2024 Academic Highlights: News, Notes and Accomplishments

Clinical Psychology

Joseph A. Toomey, PhD, Associate Chair, Clinical Psychology Department

The Clinical Psychology doctoral program is the oldest and largest program at William James College. For fifty years, the Clinical program has endeavored to integrate experiential learning and a rigorous science-based curriculum to train competent and compassionate clinical psychologists. Our faculty consistently remains on the leading edge of psychological science, pedagogical strategies, and social issues.

Dr. Brian Ott and Dr. Sunny Dutra have been instrumental in the development and implementation of the college’s Center for Psychological Science (CPS), which stands as a resource for all departments throughout the college in their efforts to assure that their research and scholarship meets the highest standards of scientific rigor.

Dr. Jason Osher and Dr. Shira Fishman have been instrumental in developing the college’s Office of Educational Development and Innovation (OEDI). The OEDI utilizes best practices in inclusive and effective pedagogical practices to foster student engagement, learning, and success.

Finally, faculty in the Clinical program have made substantial contributions through their engagement with important sociocultural issues. Recently, Dr. Zenobia Morrill served as a panelist on the feature stage of the 2024 APA convention where she engaged in a discussion entitled “Feminist Alchemy: Psychologists of Color’s Testimonies.” Several members of the Clinical faculty also have leadership roles in the college’s Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health (CMGMH), such as Dr. Jill Bloom, Dr. Natalie Cort, Dr. Gemima St. Louis, Dr. Shani Turner, and Dr. Catherine Vuky.

Due to the dedication and broad expertise of the Clinical faculty, the Clinical Psychology doctoral program is poised to remain on the leading edge of psychological science, pedagogy and social justice well into the future.

Counseling and Behavioral Health

Nilda M. Laboy, PsyD, Chair, Counseling and behavioral Health department and Assistant VP for Academic Affairs

The Counseling and Behavioral Health Department has grown since the inception of the first counseling master’s program in 2007, making us the second-largest department in the College. We now offer four distinct academic programs, in addition to providing the academic component for the Behavioral Health Service Corps. The college-wide concentrations in Military and Veterans Psychology and the LGBTQIA+ Studies also have a home in our department.

We are continuing to grow. The William James College chapter of Psi Chi was established in 2024, with Dr. Kerri Augusto as its faculty sponsor. The Leaders in Diversity and Resilience (LDR) Fellowship for students in the on-campus MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and funded by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students is now in its fifth year, and benefits 20 students per year with scholarships, faculty and alumni mentors, and other supports.

Our practitioner faculty have leaderships roles within the College, as well as statewide, nationally, and internationally. Some highlights include the work of Dr. Mari Bennasar in the Latino Mental Health Program and our affiliation in Ecuador; Dr. David Haddad and his collaborations in Kenya; Dr. Paola Contreras and her teaching in Guatemala; and Dr. Yousef AlAjarma and his efforts in Palestine and Mexico. Mrs. Melissa Koen, LMHC, is the president of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (MARIACES). Dr. Niko Wilson was awarded the Counselor Educator of the Year (2024) by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association. Dr. Jenny D’Olympia and her team have trained hundreds of clinicians in suicide prevention and safer gun storage and have consulted nationally and internationally on these topics. Dr. Sarah Abbott and her team consult with police departments statewide and nationally on co-response to behavioral crisis in the community and developed a unique graduate certificate program that trains police officers and clinicians in this model.

We are proud to support our students and the field by providing academic programs, training, and collaboration that are responsive to the community needs.

Organizational and Leadership Psychology: The Neuroscience of Leadership

Erika Heilman, PsyD, Director, Neuroscience of Leadership Concentration

Almost half of our incoming Leadership Psychology PsyD students are drawn to the Neuroscience of Leadership Concentration, and for good reason. This concentration blends cutting-edge neuroscience with leadership psychology, equipping students to ethically apply these insights to enhance organizational dynamics, leadership development, and management practices.

Understanding applied human neuroscience, such as the neural correlates of decision-making, emotion regulation, collaboration, tolerance for differences, and resistance to change, helps address complex dynamics and unconscious biases in diverse workplaces. This knowledge guides leadership psychologists in designing interventions that promote wellness, fairness, and inclusivity. The concentration emphasizes creativity, innovation, psychological safety, and the brain’s threat and reward networks. It teaches leadership students how to design environments that promote deep work, connection, learning, and growth. All practices are grounded in ethical principles, ensuring respect for the scientific process, individual needs, and diverse perspectives.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is central, with students engaging across fields like social and cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and organizational behavior. This holistic approach prepares them as leaders and consultants, ready to address complex challenges with scientifically informed, ethically sound strategies. By integrating neuroscience principles within leadership psychology, our graduates foster more engaged, innovative, and resilient organizations, driving success in today’s rapidly evolving world.

School Psychology

Jason Kaplan, PhD, LEP, NCSP, Chair, School Psychology Department

Robyn Bratica, PhD, LEP, NCSP, Director, MA/CAGS in School Psychology 

Currently, about one out of every five children or adolescents meet the criteria for a mental health disorder; however, only half of these children receive services addressing their needs. School psychologists are critical in addressing this discrepancy. Among children and adolescents who do receive mental health support, over 70% are identified and receive initial services within their school.

What sets school psychologists apart from our counseling and clinical colleagues is that we do this work directly within schools, where kids spend 6-7 hours each day. School-based mental health services offer children and adolescents access to support they may not otherwise receive, and this is particularly true for students from racial and ethnic minoritized backgrounds.

At William James College, we are proud to provide a program that not only teaches students the skills to succeed in this much-needed profession, but also incorporates a social justice lens and prioritizes cultural competency. Our robust practitioner faculty bring their widespread experiences to the classroom, providing unique courses and other learning opportunities for our students.

For example, Dr. Dan Jacobs teaches an elective course, Addressing Substance Abuse in the Schools, each summer prior to students starting their placement in secondary schools. This is a unique course and one of the only substance abuse courses taught in School Psychology Programs across the country. In addition, Dr. Robyn Bratica works closely with students from her Behavior Assessment class to turn their class projects into presentations to be presented at local and national conferences.

This is an extraordinary field and profession, where each and every day school psychologists make a difference in the lives of the children and their families.

• Tags:
• Around Campus