OUR FACULTY

For more details, visit graduate.bankstreet.edu/cps.

Suzanne L. Abrams has a Master of Science in Speech Pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also has a certification in Speech/Language Pathology from ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association). Erin Baer holds a Master of Social Work in Clinical Practice and Human Services Management from Fordham University and a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication, English, and Creative Writing from New York University.

Elise Bauer has an MSEd from Bank Street College of Education and a BA in American Civilization from George Washington University. Tali Berkovitz holds a PhD, where the focus of her studies was on the successful integration of dual language instruction and an MA in Early Childhood Education from New York University. She holds a BS in Psychology from Brooklyn College, City University of New York. Kelly Bird is currently working toward her PhD in Educational Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. Bird earned a MSEd from Bank Street College of Education in Elementary Education and a BA in Psychology/Sociology from Wesleyan University. Margaret Blachly holds an MSEd in Bilingual Early Childhood General and Special Education from Bank Street College. She earned her BA in Latin American Studies from Smith College in Northampton, MA. Julie Broderick has an MS in Applied Linguistics from Georgetown University and an MSEd in Math Leadership from Bank Street College. She has a BA in Government and Linguistics from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Eliza Chung has an MA in Cognitive Studies of Educational Practice from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BS in Psychology and Education from Barnard College, Columbia University. Chaylor Clark has an MSEd in Childhood General and Special Education from Bank Street College of Education and a BS in Sociology from Southern Connecticut State University. Ellen Ferrin earned an MSEd in Childhood general and Special Education from Bank Street College. She also holds an MSEd in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work. Her BA in Sociology and Black Studies is from Amherst College. Gilbert Foley earned his EdD in School and Counseling Psychology from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. He graduated magna cum laude with a BA in psychology from Albright College in Reading, PA. Amy Hest has an MA in Library Science from C.W. Post College and a BA from Hunter College. Lily Howard Scott holds a MS in Elementary Education and Literacy from Bank Street College. Her BS from Northwestern University is in Theater and History. Lauren Hyman Kaplan holds an MA in Counseling from New York University and a BA in Psychology from Emory University. Tara Kirton holds an MSEd in Early Childhood Special and General Education from Bank Street College and an MA in Public Communications from Fordham University. Her BA is from the State University of New York at Albany in English. Lesley Koplow has a Master of Science Education in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College and a LCSW from Hunter School of Social Work. She also holds a BA in Child Development from New College. Carol Lazorisak earned an MA with a double major in Deafness and Vocational Rehabilitation and Counselor Education from New York University. She also holds an Interpreter Master Mentor Certificate from University of Colorado at Boulder and Northeastern University. Her BA in Psychology and Sociology is from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Timothy Lightman has an MEd in Special Education and an MS in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, both from Bank Street College of Education. He also has a BA in American History from New York University. Christine Low has an MS in Social Work from Columbia University. She has been a licensed social worker since graduation. Between 1991 and 2004, she was licensed as a CSW and she received her LCSW in 2004 when that licensing option was initiated. Genevieve Lowry, MS.Ed, CEIM, CCLS has a master’s degree in Education from Fordham University and her bachelor’s degree from Wheelock College in Early Childhood Education and Child Life. Jill Mays earned an MS in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University and a BA in Occupational Therapy from University of Pennsylvania. Charlene Marchese earned an EdD from Rutgers University in Early Childhood Elementary Education, specializing in Mathematics Education, and a MEd in Leadership in Mathematics Education from Bank Street College. Her BA in Elementary Education is from Rutgers University.

Allison Arthur May holds an MEd in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University and an MEd in Elementary Education, with a concentration in Science/Environmental Education from Antioch New England, in Keene, NH. Her BA in Philosophy and the Political Thought/Environmental Studies is from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Elizabeth McKenna received her Executive Coaching Certificate from Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds an MS in Education, specializing in Supervision and Administration from Bank Street College and a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Vermont, Burlington. Ginny O’Hare Perrin has an MSEd in Special Education from Bank Street College and a BA in Child Psychology and Education from Swarthmore College. Candace Phaire received her PhD from New York University in the Department of Teaching and Learning and her MSEd in Elementary Education from Brooklyn College. She earned her BA in Political Science from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Jacqueline Pilati earned her MA in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University and her BS in Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities from St. John’s University.

Nawal Qarooni holds a Master of Education in Teaching from Brooklyn College and a Master of Journalism from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School. Laurie Rabinowitz, MSEd, MA, is a faculty member in Literacy and Reading. She has taught courses at Teachers College, Columbia University, Barnard College, New York University, Hunter College, and LIU Brooklyn and has supervised student teachers at Teachers College, Columbia University. Previously, she was a special education teacher at a public school in New York City. She has also worked as a Director of Instruction at a New York City charter school. Maria Richa has been teaching at the Bank Street School for Children since 1998. She holds a BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design and an MA from Columbia University, Teachers College. Jean Schreiber earned her MS in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education, where she is an instructor in the Continuing Professional Studies Program. Rafa Perez-Segura received his Masters in Elementary Education with a Spanish/Bilingual authorization from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education.

Holly Thomas holds a MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also holds a B.S. degree from Northwestern University’s School of Communication. Ana Lisa Tiburcio earned a Masters in Social Work from the City University of New York’s Hunter College School of Social Work. She also holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Children’s Studies from City University of New York’s Brooklyn College. Deborah Vilas, MS, CCLS, LMSW, is an educator, child life specialist, social worker, writer, public speaker, and consultant whose passion is anything that supports children’s development and healing in the face of everyday life or trauma. She earned an MSW from New York University and MSEd from Bank Street College of Education. Pat Watkins has a dual Masters in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Fordham University and a B.F.A in Theater from Point Park University.

Amy Withers holds a Master of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education, a Master of Science in Teaching from Fordham University, and a Master of Public Administration from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service.

Dr. Serena Wieder is a clinical psychologist who has pioneered important approaches to diagnosing and treating infants and toddlers with infant mental health and developmental disorders. She co-developed the DIR Model with Stanley Greenspan, edited two diagnostic manuals for infants and young children, and created models for post-graduate case-based training and work with parents.

Debbie Zlotowitz has an SAS from Bank Street College of Education, an MS in Exceptional Education with additional certification in Reading from SUNY Buffalo State, and a BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Buffalo.