Psychology Faculty

Alan Baehr, MSW, PhD received his Bachelor's from University of New Mexico, his Master's from University of California at Berkeley, and his Doctorate from Pennsylvania State University in Counseling Psychology. He is a Licensed Psychologist whose work spans clinical practice in VA healthcare systems, higher education teaching, and social work curriculum development. He currently develops MSW curriculum at Chamberlain University and previously taught in the Masters in Counseling Program at University of Arizona. His clinical expertise includes PTSD treatment, geropsychology, home-based primary care, and Motivational Interviewing, combined with extensive experience in program development and interdisciplinary team leadership.

CAMILLE MICA received her Bachelor’s in Theology and Psychology (Double Major) from Franciscan University of Steubenville, her Master’s in Psychology from Meridian University, and completed her Doctorate in Psychology. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Camille provides psychotherapy to adults and couples at Restore Psychotherapy and Wellness in Houston, Texas, utilizing an integrative depth psychology approach. In addition to her clinical work, she leads advocacy efforts for survivors of human trafficking through the Empower Her Network.

Citrini N. Devi is a licensed psychologist, yoga instructor, yoga therapist, and director of Mind-Body Services in Drexel Hill, PA. With over 20 years of experience in both psychology and yoga, she integrates yoga therapy with mental health treatment, focusing on trauma healing, wellness, and holistic approaches. Dr. Devi holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from DePaul University, where her doctoral dissertation examined the mental health benefits of yoga. She has worked in diverse clinical settings, including private practice, universities, and schools, and is an advocate for mindfulness, mental health, and holistic healing practices.

Elizabeth Brewer, Psy.D. received her Bachelor's from University of Arizona and her Doctorate from Meridian University in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Expressive and Movement Arts. She is a Psychological Associate and Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) whose work integrates somatic psychology, trauma-informed care, and intercultural healing practices. She founded MettaFitFam, a 350+ member transformational community at Meta headquarters, and Spread Loving Kindness LLC, cultivating healing communities across 12+ nations. Her clinical practice focuses on developmental trauma, Central Sensitization, neurodivergence, and identity complexity through body-based psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems approaches.

HOPE UMANSKY has 17 years of experience teaching online across English literature, Communications, Psychology, and the Humanities. She holds an MA in Liberal Studies and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Hope has taught at universities like the University of Massachusetts Global, Southern States University, and American National University. She specializes in curriculum development, accreditation, and strategic consulting.

LAUREN H. GOLDSTEIN is a licensed clinical psychologist and president of Gold Psych Services, where she oversees practice operations and provides psychological, psychoeducational, and neurodiversity testing and consultation. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (2006) and M.S. (2003), an MBA in Health Services Administration (2011), and a Professional Certificate in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity (2024). Since 2008, Dr. Goldstein has taught online and on campus at Strayer University, serving as Distinguished Professor since 2018 and contributing as a subject matter expert on neurodiversity and accreditation efforts. Her clinical work includes assessments and treatment related to ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, anxiety, and behavior disorders, and she has published peer-reviewed research in child psychology.

LILI GOODMAN FREITAS received her Bachelor’s from Wesleyan College, her Masters from Case Western Reserve University, and her Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. Formerly Department Chair of the Department of Liberal Arts at JFK University, and having served for many years as core faculty in the Consciousness, Health, and Healing program at Santa Monica University, Lili’s research interests include soul-centered leadership and the uses of creative ritual to celebrate rites-of-passage through the life cycle.

MARCELA URBAN holds a PhD in Psychology from Meridian University, where she also earned her Master’s degree. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UPJS in Slovakia and extensive training in Somatic Experiencing®, Systemic Constellations, and Expressive Arts Therapy. With over 11 years of experience, Urban works with Family Constellations, Sandplay Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing in individual and group settings. She is actively involved in community service focused on literacy and art for children.

MEGGAN HARTMAN received her Bachelor’s from Warren Wilson College, her Master’s from Sophia University, and her Doctorate from Meridian University. In her work as a Pediatric Behavioral Sleep Specialist she specializes in helping mothers with postpartum adjustment issues navigate the complexities of motherhood. As a certified Purpose Guide, Meggan coaches individuals to realize and bring to fruition the depth of their life purpose. Her research interests include understanding cultures’ impact on the mothering identity.

NNENNA NWANKWO received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University. She has extensive experience in clinical settings, including working in the Veterans Affairs Southern Nevada Health Care System and the Department of Defense, where she provided psychological assessments and therapy. Dr. Nwankwo's research focuses on ethnic minority student retention and bullying behavior in youth. Additionally, she has published articles on faculty mentoring and clinical supervision. She currently serves as a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, offering individual therapy and conducting intake assessments for adults.

Paul Skiba, PsyD received his Bachelor's from DePaul University and his Doctorate from The Illinois School of Professional Psychology. His work spans clinical psychology, community mental health, and higher education, with over 20 years of undergraduate and graduate teaching experience. He has studied Integral Psychology for more than 30 years and practices Process-Based Therapy and Integral Psychotherapy. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the therapeutic relationship first, creating safe classroom environments where students and faculty journey together in waking up, growing up, cleaning up, showing up, and opening up.

SHANIQUA JOHNSON-PIERCE received her Doctorate in Education and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with extensive experience in providing psychotherapy to children, families, and couples facing challenges related to depression, trauma, substance abuse, and interpersonal relationships. Additionally, Shaniqua utilizes artistic expression to teach restorative practices and trauma-informed care. She also serves as a Consulting Mental Health Therapist at the Delaware Center for Justice, facilitating support groups for activists coping with racial trauma and social injustices, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and mental health advocacy.

STUART SIGMAN received his Bachelor’s from Hunter College, and his Master’s and Doctorate from the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. Stuart’s background in higher education leadership includes his serving as founding dean of the School of Communication at Emerson College, dean of System-Wide Programs in Business and Management at Argosy University, and provost at Sofia University where he was also a member of the faculty. Other of his faculty experience includes his teaching at American Jewish University, Naropa University, Union Institute and University, and the State University of NY (SUNY Albany and Buffalo). Stuart is widely published on topics in communication studies including ethnographic methods, social communication approaches, and diversity in communication.

TIM WILLISON received his Bachelor’s from U.C. Santa Cruz, his Master’s from C.S.U. Northridge, and his Doctorate from Meridian University. Tim maintains a private practice in California as a licensed MFT, and facilitates group counseling with the State Bar of California.

VIRGINIA CROSSLEYSMITH received her Bachelor’s from Sonoma State, her Master’s from CSU San Francisco and her Doctorate from Meridian University. Formerly on the clinical staff of Kaiser Permanente’s Department of Psychiatry in both the Intensive Outpatient Therapy team and the Autism Spectrum Disorders team, where she provided education and advocacy for individuals and families, Virginia is a licensed psychologist and has maintained a private practice in California for over a decade.

Benjamin Ramey, PhD, LPC received his Bachelor's from Portland State University, his Master's from Saybrook University, and his Doctorate also from Saybrook University in Clinical Psychology. His work focuses on Lacanian psychoanalysis in private practice and teaching psychology at Pikes Peak State College. He serves on the Publications Committee for Cuerno Verde Press and completed seminars in psychoanalysis at the Clinical College of Colorado. His publications include "A Response to Humanistic Psychology" in Awry journal and his dissertation "The transformation of the symptom: A multiple case study of psychoanalytic change process in Lacanian psychoanalysis."

Christina Semple, PsyD received her Bachelor's from Clayton State University and her Doctorate from Alliant International University in Clinical Forensic Psychology. Her work spans mental health, behavioral health, and end-of-life care, with expertise in trauma-informed therapy, child advocacy, and hospice services. She currently teaches Criminal Justice at Our Lady of the Lake University and maintains certifications in Mental Health First Aid, End-of-Life Doula work, Vibrational Sound Therapy, and Somatic Healing. Her experience includes forensic psychology fellowship work at Audrey Hepburn Children's House, where she delivered trauma-informed therapy to child survivors and conducted forensic evaluations in child abuse cases.

ED BIERY received his Bachelor’s and his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis. He also received his Master’s and Doctorate from Meridian University. Ed’s interests relate to the practical interface of neurobiology with clinical practice in imaginal psychology, to help clients better understand what is going on in their bodies as well as their psyches, primarily through the exploration of image and the expression of affect.

Geoffrey Lantz, PhD received his Bachelor's from DePaul University, his Master's from Loyola University Chicago, and his Doctorate also from Loyola University Chicago in Educational Psychology. His work spans higher education administration, online learning program development, and organizational assessment across multiple institutions. He has held positions including National Department Chair at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Director of Institutional Effectiveness at Chamberlain College of Nursing. His dissertation examined organizational diversity and inclusion training initiatives and their relationship to the LGBT community, and he has extensive expertise in accreditation processes and international program development.

Karen-Sue Newby, PsyD received her Bachelor's from Lone Star College, her Master's from Ashford University, and her Doctorate from University of the Rockies. Her work spans higher education teaching, sport performance psychology, and health sciences education. She is certified as an Activity Consultant Board Certified (AC-BC), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and Certified Health Coach (CHC). She has developed innovative curriculum including the Activity Care Professional degree program at Collin College. Her dissertation explored organizational diversity training initiatives and their relationship to the LGBT community's workplace experiences.

Laurence Hillman received his Bachelor’s from Washington University, his Master’s also from Washington University, and his Doctorate from Meridian University. His work spans executive coaching, consulting, and teaching in the areas of leadership development, archetypal psychology, and archetypal astrology. He is co-creator of Archetypes at Work, a method of leadership development used to assess and develop individuals and organizations. His publications include Planets in Play: How to Reimagine Your Life Through the Language of Astrology (Jeremy Tarcher/Penguin) and Archetypes at Work: Evolving Your Story, One Character at a Time (Matador, 2019).

LISA JOHNSON is a psychologist and positive youth development specialist with a Ph.D. and M.A. from UC Davis. She currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she develops and teaches graduate seminars, fosters critical thinking, and assesses student progress. She has extensive experience researching child, youth, and family stress and well-being in adverse contexts. Her work focuses on leveraging evidence-based programs to promote mental health and educational outcomes. Skilled in project management, data analysis and visualization, science communication, and curriculum design, she has authored multiple first-author academic articles, led grant efforts, and created over 1,200 hours of instructional content across age groups.

MARKOS PERRAKIS, PhD, is a development and process facilitator, psychologist, speaker, and founder of Fractality -EU training and counseling provider. For the last 20 years, he has been working with eclectic systemic appreciative approaches, participatory design methods, and Spiritual Intelligence worldwide. He provides training, supervision, and facilitation for professionals, HR experts, local communities, politicians, and NGOs, helping citizens express and transform themselves into a co-creative transition. He works with individuals who are mindful of environmental and social issues and helps them align their values with actions that create a positive impact on the world.

MELISSA SCHWARTZ received her Master’s from Beacon College and her Doctorate from Rosebridge Graduate School (now Argosy University). Dually licensed as both a clinical psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist, Melissa maintains a private practice as a consulting psychologist. She serves as a peer reviewer for the California Psychological Association’s Office of Professional Development Provider Approval Committee and for the APA journal, Psychology of Women Quarterly. She also serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Her interests include the psychology of women, adult development, and qualitative research.

Dr Paddy Pampallis is the CEO and founder of The Integral+ Africa (Institute)™ (I+ AI), The Integral Coaching Centre (PTY) Ltd, t /a The Coaching Centre (TCC) and co-founder of The Ubuntu Coaching Foundation™ which offers teaching of integral applications to leadership, life, students of coaching. She has spent time at various universities as a guest faculty and has presented numerous times for Integral conferences worldwide. She is on the council at Mc Gregor Wisdom School that is based on Integral Spiritual approaches and practical community wisdom, while engaging in grass roots practical wisdom offered to bridging the huge divides in habitats, structures, and education. She not only is a faculty and board member, but also an activist, psychologist/therapist, executive coach, supervisor, and consultant.

Sara Lovett, PhD, RSMT received her Bachelor's from University of Texas at Austin, her Master's from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and her Doctorate also from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Depth Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Studies. She is a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Expressive Art Therapist certified through the Tamalpa Institute. Her work integrates professional artistry as a writer, stage actor, and voice teacher/dialect coach with somatic psychology and trauma-informed therapy. Her dissertation research focuses on the well-being of artists, specifically examining the relationship of embodiment and well-being on actors' self-care when playing highly emotional characters.

Stacy Benton received her Bachelor’s from Xavier University of Louisiana, her Master’s from the University of Illinois, and her Doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. A licensed psychologist and Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC), she has had extensive clinical experience in a variety of settings including substance abuse facilities, community mental health centers, hospital psychiatric units, and in school systems. Stacy has also taught in topics related to public health; her research interests include healthcare disparities and the treatment of issues of addiction.

TARA A. CRONIN received her Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy, specializing in Art Therapy, from Notre Dame de Namur University and completed her PhD in Psychology. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and Board Certified Art Therapist with over twenty years of experience working with vulnerable populations in school and community settings. Currently, Tara is the Clinical Director at Izzo Marriage and Family Therapy, overseeing school-based and outpatient services in San Mateo County. She has held supervisory roles at the Youth Service Bureau of the YMCA and Alternative Family Services. Tara is dedicated to education and mentorship, teaching psychological assessment and conducting clinical supervision. Her research interests focus on the integration of art therapy and the therapeutic benefits of creative expression.

Vanessa Fernandez-Gonzalez received her Bachelor’s from Nova Southeastern University, and her Master’s and Doctorate from Carlos Albizu University. A specialist in psychological assessment, her clinical work includes cognitive assessment of study participants for clinical trials as well as frequent presentations for clinicians in neuropsychology. Her research interests include aspects of traumatic brain injury, concussion, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, assessments, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Webb Black Garrison III, PhD received his Bachelor's in Religious Studies from Davidson College and both his Master's and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University. Dr. Garrison is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in New York and New Mexico, with over twenty years of experience in private practice and educational settings. His extensive background includes teaching as an Adjunct Professor at Adelphi University, where he was honored as Adjunct Faculty of the Year in 2023. In addition to his academic contributions, Dr. Garrison actively engages in community wellness through mindfulness seminars and workshops, integrating his deep expertise in clinical, and existential psychology.