January 2015
In This Issue Los Angeles Mission Student Grant Writer President's Honor Roll No Health Without Mental Health Symposium Latina/o Certificate Program Dr. Robert Bloom Military Advanced Education Top School New Academic Programs Alumna Dr. Susy Francis Faculty Service Learning Awards Psychology of Women Summit Grants Dr. Priscilla DassBrailsford FACTs Symposium Chicago Campus Hosts Conferences Dr. Mekel Harris Los Angeles Campus Agency Fair Insight Magazine Explores Life After Trauma
Message from the President Like most of you, I began the New Year with some highly aspirational resolutions. Also, like many of you--at least I hope I'm not alone--I've already fallen short! Perhaps this year, my New Year's resolution should be "learn how to make resolutions that stick!" My oldest son started the New Year with two resolutions: Make his bed in the morning without being asked, and beat his current record for running a mile. He is not making his bed, but he is running regularly. My youngest son, however, told me that New Year's resolutions don't work. He says that we should focus on making each day better than the one before. He is clearly a wise soul. I do like his idea of taking one day at a time and finding a way to make it better than the one before. We so often have the tendency to think ahead: Toward the end of a semester, to the next break, to our summer vacation, and so on. The power of each day can easily be overlooked as can how each day's efforts and contributions systematically move us toward our personal and collective goals. Since the start of the semester, I have corresponded with countless students, all of whom are invigorated and excited at either continuing their studies or starting out new. I pledge to, each day, work to ensure their success, to day-over-day advance The Chicago School's unique mission, and to make our university ever closer to being the place of choice to learn, work, and contribute to our future. I wish you all a successful semester and invite you to join me in taking one day at a time, value that day's contributions, while remaining excited and optimistic about the one ahead. Follow me on Twitter at @TCSPPPrez to stay connected. Warm regards, Michele Nealon-Woods, Psy.D.
Los Angeles Mission Receives Funding for Innovative Program Provided by TCSPP Practicum Students
TCSPP Supports TCSPP Cultural Impact Conference TCSPP Chicago Campus February 13 Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting Philadelphia, PA March 5-8 American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Annual Conference Frisco, TX March 12-14 American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference & Expo Orlando, FL March 12-15 The Society for Humanistic Psychology Annual Conference
Chicago, IL March 26-29 Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) Annual Conference Seattle, WA March 26-28
TCSPP in the Media Dr. Dina Glaser Medill Reports January 14
Due to the success of an innovative approach of integrating psychology and spirituality and/or religion that embraces the concept of mind, body and spirit, Clinical Psychology Program students from the Los Angeles Campus will continue to provide expanded psychological services to homeless men and women living in downtown's Skid Row for the next year through a $50,000 donation from the Goldwin Foundation to the Los Angeles Mission. Students from TCSPP have been providing psychological services as part of their practicum training for the last three years at the Mission. In 2013, 706 Los Angeles Mission clients received therapeutic treatment from 14 TCSPP students for a total of 2,180 hours. Listen to the KPCC-FM story about the partnership. "The goal of the partnership with the Los Angeles Mission is to provide a holistic approach to treatment, and to learn from each other how to better serve the clients housed there," explained Teresa Masi, MFT, senior director of Clinical Training at TCSPP. Herb Smith, president of the Los Angeles Mission, said the financial assistance from Goldwin will continue the Mission's work with The Chicago School and will help the Los Angeles Mission "provide more people with the chance for permanent life change." Keep an eye on The Chicago School's YouTube channel. It will soon include a video of what the students have to say about the program.
Lone Therapist, Gifted Grant Writer: TCSPP Student Sonya Bruton and Her Work at Community Clinic, Inc. Washington, D.C. Campus doctoral student Sonya Bruton, M.P.A, M.A. has a lot to be proud of as she works toward finishing her degree. Placed at the nonprofit, Marylandbased Community Clinic, Inc. (CCI) for her doctoral externship, the therapist not only treated 12 to 16 patients each week for depression, anxiety, behavioral issues and other disorders, but also secured a two-year, $250,000 annual Health Resources and Services Administration grant for the agency. This ensured that when her externship ended, CCI, a primary medical care practice that offers both physical and mental health services to the underinsured and the uninsured, can be able to continue to offer therapy to its patients at the agency, and also at its eight other sites. Read more about Bruton.
Dr. James Walsh Parents January 13 Fox 32 December 3 TCSPP APA Monitor January 12 Dr. Cynthia Worthen InsideHigherEd January 9 Dr. Joseph Martin Stevenson InsideHigherEd January 7 TCSPP Chicago Tribune January 6 Dr. Gregory Canillas Psych 1 on 1 January 5 The North Star November 24 Dr. Nayeli Chavez APA Monitor January 5 Dr. Ryan Tobiaz WUSA 9 January 5 TCSPP ReleaseWire January 2 Dr. Joseph Martin Stevenson Diverse December 25 TCSPP KPCC-FM December 25 Martha P. Farmer Dallas Business Journal December 17 West Cobb Patch December 10 Dr. Patricia Arredondo Daily Herald Business Ledger
Washington, D.C. Campus Earns First President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll Recognition The Corporation for National and Community Service has named TCSPP's Washington, D.C. Campus to the 2014 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, marking that campus' first appearance on the list. In addition, the Southern California Campuses made the Honor Roll for the second consecutive year. The Chicago Campus was first in earning this distinction and has been on the list for six consecutive years. This annual designation is the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, servicelearning and civic engagement. "Service and higher education go hand in hand," said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "These schools are inspiring young leaders to roll up their sleeves and work alongside community members to solve problems. By recognizing the institutions who are leading the way to achieve meaningful, measurable results for the communities they serve, we also highlight the vital role all colleges and universities play in addressing community challenges and placing more students on a lifelong path of civic engagement."
National Symposium "No Health Without Mental Health" to Bring Together Leading Neuropsychologists for Fresh Look at Mental Health Issues Co-sponsored by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health, and the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County, The Chicago School will host "No Health Without Mental Health," a national symposium that will explore the new insights from studies of the brain that provide solutions to some of the most complex problems facing our healthcare delivery system and the nation today. The free event will take place on Wednesday, March 18 from 6-8 p.m. at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health in Washington, D.C. This event is second in a series of national events that continues TCSPP's 35th anniversary, celebrating innovation in the field. The event will feature top-tier experts, including Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Mohammad Akhter, M.D., M.P.H., former director of D.C. Department of Health and Chairman of D.C. Health Benefits Exchange Authority; Georges Benjamin, M.D., executive director of the American Public Health Association; and Sue Carter, Ph.D., director of The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. These prominent leaders in the field will discuss the implications of progress in neuropsychology and provide a fresh look at issues including trauma, chronic disease, education for health care workers, and LGBT health concerns. Space is limited and RSVP is required. The event will be webcast. Details to follow on Eventbrite.
December 12 TCSPP The Chicago Crusader December 6 TCSPP MyFoxChicago.com Pharos-Tribune December 2 Dr. Melody Bacon Therapy Cable December 1 TCSPP LooktotheStars.org November 28 Dr. Jennifer DeFeo Psych 1 on 1 November 26 Dr. Melissa PhillipsJordan WHUR-FM November 19
TCSPP Students & Alumni in the Media Anjhula Mya Bais Huffington Post January 5 Dr. Cynthia B. Baker Street Insider December 22 Dr. Kimarie Engerman St. Thomas Source December 17 Dr. Jennifer Meckes CitizensVoice.com December 7 Sheldon Watts The Herald-News December 6 Dr. Henrik Gert Larson Campaign December 3 Cojo Tee GhanaWeb December 2
Unique Latina/o Mental Health Certificate Program Launches at Irvine Branch Campus To address the increasing need for culturally competent mental health providers, TCSPP has launched a Latina/o Mental Health Certificate program at its Irvine Branch Campus. Led by Nadia Rojas-Jones, Ed.D., and housed under the Institute for Professional & Continuing Studies, the program is the only one of its kind in California, and one of only a few in the U.S. Tailored to fit the schedules of working professionals and graduate students, and to train mental health professionals how to better relate and address the needs of growing Latino communities, the program aims to increase their expertise in delivering mental health services, moving beyond basic knowledge to broader insights into the Latino culture. The curriculum for the modules was developed by a committee of TCSPP faculty with an expertise in Latina/o mental health. They included Ricardo Gonsalves, Ed.D. and Gerardo Canul, Ph.D. of the Los Angeles Campus; Hector Torres, Psy.D. and Virginia Qui単onez, Psy.D. of the Chicago Campus; and Azara Santiago-Rivera, Ph.D., Director of the National Center for Research and Practice, Latino Mental Health. In addition, Dr. Patricia Arredondo, Ed.D., Chicago Campus President, offered her expertise in shaping the program. Through course modules that can be taken separately or as a whole, students are educated about the key issues in Latina/o mental health. Each module provides a set of skills, techniques, and elements of cultural competence that enhance service delivery. The next module, "Interviewing Skills with Latina/os," takes place on February 7 and 21 in Irvine. Read the news release.
Illinois Governor Appoints Dr. Robert Bloom to Statewide Committee to Tackle Abuse at Youth Residential Halls Robert Bloom, Ph.D., an affiliate professor in the Clinical Psy.D. Department at the Chicago Campus, has been appointed by outgoing Illinois Governor Pat Quinn as advisor to the Illinois Children and Family Services Advisory Committee. His appointment was in response to allegations of assaults and abuse at some of the state's residential treatment facilities for youth. Dr. Bloom's long and storied career includes 21 years as executive director of Jewish Children's Bureau (now Jewish Child & Family Services) in Chicago, and eight years as director of residential treatment at Bellefaire in Shaker Heights, Ohio. More than qualified to handle the appointment, Dr. Bloom is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Children's Residential Centers, and has in the past been appointed to task forces and committees by the President of the United States and governors of Virginia, Ohio and Minnesota. When asked what he hoped to accomplish during his appointment, Dr. Bloom said, "I hope to encourage significant review of, and change in,
Shirin Zarqa-Lederman The Times of Trenton November 26
Stay Connected
how we spend money on children's services. I hope to fix the broken monitoring system." Though Dr. Bloom was appointed by the former governor, he has met with newly elected Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's staff, and believes that since the committee was established by the legislature, his appointment should continue until the issues are resolved. Additional Appointments and Awards Joseph Martin Stevenson, Ph.D., The Chicago School's Chief Academic Officer and Vice President of Academic Affairs, was recognized by Jackson State University for his founding of its Executive Ph.D. Program in Urban Higher Education at a 10th anniversary celebration of the program. Patricia Arredondo, Ed.D., Chicago Campus President, was appointed to the American Psychological Association's (APA) Board of Professional Affairs for the year 2015. Among other things, the board is responsible for developing recommendations for, and monitoring the implementation of, APA policy, standards and guidelines for the profession of psychology. Dr. Arredondo has also been invited to serve on the MBA/Diversity Magazine Advisory Board. Milton Fuentes, Psy.D., department chair of the Clinical Psy.D. Program at the Washington, D. C. Campus, was appointed to the American Psychological Association's (APA) Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA). The committee functions as a catalyst for action on ethnic minority issues and concerns by interacting with, and making recommendations to, the various components of the APA's governing structure, APA membership, and other groups.
Military Advanced Education Recognizes TCSPP as Top School in 2015 Guide to Colleges & Universities Military Advanced Education (MAE) has awarded The Chicago School the designation of a Top School in its 2015 MAE Guide to Colleges & Universities, which measures best practices in military and veteran education. The Chicago School was evaluated on its military culture, financial aid, flexibility, general support, and on-campus and online support services. The Guide will serve as an invaluable tool for both education services officers and transition offers when advising service members about their educational opportunities. Read the TCSPP news release.
Looking for New and Trending Academic Programs? It's all Here! The Chicago School is launching several new and exciting programs in Spring II, 2015. These new additions enhance its strong academic roster of programs that train future psychology, behavioral and health sciences practitioners, and attract those already in the field who are interested in building upon their expertise.
Irvine Branch Campus 
M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis: Students train to affect socially significant behavioral changes in individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, brain injury, or coping with mental and social issues as a result of aging.
Online Campus 
Ed.D. Educational Psychology and Technology: Bridging the gap between research and professional practice, students train to improve learning outcomes by applying evidence-based research to practice in organizations and the classroom.

M.A. in Behavioral Economics: Designed for the working adult interested in the psychological perspectives of human decision making, risk assessment, and consumer behavior, this alternative to a traditional M.B.A. prepares professionals for careers in academia, consulting, public service, politics, marketing, public relations, and healthcare.
To learn more about these and other TCSPP programs, visit Admissions.
Meet Alumna Susy Francis, Psy.D. Having received both her M.A. and Psy.D. degrees from the Chicago Campus, Dr. Susy Francis, class of '03, is using her education to do her best work in both the Windy City and sometimes on the sunny shores of her native St. Croix. As the President and CEO of Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago (CCCOC), Dr. Francis leads the nonprofit agency in its efforts to live up to its tenets of social justice, multicultural competence and integration of faith and practice. She has also spearheaded a service-learning project in St. Croix, as part of a partnership with TCSPP. "My education prepared me to lead. The education, opportunities and level of thinking and processing afforded me in classes and by my professors allowed me to not only learn the subject matter but to be innovative, creative and make things happen." More than just a leader, Dr. Francis is an inventive thinker who has positively impacted CCCOC--first as the executive director, and now as president and CEO. With a desire to help low-income children on a therapeutic level, she started doing so by offering after-school programs in public schools. She also works through a network of churches to offer counseling services to parents and families, and has expanded her organization's reach to 29 neighborhoods throughout Chicago. Furthermore, she offers seminars and trainings to teachers, school administrators and corporate leaders and teams, and still manages to serve as an adjunct professor at TCSPP. "As [TCSPP] students we were told that we will be prepared to become leaders in the field and be able to creatively take on many roles...[this] is something I have lived by," she said.
Service Learning Faculty Awards Support Student Course Development Faculty recipients of The Chicago School's Service Learning Faculty Awards for spring and summer 2015 were announced by the Chicago Campus' Department of Community Partnerships. The Service Learning Faculty Awards provide funding to professors who incorporate an innovative, practical, community-focused project into their courses, providing students the opportunities to apply what they are learning. At the Chicago Campus, Eleazar Cruz Eusebio, Psy.D. is using his funding to develop a mentoring project for his students, while Connie Fuller, Ph.D., and her students are using her funding to develop a strategic business plan for a local nonprofit. And, Rachel Losoff, Ph.D., will use her funding to allow school psychology students to receive training and consultation to implement their plans that address change and interventions at local learning sites in Chicago. Gregory Canillas, Ph.D. and David Sitzer, Ph.D. at the Los Angeles Campus, will incorporate their funding into their courses to develop a student and expert panel discussion on the psychological/behavioral and neurological aspects of pediatric cancer. Online faculty member, Lori Soli, Ph.D., will utilize her funding to provide students with a reciprocal learning experience through partnerships with Chicago area nonprofit agencies.
TCSPP Awarding Grants to Attend International Summit The Chicago School will award travel grants to both students and faculty who wish to present or attend the 2015 Society for the Psychology of Women Summit, "From International to Transnational: Transforming the Psychology of Women" in Toronto, Ontario, on August 4-5. The goal of the summit is to foster new directions in the psychology of women through exploration and awareness of international perspectives. The proposal deadline is February 1, and Summit registration begins in May. To apply for the grants, please contact Sayaka Machizawa, Psy.D.
Dr. Priscilla Dass-Brailsford Receives Funding from Both NCIS and APA to Further International Psychology Research and Partnership Priscilla Dass-Brailsford, Ed.D., professor and chair of the International Psychology Program at the Washington, D.C. Campus, received The Chicago School National Center for International Studies (NCIS) Faculty/Staff Campus Internationalization Grant. The goal of the grant is two-fold: In the short term, it will allow TCSPP to conduct a qualitative research project titled, "The Exploration of Traumatic Effects Among the Kakchiqueles Living in Sololรก, Guatemala." In the long term, it will
provide opportunities for students in the trauma track of the International Psychology Program, and students in the masters and doctoral program from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, to build on this project for their future dissertation work. The students will also have identified and established a community research partnership. Dr. Dass-Brailsford was also chosen to represent the American Psychological Association at the 9th International Congress of Mental Health at the University of Guadalajara, March 5-7 in Mexico. The trip will be funded by the Mexican Psychological Association, which has organized the conference together with the Psychologists Association Chapter Jalisco and other related institutions. The conference serves as a platform to promote research and academic interchange with different universities, professional organizations and professional individuals from other countries in different disciplines of psychology.
International Symposium in Washington, D.C. Addressed Knowledge Gap in Neuroscience
In coordination with Georgetown University, the Washington, D.C. Campus hosted the Faculty Association of Chinese in Translational neuroScience's (FACTs) Translational Neuroscience Symposium. Among the many goals of the symposium, which took place in November, was to help attendees fill the knowledge gap in translational neuroscience. Pictured are attendees and panelists.
Mark Your Calendars: Chicago Campus to Host Important Conferences The Chicago Campus will host the 18th annual TCSPP Cultural Impact Conference on February 13. This year's conference, "Immigration and the Role of Psychology," will explore the domains through which psychologists can make a difference in addressing the diverse needs of immigrant communities and individuals with unique backgrounds. Featuring 21 sessions, the conference will examine a range of issues that include mental health considerations for political refugees; the migration experiences of Russian-speaking immigrants; and determining competency to participate in immigration removal proceedings. Chicago Campus President, Dr. Patricia Arredondo will be the keynote speaker. Continuing Education credits are available. The Society for Humanistic Psychology Annual Conference (APA Division 32) will feature TCSPP's Chief Academic Officer Joseph Martin Stevenson,
Ph.D. This year's conference, themed "Humanistic Revolution: Innovative Relevance in a Complex World," will take place March 26-29, and asks the question: "What does the Society of Humanistic Psychology have to offer to a complex, hurting world that is seeking sustainable, innovative and relevant care?"
Dr. Mekel Harris and Students' Symposium Proposal Accepted for APA Annual Convention A proposal submitted by Mekel Harris, Ph.D., and six of her students in the Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) Program at the Los Angeles Campus have been accepted by the American Psychological Association (APA), Division 2, for the APA's 2015 Annual Convention. Collaborators, Dr. Harris and students, Anushree Belur, M.A., Katharine Hoffman, M.A., Stormie Keeler, M.A., Jennie Brooks, M.A., Erin Norton, M.A., and Lilit Abraamyan, M.A., together will be leading a symposium titled "Experiential Learning Approaches: Integrating Theory with Clinical Practice" at the convention. The symposium will highlight student dyads' engagement in experiential learning within community-based health contexts, as part of a graduate health psychology course taught by Dr. Harris. Implications for teaching pedagogy will be reviewed and discussed during the symposium. The APA Annual Convention takes place August 6-9 in Toronto, Ontario.
Community Agencies and TCSPP Students Explore Practicum Opportunities to Gain Expertise
The annual Agency Fair at the Los Angeles Campus provided an opportunity for students to meet with representatives from 27 agencies available as practicum sites prior to the submission of applications. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's VIDA (Vital Intervention and Directional Alternatives) Program was among the participating agencies. Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Spiegle (pictured) talked to students about the comprehensive re-directional program for youth identified as high risk for gang involvement, and for offending. TCSPP practicum students have been engaged with the VIDA program since 2009.
"Many of the families (minors and parents) in the VIDA Academy struggle to understand their internal feelings due to lifelong physical and emotional trauma," explained Deputy Spiegle. "The Chicago School provides an essential service to the family unit. The practicum students provide answers and solutions to life's many hurdles." The agency fair is a campus-wide initiative.