Campus News Archives - The �� (��)

Cereta Perry Scholarship Recipients 2025

Dana Erickson — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:59:31 +0000

�ճ��Cereta Perry Scholarship��honors Cereta Perry, PhD, co-founder of ��, and her contributions to both alumni and diversity.��The scholarship was established in her name for the purpose of recruiting diverse students to ��. It is awarded at the beginning of each school year to a promising incoming student in each program��who belong to ethnic, racial, cultural, religious, and sexual identity groups that have traditionally been underrepresented populations in the field of psychology. The recipients have also demonstrated a commitment to advancing awareness of issues that impact diverse populations.

This year’s recipients were Fatou Dieng (MA) and Sampada Fotedar (PsyD).��

“It is an absolute honor to receive the Cereta Perry Scholarship. As a first-generation Senegalese American and emerging clinician, this recognition affirms both my academic journey and my commitment to serving communities that have historically been marginalized in mental health spaces.

My passion for psychology is deeply rooted in lived experience, navigating cultural identity, intergenerational trauma, and the silence that often surrounds mental health in immigrant and Black communities. These experiences have shaped my desire to become a culturally responsive therapist who centers empathy, access, and advocacy in clinical work. I am particularly interested in trauma-informed care and supporting individuals and families impacted by systemic inequities.

This scholarship provides meaningful support as I continue my graduate studies and contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate field of psychology. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow within ��’s supportive community and to use my education as a tool for healing, empowerment, and change.”

“Receiving the Cereta Perry scholarship is both an honor and a profound affirmation of my commitment to becoming a clinical psychologist. It eases the financial burden of my training and allows me to focus more fully on developing the clinical, research, and ethical competencies necessary to serve diverse and underserved populations. This support strengthens my resolve to pursue advanced training, engage in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice, and contribute meaningfully to the mental and sexual health field through clinical work, advocacy, and research. Ultimately, this scholarship brings me one step closer to my goal of providing accessible, evidence-based care and helping individuals and communities heal and thrive.”

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�� Personnel Updates

Dana Erickson — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 19:48:03 +0000

As we kick off the new year, we have some exciting personnel updates to share as staff members transition into new roles.

Dr. Carrie Pyeatt, who has spent the last decade in student services (most recently as Director of Student Services and Registrar), has assumed a new role as Director of Strategic Initiatives. In her new role, one of Dr. Pyeatt’s responsibilities is leading our Higher Learning Commission accreditation efforts.��

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After serving as Director of Human Resources, Amanda Ming, MBA, is now serving as Registrar/Dean of Institutional Effectiveness. She works closely with faculty, staff, and students, ensuring that the vital record-keeping and operations of the Registrar are running smoothly. She is also establishing the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, which will make effective use of data to inform decision-making, plans for future development, and quality improvement.

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Kinsey Tekiele, MA, moves from Coordinator of Admissions and Student Engagement into the new role of Director of Admissions and Student Affairs. She continues to direct and manage our Admissions process and will also establish an Office of Student Affairs, which includes accommodations services and student engagement programming.��

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Additionally, in the fall, Holly Tocco transitioned from her role as the Clinic Manager for the Michigan School Psychological Clinic to the new role of Director of Clinic��Operations and��Outreach. In her role, she has been working to increase the scope and visibility of the work of the �� Clinic and assisting Clinic Director Dr. Jim Maher in the clinic’s overall growth.��

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Please join us in congratulating them on their new roles at ��!��

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�� Clinic Partners with the Southern Smoke Foundation

Dana Erickson — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:24:40 +0000

The Michigan School Psychological Clinic (��C) is thrilled to announce our partnership with the Southern Smoke Foundation (SSF) to bring their Behind You program to Michigan. In its fifth year, Behind You offers no-cost mental health services to food and beverage industry workers through partnerships with mental health clinics that are affiliated with institutions of higher education. As a partner clinic, up to 20 psychotherapy sessions at the ��C will be provided to Behind You clients at no cost. We are pleased to offer these services both in-person at the ��C or via tele-health to ensure they are available to food and beverage workers all over Michigan.

“We see the partnership with the ‘Behind You’ program as an honor and an opportunity for the Clinic. The program’s expansion into Michigan will allow us to reach out specifically to members of our state’s food and beverage industry. Our fifteen 2025-2026 students will receive significant benefits from working with the ‘Behind You’ program. In addition to learning first-hand how the program works, they will directly treat the individuals who take part in psychotherapy services,” said Clinic Director, Dr. Jim Maher, about the beginning of the partnership.

Founded by James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown, SSF has supported the industry since 2015, providing more than 8,100 no-cost counseling sessions and over $14.5M in emergency relief to food and beverage workers nationwide. This includes restaurant, bar, and cafe workers; farmers and ranchers; winemakers, distillers, and brewers; and anyone in the industry faced with hardship. Michigan is now the 13th state to join the Behind You program, bringing essential mental health care to this essential, yet extremely vulnerable, oft-overlooked population.

Learn more about the Behind You program at the ��C.

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Clinic Spotlight: Logan Chappell, PsyD

Dana Erickson — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:30:07 +0000

Logan Chappell, PsyD (’24, MA ’19) is a new adjunct clinic supervisor for the 25-26 academic year. Welcome, Dr. Chappell!

Where did you grow up?

Flushing, Michigan!

What or who influenced you to study psychology?

I had a mentor, Bill Atchison, who introduced me to the field and the possibility of becoming a psychologist. My best friend, Jeffrey Binder, also inspired me to apply to �� and take the first steps toward becoming a psychologist when he was a student! I would say life was another big influencer. I’ve always loved people, helping people, and seeing others thrive, but from a place of relationship and deep realness. This is in comparison to, let’s say, customer service, where I first began my professional life. My own journey with mental health also helped me see how this field could help me help others, but also help myself!

What��are��your research and/or clinical interests?

My clinical interests are definitely broad. I consider myself a generalist, but as I continue to work, I notice that I really mesh well and work well with the emerging adult population. Specifically, clients experiencing depression and anxiety, as well as clients who have challenges with self-esteem and knowing their worth. These interests continue to grow and change as I get more experience, and working with and through the underlying trauma causing the above-presenting concerns is slowly developing for me as well. Other interests include identity development, and I have recently become interested in men’s health and identity development across the lifespan.

What appeals to you most about supervising at ��?

What appeals the most about supervising at �� is this school and the wonderful humans they find and admit here. This school gave me my future. It helped me grow, heal, and learn EVERYTHING I know about psychology and within the field. It and everyone here took a chance on me, and I want to give back. The other thing is �� finds the best humans to study and work here. I want to be a reason a student feels supported or like they are able to be seen and understood, as they grow in their clinical work and within their clinician identity. I want to emulate what I received from �� and my supervisors, and I want to help students feel supported in their supervision, in order to help them become their best selves as authentically as they can, especially as I learned THAT’s where our best gifts are within our authentic selves.

What is your favorite non-academic book and why?

The Magic Tree House series…I read these books when I was a kid, and they opened me up to the idea and possibility of adventure on a profound level. I’m certain that’s where the fire in me for adventure and fantasy began, which has had a lasting impact on how my inner children still exist within me today.

What advice would you like to share with incoming or current students?

Take risks, try new things, put yourself out there, have difficult conversations, “trust the process!!!” Try to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. THAT’s where all the learning and growing happens. You were accepted here for a reason, you are where you’re supposed to be, and you can utilize this time and space to learn and grow while being supported by an incredible institution.

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MA Program Announcement

Candi Wilson — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:20:06 +0000

The �� is proud to announce its intention to seek American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation of its Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program. In 2018, the APA Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA) began working on developing standards, policies, and procedures for accrediting master’s programs in health service psychology and, in 2024, rolled out a phased implementation of their master’s program accreditation review process. The APA-CoA has set May 1, 2026 as the next deadline for programs to submit their application materials. The first six program applications the APA-CoA receives by this date will begin the accreditation review process in the summer of 2026. The APA-CoA plans to announce future program application deadlines in 2026.��

“Our commitment to quality graduate education has been expressed in our ongoing work for decades and has been reflected by APA accreditation of the PsyD program for a number of years. As APA moves to extend accreditation to the master’s level, �� is committed to achieving accreditation for the MA program. Members of the faculty have been working for some time toward changes in the MA program that will be necessary to gain accreditation,” said �� President Dr. Stogner. Plans are currently underway for �� to submit an application for the master’s program to the APA-CoA by the May 1, 2026 deadline.

An updated version of the ��’s MA program will launch in the Fall of 2026, and it will be specifically built to meet all APA accreditation standards. “This timeline will place �� among the first programs to seek master’s level APA accreditation,” said MA Program Director Dr. Derrick Sebree, who has led the faculty in the development of the new curriculum. The updated program is 60-credit hours in length and will be designed to be completed in six semesters over 23-months. Part-time and flexible enrollment options will remain available to students. .��

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Clinic Spotlight: Khrystyna Melnyk, PhD, LP

Dana Erickson — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:35:13 +0000

Khrystyna Melnyk, PhD is��a new adjunct clinic supervisor for the 25-26 academic year. Welcome, Dr. Melnyk!��

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Ukraine and immigrated to the US when I was almost 17 years old.��

What or who influenced you to study psychology?

The experience that I had with the move from Ukraine influenced me to become a psychologist. The adjustment was very difficult with no social support. After I began working at a hospital with my Master’s in Health Administration, I encountered many patients who confided in me. I felt as if I could do more to help them. That’s how I decided to become a clinical psychologist.��

What��are��your research and/or clinical interests?

My passion is health psychology. All of my training has been in primary care settings. Currently, I work in Primary Care Mental Health at John D Dingell Detroit VA Medical Center.��

My research has been in BPD patients in primary care and difficult doctor-patient relationships in primary care.��

What appeals to you most about supervising at ��?

I always wanted to supervise, and �� provides this amazing opportunity. I had the privilege to learn from Dr. Maher in the classroom and was beyond excited to have a chance to supervise in the clinic under his mentorship.��

What is your favorite non-academic book and why?

My favorite non-academic book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I re-read the book every year as it reminds me about the priorities in life and the ability to appreciate what you have and learn that small things bring us joy. The book teaches how to live in the moment and recognize the gifts of life in daily life.��

What advice would you like to share with incoming or current students?

For incoming students, I would suggest coming in with an open mind. Be open to feedback. Be willing to learn, and, most importantly, be willing to step out of your comfort zone.��

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2025 Commencement

Dana Erickson — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 20:03:06 +0000

Congratulations, Class of 2025! On August 1st, we were proud to celebrate the accomplishments of 69 graduates with their friends and families at Bloomfield High School. Two students completed their post-graduate certificate in ABA, 12 students received their MA with a concentration in ABA, 40 students received their MA degree in clinical psychology, and 15 students received their PsyD degree in clinical psychology.

Dr. Tanya Martin, Chair of the Board of Trustees, opened the ceremony by welcoming the graduates and their guests. She and Dr. Brian Stogner, President of ��, then celebrated the academic, research, and clinical achievements of the graduating students in each of their respective commencement addresses.�� “A graduate degree should not be a passport to privilege, but an opportunity and equipping to make a difference in the world,” said President Stogner. Dr. Stogner then encouraged the graduates to take their skills, talents, preparation, and education to serve the needs of the world.��

The Marjorie Scott Scholarship for Excellence is presented at commencement each year to graduating students from the MA and PsyD programs who have best achieved excellence in academic performance, clinical work, and research in their respective programs. This year, in addition to the presentation of the award, we reflected on the legacy of Dr. Scott, who passed away in May. The award is presented to the recipients by the faculty member who recommended them. Dr. Ryan Blackstock presented the award to MA graduate Ancy Thomas, and Dr. Kate Cusick presented it to PsyD graduate Courtney Cabell. Both students were allowed to briefly share the meaning of receiving this award. Ancy reflected on her desire to continue living as a “joyful explorer,” which had benefited her during the program, and Courtney spoke about the honor of being recognized for work that is both rigorous and radically human. You can read more about Ancy and Courtney’s accomplishments here.

The ceremony continued with the conferring of degrees, where each student received their degree from President Stogner. Each year, as part of the conferment of degrees, graduates participate in a ritual that asks them to reflect on their time as a student and to consider their future contributions to society.

During the MA and ABA ritual, graduates are asked��to contemplate their time at �� by sharing what they stand for in the��metaphorical��river of experience. Each student then takes a rock, which represents their journey through the river of experience as a student, and individually makes a statement about the personal meaning of the journey.�� This year’s students shared that they stand for “those who can’t stand for themselves,” “heartfelt processes,” “honoring every version of you,” and more.�� These statements were reflective of the unique interests and personality of each graduate and allowed them the opportunity to help shape their ceremony.

During the PsyD ritual, students were introduced and hooded by their dissertation chairs. A list of all doctoral graduates and their��dissertation titles is available here. Graduates made a pledge where they shared how they would use their education in their new role. This special moment is the first time that doctoral graduates can refer to themselves with the title of Doctor while also allowing them a moment to tell guests about their experiences and hopes for the future. Students shared how they plan to use their degrees to “dismantle barriers to healing,” “create accessible treatment options for those with PTSD,” and more.��

We are so proud of everything this group of students has done and will do moving forward. Congratulations, Class of 2025!��

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2024/25 Marjorie Scott Scholarship For Excellence Winners

Dana Erickson — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:19:33 +0000

�ճ��Marjorie Scott Scholarship for Excellence (MSSE) is presented at commencement each year to a graduating student from each degree program who has demonstrated active participation in the �� community and has best achieved excellence in academic performance, clinical work, and research. The PsyD recipient of this award has also demonstrated excellence in dissertation research. We are delighted to announce that Ancy Thomas (MA) and Courtney Cabell (PsyD) are this year’s scholarship recipients. Ancy and Courtney were honored during the commencement ceremony on August 1st.��

This award is always extremely meaningful and important, but this year, it took on a special meaning and poignancy. Dr. Marjorie Scott passed away on May 11, 2025. Her legacy, contributions, and influence still live on at �� in so many ways. The awarding of these scholarships is one reminder of the values and principles that she exemplified that continue to positively impact the students and broader community of ��. We are extremely grateful for her life and work and proud to continue to honor and remember her contributions through the presentation of this scholarship.

MA Award

This year’s MSSE master’s award recipient is Ancy Thomas, an outstanding student in ��’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis.

In his recommendation for this award, Dr. Blackstock shared, “Excellence isn’t just a list of things one does, it’s embedded in the person doing them. Ancy Thomas acts and lives with excellence despite the hardships she faces. She is consistently willing to take risks in class and gives her best effort to everything that she does.”

During her two years in the program, Ancy demonstrated a dedication to learning both in and outside of the classroom. She maintained exceptional grades across all MA and ABA courses while seeking out additional professional development opportunities, like Organizational Behavior Management coursework and certification as a Registered Behavior Technician, in a desire to pursue a well-rounded education. By attending numerous student engagement presentations and being active in student organizations at ��, Ancy demonstrated her continued dedication to furthering her competencies as a practitioner and to becoming a more holistic clinician.

Ancy views the field of psychology not as a profession but as a calling. Inspired by years of work in her home country of India and by her experiences moving to the United States, Ancy is dedicated not only to providing clinical services but also to advocating for the mental health needs of underserved communities and breaking cross-cultural stigmas. Through her practicum at the �� Psychological Clinic, she embodied her commitment to advocacy by participating in community outreach opportunities to conduct workshops and group sessions at local middle and high schools.

PsyD Award

This year’s recipient of the MSSE PsyD award is Courtney Cabell, an outstanding student in ��’s Doctor of Psychology program and alumna of the school’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Program.

Courtney was an active member of several student organizations throughout her time at ��. She served as the President of the �� chapter of Psi Chi for two years, Secretary and Vice President of the Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance, and was a student representative on the Institutional Equity and Anti-Racism Committee. While in her second year of the doctoral program, Courtney saw a need within our institution that led to her co-founding the Association of Black Psychologists Student Circle at ��. She then went on to serve as the organization’s first President.

Courtney’s affinity for leadership and service has extended beyond the walls of �� as she has served on committees within the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 32, the World Congress of Existential Therapy, and the Michigan Psychological Association. Courtney has also earned a number of scholarships and awards during her time as a student including the Psi Chi Inez Beverly Prosser Scholarship for Women of Color, Division 45 APA Annual Convention Travel Award, and the APA’s Commission on Ethnic Minority Recruitment Research Grant for Psychology Students of Color, among others.

Throughout her time in the program, Courtney has continually impressed faculty and staff with her commitment to research as an active member of research teams at both �� and Saybrook University, in addition to conducting her own research. She has investigated issues including trauma, racial justice, and culturally sensitive care, which has led to the publication of scholarly articles and book chapters, as well as presentations at conferences ranging from local to
international in their scope.

In her clinical work, Courtney has shown an ability to transition research into practice to provide affirmative and culturally sensitive care. She has taken on numerous clinical roles working in outpatient therapy, trauma assessment, and psychological testing. Across all of these disciplines, Courtney has been fiercely dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to Black, non-Black POC, and LGBTQ+ individuals, which she plans to continue through the work of her non-profit, Open Heart Communities.

As noted by Dr. Cusick in her recommendation, “It is rare to encounter a graduate student able to balance academic, clinical, and research rigors while serving in various leadership and service roles… Courtney has been committed to excellence in academics, clinical work, and research and focused on making our field more representative, inclusive and socially just.”

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�� Clinic Year in Review

Dana Erickson — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:18:18 +0000

Dr. Jim Maher, Clinic Director, and Holly Tocco, Clinic Manager, shared highlights from the Michigan School Psychological Clinic’s 2024-2025 academic year.

Student Clinicians after presenting at a local school.

The Michigan School Psychological Clinic has once again completed a successful year serving as a training site for students and providing valuable services for our community.

The �� Clinic focused on two special initiatives for the 24-25 academic year: the pursuit of grant opportunities and outreach to the community. These efforts resulted in the Clinic receiving a grant from the Southern Smoke Foundation to offer sessions to those in the food and beverage industry. A renewed emphasis on interactions with the local southeastern Michigan community also resulted in Student Clinicians providing a variety of psychoeducational training and information sessions at the following organizations: CARES of Farmington Hills, East Middle School, Longacre Elementary School, Bright Spot Counseling, Living and Learning Center, Oakland County Probate Court, Corewell Health, and Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan.

Other clinic highlights for the year included:

Serving over 90 psychotherapy clients.
Continued client satisfaction with their care as the greatest percentage of referrals continues to come from current clients.
An increase in the number of students completing their clinical training at the clinic to 23 total.
- This number includes seven PsyD students, 13 MA students, and three supplemental PsyD students.
Student Clinicians’ continued satisfaction with the quality of their training experience as 96% of those students gave the Clinic the highest rating in overall satisfaction when surveyed for the second year in a row.
Dr. Maher’s presentation of a poster at the National Association of Psychological Training Clinics (APTC) conference.��

Looking to the future, Dr. Maher hopes to continue to expand the Clinic’s reach throughout the state in the 2025-2026 academic year through continued excellent clinical interactions and training, increased marketing efforts, and expanded community involvement.

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September 2024

Dana Erickson — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:16:47 +0000

It’s time for our annual Year in Review! As we look back on each month of the academic year, the �� community can reflect on the changes and growth we have experienced since September, both individually and as a community. Here’s a look at highlights from September 2024.

The semester kicked off on September 3rd with program meetings and a visit from Cool Jacks Ice Cream Truck.��

New students got to meet their classmates, faculty, and staff at orientation on September 5th.��

We enjoyed food and community bonding during our annual Welcome Week BBQ on September 12th.

Other Highlights from September:

In addition to the community BBQ, students were able to participate in vision board making, enjoy lunch with leadership, meet student organizations, and purchase spirit wear as a part of Welcome Week.��

The ABPsi Student Circle, IDEA, and ECO hosted recruitment events.

On September 10th, we hosted lunch with leadership to connect students with administration.

We celebrated Constitution Day on September 17th with mini constitutions and cupcakes in the atrium, along with examining how the Constitution impacts psychology.��

Our writing specialist Andrew Kaleita, User Services Librarian Stephanie Swanberg, and Director of Student Services Carrie Pyeatt hosted a panel to share their tips and tricks for succeeding in Grad School on September 24th.��

Blogs: The Board of Trustees announced the conclusion of the presidential search, President Spitsbergen welcomed new and returning students to campus,��we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, we shared tips and tricks to succeed in grad school, and Dr. Andrew Franks and Dr. Matthew Kadrich were in the faculty spotlight.��

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