Skip to main content

Our Team

Co-Directors

Sharon Hoover (she/her)

PhD, Clinical Psychology
Co-Director & Professor of Psychiatry
shoover@som.umaryland.edu

Sharon A. Hoover, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Co-Director of the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH). She currently leads NCSMH efforts to support states, districts and schools in the adoption of national quality performance standards of comprehensive school mental health systems (www.theSHAPEsystem.com). Dr. Hoover also serves as Director of the NCTSN Center for Safe Supportive Schools (CS3), focused on building trauma-responsive, comprehensive school mental health systems that attend to social determinants and injustices and engage and support marginalized populations, including youth of color and newcomer (refugee and immigrant) youth. Dr. Hoover has led and collaborated on multiple federal and state grants, with a commitment to the study and implementation of quality children’s mental health services. Creating safe, supportive and trauma-responsive schools has been a major emphasis of Dr. Hoover’s research, education and clinical work. She has trained school and community behavioral health staff and educators in districts across the United States, as well as internationally, including consultation on building safe and supportive school mental health systems in Canada, China, Northern Ireland, South Korea, Ukraine, and New Zealand. As an advisor to the World Health Organization, Dr. Hoover has provided consultation and technical assistance on comprehensive school mental health in several countries, including developing and implementing a student mental health curriculum for teachers throughout the Middle East and developing and evaluating a school-based intervention to support immigrant and refugee youth in Canada and the United States. 

Photo of Nancy Lever

Nancy Lever (she/her)

PhD, Clinical Psychology
Co-Director & Associate Professor of Psychiatry
nlever@som.umaryland.edu

Nancy Lever is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Co-Director of the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH, www.schoolmentalhealth.org). For over 20 years she has led the advancement of interdisciplinary school behavioral health training for advanced graduate psychology, psychiatry, and social work students, as well as for the current education, health, and behavioral health workforce. She has helped to advance a school mental health multi-tiered framework that is based on school-family-community partnerships, and culturally responsive, high-quality behavioral health services. Dr. Lever serves as a leader for the National Quality Initiative on School Based Health Services (funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration) supporting states, districts, and schools in advancing school mental health policy and adopting national school mental health quality performance standards (www.theSHAPEsystem.com). She co-led the development of the National School Mental Health Best Practices: Implementation Guidance Modules for States, Districts and Schools and Classroom WISE, an online mental health literacy training curriculum for educators. She has had leadership roles on numerous federal and state research projects related to school mental health quality and sustainability and has represented the school mental health voice on national, state, and local committees.


Team

Elizabeth Baker headshot

Elizabeth Baker (she/her)

MA, Education
Predoctoral Intern
elizabeth.baker@som.umaryland.edu

Liz is a school psychology doctoral candidate at the University of California, Riverside. She is completing her pre-doctoral internship training in the School Mental Health track at the National Center for School Mental Health. Her clinical and research interests focus on working with neurodiverse children, quantifying neural correlates of social communication and social reward, and incorporating objective, culturally responsible measures of therapeutic outcomes.

Sarah Barber headshot

Sarah Barber (she/her)

MPH
Research Project Coordinator
sbarber@som.umaryland.edu

Sarah Barber is a recent graduate from Florida State University where she earned her Master in Public Health degree as well as her B.S. in Family and Child Sciences with a minor in Sociology. She has previously worked for the Florida Department of Health as a Rural Health Analyst where her primary duties were to research and analyze disparities amongst rural populations in the state of Florida. Sarah's interest in mental health stemmed from studies and research about childhood trauma and the impacts this has on the psychological, emotional, and physical development of individuals. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion and working with children and families. She is excited to continue to increase her knowledge about mental health as a public health issue and work as the Project Coordinator for the NCS3 team and Research Coordinator for the School Mental Health Response Program to best create and implement trauma response initiative in K-12 schools.

Tiffany Beason

Tiffany Beason (she/her)

PhD, Clinical-Community Psychology
Core Faculty & Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
tbeason@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Beason is a licensed clinical and community psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and faculty at the National Center for School Mental Health. Dr. Beason’s research interests relate to academic achievement, positive racial/ethnic identity, adaptive social and coping skills, and sense of community among youth and young adults. Dr. Beason has served as a school mental health clinician in the Baltimore City Public School System for several years, where she provided supports that promote positive mental health for all as well as early intervention and treatment services for youth experiencing significant mental health difficulties. Dr. Beason serves as the director of Cultural Responsiveness, Anti-Racism and Equity within the National Center for Safe Supportive School. Dr. Beason is also a co-developer of a national curriculum for educators to promote culturally-responsive and equitable mental health support in classrooms.

Photo of Yourdanos Bekele

Yourdanos Bekele (she/her)

MS, Applied Psychology, Counseling
Senior Clinical Research Assistant
ybekele@som.umaryland.edu

Yourdanos primarily assists on the Evaluating Promising School Staff and Resource-Officer Approaches for Reducing Harsh Discipline, Suspensions, and Arrests project. The project, implemented in Cecil County Public Schools, involves a multi-tiered approach to comprehensively reducing unnecessary student suspensions and arrests and increasing the effectiveness of School Resource Officers.

Eliya Bernstein headshot

Eliya Bernstein (he/him)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
ebernstein@som.umaryland.edu

Eli received his MSW from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work. He is a School Mental Health Counselor for the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP), where he was an intern. Eli provides mental health services to children enrolled in Baltimore City Schools and has been trained in Botvin LifeSkills. He is excited to continue working with SMHP and the Baltimore city youth.

Photo of Jill Bohnenkamp

Jill Haak Bohnenkamp (she/her)

PhD, Clinical and School Psychology
Core Faculty & Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry
jbohnenk@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Bohnenkamp has extensive experience in school mental health research, policy and clinical practice at the local, state and national levels. She works with individual school personnel, district, state and national leaders to advance high quality school mental health. Dr. Bohnenkamp builds on multiple years of direct clinical experience as a school mental health clinician in urban, suburban and rural school districts to inform her research and policy work. Her research focuses on behavioral, academic and school safety outcomes of school mental health service provision, mental health training for educators and pediatric primary care providers and ways to increase access to evidence-based mental health services for youth and families.

Diamond Carr headshot

Diamond Carr (she/her)

PhD, School Psychology, NCSP
Postdoctoral Fellow
Rosemont Elementary School
dcarr@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Carr is a trained school psychologist who completed her internship with Loudoun County Public Schools, one of the few school-based APA accredited internships in the country. She has worked with students from preschool to twelfth grade providing a range of services from psychological assessment to counseling. She is passionate about systems-level change that is informed by people who serve in schools daily. Dr. Carr transitioned to the National Center for School Mental Health as a postdoctoral fellow with that in mind as she will continue providing mental health services and supporting schools statewide in their provision of such services. Her work is informed by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and the whole-child approach. She is unapologetically committed to addressing systemic barriers that perpetuate opportunity gaps for children of color. Dr. Carr has experience consulting with school districts to advocate for change using research, data, and students’ voices.

Taneisha Carter headshot 4

Taneisha Carter (she/her)

MS, Applied Psychology
Clinical Research Specialist
tacarter@som.umaryland.edu

In her current position, Taneisha aids on various projects related to the advancement of the quality and sustainability of school mental health services. Primarily, she works on Maryland Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education (MD-AWARE) which aims to increase awareness of mental health issues in school-age youth and improve current mental health referral systems in schools and communities. Additionally, Taneisha helps with Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network, School-Based Health Services National Quality Initiative (CoIIN-SBHS-NQI) that works to establish and facilitate Collaborative Improvement & Innovation Networks (CoIINs) to support School-Based Health Centers, School Mental Health Programs, districts, and states to adopt and implement best practices, policies, and financing strategies that support and expand the numbers of quality, sustainable school health programs.

Photo of Elizabeth Connors

Elizabeth Connors (she/her)

PhD, Clinical Child and Community Psychology
Core Faculty
elizabeth.connors@yale.edu

Dr. Connors' work as a Clinical/Community Psychologist is driven by the central principle of improving access to high-quality mental health care for underserved children, adolescents, young adults and their families in critical access points such as schools and primary care settings. Her research focuses on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices (namely, measurement-based care) in these settings where children’s mental health concerns are most likely to be identified and addressed. In addition to conducting community-partnered research, she also provides training, technical assistance, systematic quality improvement and evaluation supports to school-based clinicians, mental health agencies, school districts and behavioral health systems at local, state and national levels. She serves as the Improvement Advisor for the School Mental Health Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network.

Photo of Jennifer Cox

Jennifer Cox (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Director, School Mental Health Program
jfcox@som.umaryland.edu

Jennifer Cox is the Program Director and a Senior Lead Clinician for the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP), a program whose mission is to enhance the learning environment of Baltimore City Public schools by removing the barriers to learning and actively promoting the social-emotional-behavioral well-being of students. Mrs. Cox has over a decade of experience providing clinical services, resources, and consultation across a multi-tiered system of supports. She provides administrative and clinical oversight to 25 SMHP schools and has worked to expand the SMHP telemental health program to increase psychiatry services and access in schools. Mrs. Cox has a Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, is a board approved supervisor for social workers and is a state-wide trainer for Botvin’s LifeSkills. Her work in schools, specifically with evidence-based practices and parental involvement in school, has been published and recognized by the field. She was the recipient of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Field Instructor of the Year Award and presents at local, state, and national levels. Most importantly, she is the wife to a fantastic husband and mother to two amazing boys.

Photo of Dana Cunningham

Dana Cunningham (she/her)

PhD, Clinical Psychology
Faculty Consultant, Adjunct Assist Professor of Psychiatry, & Director of the Prince George's School Mental Health Initiative
dcunning@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Cunningham has been the Director of the Prince George's School Mental Health Initiative (PGSMHI) since 2006. The PGSMHI is designed to provide intensive school-based counseling and support services to students in special education in Prince George’s County Public Schools. Dr. Cunningham has extensive experience providing direct clinical service in urban school districts and often provides training, technical assistance, and consultation to local and State-level education and mental health agencies. Dr. Cunningham’s clinical and research interests include trauma, resilience, children of incarcerated parents, and empirically supported treatment for ethnic minority youth.

Victoria Daley headshot

Victoria Daley (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
Morrell Park Elementary/Middle School
vdaley@som.umaryland.edu

Victoria Daley, LMSW, graduated with her master’s degree from University of Maryland School of Social Work. During her time as a graduate student, she was able to gain experience in public and non-public school settings. Victoria is currently working in Baltimore City Schools as a school-based mental health counselor, where she uses a strength-based perspective to meet the needs of students and their families. Victoria is passionate about making mental health services more accessible and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

Photo of Ellie Davis

Ellie Davis (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Business and Operations Manager
edavis@som.umaryland.edu

Ellie Davis has worked in the field of school mental health for more than 20 years, first as a clinician in Baltimore City Schools followed by Associate Director of the School Mental Health clinical program and currently as the Business and Operations Manager for the National Center for School Mental Health.  In her current role, Ms. Davis oversees all budgetary and fiscal aspects of the Center including proposal preparation and post award administration.  Ms. Davis manages faculty and staff effort on a complex portfolio of contracts, grants and service agreements.

Misty Davis headshot

Misty Davis (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts High, Billie Holiday Elementary School
misty.davis@som.umaryland.edu

Misty Davis graduated with her master's degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. During her program, Ms. Davis was an intern with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP) at Franklin Square Elementary/Middle School, where her passion for mental health promotion and the ability to break down the stigma of mental health in the African-American community grew. Ms. Davis was inspired by her internship with SMHP by now continuing to work with children and families as a counselor.

Headshot of Ebonee Dixon

Ebonee Dixon (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
Rosemont Elementary/Middle School, North Bend Elementary/Middle School
ebdixon@som.umaryland.edu

Ebonee Dixon is a School Mental Health Counselor with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP). Ms. Dixon obtained her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wilmington University, where she began discovering the importance of mental health to youth. Ms. Dixon graduated with her Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. Ms. Dixon has experience in individual and group therapy, community organizing and substance use recovery. Ms. Dixon currently provides mental health services to elementary & middle school aged students of Baltimore City Public Schools. Ms. Dixon discovered her passion for school based mental health during her first year of graduate school. She is driven by the opportunity to provide accessible services to families in the Baltimore Area.

John Fitzgerald headshot

John Fitzgerald (he/him)

Predoctoral Intern
jfitzge@som.umaryland.edu

John is a clinical psychology PhD candidate at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is completing his pre-doctoral internship within the CHiRP track. His clinical and research interests focus on expanding accessibility of empirically-based care for those at-risk for, or experiencing, a first episode of psychosis. His current research explores how information about psychosis is communicated and comprehended by clients who engage with psychosis-risk screening measures, clinical interviews, and similar tools.

Photo of Kristina Floyd

Kristina Floyd (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Lead Counselor, Clinical Trainer
kfloyd@som.umaryland.edu

Mrs. Floyd has provided direct clinical services, supervision, case management, and consultations to children, their families, and colleagues within non-public and public school systems since 2009. She is currently a lead clinician and clinical trainer supporting multiple projects within the National Center for School Mental Health. Mrs. Floyd has a Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, is a board approved supervisor for social workers and is a state-wide trainer for Botvin’s LifeSkills. She has presented at local, state, and national levels on evidenced-based curriculums and other issues related to school mental health. Since 2015, Mrs. Floyd has worked for the Association of Social Work Boards as a subject matter expert to write and develop questions for the Masters level national social work exam using current, evidenced-based references and resources. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

Aijah K B Goodwin headshot

Aijah K. B. Goodwin (she/her)

PhD, School Psychology
Core Faculty, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
abarutigoodwin@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Goodwin is a licensed psychologist and Assistant Professor at the National Center for School Mental Health. She also provides evidence-based and culturally tailored mental health therapy and consultation services with the Outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic in DCAP. The primary focus of Dr. Goodwin’s research interests centers on two principal aims: (1) improving mental health access and help-seeking for Black adolescents experiencing internalizing concerns using youth-led and innovative approaches and (2) culturally-responsive practices in schools that contribute to mental health and well-being. Dr. Goodwin has also disseminated research and clinical practice focused on implementing evidence-based practices in school and community settings to improve mental and behavioral health outcomes. Clinically, Dr. Goodwin has expertise in providing individual therapy, group therapy, consultation, and systems-level school mental health implementation, especially for adolescents with mood and trauma concerns. She also has experience working with children, families, school staff, and medical providers in school settings, outpatient clinics, and medical centers. In her current work with the NCSMH, she leads the Black Teen Help-Seeking study funded by the APA Division 53 Child Mental Health in Action Innovation grant, as well as other research projects utilizing digital technology to improve mental health access. She also assists with improving the cultural responsiveness of evidence-based mental health practices and services.

Photo of Melissa Ambrose

Melissa Grady Ambrose (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Training Director
mambrose@som.umaryland.edu

Melissa Grady Ambrose, LCSW-C, received her MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University and has over 20 years of direct clinical and supervisory experience working with children and families. For fourteen years Ms. Ambrose provided school-based mental health services through the University of Maryland School Mental Health Program working with students in grades K-12. She specializes in working with high risk youth, including youth with substance use concerns.  Melissa currently serves as the Maryland state trainer for the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA), an evidence-based program to treat adolescent substance use. She is also a clinician specialist providing substance use counseling in a high school setting. In addition to providing A-CRA trainings, Ms. Ambrose coordinates additional evidenced-based training opportunities for Maryland school districts.

Richenda Hobbs headshot

Richenda Hobbs (she/her)

BA, Psychology
Community Outreach Worker II
rhobbs@som.umaryland.edu

Ms. Hobbs has worked with the Prince George's School Mental Health Initiative since 2008. She has more than 20 years’ experience working with students and families in educational, home and community-based settings. Ms. Hobbs provides supportive services to students in Special Education in Prince George’s County Public Schools. She has a passion for helping others and is dedicated to supporting families reach their fullest potential.

Asia Humphries headshot

Asia Humphries (she/her)

School Mental Health Counselor
MSW, LMSW
ahumphries@som.umaryland.edu

Asia Humphries graduated with her master’s degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. She enjoys being able to provide children and their families with skills and resources to assist with making their everyday lives a little easier to manuever. Ms. Humphries was a trainee with SMHP at Harlem Park Elementary Middle School, where she provided telehealth services to individuals, groups, and families. Her field placement inspired her to continue working with children and their families in a school-based setting and she is now the SMHP Counselor at Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School.

Jerica Knox headshot

Jerica Knox (she/her)

PhD, School Psychology
Post-doctoral Fellow
jerica.knox@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Knox is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Center for School Mental Health where she primarily focuses her evaluative efforts on the National Center for Safe Supportive Schools. Dr. Knox takes a strengths-based approach to understanding home and school contextual factors that promote well-being in children and adolescents. She uses qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the effectiveness of culturally-responsive and trauma-informed approaches. Dr. Knox is from Georgetown County, South Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina and her Master of Science and PhD in School Psychology from North Carolina State University.

Stephanie Korenic headshot

Stephanie Korenic (she/her)

MA, Psychology
Predoctoral Intern
skorenic@som.umaryland.edu

Stephanie is a clinical psychology PhD candidate at Temple University. She is completing her pre-doctoral internship training within the UM Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHiRP) Track of the VAMHCS/UM-SOM Psychology Internship Consortium. This track affords trainees with experiences focused on early detection, assessment, and intervention for young people experiencing early psychosis. Her research to-date has focused on examining the interplay between sleep and social-cognitive functioning across the psychosis spectrum using translational, neuroimaging, and “big data”-driven approaches. She also has strong interests relating to development of digital solutions that could enhance evidence-based treatments for early psychosis.

Zahra Ladhani headshot

Zahra Ladhani (she/her)

EdD, Health Education
Lead Clinical Research Specialist
zladhani@som.umaryland.edu

Through her work as a teacher, researcher, and counsellor, Dr. Ladhani strives to empower young people to develop resiliency and reach their fullest potential. Over the years, having worked with many parents, teachers and adolescents, she appreciates supporting them with facing and embracing the challenges and opportunities that come with our human development. Dr. Ladhani completed her doctoral training at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include supporting schools in providing trauma-informed care to address the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among adolescents. In particular, she is focuses on the subgroups of those with Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, chronic or terminal illness, traumatic brain injuries and those from marginalized groups. 

Photo of Jennifer Lease

Jennifer Lease (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
School Mental Health Senior Counselor
Wildwood Elementary/Middle School
jlease@som.umaryland.edu

Jennifer is a Senior Clinician with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP), providing targeted therapy services to children and families as well as broader supports to the whole school population. Jennifer has worked in schools in West Baltimore for over a decade and is trained in a number of evidence-based practices, including Botvin's LifeSkills Training, The Incredible Years, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy for Adolescents (IPT-A). Jennifer is a statewide trainer of Botvin's LifeSkills and has a Certificate of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. She received her Master's in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is dedicated to providing empowerment and opportunities for underserved communities.

Janice Mace headshot

Janice Mace (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Behavioral Health Program Coordinator
jmace@som.umaryland.edu

Janice Mace is a senior counselor at the University of Maryland’s National Center for School Mental Health. For nearly a decade, Ms. Mace has partnered with school districts to develop their Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programming. She has extensive experience providing a variety of school-based behavioral health services, in both clinical and programmatic capacities. Currently, Ms. Mace serves as the project coordinator for Maryland’s State Opioid Response - Student Assistance Program, as well as co-developer and coordinator of a district-wide substance use prevention and early intervention initiative in Baltimore County Public Schools.  Her prior roles include the provision of program development and implementation support, training and professional learning, collaborative staff consultation, and direct client services in general education, self-contained special education, and residential treatment settings. In addition, Ms. Mace maintains a small private practice in her Baltimore, MD hometown, where she offers clinical and consultative services for personal and business growth.

Photo of Sylvia Huntley

Sylvia McCree-Huntley (she/her)

EdD, Counseling Psychology
Director, Professional Development & Continuing Education
shuntley@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Huntley has wide-ranging experiences in providing professional development, training, and conferences on a national level and throughout the state of Maryland. For over 20 years, Sylvia has worked on multiple projects for the National Center for School Mental Health. Sylvia’s doctoral degree is in counseling psychology, with an earned master’s degree in alcohol and drug counseling, along with a bachelor’s degree in social work and psychology. Her clinical experience has been built on internships and direct services at Mountain Manor Treatment Center, Focus on Recovery, Baltimore City Detention Center, St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore School Mental Health Initiative, and the School Mental Health Program. Sylvia has her alcohol and drug trainee license. Her research interests continues to focus on trauma, alcohol and substance use disorders among adolescents, and the homeless population. She teaches psychology and addiction courses and is on the committee for redesigning and changing classroom settings into the flip model.

Caitlyn McNulty headshot

Caitlyn McNulty (she/her)

BA, Psychology
Clinical Research Assistant
CMcNulty@som.umaryland.edu

Caitlyn recently graduated from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania where she studied Psychology and Arabic. She is a clinical research assistant at the NCSMH, working primarily on Maryland Family and Youth Interventions for Substance Use (Maryland FYI), Youth Care Coordination, and Early Intervention for Psychosis. Caitlyn plans to further her education in clinical and community psychology, with a focus on culturally responsive trauma interventions in immigrant and refugee communities.

Madeline Morey headshot

Madeline Morey (she/her)

MS, Psychology, LCPC
School Mental Health Intern
mmorey@som.umaryland.edu

Ms. Madeline M. Morey has dedicated her career to human services/human development. She grew up in Madera, California and moved to Maryland in 1990. Ms. Morey earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Fresno in 1990 and earned her master’s degree in psychology from Towson University in 1992. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and has certificates in Human Services Management and Early Childhood Mental Health from University of Maryland. She also holds Clinical Supervisor status with the State of Maryland. Ms. Morey is currently earning her Doctor of Psychology from California Southern University and is in an externship at University of Maryland’s School Mental Health Program. Ms. Morey has worked as a clinician at Sheppard Pratt, Way Station, Christian Counseling Associates and Westminster Rescue Mission. Her areas of interest in counseling include anxiety, depression, human development, bipolar disorder, ADHD, marriage/family, substance use, treatment-resistant disorders, and co-occurring disorders. She uses a variety of techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Emotional Regulation Strategies and Mindfulness. Her therapy style is eclectic as interventions are tailored to the individual needs of each client.

Deja Moses headshot

Deja' Moses (she/her)

MS, LGPC
School Mental Health Counselor
dmoses@som.umaryland.edu

My name is Deja’ Moses, a recent graduate from North Carolina A&T State University with a Master of Science in Clinical-Mental Health Counseling and a Marriage and Family Counseling certificate. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Towson University. I am currently a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) in the state of MD and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I have clinical experience working with multiple populations including children, adolescents, and adults. Through a strength based, holistic, and humanistic approach I promote resilience, strength, growth, and love. Striving to enhance my client’s self-efficacy, confidence, and overall life satisfaction.

Claire Noll headshot

Claire Noll (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
claire.noll@som.umaryland.edu

Claire Noll graduated with her master’s degree from Salisbury University’s School of Social Work. As a graduate student, Ms. Noll spent two years as a trainee with the University of Maryland School Mental Health Program and discovered her passion for working with adolescents. During this time, she provided teletherapy to individuals, groups, and families of Wildwood Elementary/Middle and in-person mental health services for teens at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Ms. Noll plans to pursue her clinical license and continue to serve students and families in partnership with Baltimore City schools. 

Ayla Nuvroz

Ayla Novruz (she/her)

BS, Psychology
Graduate Assistant
ANovruz@som.umaryland.edu

Ayla Novruz is a graduate research assistant at the National Center for Safe Supportive Schools (NCS3) and the NCSMH. She is currently a Clinical and Behavioral Medicine PhD student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Before joining NCS3/NCSMH, she managed a wide range of research projects focusing on social determents of health inequities. Her interests lie on the impact of early life adversity (ELA) and various forms of trauma during childhood on later life mental and physical health.

Malena Nygaard headshot

Malena Nygaard (she/her)

Predoctoral Intern
MSEd
mnygaard@som.umaryland.edu

Malena A. Nygaard, M.S.Ed., is a doctoral candidate in the School Psychology program at Indiana University Bloomington. She is completing her pre-doctoral internship training in the School Mental Health track at the National Center for School Mental Health. Her research and practice focus on the delivery of evidence-based school mental health services and trauma-informed multi-tiered systems of support. She is particularly interested in examining the continuity and coordination of care for students with intensive socioemotional needs through Mental Health Action Plans (MHAPs). Ultimately, Malena seeks to promote equitable access to culturally-responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based mental health care within schools.

Photo of Shawn Orenstein

Shawn Orenstein (she/her)

MPH, Prevention and Community Health
Program & Policy Manager
sorenstein@som.umaryland.edu

At the Center, Shawn serves as a program and policy manager of the National Quality Initiative on School Based Health Services project, supporting the Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Networks and the School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE) system. Shawn also provides policy-related support to the 2020 Bainum Family Foundation grant. She is particularly interested in how state and national policies affect quality and growth of school-based health services.

Headshot of Karah Palmer

Karah Palmer (she/her)

MEd, Community Development & Action 
Senior Research Project Coordinator
karah.palmer@som.umaryland.edu

Karah Palmer started her career in education as a pre-school teacher and has a passion for working to improve learning conditions for all children. At The Center, she serves as the Research Coordinator for the Kaiser Permanente Resilience in School Environments (KP RISE) Formative Evaluation. Before joining the NCSMH team, Karah facilitated health services and equity research at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine. She earned her M.Ed. in Community Development and Action from Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, and is primarily concerned with understanding how schools and communities can work together to create trauma-informed and culturally-responsive learning environments for students and families.

Photo of Nikita Parson

Nikita Parson (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Associate Director, School Mental Health Program
Western High School
nparson@som.umaryland.edu

Ms. Parson is a proud Alumni of Morgan State University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is the Assistant Director and a Lead Clinician with the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program. She has spent over 12 years providing comprehensive services including direct clinical care (e.g. individual, group, and family therapies), prevention activities, supervision, and crisis intervention in Baltimore City Public Schools. Ms. Parson has extensive experience with providing education and training to school-based staff and partners as well as expertise in the application of evidence-based prevention and early intervention practices within school-based and community settings. She has implemented Botvin’s LifeSkills groups for students since 2013 and has been facilitating Botvin LifeSkills trainings to school districts and staff as well as community behavioral health professionals since becoming a certified instructor in 2018. She is passionate about decreasing the stigma on mental health and promoting a healthy social/emotional wellbeing especially among youth and young adults in underserved communities. Ms. Parson is very active in enhancing racial and social equity in the field of social work as well as in the community, including leadership experience on the School Mental Health Program’s DEIAA Team, Western’s High Schools Culture and Climate Team, as well as current member with the Baltimore Legacy Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) and Black Therapist Rock Group. In her role as the Trainee Coordinator with SMHP, Ms. Parson enjoys being a gatekeeper in the social work field as well as having the chance to help mold, nurture and produce the next set of clinicians. She further supports that by being a Board Approved Supervisor for both Social Workers and Professional Counselors, while providing clinical supervision for those seeking full licensure. Of all her roles and accomplishments, Ms. Parson’s favorite is being a mother to her beautiful baby girl.

Photo of Brittany Parham

Brittany Patterson (she/her)

PhD, School/Counseling Psychology
Core Faculty & Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
bpatterson@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Patterson’s current clinical and research interests involve trauma responsive schools and effective implementation of evidence based mental health programs in underserved schools and their surrounding communities. In her current role as a clinical faculty member with experience in school-based services at the Center for School Mental Health, Dr. Parham serves as a primary point person for developing and delivering training and technical assistance both within the school mental health clinical programs as well as to school stakeholders (including experience developing and delivering in-service curricula for teachers, school police officers, parents, and school staff). Dr. Patterson leads NCSMH partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities to improve mental health supports and services to Black youth. She currently leads a multi-site randomized trial to advance culturally-responsive school mental health, family engagement, and mental health literacy.

Nyjae Pride headshot

Nyjae Pride (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
npride@som.umaryland.edu

Nyjae Pride is a School Mental Health Clinician with the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP) providing services in Baltimore City Public Schools. Ms. Pride received her Bachelor’s in Sociology and Social Work from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Salisbury University. She continued her education graduating with her Master’s from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work. Throughout this time she had the opportunity to intern with multiple agency’s growing individually and professionally. While also expanding her clinical skills and knowledge for her newly developed passion, social work. Ms. Pride has experience in providing Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP), Therapeutic Behavioral Aide, and Counseling Services to children and families. She has experience in modalities such as CBT and Motivational Interviewing. Ms. Pride currently provides mental health services and supports to Elementary & Middle School aged children at Katherine Johnson Global Academy.

Sumer Rahe headshot

Sumer Rahe (she/her)

BA, Psychology
Senior Clinical Research Assistant
srahe@som.umaryland.edu

Sumer graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology from Loyola University Maryland. Before joining NCSMH as a clinical research assistant on the State Opioid Response (SOR) project, she interned at the Center, lending help on various projects, such as the Brief Intervention for School Clinicians (BRISC) and Resilience in School Environments (RISE). Sumer is currently a senior research assistance on Building Healing Behavioral Health Systems and is interested in furthering her education and studying community psychology, specifically focusing on social justice.

Headshot of Dr. Samantha Reaves

Sam Reaves (she/her)

PhD, Clinical Psychology
Core Faculty & Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
sreaves@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Reaves works to integrate her research and clinical experiences to improve outcomes for children. Her research interests lie at the intersection of mental health and education and she often investigates how school or family factors influence student outcomes in underserved communities. As a clinical-community psychologist, she believes great prevention work can be done and realizes the importance of strengthening the systems children are nested in to promote wellbeing, so she is committed to supporting schools, at multiple levels, to improve policies and procedures around student socioemotional functioning. In her work at the NCSMH she primarily supports the Partnering for Student Wellness project, the SOR parenting program evaluation, and the National Quality Initiative.

Photo of Perrin Robinson

Perrin Robinson (he/him)

MS, Clinical Psychology
Lead Clinical Research Specialist & Director of Communications
probinso@som.umaryland.edu

Since 2016, Perrin has supported NCSMH projects on teacher, student, and young adult/adolescent wellness. Perrin holds an MS in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland where he also teaches research methods, social psychology, and gender and sexuality studies. At the NCSMH, he enjoys his roles in program evaluation via qualitative and quantitative data collection, management, analysis, and reporting. Perrin oversees NCSMH communications including management of the website, listserv, and social media, as well as supporting the Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health where he is a co-facilitator of the Cultural Responsiveness & Equity specialty track. He currently serves as the evaluator for Maryland Healthy Transitions and the Maryland School Mental Health Response Program, is the NCSMH advisory board liaison, leads the NCSMH wellness committee, and co-coordinates the NCSMH student volunteer program. Perrin's professional interests involve intersectionally understanding and dismantling links between discrimination and wellness, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth.

Headshot of Gabrielle Sanchez

Gabrielle Sanchez (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
School Mental Health Counselor
Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School
gsanchez@som.umaryland.edu

Gabrielle Sanchez is a School Mental Health Counselor at the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP). Ms. Sanchez graduated with her master’s degree from Indiana University School of Social Work. Ms. Sanchez began working in the mental health field as a case manager at a residential facility shortly after finishing her bachelor’s in social work at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN. This opportunity allowed for Ms. Sanchez to work with children, families and various service agencies to support effective client change. Ms. Sanchez provides individual, family, and group therapy to students in Baltimore City Public Schools. She has been trained in Botvin’s Life Skills, Brief Intervention for School Clinicians (BRISC), and Trauma Focus Cognitive Behavioral therapy.

Joseph Santangelo (he/him)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
Digital Harbor High School
jsantangelo@som.umaryland.edu

Joseph Santangelo, LMSW, is a School Mental Health Counselor for the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP). Joseph graduated with his master’s degree from Morgan State University School of Social Work. He has worked in Baltimore communities for the past five years, helping connect families to affordable housing, training individuals to seek gainful employment, and advocating for those in crisis. Joseph was previously an intern with SMHP at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and is passionate about working in Baltimore City high schools. He provides individual, group and family therapy to students, and has been trained in Botvin LifeSkills and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Photo of Jasmine Savoy

Jasmine Savoy (she/her)

MSW, LSCW-C
School Mental Health Counselor
Carver Vocational-Technical High School
jsavoy@som.umaryland.edu

Jasmine Savoy is a School Mental Health Counselor with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP). Ms. Savoy graduated with her Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. Ms. Savoy has experience in case management, individual and group therapy, and inpatient behavioral health. Ms. Savoy currently provides individual, family, and group therapy to high school students of Baltimore City Public Schools. In addition to providing counseling services, she also provides teacher consultations, staff-in-services, classroom presentations, and family outreach activities. Ms. Savoy’s passion for school based mental health began in her first year of graduate school. She cares about the well-being of adolescents and wants to help students develop social-emotional skills they can use over time.

Cindy Schaeffer headshot

Cindy Schaeffer (she/her)

PhD, Child-Clinical Psychology
Core Faculty & Associate Professor of Psychiatry
cschaeff@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Schaeffer's research focuses on developing, evaluating, and ensuring the successful real-world implementation of interventions for youth involved in, or at high risk of involvement in, the juvenile justice and child protective service (CPS) systems. She is particularly interested in family, school, and peer-based interventions that target issues such as school dropout and expulsion; deviant peer relationships; teen and parent substance abuse; low parenting skill; and family conflict / family violence. Dr. Schaeffer’s work has been highly influenced by Multisystemic Therapy (MST), an ecological, empirically-supported family-based intervention originally designed for juvenile offenders, and she has worked to adapt that model for new populations. She is also the developer of a linked parent-teen mobile phone app system, iKinnect, to improve parent-teen warmth and parental management of risky teen behavior.

Christa Schmidt headshot

Christa Schmidt (she/her)

MA, Developmental Psychology
Graduate Assistant
christa.schmidt@som.umaryland.edu

Christa is a third-year doctoral student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College in 2018 and her master's degree in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University in 2020. Christa's research primarily aims to understand how bicultural children become healthy bicultural adults in different cultural contexts.

Dawn Shanklin headshot

Dawn Shanklin (she/her)

MA, Clinical Psychology, LMHC
School Mental Health Counselor
dshanklin@som.umaryland.edu 

Dawn Shanklin is school mental health clinician with the Prince George’s County School Mental Health Initiative. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Massachusetts. She graduated from the Professional School of Psychology at Argosy University with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She has worked as a clinician and adjustment counselor in various community, school, and hospital settings providing mental health services to toddlers, children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She is a dedicated, compassionate, and skilled counselor with extensive experience in clinical assessment and trauma-informed care for children, adolescents, and families. The therapeutic approaches she uses are cognitive behavioral, client-centered, psychodynamic, family therapy, and client-centered play therapy. She is looking forward to serve children and families in Prince George’s County Schools.

Cameron Sheedy headshot

Cameron Sheedy (she/her)

MS, Public & Urban Policy
Research Project Coordinator
csheedy@som.umaryland.edu

Cameron is a graduate of The New School where she earned her master’s degree in Public & Urban Policy. She has conducted comprehensive research on youth gun violence, as well as the damaging mental and physical effects of policing on historically marginalized and continuously underserved communities. Additionally, she has worked on projects to increase support for young people and families experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse, and other forms of trauma. She is dedicated to eliminating pipelines into the criminal legal system and promoting non-carceral approaches to community health, safety, and opportunity. She is the project coordinator for the Maryland Early Intervention Program, Maryland Healthy Transitions, Youth Care Coordination, and the School Mental Health Virtual Learning Series at the NCSMH.

Erin Sisk headshot

Erin Sisk (she/her)

BS, Psychology, Sociology
Community Outreach Coordinator
esisk@som.umaryland.edu

Erin has been facilitating community outreach for the Prince George's School Mental Health Initiative since 2007. She has worked with both middle and high school students, helping them as they transition to high school and then onto post-secondary education and the workforce. Over the past decade, she has created and maintained an extensive resource directory that assists students and their families find the necessary resources to help them succeed.

Tanae Smith headshot

Tanae Smith (she/her)

LGPC
School Mental Health Counselor
tanae.smith@som.umaryland.edu

Tanae Smith is a licensed graduate professional counselor (LGPC). Ms. Smith received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Stevenson University and her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Bowie State University. She has over 5 years of experience working in various mental health settings including inpatient psychiatry, outpatient/community-based mental health, psychiatric and residential rehabilitation, partial hospitalization, and crisis/suicide prevention and intervention through Baltimore County Crisis Response. Ms. Smith has had the privilege of working alongside the Chief of Psychiatry, helping to pioneer the first Adult Psychiatric Day Hospital while employed at University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. Despite having worked primarily with adults, Ms. Smith has always been passionate about serving adolescents. She believes that children are impressionable and with the right amount of care and guidance, they can grow to be productive and successful contributors to society. She’s looking most forward to being able to serve the youth of Baltimore City!

Claudia Sosa headshot

Claudia Sosa (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
CSosa@som.umaryland.edu

Claudia is a school mental health clinician with the Prince George’s County School Mental Health Initiative. She is passionate about working with students to reach their potential by providing therapeutic supports to students and their families where she utilizes a strengths-based and trauma-sensitive perspectives. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work where she obtained her master's degree. She has worked with students and families for over 5 years and is excited to continue working in providing services to families in Prince George’s county.

Rachel Spiegler Headshot

Rikki Spiegler (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
Associate Director, School Mental Health Program
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute High School
rspiegler@som.umaryland.edu

Rachel “Rikki” Spiegler is an LCSW-C and an ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider. She received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. For four years, Rikki worked in a non-public school providing individual, group, and family counseling services as well as social skills training to students ages 10-21 with diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, language processing challenges, and learning differences. In private practice, Rikki provided therapeutic services to children, adolescents, young adults, and their families. Rikki is currently working in Baltimore City Schools as a school-based clinician and is passionate about taking a supportive, strengths-based approach to providing comprehensive services to children and their families.

Headshot of Janai Springer

Janai Springer (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
School Mental Health Counselor
Dorothy I. Height Elementary School
springer@som.umaryland.edu

Janai Springer completed her MSW program at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and is excited to contribute her skills and knowledge to providing mental health counseling for elementary school students in Baltimore City. After completing her social work internship at Furman Templeton Elementary School, and working with many other student populations, including special needs and ESOL students, she realized her passion for helping young learners thrive in all aspects of their lives. Ms. Springer is interested in pursuing her clinical license and making a lasting positive impact in the local community through providing mental health education and support to under-served children and families.

Yao Sun headshot

Yao Sun (she/her)

Graduate Assistant
MA, Child and Family Education
yao.sun@som.umaryland.edu

Yao Sun is a graduate research assistant at NCSMH. She is currently a doctoral student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program at UMBC. Before joining NCSMH, She managed projects on youth's psychological well-being in Italy and Hong Kong. Yao’s research interests mainly focus on youth's social and emotional development such as social skills and aggressive behaviors, and how parenting practices and culture may shape this development.

Courtney Vaughan headshot

Courtney Vaughan (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
School Transition Specialist
cvaughan@som.umaryland.edu

Mrs. Vaughan began her career as a clinical social worker shortly after graduating from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 2005. Her passion for working with families and children in Baltimore City started when she joined the University of Maryland School Mental Health Program, as she provided clinical services in Baltimore City Public Schools for a number of years. Mrs. Vaughan's desire for supporting families and working with schools continued as she transitioned to her current position as a School Transition Specialist with the University of Maryland's BFAST Program (Bringing Families & Schools Together). The purpose of this program is to support students, families, and school staff as a student returns to their school and community following a psychiatric hospitalization at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

Photo of Christina Walker

Christina Walker (she/her)

MS, Human Services-Special Education
Budget Analyst
cnwalker@som.umaryland.edu

Christina has been with the Center for around 20 years and specializes in finances and conference coordination. Christina provides a wealth of logistical support related to financing and Center operations.

Maya Wallace headshot

Maya Wallace (she/her)

MSW, LMSW
School Mental Health Counselor
maya.wallace@som.umaryland.edu

Maya Wallace graduated with her master’s degree from the Morgan State University School of Social Work. Her area of specialization is in urban youth, children, and families. Ms. Wallace was a trainee with the School Mental Health Program (SMHP) at Western High School, where she provided a continuum of effective mental health promotion and intervention to build on strengths and address the needs of students and families. Ms. Wallace was inspired by her internship with SMHP to continue working with children and families and is now a SMHP Counselor at Franklin Square Elementary Middle School.

Ashley Woods headshot

Ashley Woods (she/her)

MSW, LCSW-C
School Mental Health Senior Counselor
Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts High School
awoods@som.umaryland.edu

Ashley Woods is a Senior Clinician for the University of Maryland, School Mental Health Program (SMHP). Ms. Woods has been working in under the Expanded School Mental Health Program for 8 years and has taken a special interest in working in Baltimore City high schools. She has been trained and certified in Botvin’s Life Schools, Brief Intervention for School Clinicians (BRISC), and Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA). Ms. Woods has a strong interest in supporting and developing the field of Social Work by training multiple Masters level students, as well as being a resource to colleagues.

Ellie Wu headshot

Ellie Wu (she/her)

Predoctoral Intern
ewu@som.umaryland.edu

Ellie is pursuing her PhD in clinical-community psychology at the University of South Carolina. She is completing her pre-doctoral internship training at the National Center for School Mental Health within the school mental health track. Her research broadly focuses on improving the treatment engagement of youth and families in mental health services, with a specific interest in using observational methods to explore how providers support engagement in usual care. Her clinical interests focus on promoting resilience among youth and adolescents exposed to chronic adversity and in child welfare. She is drawn to school mental health as an avenue for delivering ecologically-focused interventions and increasing the accessibility of evidence-based care for youth and families living in poverty.

Photo of Marie Yuille

Marie Yuille (she/her)

MBA
Lead Clinical Research Specialist
myuille@som.umaryland.edu

Marie Yuille graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology in 2015 from UMBC. Before joining the NCSMH, she worked at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center for 3.5 years as a Clinical Research Assistant, and assisted with various intensive studies that focused on cognitive remediation in patients with schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia. Her duties included study recruitment, facilitation, and data management assistance. She joined the Center as a Clinical Research Specialist for the State Opioid Response (SOR) beginning in 2019.

A placeholder photo until a headshot is acquired.

Melissa Zarger (she/her)

MA, Psychology
Research Project Coordinator
mzarger@som.umaryland.edu

Melissa graduated with her master's degree from Catholic University. At the Center, she serves as Research Coordinator for the Maryland School Mental Health Response Program. Prior to joining the NCSMH team, she worked for the Johns Hopkins Center for Prevention and Early Intervention on projects assessing preventive interventions and training delivery methods in Baltimore City elementary schools. She has experience administering a resilience-based group therapy program for children and adolescents in both school and private practice settings. Her interests broadly focus on improving identification of internalizing disorders in youth and increasing access to evidence-based mental health services.