League of Therapists in Roanoke, Virginia. She was most recently employed as a supervisor for EHS Support Services in Roanoke, Virginia, a company that provides mental health support services to adults with mental illness. 3/09
Rachel Branch Hankins (2007) work as a case manager for the PACT (Program for Assertive Community Treatment) team of the Valley Community Services Board. She helps those with serious mental illnesses stay in the community and out of hospitals. 4/09
Monique Hall (2007) is pursuing a master’s degree in counseling with a concentration in community agency at Hampton University. She plans to become a licensed professional counselor and wants to specialize in play therapy as well as work in a psychosocial rehabilitation center for adults. After JMU, Monique worked as an in-home counselor before beginning graduate school. 9/09
Scott Harrison (1987) founded a theater company called Ironweed Productions in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2004. In addition to running the company, he has acted in, directed, and produced various plays since the company’s founding. After JMU, he received a graduate certificate in acting from the American Repertory Theatre’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University in 1998. Scott has acted in Boston, Washington, DC, and New York City, before moving to Santa Fe. 4/09
Lauren Harrow (2007) is a graduate student in community counseling at Appalachian State University. Lauren plans to graduate in the fall of 2010 and is interested in a career in premarital counseling after graduation. 3/09
Molly Harshberger (2007) is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at the University of Maryland. Her concentration is in clinical social work with a specialization in mental health, and she plans to graduate in 2011. After JMU, Molly was as a residential counselor for Sheppard Pratt working with emotionally disturbed adolescents at a residential treatment center in Jefferson, Maryland. 9/09
Emily Hartman (2009) is an applied behavior analysis therapist at the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center (BRAAC). She lives in her hometown of Buchanan, Virginia and works one-on-one with children with autism at BRAAC’s Buena Vista location. 9/09
Lindsey Jones (2006) began a master’s degree program in applied behavior analysis at the University of South Florida in Tampa in 2007. She also works with children who have developmental disabilities, primarily Autism and Asperger's. After JMU, Lindsey worked as an in-home specialist for children with Autism at the Matthew's Center in Manassas, Virginia. 3/09
Rutvi (Bhatt) Kapadia, M.A., N.C.C. (2005) is a primary therapist at a behavioral hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received her master’s degree in community counseling from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, and is a national certified counselor (NCC). Rutvi will attend the Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia beginning in August, 2009. 3/09
C. Bryan Kempton, M.Ed. (1993) is the director of the Office of Career Services and Alumni Relations at the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. In 1995 he received a master’s in education from JMU and afterward he worked at the University of Michigan. He has worked at the University of Maryland since 1997 and spent part of fall 2008 in Germany as part of a Fulbright Award. 9/09
Rebecca Lajoie, M.S.Ed. (2005) is a coordinator at the New England Center for Children in Southboro, Massachusetts. She completed a M.S.Ed. in severe special needs education from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts and is in the process of completing requirements for becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). 3/09
Kristin Lovallo (2009) is attending graduate school at Hofstra University to earn a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology. She plans to graduate in 2011 and is interested in working in New York City, Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles in market research and/or personnel selection. 9/09
John Lucas, D.O. (1993) is Medical Director/Section Chief for Emergency Medicine at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center in Radford, Virginia. After JMU, he attended the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed his emergency medicine residency in 2002. He began work at the Carilion Clinic since 2002, and began his current position in March 2009. 4/09
Debbie Lyons, Ed.S. (2004) works as a mental health specialist at the Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect in Garden City, New York. In her position, Debbie provides free on-site individual and family therapy to child victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members. She also acts as Mental Health Representative on the Child Sex Abuse Multidisciplinary Team located at the Child Advocacy Center. After JMU, Debbie received an M.Ed./Ed.S. at the University of Florida's Counselor Education graduate program with a concentration in marriage and family counseling. 3/09
Samantha Mack (2006) is a psychiatric counselor in Franklin Square Hospital Center's adult inpatient psychiatric unit in Baltimore, Maryland. In her job, she provides direct care to patients, including individual and group counseling. Sam is currently in the Johns Hopkins University's master’s program in school counseling, and intends to graduate in 2010. 3/09
Kristen Macuga, Ph.D. (1999) is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Oregon’s Freylab, a human neuroimaging and transcranial stimulation lab. She earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, focusing on cognition, perception, and cognitive neuroscience. 3/09
Jessica Major, M.S.W. (2006) graduated from the Master’s of Social Work Program at Columbia University in 2008 and is working at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. 3/09
Kara Makara (2007) began the Combined Program in Education and Psychology, a doctoral program at the University of Michigan, in the fall of 2007. She studies achievement motivation, sociocognitive motivation in the social context of schools, and is interested in information technology applied to education. After getting her doctorate, she hopes to work with an educational research organization. 3/09
Brian Mangan, Psy.D. (1996) is a Florida licensed psychologist, currently serving as the Senior Psychologist and Managing Partner with Law Enforcement Psychological and Counseling Associates, Inc., in Miami. He works with nearly fifty law enforcement departments statewide, primarily consulting with command staff on law enforcement related issues concerning both community and organizational objectives. Additional duties include pre-employment screening, consultation with background investigators, departmental trainings (line supervision, stress management, crisis intervention, etc.), Fitness for Duty evaluations, Critical Incident debriefings, and counseling with the officer assistance program. After graduating from JMU, he went on to complete his Psy.D. from the George Washington University. He then completed his post-doctoral training with the Miami-Dade Regional Juvenile Justice System and continued working closely with the courts completing comprehensive evaluations and treatment recommendations for at-risk youths. Subsequently, he served as Assistant Professor and Forensic Coordinator in the Doctoral program at Carlos Albizu University. During 2007 and 2008, he served as the President of Consortium of Police Psychological Services (COPPS). 4/09
Maria-Elena Cordle Maxwell, (1994) has worked with at-risk children in the communities in which she has lived. She has worked with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and has lead various after-school tutoring programs. Maria-Elena lives in Richmond, Virginia and now has found her niche in her work teaching preschoolers. 4/09
Meghan McCarthy, Ed.S. (2005) works as a school psychologist for Freehold Township Schools in Freehold, New Jersey. She earned both a master’s in school psychology in 2006 and a educational specialist degree in 2008 from Rowan University. Meghan also attained national certification as a school psychologist and New Jersey certification as a school psychologist in 2008.. 3/09
Megan McFadden (2006) began graduate studies at the College of William and Mary in the fall of 2008, and expects to receive a master’s in elementary education in May 2009. After graduation, she plans to teach elementary school, hopefully in the primary grades. Between JMU and enrolling at William and Mary, Megan worked for a year at the University of Maryland in a research lab and for a year at a before- and after-school program in the Fairfax County Public Schools. 3/09
Elizabeth McGee (2006) currently attends the Industrial/Organizational Psychology PhD Program at the University of Tennessee, which she started in 2006. In the program, she researches work and family balance and organizational citizenship behavior. Elizabeth has also been an assessor for the Tennessee Assessment Center, conducting evaluations of managerial candidates using Assessment Center methodology for selection and developmental purposes. 3/09
Russ Meserve, M.A. (2006) is attending the Psychological Studies in Education doctoral program at Temple University. His current research areas include judgment and decision-making throughout the lifespan, individual differences, and political attitudes. Russ hopes to become a college professor and would like to teach cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, or statistics and research methods. After graduating from JMU with a bachelor’s degree in 2006, Russ entered the Psychological Sciences program and graduated with a master’s in 2008. 3/09
Michelle Murata (2008) works at Government Support Services Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia and is an intern at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. At the medical center she helps run an on-going study to determine the gene for alcoholism and drug abuse in the psychiatry department at the Uniformed Services University. She also recently helped write a chapter for a four book series for "Governmental aggression and peace: Voices around the world," which will be published in 2010. In the future, Michelle hopes to earn a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or forensics. 9/09
Andy Osborn (2007) is studying community counseling in a master’s program at the College of William and Mary. He also works with adults in the community with schizophrenia and co-occurring substance abuse. He will intern at Eastern State Hospital starting in the fall of 2009. He expects to graduate in 2010 and plans to continue in a Ph.D. program. After JMU, Andy spent a year working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital and applying to graduate schools. 4/09
Kristin Perret (2004) is in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at Hofstra University, starting in fall 2008. She is interested in professorship, conducting research, and a clinical practice after graduation. After JMU, Kristin worked for Children's Aid Society as a residential caseworker for two adolescent group homes in Pennsylvania. She also volunteered in Costa Rica for Word Endeavors and worked in Long Island for The Way Back, a program helping adults diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other various personality disorders. 3/09
Jacqueline C. Pflieger, M.S. (2000) plans to complete her Ph.D. in family and human development from Arizona State University in July 2009. She has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship position at Yale Medical School in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Prevention and Community Research to start in August 2009. 4/09
Inna (Komarovsky) Porter, M.Ed. (2005) earned a master’s of education in community counseling from Clemson University and currently works for South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation which assists people with disabilities in finding competitive employment. By 2010 she will complete licensure requirements to become a licensed professional counselor, and she plans to enroll in a Ph.D. program in counseling by 2011. 3/09
Kathryn Alyson Pridgen, M.B.A. (2003) is a business support analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. After graduating from JMU, Alyson earned a master’s in business administration from the College of William and Mary’s Mason School of Business and worked for two years as a senior operations analyst with Wachovia Securities. 9/09
Stephen John Quaye, Ph.D. (2002) is an assistant professor in the College Student Personnel Program at the University of Maryland. With Shaun Harper, he co-edited the book Student Engagement in Higher Education: Theoretical Perspectives and Practical Approaches for Diverse Populations, published in 2009. After JMU, Stephen received a master’s degree in college student personnel from Miami University and a Ph.D. in higher education from The Pennsylvania State University. 3/09
Irina Rasner (2009) is a field instructor for Second Nature Wilderness Therapy in the Uintas Mountains of Utah. She works with at-risk students, ages 13 to 17, for eight consecutive days and nights at a time. Irina lives in Salt Lake City during her days off in between working in the Uintas Mountains. 9/09
Matthew Redmond, Ph.D. (1984) is a senior human resources executive, consultant, and leadership coach. He is currently president of Redmond Leadership Consulting, LLC, providing talent management and leadership development services to individuals and organizations. His prior experience includes being vice president of organizational capability for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and senior vice president of human capital practice at Aon Consulting. After graduating from JMU, Matt attended the Georgia Institute of Technology where he received his Ph.D. in industrial organizational psychology in 1990. He currently resides in Witon, Connecticut with his wife Mary "Zatarga" Redmond (a 1985 JMU Psychology major and Paralegal Studies minor) and three children. 4/09
Brady Reynolds, Ph.D. (1994) is an assistant professor for the Department of Psychology and the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. He has published many articles on the topic of delay discounting, specifically as related to adolescent cigarette smoking. After receiving his bachelors, Brady received a master’s in general psychology from JMU, and then a master’s and doctorate in life-span developmental psychology from West Virginia University. He also was a research fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and had two postdoctoral fellowships before his appointments at The Ohio State University. He currently holds two National Institute of Health grants related to adolescent smoking. 3/09
Lisa Rezner (2006) is an Account Manager in the New Media Department at Warner Bros Records in Los Angeles, California. She manages online stores, online fan communities, and direct-to-consumer music products for Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum recording artists such as Eric Clapton, The Flaming Lips, and My Chemical Romance. 3/09
Allan Ribbler, Ph.D. (1978) is in private practice in the Fort Lauderdale area specializing in medical psychology, neuropsychology, and rehabilitation with a portion of his practice devoted to forensic work in the civil and criminal domains. After JMU, Allan obtained a master’s and Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School, finishing in 1988. He then conducted postdoctoral research at UCLA Brain Research Institute and moved to Florida in 1989. 4/09
Amanda Roaf (2006) is currently a substance abuse counselor for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and will be starting a social work master’s program in fall of 2009. With the VA and Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel, she was deployed to Louisiana in 2008 to assist with case management and counseling of hurricane evacuees. Amanda has also conducted and presented research as part of her work at the VA. After JMU, she worked as a treatment associate in a residential facility for sex offenders before beginning her current position for Veterans Affairs. 3/09
R. Austin Robey, M.A. (2006) works at East Carolina University overseeing student organizations. He graduated from JMU in 2008 with a master’s in education in college student personnel administration. 3/09
Jordan Robinson (2005) currently teaches at the Fairfax County Head Start Program. She is attending George Washington University for her master’s degree in education and human development. When she graduates in spring 2010, she plans on becoming an elementary school counselor. 3/09
Stacy Robinson (2008) is working for AmeriCorps in Vancouver, Washington. She is a liaison between a local health center and migrant workers, and will be teaching classes on health care and medical resources for the migrant community. After JMU, Stacy worked in Maryland as a physical education instructor for a non-profit physical education program, and as a Gilchrist Cultural Center Spanish teacher. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala in the summer of 2009 before starting her current work. In the future, Stacy plans to pursue a master’s degree in Spanish and English as a second language, and work with immigrant and refugee rights. 9/09
Katie Rose (2006) is attending graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), to obtain her master’s of social work. She is in the clinical concentration and is focusing her studies on childhood trauma and play therapy. As her second year placement Katie is working at Child Savers, a mental health clinic and advocacy agency for Richmond youth and families, where she is obtaining practical experience in various alternative therapies. When she graduates in May, 2009 from VCU, Katie plans to continue working with children and eventually obtain her license. After JMU, Katie worked for Virginia Beach Psychiatric Hospital in the child and adolescent unit. The next spring, she worked for a step-down residential group home for boys in Richmond. Katie started graduate school in August of 2007 and her first-year placement was at a Project Hope, a domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy agency. 3/09
Carrie (Peak) Ross, M.Ed. (2000) serves as the Senior Associate Director of Admissions at the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She graduated from JMU with a Masters degree in College Student Personnel Administration in May 2002. 4/09
Kourtney Rusow (2008) is in the Master’s Internationalist Program in Public Health at Tulane University. In New Orleans, Kourtney is a co-editor for the Food and Nutrition Bulletin, a national quarterly publication. She also is the morning baker at a local pastry shop. After finishing courses, Kourtney plans to volunteer with the Peace Corps to complete graduation requirements. She has requested placement in Southeast Asia or the South Pacific. After completing the two and a half years in the Peace Corps, she intends to work with an international NGO or the United Nations on nutrition and food security programs and disaster management. After JMU, Kourtney traveled to Italy, worked on a kibbutz (a communal living space) in Israel, and volunteered on a project near the Amazon in Peru working with Amazon Promise, the Pan American Health Organization, and Gesundheit! 3/09
Nicole Sanders, M.S.W. (2005)is the Academic Program Associate for the International Development Program at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. Nicole coordinates different aspects of the International Development Program including managing the summer internship program, conducting research, and collaborating with faculty and students alike. After JMU, Nicole received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Georgia and went on to work at Columbia College Chicago where she led the evaluation efforts for the college's self-study for reaffirmation of accreditation. 5/09
Pam Schardin (2006) began graduate school in fall 2008 at Yale University, pursuing a master’s degree to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. Once she earns the degree, she plans to specialize in working with children with mental illness and developmental disorders. After graduating from JMU, she moved to her hometown in the Boston area and worked as a outreach counselor at a non-profit outpatient mental health clinic. Pam provided support for a caseload of around twenty clients diagnosed with long-term, severe mental illness. She worked at the clinic for close to two years before beginning the master’s program. 3/09
Cyndy (Gal) Scholz, M.A. (1983) lives in Centennial, Colorado and works as an information technology analyst at Qwest Communications in Denver. She received a master's degree in psychology from George Mason University in 1985, focusing on human factors engineering. Cyndy's career in human factors engineering led her into the information technology path, and she has worked as a requirements analyst, a web designer, and a web and software developer. She also teaches skiing at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on winter weekends. Cyndy married Steve Scholz in August 2005. 4/09
Jed Sherman, M.Ed. (1999) is a consultant and sales representative for Superior Fitness Systems and a managing partner of two personal training studios in Virginia Beach. He and his wife Jennifer were married in 2006 and he says they spend “most of their free time traveling and entertaining (our dogs).” After JMU, Jed earned a master’s in education in sport and exercise psychology from the University of Virginia in 2003. Afterward he I managed a region of health clubs and private clubs, and developed a personal training team management program. 4/09
Jane Slomski (2006) is an intern with Alexandria Department of Human Services, and a graduate student at Catholic University's National Catholic School of Social Service. She plans to earn a master’s degree in social work in May 2010. Jane is interested in working with families and children in crisis and trauma, and hopes to work in private practice when she graduates. 3/09
Whitney Smiley (2009) is a graduate student at JMU pursuing a master’s degree in psychological sciences with a concentration in behavior analysis. She plans to graduate in 2011 and continue in a Ph.D. program. Afterward Whitney hopes to use behavior analysis to improve employee performance in organizations. 9/09
Carly Stamey, M.S. (2005) currently works as an academic advisor at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, in Bloomington, Indiana. Upon graduation from JMU, she worked as an admission counselor at JMU for one year before attending graduate school at Miami University in Ohio. She earned her master’s of science in college student personnel in May 2008. 3/09
Gillian Steele (2005) is a licensed Pre-Kindergarten to sixth grade teacher and teaches at Rockfish River Elementary School in Nelson County, outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. She teaches second grade and finds that both having studied psychology and having work experience in mental health have been great benefits in her work as a classroom teacher. Before teaching, Gillian worked for Region Ten Community Services Board as a behavioral specialist, then returned to school and received a master’s of arts in teaching in May 2008 from Mary Baldwin College. 3/09
Lesley Stone, J.D. (1996) is the executive director of Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) in Washington DC, a non-profit organization that promotes evidence-based decision-making in all levels of government. She also teaches Global Health and Politics at Georgetown University. After JMU, she graduated from Harvard Law School, clerked for a federal judge, and practiced international trade law. After working as a senior fellow in public health law at Georgetown University Law Center, Lesley was awarded a Zuckerman Fellowship to study public administration at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She served as a senior legislative assistant covering health issues for Congresswoman Jane Harman before starting her current position at SEA. 3/09
Rachel Taninecz (2009) is a Development Assistant for the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Greater Washington D.C. She works in the Falls Church House where families of seriously ill children stay when they have to travel far from home so that the children can receive special treatment. Rachel works on increasing community awareness of RMHC, and is also involved in fundraising and event planning. In the future, she plans to pursue international relief work by volunteering with the Peace Corps, and get a graduate degree in community counseling with a focus on crisis counseling. 9/09
Carolyn Telesco (2008) is enrolled in Hofstra University's industrial/organizational psychology master's program and anticipates graduating in May 2010. 4/09
Jerry Timbrook (2006) enrolled in a master’s degree program in psychology at The University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio in 2008. After graduating from JMU, Jerry worked as an IT coordinator for Sonic Healthcare. 3/09
Lindsey Troup (2008) is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Towson University in Maryland. She plans to graduate in May 2010 and is interested in continuing her education in a clinical psychology doctorate program after graduation, further focusing on research with eating disorders and body image. 3/09
Kellie Tucker (2006) began the UNC Charlotte School Counseling Master’s Program in 2007. After completing the program, she plans on working as an elementary school counselor in an urban school district. After JMU, Kellie moved to Richmond, Virginia to work at a day treatment facility, and also lived in Florida before beginning her graduate work in Charlotte. 3/09
Emily Turnage, M.A. (2006) completed her master’s in forensic psychology at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia in July of 2007. She has been hired by the FBI to work as an intelligence analyst starting in spring 2009. 3/09
D. Alexander Varakin, Ph.D. (2001) is an assistant professor of psychology at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. He teaches courses in cognitive psychology, perception, and statistics and also researches visual attention and memory. After JMU, he earned a master’s in cognitive psychology from Kent State University and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Vanderbilt University. 3/09
Lauren Verrill (2007) is a master’s psychology student at American University in Washington, DC, and plans to graduate in 2010. 3/09
Dana Watkins (2007) is enrolled in a master’s degree program in school psychology at Towson University in Maryland. She intends to graduate in 2010 and to receive her Certificate in Advanced Studies (C.A.S.) in 2011. 3/09
Brody Wehman, M.S. (2005) is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and plans to graduate in 2010. He intends to enter a residency in internal medicine or general surgery after graduation. When Brody graduated from JMU, he completed a master’s of science in integrated science and technology, before beginning medical school at VCU in the fall of 2006. 3/09
Beth Wetherbee (1988) is raising her four children, from ages seven to eighteen, with her husband, Marty, in Virginia Beach. She also works part-time for Virginia Beach City Public Schools as a programmer/analyst, and is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD). In her spare time, she directs the Children's Choir at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. 4/09
Aaron R. Whitehead (2006) is in the Community Agency Counseling Master’s Program at George Mason University. He is also a home-based counselor for the Multicultural Clinical Center. When he graduates, Aaron hopes to begin accruing hours for his licensure and later be a marriage counselor with a private practice. 3/09
Byron Williams (2007) is pursuing a Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Regent University. After completing the program he hopes to work closely with the prison system to institute programs for reducing recidivism rates. Byron has work experience with the Commonwealth Attorney's office and Chesapeake Sheriff's Department and hopes to continue working with law enforcement upon graduation. 3/09
Lucy Williams (2001) is starting a dual masters program at the University of Rhode Island in Political Science and Library Studies in the fall of 2009. After JMU, Lucy moved to San Francisco and spent seven years in California including time in Los Angeles and Newport Beach. After working as an assistant political director and as an editor, she moved to Rhode Island in May 2009. 9/09
Sarah Wilson (2008) is pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling at the George Washington University. As part of the program she will complete a practicum at the GW Counseling Training Center and an internship at an elementary school in Falls Church, Virginia. Sarah plans to graduate in 2010 and hopes to work at an elementary school in the Washington, D.C. area. 9/09
Kelsey Windmuller (2008) is in the school psychology graduate program at Towson University in Maryland. She plans to graduate in 2011 and then work as a school psychologist. After JMU, she traveled to Vienna, Austria and then moved to Baltimore, Maryland to begin her graduate studies. 3/09
Christina Wright, M.A. (2007) works as a research associate in the Social and Behavioral Health Department for Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work involves health studies, including recruiting study participants, conducting in-depth qualitative interviews, and coding data for analysis. Christina graduated from the University of Virginia in 2009 with a master’s degree in sociology and is considering pursuing a master's in social work in the future. 9/09
Deanna Yuille, M.S. (2006) works in the Global Affairs Program at George Mason University as an adviser and programmer. She earned her master’s degree from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University in 2008. 3/09
