School Mental Health Program Staff and Schools
School Mental Health Program Flier
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 (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 (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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 (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 (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.