Jonathan Murakami, Psy.D.
Past President
[email protected]
Staff Psychologist, The College of New Jersey
Psy.D. - Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
Professional Interests: relationship issues, including couples, families and friends; anxiety disorders; LGBTQ issues, including relational issues and identity development; crisis management, and how internet/online activity influences identity formation, relationships and psychopathology.
Personal Interests: Music, board games, extremely amateur cooking, running, theater and video games.
Past President
[email protected]
Staff Psychologist, The College of New Jersey
Psy.D. - Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
Professional Interests: relationship issues, including couples, families and friends; anxiety disorders; LGBTQ issues, including relational issues and identity development; crisis management, and how internet/online activity influences identity formation, relationships and psychopathology.
Personal Interests: Music, board games, extremely amateur cooking, running, theater and video games.
Jillian Threadgill, Psy.D.
Secretary
[email protected]
Associate Director, Counseling & Psychological Services, Rowan University
Psy.D. from Immaculata University
Professional interests: PTSD, Prolonged Exposure therapy, OCD, Exposure/Response Prevention, DBT, student parents, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, cross-cultural work centered in equity and inclusion.
Personal interests: spending time with my family, going to musicals, singing, binge-watching shows whenever possible, and reading.
Secretary
[email protected]
Associate Director, Counseling & Psychological Services, Rowan University
Psy.D. from Immaculata University
Professional interests: PTSD, Prolonged Exposure therapy, OCD, Exposure/Response Prevention, DBT, student parents, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, cross-cultural work centered in equity and inclusion.
Personal interests: spending time with my family, going to musicals, singing, binge-watching shows whenever possible, and reading.
Cesar León, Ph.D.
Member-at-Large 24-25
[email protected]
Psychological Counselor, Multicultural Specialist, Ramapo College
Ph.D. ,Counseling Psychology, Fordham University; M.A., Applied Psychology from New York University; BA., Psychology, University of Pennsylvania.
Professional interests: Developmental concerns in adolescents and young adults; issues of culture and race, particularly among traditionally under-served populations; cultural adjustment issues; interpersonal and family dynamics; depression; psychotic disorders; psychodynamic and humanistic psychotherapy.
Personal interests: Learning, exercising, playing sports, competing in Spartan obstacle course races, and spending quality time with family and friends. As a native of Washington Heights, Manhattan, he is also an avid fan of his hometown teams– the 4-time Super Bowl Champion Giants and 27-time World Series Champion Yankees.
Member-at-Large 24-25
[email protected]
Psychological Counselor, Multicultural Specialist, Ramapo College
Ph.D. ,Counseling Psychology, Fordham University; M.A., Applied Psychology from New York University; BA., Psychology, University of Pennsylvania.
Professional interests: Developmental concerns in adolescents and young adults; issues of culture and race, particularly among traditionally under-served populations; cultural adjustment issues; interpersonal and family dynamics; depression; psychotic disorders; psychodynamic and humanistic psychotherapy.
Personal interests: Learning, exercising, playing sports, competing in Spartan obstacle course races, and spending quality time with family and friends. As a native of Washington Heights, Manhattan, he is also an avid fan of his hometown teams– the 4-time Super Bowl Champion Giants and 27-time World Series Champion Yankees.
Melissa Zarin, Ph.D.
President 24-25
[email protected]
Associate Director, Counseling and Psychological Services, Montclair State University
Ph.D. Counseling Psychology from Fordham University
Professional interests: Mindfulness and Meditation, Women's Issues, Suicide Prevention, and Outreach and Mental Health Education.
Personal Interests: My family and spending time with them. My yellow lab Maisie who we rescued and who makes my day! I love Broadway Shows, Law and Order and I'm a bit of a sports fan too.
President 24-25
[email protected]
Associate Director, Counseling and Psychological Services, Montclair State University
Ph.D. Counseling Psychology from Fordham University
Professional interests: Mindfulness and Meditation, Women's Issues, Suicide Prevention, and Outreach and Mental Health Education.
Personal Interests: My family and spending time with them. My yellow lab Maisie who we rescued and who makes my day! I love Broadway Shows, Law and Order and I'm a bit of a sports fan too.
Kate Pandolpho Ph.D., LPC, NCC, GCDF
Member-at-Large
[email protected]
Director of Counseling and Student Development Services, Ocean County College
Professional Interests: working for equity and social justice.
Personal interests: going to the theater, movies, and concerts; gardening, traveling, music and dancing; I am continually learning and I am always reading about 5 books at a time! I love to be with family and friends.
Member-at-Large
[email protected]
Director of Counseling and Student Development Services, Ocean County College
Professional Interests: working for equity and social justice.
Personal interests: going to the theater, movies, and concerts; gardening, traveling, music and dancing; I am continually learning and I am always reading about 5 books at a time! I love to be with family and friends.
Sudha Wadhwani, Psy.D.
Member-at-Large
[email protected]
Staff Psychologist, Coordinator of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Initiatives, Montclair State University
Psy.D. from The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University
Professional interests: Social Justice, multicultural competency, cross-cultural psychotherapy, anxiety disorders, grief and loss, parent loss, inter-generational conflict in immigrant families, acculturative stressors, working with international students and under-served populations, consultation and outreach, and community psychology. She also has a special interest in working with LGBTQ students, coming out issues across cultures, and the intersection of multiple identities.
Member-at-Large
[email protected]
Staff Psychologist, Coordinator of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Initiatives, Montclair State University
Psy.D. from The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University
Professional interests: Social Justice, multicultural competency, cross-cultural psychotherapy, anxiety disorders, grief and loss, parent loss, inter-generational conflict in immigrant families, acculturative stressors, working with international students and under-served populations, consultation and outreach, and community psychology. She also has a special interest in working with LGBTQ students, coming out issues across cultures, and the intersection of multiple identities.
Lisa Spatafore, Psy.D
Secretary
[email protected]
Former Director of Counseling Services, Holy Family University
Psy.D - Nova Southeastern University
Professional interests: clinical training and supervision, developmental issues related to adolescent and young adults, integrative treatment strategies, wellness coaching, the mind-body connection and somatic approaches to treatment, and preventative-strength focused outreach education.
Personal interests: pilates, yoga, live music, mindfulness, travel, theater, and spending time being active in nature and with my dogs.
Secretary
[email protected]
Former Director of Counseling Services, Holy Family University
Psy.D - Nova Southeastern University
Professional interests: clinical training and supervision, developmental issues related to adolescent and young adults, integrative treatment strategies, wellness coaching, the mind-body connection and somatic approaches to treatment, and preventative-strength focused outreach education.
Personal interests: pilates, yoga, live music, mindfulness, travel, theater, and spending time being active in nature and with my dogs.
Judith Green, Psy.D.
Member-at-Large
[email protected]
Director, Center for Health & Counseling Services , Ramapo College of NJ
Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Loyola University - Maryland
Professional interests: Existentially focused psychologist specializing in treating depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, self-esteem concerns, self-injurious behaviors, and emotional dysregulation.
Personal interests: going to the beach, travel, enjoying nature, drawing
Member-at-Large
[email protected]
Director, Center for Health & Counseling Services , Ramapo College of NJ
Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Loyola University - Maryland
Professional interests: Existentially focused psychologist specializing in treating depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, self-esteem concerns, self-injurious behaviors, and emotional dysregulation.
Personal interests: going to the beach, travel, enjoying nature, drawing
Nicole Peluso, MA, LPC, NCC
Secretary
[email protected]
Psychological Counselor and Active Minds Chapter Advisor, FDU Florham
BA and MA at Caldwell University
Professional interests: depression, anxiety disorders, LGBTQ issues, stigma free awareness and advocacy, programming, suicide prevention, mindfulness, conflict resolution.
Personal interests: travel, theater, nature, NFL, food, Zumba, and family!
Secretary
[email protected]
Psychological Counselor and Active Minds Chapter Advisor, FDU Florham
BA and MA at Caldwell University
Professional interests: depression, anxiety disorders, LGBTQ issues, stigma free awareness and advocacy, programming, suicide prevention, mindfulness, conflict resolution.
Personal interests: travel, theater, nature, NFL, food, Zumba, and family!
Katie Rizman, MSW, LCSW
Co-President
[email protected]
Psychological Counselor, Monmouth University
MSW-Salisbury University
Professional interests: Clinical Training and Supervision, Working with Student Athletes, Cognitive-Behavioral, Reality, and Rational-Emotive Therapies, Motivational Interviewing, and Wellness Coaching.
Personal Interests: Travel, cooking, exercise, sunny days, and spending time with family, friends and my dog.
Co-President
[email protected]
Psychological Counselor, Monmouth University
MSW-Salisbury University
Professional interests: Clinical Training and Supervision, Working with Student Athletes, Cognitive-Behavioral, Reality, and Rational-Emotive Therapies, Motivational Interviewing, and Wellness Coaching.
Personal Interests: Travel, cooking, exercise, sunny days, and spending time with family, friends and my dog.
Dan Gordon,
NJCCA Secretary, Elections Chair
Staff Psychologist, Rutgers-Camden Student Health Services
[email protected]
(Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee-Knoxville) Rutgers-Camden: 6500 students, public, urban, primarily commuter campus. Interests: eating issues, academic development and performance, psychodynamic psychotherapy, process, therapy supervision.
NJCCA Secretary, Elections Chair
Staff Psychologist, Rutgers-Camden Student Health Services
[email protected]
(Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee-Knoxville) Rutgers-Camden: 6500 students, public, urban, primarily commuter campus. Interests: eating issues, academic development and performance, psychodynamic psychotherapy, process, therapy supervision.
Nadine Marty,
Past-President
Director, Counseling Services, Rider University
[email protected]
(Ed.D. Rutgers University) Rider College: Private, coeducational school founded in 1865 as a college of business; granted university status in 1994; approximately 6000 students-graduate and undergraduate; merged with Westminster Choir College in 1992; the main Lawrenceville campus is home to the College of Business Administration; College of Liberal Arts, Education, and Sciences; College of Continuing Studies, School of Education; and shares the Westminster College of the Arts with the Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, N.J. Professional interests: clinical training and supervision; psychodynamic treatment of developmental issues in young adults; Personal interests: birding, travel, exercise, enjoying pet ownership!
Past-President
Director, Counseling Services, Rider University
[email protected]
(Ed.D. Rutgers University) Rider College: Private, coeducational school founded in 1865 as a college of business; granted university status in 1994; approximately 6000 students-graduate and undergraduate; merged with Westminster Choir College in 1992; the main Lawrenceville campus is home to the College of Business Administration; College of Liberal Arts, Education, and Sciences; College of Continuing Studies, School of Education; and shares the Westminster College of the Arts with the Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, N.J. Professional interests: clinical training and supervision; psychodynamic treatment of developmental issues in young adults; Personal interests: birding, travel, exercise, enjoying pet ownership!
Dianne Aguero-Trotter, Ph.D.
Co-President 2016-2017
Associate Director, Counseling & Psychological Services, Seton Hall University
[email protected]
((Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, M.A. Counselor Education, Kean University, Pre-doctoral internship with the NJ Department of Veterans' Affairs.) Seton Hall University is a private, Catholic University with an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students. Professional Interests: Depression, suicide, grief/loss, trauma, eating disorders, therapy supervision and women's issues. Fluent in Spanish.
Co-President 2016-2017
Associate Director, Counseling & Psychological Services, Seton Hall University
[email protected]
((Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, M.A. Counselor Education, Kean University, Pre-doctoral internship with the NJ Department of Veterans' Affairs.) Seton Hall University is a private, Catholic University with an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students. Professional Interests: Depression, suicide, grief/loss, trauma, eating disorders, therapy supervision and women's issues. Fluent in Spanish.
Robin Davenport
Co-President 2016-2017
Director of Counseling Services, Caldwell University
[email protected]
(M.S., Indiana University, South Bend) Caldwell College: 2200 students, small private liberal arts Catholic University. Interests: relationship issues; trauma; group work; supervision; policy development; writing.
Co-President 2016-2017
Director of Counseling Services, Caldwell University
[email protected]
(M.S., Indiana University, South Bend) Caldwell College: 2200 students, small private liberal arts Catholic University. Interests: relationship issues; trauma; group work; supervision; policy development; writing.
Larry Gage
Treasurer
Staff Emeritus, The College of New Jersey
[email protected]
(Ph.D. University of Florida, Counseling Psychology; M.Ed., Ohio University)
Dr. Gage is now retired from TCNJ, but maintains interest in college counseling. Enrollment at TCNJ is approximately 7000 students - graduate and undergraduate. TCNJ is located in Ewing, New Jersey, just north of Trenton, and is regularly top-rated as a Northeast college. Professional interests: College student issues, wellness, wholistic methods of conceptualizing and responding to challenges faced by college students. Personal interests: Travel, technology, community-based solutions to world issues (i.e. climate change), preparation and consumption of food, writing and reading.
Treasurer
Staff Emeritus, The College of New Jersey
[email protected]
(Ph.D. University of Florida, Counseling Psychology; M.Ed., Ohio University)
Dr. Gage is now retired from TCNJ, but maintains interest in college counseling. Enrollment at TCNJ is approximately 7000 students - graduate and undergraduate. TCNJ is located in Ewing, New Jersey, just north of Trenton, and is regularly top-rated as a Northeast college. Professional interests: College student issues, wellness, wholistic methods of conceptualizing and responding to challenges faced by college students. Personal interests: Travel, technology, community-based solutions to world issues (i.e. climate change), preparation and consumption of food, writing and reading.
Daisy Rodriguez Kazanjian
Membership Chair
MSW, LCSW, DRCC William Paterson University
[email protected]
Daisy has served as a board member of the NJCCA since its inception in 2007. She currently is employed as a Mental Health Counselor, Coordinator of Outreach and supervisor for the Peer Health Advocate program at the Counseling Health and Wellness Center of William Paterson University. She is a board certified Diplomate of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work. She also holds a post masters certificate in group work from Rutgers University and is a clinical associate member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. She is certified in NJ as a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor and is also certified as a Suicide Prevention Specialist by the American Association of Suicidology. Her treatment interests include disaster mental health, grief, suicide loss and suicide survivorship, family systems treatment, and the transcultural experiences of first generation Latino students in college. When she has time away from work, she enjoys nature travel and bird watching.
Membership Chair
MSW, LCSW, DRCC William Paterson University
[email protected]
Daisy has served as a board member of the NJCCA since its inception in 2007. She currently is employed as a Mental Health Counselor, Coordinator of Outreach and supervisor for the Peer Health Advocate program at the Counseling Health and Wellness Center of William Paterson University. She is a board certified Diplomate of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work. She also holds a post masters certificate in group work from Rutgers University and is a clinical associate member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. She is certified in NJ as a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor and is also certified as a Suicide Prevention Specialist by the American Association of Suicidology. Her treatment interests include disaster mental health, grief, suicide loss and suicide survivorship, family systems treatment, and the transcultural experiences of first generation Latino students in college. When she has time away from work, she enjoys nature travel and bird watching.
Robin Solbach
Past President
Director of the Counseling Center , Georgian Court University
[email protected]
(Psy.D.) A New Jersey licensed psychologist, she has extensive experience working with adolescents and adult issues. In addition to her responsibilities as director, Dr. Solbach is an adjunct instructor in the Psychology Department at Georgian Court. Dr. Solbach is a member of the American Psychological Association and the President for NJ Association of Counseling Centers.
Past President
Director of the Counseling Center , Georgian Court University
[email protected]
(Psy.D.) A New Jersey licensed psychologist, she has extensive experience working with adolescents and adult issues. In addition to her responsibilities as director, Dr. Solbach is an adjunct instructor in the Psychology Department at Georgian Court. Dr. Solbach is a member of the American Psychological Association and the President for NJ Association of Counseling Centers.