January/February 2018

Message from the President

This month, The Chicago School community celebrates Black History Month and the contributions of African In This Issue Americans to our country and educational institutions. What began as a week-long New Trustee Joins TCSPP observance in 1926 became a month of recognition by the 1960s, made official by Presidential designation in 1976. African- Online Program Accredited American psychologists greatly by CACREP contributed to the profession, beginning with Francis Cecil Sumner, who was the SoCal Campus Dean first African American to receive his Ph.D. Selected He went on to help establish the psychology department at Howard New Department Chair University. The late Dr. Joseph L. White, TCSPP Trustee, and the Godfather of Named at TCSPP Clinical Black Psychology, said that the creation Psy.D. Program at XULA of Black Psychology was necessary to understanding the mental health needs of this population. Actress Torrey DeVitto to Host Award Luncheon Inez Beverly Prosser was America's first black female psychologist. Despite the odds, Dr. Prosser earned her doctorate in psychology 75 years ago and went on to do Community Partnership historic work, though her life was abruptly cut short. Fellows Announced Celebrations and recognitions are taking place across all campuses, including having guest speaker Dr. Bertha Holliday, a community psychologist and Washington, D.C., Alum Spotlight: Amber Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, present to students and faculty at our Sheets, M.A. Washington, D.C. Campus. The Chicago Campus will have events throughout the entire month, including a symposium to honor Dr. Joseph White and a student panel Student Impact: Larry E. discussion on understanding the black experience of AfroLatinX and the Southern Britton, Jr., M.S. California Campus Black Student Union will be hosting events throughout the month, including a night out to watch the film "Black Panther." Study Abroad to Denmark Kind regards, President Speaks at Tule Michele Reservation College Fair Michele Nealon, Psy.D. President TCSPP Supports Michele Hudgins Ozumba Elected to The Chicago School Board of Trustees CalABA Annual Conference March 9-10 Michele Hudgins Ozumba, has been elected to the Santa Clara, CA Board of Trustees, effective immediately. Ozumba is the new President of the Women's College Coalition, and ACA Conference brings a distinguished career in nonprofit and academic April 26 - 29 leadership, and thought leadership. Previously, Ozumba Atlanta, GA served as President and CEO of Women's Funding Network (WFN), an international association of over 160 ABAI Annual Convention women's foundation in the U.S. and abroad. Prior to May 24 - 28 joining WFN, Ozumba spent a decade leading the San Diego, CA Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential (GCAPP), one of the largest statewide nonprofits in the NCORE 2018 Michele Hudgins Ozumba country working to reduce teenage pregnancy. Earlier in May 29 - June 02 her career, Ozumba was a Senior Lecturer in Urban New Orleans, LA Planning and Estate Management at the University of Nigeria. In 2012, Ozumba was named by Fast Company magazine as one of the country's Extraordinary Women. SHRM June 17 - 20 Chicago, IL Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Granted Eight Years Accreditation APA Annual Convention August 9 - 12 The Online Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling San Francisco, CA Program has been granted eight years accreditation by the Board of Directors of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs through March 31, 2026. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, Upcoming TCSPP Events which provides recognition that the content and quality of a program has been evaluated and meets standards set by the Social Impact Leaders Award profession. Luncheon March 29 "This recognition is exciting for our program and students," said Dr. LoriAnn Stretch, Department Chair. "The CMHC Dallas Campus Grand Opening Program provides graduates with the skills necessary to provide mental health April 26 services to a wide range of clients, including children and adolescents, adults, families and couples." Read more. Mental Health Heroes Award Luncheon May 9 The Southern California Campuses Welcome Dr. Justin G. Cassity as the New Dean

Justin G. Cassity, Ed.D., has been appointed Southern California Campus Dean. He will be responsible for the Connect With Recent overall quality, performance, and operations of the TCSPP News Here SoCal campuses and become a member of the Executive Cabinet. Dr Cassidy will be on campus March 12, 2018.

Dr. Cassity comes to The Chicago School from Insight Magazine California State University, Los Angeles, College of Professional and Global Education, most recently holding the title of Associate Dean and Administrator of Justin G. Cassity, Ed.D. its downtown Los Angeles Campus. Prior to this position, Dr. Cassity served as Assistant Director in the Enrollment Services Graduate Unit for California State University, Long Beach, and as Assistant and Associate Dean of Admissions at Columbia University's School of Continuing Education.

Before receiving his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from UCLA, Dr. Cassity earned a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Hunter College at the City University of New York (CUNY), and also a Bachelor of Arts in English from Oklahoma Baptist University. He most recently completed the Management Development Program at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University, and also served as a Fellow in the Southern California Leadership Network for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Kelli Johnson Selected as Department Chair for Clinical Psy.D. Program at XULA Check Out What's New on Kelli Johnson, Ph.D, has been selected as the new Our Social Media Sites. Department Chair of the The Chicago School's Clinical Psy.D. Program at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA). Just prior to joining The Chicago School, Dr. Johnson served as an assistant professor and the director of Clinical Training at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University.

An APA accreditation site visitor, Dr. Johnson is also the Past President of the Association of Chicagoland Externship and Practicum Training; has served as a site visitor for the International Association of Counseling Services; and currently serves as the chair for the Kelli Johnson, Ph.D. Ethnic Racial Diversity Committee for the National Council of Schools and Programs for Professional Psychology.

"I am thrilled that Dr. Johnson has decided to join The Chicago School in this crucial role," said Margie Martyn, Ph.D., Campus Dean, Chicago and the XULA Program. "Not only has she taught for several years and been involved on several levels in the field of psychology, but as a licensed clinical psychologist, she has also worked in private practice. She has the necessary skills to be successful in the role."

Dr. Johnson will begin her new role on March 1, 2018.

Chicago Med's Torrey DeVitto to Host Social Impact Award Luncheon

In addition to networking opportunities, a good meal and prize drawings, attendees of the Social Impact Leaders Award luncheon will be treated to actress Torrey DeVitto serving as emcee at the inaugural event. Ms. DeVitto is known for starring as Dr. Natalie Manning on NBC's Chicago Med and for dedicating her free time to good causes. The actress graciously agreed to host the March 29 luncheon at Chicago's Sofitel Hotel. Registration is now open.

Organized by Institutional Advancement, the luncheon Actress Torrey also counts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois as a DeVitto sponsor, and will honor Chicago-area mental health advocates who make an impact in the areas of mental health, psychology and behavioral health. Honorees include:

Richard A. Chaifetz, Psy.D., founder, chairman and CEO of ComPsych Corporation. Dr. Chaifetz pioneered fully integrated employee assistance, behavioral health, wellness, work-life and human resources administration services. Marilyn and Larry Cohen, founders of the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education (NRCI). Housed on the Chicago Campus, NRCI is dedicated to reducing the stigma that interferes with people impacted by mental illness getting the support they need and becoming fully integrated into their communities. Beth Rom-Rymer, Ph.D., founder, Rom-Rymer and Associates and past- president, Illinois Psychological Association (IPA). As president of the IPA, Dr. Rom-Rymer led the statewide lobbying effort that resulted in the 2014 Illinois law allowing licensed clinical psychologists with advanced, specialized training in clinical psychopharmacology and medicine to prescribe medications in the treatment of mental disorders.

Proceeds from the event will go to student scholarships, NRCI, and the Chicago Campus.

2018 Community Partnerships Leader Fellows Announced

Through its Leader Fellowship program, the Community Partnerships Department at the Chicago Campus annually gives students an opportunity to create their own fellowship experiences. Designed to encourage students to create and implement innovative projects that benefit their communities, the program is open to applications from students across all TCSPP campuses.

"This year's applications were exceptional," said Jill Glenn, LCSW, Director of Community Partnerships. "We were thrilled to see so many students across the campuses desire to make a difference in their community." Mariana Lopez Leader Fellow Mariana Lopez, a student in the Chicago Campus' M.A. Counseling Psychology Program, is trained in the Reiki healing technique, and will be leading mindfulness and psychoeducational programs designed to bring awareness, reduce stress and increase an overall sense of well-being for low socioeconomic status LatinX elderly populations. She will be working with partner site Las Moradas Apartments and other organizations on the southwest side of Chicago.

Christopher Watson, a student in the Online Business Psychology (I/O Track) Ph.D. Program is the second Leader Fellow. His fellowship with partner site Mandate focuses on developing and implementing a training curriculum for healthcare providers to help them more broadly engage black men who have sex with men in HIV prevention and treatment services. His goal is to train 100 providers to identify personal biases and Christopher Watson privileges that impact patient care.

Students interested in applying for the 2019 fellowships should contact Jill Glenn at [email protected]. Meet Therapist and Lifestyle Interventionist and Alumna, Amber Sheets, M.A.

Amber Sheets graduated in July 2016 with a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the Washington, D.C. Campus, and says she receives "a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction being involved in meaningful work." She currently works at Johns Hopkins University in research that measures weight-related issues in youth with serious emotional disturbances. She also works at Compass Mental Health Consultants, where she previously worked as an intern, providing individual and family counseling to youth who have been involved in the criminal justice system.

Amber Sheets, M.A. At Johns Hopkins, Sheets explains, "my role is to provide the youth and family with health counseling services using Motivational Interviewing strategies and to facilitate behavior change within the household." She is in the process of starting an LGBTQ therapy group in Baltimore, and partnering with a local center in the city that serves this population.

"While I did not seek licensure immediately following graduation, I have been able to apply the skills that I have obtained from TCSPP in the work that I currently do. For example, translating these skills into a career that focuses primarily on physical health outcomes (e.g. BMI, physical activity, nutrition) has been challenging. However, my clinical experience in both graduate school and internship has allowed me to merge these two concepts in a very cohesive form. And much to my surprise, I enjoy it much more than I expected!"

Clinical Forensic Psychology Student Works to Improve the Lives of Patients Diagnosed with Challenging Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions

"What I like best about working at View Heights is the ability to work with individuals with a serious mental illness and being able to see them progress throughout the program to gain the necessary skills to be successful in life," said Larry E. Britton Jr., M.S., a Clinical Forensic Psychology doctoral student completing his second practicum at View Heights Convalescent Hospital in South Los Angeles.

View Heights Convalescent Hospital is considered an Institute for Mental Disease that primarily engages in Larry E. Britton Jr., M.S. providing diagnosis, treatment, or care of adults with challenging mental and behavioral health conditions. It is here that Britton has the opportunity to conduct both psychological and neurological assessments while ensuring adherance to medical necessity standards.

"Through this rotation, I have the opportunity to facilitate individual and group therapy among a diverse population, and can identify areas of improvement in the initial intake process to construct a more client-specific treatment plan," said Britton. One of Britton's proudest moments was working with a client who suffered from a serious mental illness and had poor Activities of Daily Living (ADL). He worked with the client utilizing a cognitive behavioral therapy technique of psychoeducation------teaching the client how to take care of their ADLs accurately, and why it was important to do so.

"The client is now practicing proper ADLs, accelerating through the program, and awaiting a new placement at a step-down facility," said Britton. "My motivating factor to work in this field is knowing that I cannot save the world like Batman, but can directly help individuals like this one, and see them grow while facing numerous adversities."

Applied Behavior Analysis Students Head to Denmark

Students from the Online Applied Behavior Analysis Program and Department Chair Robyn Catagnus, Ed.D., posing for a picture in Copenhagen Denmark. Students were given the opportunity to travel abroad as part of their "Happiness, Well-being, and Meaning" course.

President Nealon Keynotes University/Tribal College Career Fair

Dr. Nealon was invited by The Chicago School alumnus and Tule River Tribal Member, Paul Delgado, M.A., BCBA (pictured next to Dr. Nealon) to be keynote speaker for the 2018 University/Tribal College Career Fair open to all Native American students. Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.