Employee Spotlights Archives - The �� (��)

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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Faculty Spotlight: Adam Lotfi, PsyD

Dana Erickson — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:28:32 +0000

Adam Lotfi, PsyD, is a faculty member in the MA program.��

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Bay City, Michigan, where my family of origin still resides. I moved back to Michigan four years ago, so it has been a bit of a homecoming for me!

What or who influenced you to study psychology?

I fell in love with the idea of being in connection with and helping people in ways I find deep and meaningful. I am also a curious person by nature, so studying why people (myself included) do the things we do was a huge fascination for me.

What are your research and/or clinical interests?

Most of my career has been spent doing clinical work with people of all ages, backgrounds, and presenting issues. I would say that teenagers and young adults have been some of my favorite clientele to work with, which led me to work in university counseling centers for the bulk of my career. I stepped away a bit, but here I am, once again back in the world of higher education!

What appeals to you most about teaching at ��?

Ultimately, it is the opportunity to help students figure out their “why,” who they want to be personally and professionally, and the impact they want to make on their world that drew me to this role. The idea of helping people who are hungry to learn and develop is what excites me.

What is your favorite non-academic book and why?

If I am reading for leisure, it will more than likely be a comic book. Marvel’s Daredevil has been my favorite superhero for as long as I can remember. As for the why… I like that he is often written as a conflicted, contradictory character who can get in his own way. I also love that he is just a (somewhat) normal person who is trying to help out the people in his own backyard in any way he can.

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

“The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid.” – JD Salinger

My advice is that in your pursuit of happiness (e.g., your goal… the things you hope to take from this experience), you also attend to your joy (which I define as the things you choose to bring to this experience… the values you live out daily). The greatest gift you can give to not just yourself, but to others… is your own self-care. Be kind.

��

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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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Faculty Spotlight: Courtney Cabell, PsyD

Dana Erickson — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:33:56 +0000

Courtney Cabell, PsyD (’25, MA ’21), is a faculty member in the MA program.��

Where did you grow up?

Chesterfield, Michigan

What or who influenced you to study psychology?

From a young age, I was deeply aware of the power of human connection and the ways in which people carry both visible and invisible stories. My own life experiences, along with mentors who modeled compassion and advocacy, showed me how psychology could be a pathway toward healing, empowerment, and justice. I was drawn to the field not only to understand the complexities of human experience but also to be of service to individuals and communities who too often have been overlooked or underserved.

What are your research and/or clinical interests?

My work focuses on the intersections of trauma, identity, resilience, and community-centered healing. Clinically, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating complex trauma, depression, anxiety, and somatic distress, with a strong emphasis on culturally responsive care. I am also passionate about testing and assessment and using it as a way to bridge access and advocacy for clients and families. My research interests center on racial trauma, community healing for Black women and Black Americans, Black Americans, addressing historical trauma, present-day inequities, and fostering collective well-being through safe healing spaces, creative expression, somatic practices, and ancestral connection.

What appeals to you most about teaching at ��?

What excites me about teaching at �� is ��’s commitment to humanistic values, social justice, and community impact—principles that deeply align with my own work and calling. Teaching here gives me the opportunity to engage with students who are not only academically curious but also motivated by a sense of purpose and service. I love the idea of co-creating learning spaces where students feel empowered to bring their full selves, question deeply, and prepare to become practitioners who make a meaningful difference in the world.

What is your favorite non-academic book and why?

One of my favorite non-academic books is All About Love by bell hooks. This book offers a transformative redefinition of love—not just in the romantic sense, but as a practice of justice, accountability, and care in our relationships and communities. I connect with it because it bridges personal growth with social responsibility, aligning with my belief that healing and liberation begin in how we choose to show up for one another.

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

Graduate training can be both rewarding and demanding. My advice is to embrace the journey, not just the destination. Allow yourself to grow through the challenges, lean on your peers and mentors, and remember that self-care is not optional, it’s essential. Stay connected to your “why,” the deeper purpose that brought you here, and let it ground you during moments of stress or doubt. Trust that your voice, your story, and your presence are needed in this field.

��

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Staff Spotlight: Georgia Seely

Dana Erickson — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:28:50 +0000

Over the summer, we were thrilled to welcome Georgia Seely, as our new Library Associate. Below, Georgia offers insight into her role at �� and a little about herself. Welcome, Georgia!

Give us a snapshot of your professional/academic background.

I went to college at MSU, where I majored in Chinese language and minored in Religious Studies! I also got to study abroad in Harbin, China in 2019, which was such an awesome experience, and I was the last year to get to go to China before the pandemic, which made it even more special in hindsight. My language skills are extremely rusty, but I’d love to go back someday. After college, I was a circulation clerk at the Okemos branch of the Capital Area District Library for a little over a year, and until recently, I’ve been working as a Children’s Library Aide at the Wayne Public Library, where I worked the reference desks and was in charge of running most of our library events for kids.

Describe your role at ��.

I just asked Rachel how I should describe my role here, and they said “sprawling”, if that gives a good picture? A lot of my role will be in circulation and day-to-day library operations, with one of the bigger responsibilities being managing our ILL system- so if you ever need to request a digital or physical material from another library, I’ll be the one getting you the goods. I’ll also just be a third body in the library helping Rachel and Stephanie out with any and all projects that come up; so much of maintaining a functioning library happens behind the scenes, and it’s a lot for two people to juggle, even if they’re both super awesome at what they do (which they are), so I love that I get to take a little off of both our librarians’ plates and be part of this team of three.

What attracted you to working at ��?

My library career so far has been totally in public libraries, and while I think the existence of public libraries is just about the best thing that has ever happened, and I’ve absolutely loved having the privilege of being a part of them, I have been interested in the academic side of the library world for a while now. I was also impressed with ��’s commitment to not backing down from DEI initiatives in this current timeline we are all living in. One of my concerns when thinking about transitioning to academic libraries was ending up at a place that would not stand firm on its values under external pressure. So, I was really happy to hear that �� has no intention of changing what it stands for. I’m glad that I get to work in this library in this school and help provide free access to diverse, intersectional, and up-to-date information for students who are the future of mental health care in our society.

What are you looking forward to most in this position?

I started at the beginning of August, and it has been nice to have this quiet month to settle in, but honestly, I’m super excited to meet all the students and get to know them! I would love to bring small interactive stuff into the library (weekly question poll? coloring sheets for when you need a brain-break from studying? do I foresee a dedicated community puzzle table in our near future?). Libraries really belong to the people who use them, and I believe that the other half of the “free access to information” coin is free access to communal space, so I’d love to hear from students what kinds of things they would like to see in their library.

What is one thing that people might be surprised to know about you?

I’m a very musical person, and I especially love singing and playing the piano, but one musical instrument I play that is maybe a little less common is the harp! There was a time in college when I was constantly getting harp videos recommended to me online, and I totally fell in love with them, but was kind of content with just appreciating them from afar and distantly wishing that was me. Then one day, I was walking out of choir practice, and who did I run into but MSU’s harp professor, standing right there, taking a break from wheeling around her gigantic 6-foot-tall harp? So, I took it as a sign from the universe and took harp lessons in my final year of college. Now I have my own harp (though less gigantic), and it’s my baby, and I adore it. My favorite things to play are songs from video games I love.

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Employee Spotlights Archives - The �������� (��������)

Clinic Spotlight: Logan Chappell, PsyD

Faculty Spotlight: Adam Lotfi, PsyD

Clinic Spotlight: Khrystyna Melnyk, PhD, LP

Faculty Spotlight: Courtney Cabell, PsyD

Staff Spotlight: Georgia Seely

Employee Spotlights Archives - The �� (��)