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Alumni Updates

This page contains updates sent in by our alums. If you're not listed here, it's because you haven't written to us! Drop us a line today!

Michele (Kamas) Kicior (''04) 2/11/08. Michele and her husband, Nick, welcomed Kaden Jospeh Kicior to the world. He was born on 12/12/07.
Dr. Jack Brull ('87) 2/7/08. Jack recently completed his doctoral degree (Psy.D.) in school psychology from St. John’s University. His dissertation examined the relationship between therapist verbal response modes, the therapeutic alliance and in-session client good moments in non self referred adolescent psychotherapy populations.
Dr. Tim Belavich ('92) 10/26/04. On June 1, Tim was promoted to Chief Psychologist and Mental Health Program Director at San Quentin Correctional Facility.
Paul Harrigan ('97) 9/23/04.  Paul recently accepted a one year position at the Miami, FL Veterans Medical Center where, in his words he can "make good money, serve the veterans, and finish the dissertation" at the counseling psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Miami.
Jenna Hillman ('03) 9/22/04.  Jenna recently started her second year in the Psy.D. program at Adler University in Chicago.  She began is currently undertaking a psychological assessment practicum at a residential facility for juvenile sex offenders as well.
Tara Allen ('03) 9/20/04. Tara recently completed her masters project at Edinboro University in PA and plans on undertaking an internship in the Buffalo area.
Julie Pettapiece ('01) 9/12/04.  Julie is about to begin data collection for her doctoral dissertation in the doctoral program in clinical psychology at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.  She currently works half time at a clinic as a child and adolescent therapist.  She plans to apply for her clinical internship this fall.
Michele Kamas ('04) 9/1/04.  Michele has started the masters in counseling program at St. Bonaventure University.
Kari Nelson ('04) 9/1/04.  Kari has started the masters in clinical psychology program at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania.
Kevin Swartout ('02) 8/26/04. Kevin has worked for Eckerd Youth Alternatives in Boomer, NC for two years and has been promoted twice ("I'm officially a Master Counselor now"). He plans to attend grad school next fall and is applying to PhD programs in Social Psychology.
Wanda Salerno ('98) 8/26/04.  Wanda is currently a school counselor at Niagara Street Elementary School in Niagara Falls.

Tracey Garner ('02)

 8/9/04.  Tracey recently accepted a job with Niagara in the Admissions office and will be starting on my masters in January in counseling here at NU.  She "love(s) being back on campus."
Denise Phillips ('03) 6/7/04. Denise is scheduled to start her practicum in the fall at Canisteo High School. She will be in the school for two full days in the fall and then will be there full time in the Spring. She is looking forward to working in the schools.
Dr. Gina Aguayo ('98) 5/10/04. Gina successfully defended her dissertation on April 27. She also accepted a postdoc position at the Bedford VA in Massachusetts and will be working in outpatient mental health. She is looking forward to living near Boston and continuing her training within the VA system.
Erin Welch ('03) 4/1/04. Erin will be completing a diagnostic practicum at Triology, Inc., which is an outpatient community mental health center serving seriously and persistently mentally ill adults.  Many of the clients have substance abuse disorders and Axis II disorders.
Paul Shaw ('85) 3/6/04. Paul completed his Ph.D. in biological psychology at the University of Chicago in 1996. He recently took the position of Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Julie Pettapiece ('01) 3/4/04. Julie is completing her third year in the Ph.D. clinical psychology program at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She happily reports successfully passing her preliminary exams and the development of a dissertation topic. She will present her masters thesis data at the Society for Research in Adolescence in Baltimore this month.
Danielle Poland ('99) 2/23/04. Currently in the Ph.D. program at Kent State, Danielle will intern in clinical psychology at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Buffalo this fall.
Paula Miller ('02) 11/12/03. Paula has just accepted a new position as a Case Manager at Whitehaven Southwest Mental Health Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Shannon Allport ('99) 11/10/03. Shannon reports that she has begun her dissertation and has registered for her last class in her PsyD program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. She is currently placed in a psychotherapy practicum as well.

Gina Aguayo ('98)

9/1/03.  Gina was married last December to NU alum Matt Danihy.  She and Matt recently moved from  Albany to Syracuse where Gina begins her one year internship at the Syracuse VA Medical Center this month.  She is collecting her dissertation data and hopes to finish by May 2004.

Julie Pettapiece ('01)

8/17/03. Julie successfully defended her masters thesis entitled, "The effect of mentoring and life skills training programs on at-risk children and adolescents." She completed an internship as a child and adolescent therapist and moves into her third year in the PhD clinical psychology program at Southern Illinois University. Julie will intern at the University's Clinical Center this year and she looks forward to completing her prelim exams in January.

Theresa Ditlow ('02)

8/13/03.  Theresa recently accepted a position as assistant softball coach at Bucknell University and plans to apply this fall to PsyD programs with a possible certificate in Sports Psychology.

Jessica Englert ('00)

8/8/03. Jessica will enter the Ph.D. program in Counseling at the University at Buffalo this fall. She had received her masters degree at Buffalo and has been working on health psychology research at the Roswell Park cancer center. Jessica chose to accept Buffalo's offer over another so that she could continue her work at Roswell. One study she is involved with seeks to mitigate the cognitive decline that can occur among bone marrow transplant patients. She hopes to become a specialist in pediatric health psychology.  Jessica will also continue teaching the course in Personality this year at Niagara. If all of these involvements don't keep her busy, her new role of being a homeowner likely will!

Cassie Lindstrom ('03)

7/25/03. Cassie just accepted a position as a counselor with Transitional Services in Buffalo. She will apply to graduate programs in clinical psychology this fall.

Melissa Hall ('03)

7/22/03.  Melissa is currently working as a counselor at the Boys Club in Niagara Falls.  She is especially gratified that the skills learned during her internship working with abused children have been useful in her current work. Melissa will be applying to school and clinical psychology graduate programs this fall.
 

Dr. Tim Belavich ('92)

 

 3/17/03.  See update at: www.niagara.edu/psychology/alumnipast1.html

 

Dr. Peter Butera with psychology alum Alicia Doerflinger ('99) at the meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior in Santa Cruz, CA (August, 2002). Alicia presented the results of her master's thesis research that she recently completed at Purdue University.

 

Dr. Tim Osberg and alum Julie Pettapiece ('01) present their research on MMPI-A correlates of discipline problems in high school students, coauthored with Drs. Joanne Basta and Mark Peters, at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in Chicago (August, 2002). Julie is moving into her second year in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
Kevin Swartout ('02) 1/4/03.  Kevin currently is a counselor for Eckerd Youth Alternatives Inc. in North Carolina, an organization that serves at risk youth.
Rohna Harrison (''01) 12/02/02. Rohna is a foster care case worker for Angel Guardian Child and Family Services in Brooklyn, NY. She enjoys her work very much.
Bryna Schneidman ('01) 11/20/02. Bryna is currently enrolled in the masters clinical psychology program at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She's feeling déjà vu as the school's colors are purple and white.
Lisa Uhrich ('97) 11/12/02.  Lisa received her MSW at the University at Buffalo in 1999.  She is a social worker at Gateway-Longview and works with teenage boys in group home and residential settings.  She very much enjoys her work with this population and feels she has found her "niche."
Kelly Coleman Leader (Dec. '98) 9/23/02.  Kelly received her M.A. in School Psychology from the University at Buffalo in May 2002.  She is employed in Children's Hospital's Early Childhood Program and performs cognitive and psychological assessments on pre-school children 3-5 years of age for use in treatment planning. She feels her training at NU prepared her well for graduate school and her career.
Rachelle DiMatteo ('02) 9/16/02.  Rachelle began the Masters in School Psychology program at Alfred University this fall.  Despite a six course load this semester, she is enjoying the program and feels her training in the psychology department at NU prepared her well for her grad studies.
John Sullivan ('93) 9/3/02.  John received his Psy.D. at the University of Hartford in December 2001.  He is currently a staff psychologist in the Counseling Center at the University of Rhode Island and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the department of psychology there.  He recently started a sports psychology consulting firm and has some "famous clients."
Christina Barauskas ('02) 9/3/02. Christina was accepted in the Clinical/Community masters degree program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and currently teaches two general psychology labs in her role as a TA.
Gretchen Rauch ('02) 8/23/02.  Gretchen was accepted into the Law Program at Hofstra University and starts classes this fall.
Joanne Basta ('84) 8/15/02. Joanne (Ph.D. SUNY-Buffalo, math education) is a mathematics teacher at the Edward Town Middle School and an adjunct professor of psychology & mathematics at her alma mater.  She won the Outstanding part-time instructor award at the annual Arts & Sciences Day celebration in May. She collaborates with Dr. Osberg on research as she did nearly 20 years ago!
Stacy Gallagher ('01) 7/31/02. Stacy has worked as a counselor of teenage girls in a residential treatment center and as an outreach counselor with adults having moderate to severe mental disorders.  She plans to pursue a masters degree in counseling.
Lisatta Reid ('97) 7/22/02. Lisatta completed her masters degree in education at Niagara in May 2002 and plans to attend Capella University to obtain her Ph.D. in educational psychology.
Cindy Stappenbeck ('00) 6/13/02. Cindy finished her masters degree requirements in general psychology at SUNY-Buffalo in May 2002 and recently accepted a position at the Research Institute on Addictions in Buffalo.
6/7/02. Steve Tallides ('00) is pictured here after receiving his Masters in Clinical Psychology at Yale University in May of 2002.  Steve worked in Dr. Osberg's clinical psychology lab while at NU.  He plans to enter the work force before possibly heading on to obtain his Ph.D.
6/11/02. No, they are not alums! They are Keegan and Eli, the handsome young sons of Jennifer Murdock-Smith ('90).  She has been working for the past 7+ years at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston as the Director of the Program Evaluation Department. Jennifer has coordinated the collection and reporting of patient outcomes data for the hospital. In her own words, "I find it completely ironic that this 'research hater' has been working doing research type work for over 10 years now."
Chris Reilly ('85) 6/12/02. Chris is a corporate psychologist with Sperduto & Associates, Inc. of Atlanta for the past 10 years. He works with organizations throughout the country helping them to maximize their profitability and success by creating a more efficient and people friendly atmosphere. He does psychological assessment, strategic planning, executive development, and mergers and acquisition work.  He has a son Chris Jr. (11) and daughter Shelby Elizabeth (8).
Gina Aguayo ('98) 6/12/02. Gina passed her comprehensive exams and has begun the dissertation proposal process in the SUNY-Albany counseling psychology doctoral program.  She will examine women’s career development (self-efficacy for non-traditional occupations). Gina will apply for internship during the fall and is supervising Master’s students. She has taught numerous courses such as Intro Psych, Developmental, Career Development, and basic counseling skills.  Gina spent two weeks in Europe with Portuguese and Spanish colleagues on a career-related research project and will marry an NU alum (Matthew Danihy) in December! 
Dawn Romagnola ('00)

6/4/02. Dawn recently obtained a position at the Beacon Center on  in Amherst, NY as a Chemical Dependency Counselor.  She will carry a caseload of 25-30 clients and do individual counseling and group therapy as well as evaluations. 
Danielle Poland ('99)

6/5/02. Danielle recently defended her masters' thesis in clinical psychology at Kent State University. She is preparing for comprehensive exams and the development of her dissertation proposal.
Paul Harrigan ('97)

6/7/02. Paul will prepare his dissertation proposal at the University of Miami in counseling psychology and apply for internships this fall.
Don Bojens ('88)

5/20/20. Don has a ministry near Cleveland, OH and recently married his "sweetheart from many years ago."
Jack Brull ('87)

2/21/02.  Jack is currently a school psychologist working on Long Island (Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District). He received his M.S. in School Psychology from St. John's University in 1993. He recently decided to complete his Psy.D. and will soon finish his dissertation at St. John's University.  His dissertation topic is exploring the formation of a therapeutic alliance with a non-self referred adolescent psychotherapy population.
Bill Seabrook ('98)

10/25/01. Bill is a Computer Programmer and Database Developer for AIG's (American International Group) Risk Management Group in New York City. He works about five city blocks away from the World Trade Center and had a window view of both towers. In his words, "I heard the first plane hit and saw the second plane crash. Words can not describe the surrealness of that experience. It's something we all will never forget."

todd1.jpg (238615 bytes)

Congratulations Dr. Todd Walter!
Todd is a '92 NU Psychology Grad who just received (August, 2001) his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida.  He has accepted a position as an assistant professor of psychology at D'Youville College in Buffalo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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