Supervisors & Faculty

Stephanie Marcello, Ph.D.,  Training Director, Psychology Internship Program, Newark

Mitch Abrams, Psy.D., UCHC Chief Psychologist, Coordinator Correctional/Forensic Track 

Beata Geyer, Ph.D., Assessment Director

Conor Hogan, Ph.D, Intern Liaison

Mitch Abrams, Psy.D., C.W. Post/Long Island University, 1998. Chief Psychologist, Rutgers - UCHC, Coordinator of Forensic Psychology Training; Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry Department, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Interests: Correctional Psychology; Anger Management; Violence; Trauma; Sports Psychology.

Rashi Aggarwal, M.D., Government Medical College, Jammu, India, 1997. Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, NJMS. Interests: Empathy in Medicine; Reproductive Psychiatry; Medical Education; Role of International Students in Medical Education.

Nicole Attaway, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 2004. Psychologist, Adult Partial Hospitalization Program, Extended Treatment Division, RUBHC. Interests: Addiction Treatment and Prevention; Dual Diagnosis and Treatment, Spiritual Coping; Program Development; Multicultural Issues; Community Psychology and Prevention Services.

Brittany Bertani, Psy.D. LaSalle University, 2018. Forensic Mental Health Clinician, Northern State Prison. Licensed Psychologist, NJ. Interests: Correctional Psychology; Trauma-Informed Care; Sex Offender Evaluation and Treatment; Treatment of Childhood Abuse; Complex Trauma and Personality Disorders.

James Cassidy, Psy.D., Widener University, 2000. Forensic Specialist/Psychologist, Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, RUCHC. Interests: Forensic Psychology; Divorce/Child Custody; Child Sexual Abuse.

Anthony Deo, M.D., Ph.D.  University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2012. Assistant Professor, New Jersey Medical School.  Medical license NJ, NY, ABNP Diplomate in Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Interests: Child and Adolescent Onset Psychosis.

Beata Sylvia Geyer, Ph.D., Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2001. Neuropsychologist, RUBHC, Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services, and Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry-NJMS. Interests: Neuropsychology; Child Psychology; Cultural Issues in Assessment, Therapeutic Assessment; ADHD.

Harry Green, Psy.D., Widener University, 2000. Clinician Administrator, RUCHC. Interests: Correctional Psychology; Criminal Responsibility; Sex Offenders; CBT.

Andrew Greenberg, Psy.D. Albizu University (Miami Campus), 2003. Forensic Mental Health Clinician, UCHC. Licensed Psychologist, NJ. Interests: Risk Factors Contributing to the Commission of Serious Criminal Behavior by Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens; Positive Psychology; Motivational Interviewing.

Claire V. Hipol-Ligot, Ph.D. Walden University, 2017. Psychologist Adult Outpatient Services. Credentials in: Rehabilitation; Marriage and Family Therapy; Clinical alcohol and Chemical Counseling; Professional Counseling; Certified Clinical Supervisor. Interests: Cognitive Remediation/Compensatory Coping in Schizophrenia; Autism, ADHD and Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cross-Cultural Diversity (LGBTQ) and Phase of Life Adjustment; Relapse Prevention in Substance/Behavioral and Co-occurring Disorders; Coping with Women’s Simple and Complex Trauma.

Brooke Joplin, Ph.D., Auburn University, 2022. Forensic Mental Health Clinician, Northern State Prison, Licensed Psychologist, NJ. Interests: Correctional Psychology; Trauma-Informed Care; Crisis Intervention; Relapse Prevention, Chronic Mental Illenss; Personality Disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Christine Lang, M.A. in Forensic Psychology. Argosy University, 2010. Mental Health Clinician II at Northern State Prison, Rutgers UCHC. Interests: Trauma Informed Care, Chronic Mental Illness, Crisis Intervention, Personality Disorders, and Mindfulness.

Stephanie Marcello, Ph.D., Temple University, 2007. Program Director, Training and Education, Chief Psychologist, RUBHC, Director, Psychology Internship Programs, Piscataway and Newark. Interests: Trauma-Informed Care; Treatment of PTSD; Co-occurring Disorders; Serious Mental Illness; Implementation of EBP’s; Motivational Interviewing; CBT.

Maria Mendez, BA. Passaic CC & Union CC, 1992. Mental Health Specialist, RUBHC Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services. Interests: Child Group Therapy; Behavioral Management.

Suzi Millar, Psy.D. Marywood University, 2011. Program Manager, RUBHC School and Community Based Programs. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, NJ. Interests: Trauma Informed Care; Multicultural Competency; Dialectic Behavioral Therapy; Family Systems; Group Therapy. 

Douglas J. Opler, M.D., State University of New York Downstate, 2008. Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, NJMS. Interests: Psychosomatic medicine/Consult-liaison psychiatry; Psychopharmacology.

Luz Oramas, LCSW. Rutgers University, 2002. Program Manager, EISS, RUBHC. Interests: Adolescent Psychotherapy; Crisis Intervention.

Luba Rafalson, Ph.D. Rutgers University, 2004.  Forensic Mental Health Clinician, UCHC. Licensed Psychologist in NJ. Interests:  Correctional Psychology; Complex Trauma; Crisis Management; CBT; Working with Incarcerated Women.

Jonathan M. Riley, Ph.D. Yeshiva University 1993. Forensic Mental Health Clinician, Rutgers-UCHC, New Jersey State Prison. Experimental and Clinical Health Psychology. Interests: Forensic Psychology, Sexual Offender Evaluation and Treatment.

Deborah Skibbee, Ph.D., Seton Hall University, 2001. Forensic Mental Health Clinician, Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, RUCHC. Interests: Borderline Personality Disorder; Dissociative Identity Disorder; Arts in Mental Health; Training, Program Development.

Shoshana Sperling, Psy.D. in School and Clinical Psychology. Pace University, 2003. Psychologist at the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Student Health Services Center. Licensed Psychologist in State of NJ. Post doctorate in Childhood Trauma. Interests: Integrated Health Care, Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD.

Debra Waksberg, M.S.W., Yeshiva University, 1998. Program Coordinator, Collaborative Partial Hospitalization Program, RUBHC. Interests: Crisis Management, Community Integration, Program Development.

Justin Arocho, Ph.D., Fordham University, 2015. Postdoctoral Fellow, Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Interests: CBT; Anxiety Disorders; OCD; Treatment of Insomnia; Cultural Issues in Treatment; LGBT Issues.

Ilana Breslau, Ph.D., Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2002. Psychologist, North Central Bronx Medical Center. Interests: Substance Use Disorders; Adolescent and Adult Psychotherapy; Psychology Training.

Ashley Bujalski, Psy.D., William Paterson University, 2020. Clinical Psychologist, Mercer County Correction Center. Interests: Psychotherapy in correctional settings; Treating Severe Mental Illness in Correctional Settings; Violence and Suicide Risk Assessments.

Emma Bushong, Psy.D. Marshall University, 2018.  Mental Health Clinician II, University Correctional Health Care.  Interests: Religion and Spirituality; Correctional Psychology.

Richard Cevasco, Ed.D., University of Memphis, 1989.Clincal Psychologist. Interests: Forensic Psychology.

Brianna Cheney, Ph.D., St. John’s University, 2017. Clinical Psychologist, Northwell Health Early Treatment Program at Zucker Hillside Hospital. Interests: CBT for Trauma, Anxiety, and Mood Disorders; CBT for Psychosis; First Episode Psychosis Identification and Intervention.

LaWana Darden, M.S.W., Virginia Commonwealth University, 1988. Forensic Mental Health Clinician, Northern State Prison, RUCHC. Interests: Spirituality; Forgiveness; Prison Population.

Jillian DeMatteo (Plescia), Psy.D. Kean University, 2019. Associate Psychologist for the Office of Mental Health at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Interests: Forensic/Correctional Psychology; Psychological Testing; Personality Disorders; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Susan C. Esquilin, Ph.D., ABPP. University of Chicago, 1979. Center for Child Advocacy, Montclair State University. Interests: Child Sexual Abuse; Impact of Violence; Child Custody; Sexual Behavior Problems in Children; Ethical and Forensic Issues.

David S. Gomberg, Ph.D., Long Island University - Brooklyn Campus, 1996. Psychologist in Private Practice. Interests: Custody and Parenting Time Evaluations; Best Interest Evaluations; Risk Assessments; Pre-employment Screening for Public Safety Officers; Parent Coordination, Reunification Therapy; Fitness for Duty Evaluations; Brief Focused Assessments; Child, Adolescent, Adult, and Couple's Psychotherapy.

Nancy Just, Ph.D., ABPP. Temple University, 1994. Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry-NJMS; Co-Director of Advanced Psychological Specialists, LLC. Interests: Chronic Pain; Depression, Anxiety, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Shira Kelin, Psy.D., Yeshiva University, 2018. Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Cognitive and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Interests: Trauma; Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; the Therapeutic Alliance

Gerald Levanthal, Ph.D., Duke University, 1962. Professor Emeritus, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School, Department of Psychiatry. Interests: Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT); Editing and Reviewing for Psychology Journals; Psychologists’ Collaboration with Other Health Service Professionals; Role of Psychology in Primary Care Settings and Medical Schools.

Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., Stanford University, Medical College of Pennsylvania. 1994. Chair & Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Interests: Addiction Psychiatry; LGBT; Social Class Issues in Medicine.

Mark Lowenthal, Psy.D.,, Rutgers University, Graduate School for Applied and Professional Psychology, 1988. Psychologist in Private Practice. Interests: Individual and Couples Therapy; Child and Adolescent Therapy; Psychodynamic Psychotherapy; Relationship Issues; Treatment of Depression and Anxiety; Divorce-Related Issues/ Children of Divorce; Parenting Issues; LGBTQ- Related Issues; Men’s Issues.

Phil McCabe, CSW, CAS, CDVC, DRCC, Health Educator, School of Public Health, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Interests: LGBT Healthcare, Training & Education; Substance Abuse Prevention; Trauma and Interpersonal Violence.

Sangeetha Nayak, Ph.D., State University of NY at Stony Brook, 1997. Psychologist, Private Practice. Interests: Pain Management; Unexplained Illness; Behavioral Medicine.

Sueli S. Petry, Ph.D., Seton Hall University, 2005. Psychologist and Family Therapist; RUBHC, Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services, Clinician. Interests: Multicultural Competency Training; Mental Health and Resiliency in the Context of Oppression; Child Sexual Abuse and Family Treatment.

Michelle Pievsky, Ph.D., Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2018. Postdoctoral Fellow; Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellow Postdoctoral Fellow; Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellow, Youth Consultation Service Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health; Mindful Assessments and Psychological Services, LLC. Interests: Infant and toddler mental health, Assessment, Integrated Primary Care.

Gianni Pirelli, Ph.D., The Graduate Center (CUNY) at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2010. Owner, Pirelli Clinical and Forensic Psychologist. LLC. Interests: Forensic Psychology; Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice; Firearms and Mental Health.

Rachael Power, M.D., Catholic University of Cuenca, Ecuador, 1987. Psychiatrist, Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services, RUBHC. Interests: Autism Spectrum Disorders; Resilience and Spirituality; Conduct Disorder and Psychopathy.

Arlene Raynor, MA, NBCC, LPC, ACS.  Kean University, 1997. Program Coordinator, Newark Adult APHP, RUBHC. Interests: LPC Clinical Supervision; Adult Community Systems/ Services; Counseling and Clinical Interventions with Newark’s Mental Health Clients.

Erica Rojas, Ph.D., Teachers College, Columbia University, 2016. Psychologist II: New York Family Court Mental Health Services. Interests: Forensic Evaluations (Child Custody to Evaluate Risk for Violence, Parental Fitness/Termination, and Competency to Proceed); Psychodiagnostic Assessment; Research in the Role of Systemic Oppression, Stigma, and Mental Illness within the Criminal Justice System; Individual Psychotherapy; Matters Related to Forensic and Corporate Consultation.

Donald “Rusty” Raymond Reeves Jr., M.D., University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 1991. Director of Psychiatry, University Correctional Health Care. Interests: Neuroscience, Forensic Psychiatry, Legal Issues.

Elaina Servidio, Psy.D., Yeshiva University, 2018. Postdoctoral Fellow, Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants. Interests: Delivery of evidence-based treatments, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depressive disorders, Evidence-based treatments for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, Trauma, ADHD, and Personality Disorders; Work with Individuals Across the Lifespan.

Stacie Shivers, Psy.D., Yeshiva University, 2015. Psychologist, Bloomfield School District. Interests: Somatic and Movement-Based Interventions; Trauma; Multicultural Competency; Group Therapy; Psychodynamic Psychotherapy; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Erin Zerbo, MD. NYU School of Medicine, 2007. Attending Psychiatrist, University Hospital. Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. Interests: Addiction; Housing Instability; Social Determinants of Health.

Petros Levounis, M.D., Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, NJMS 

Rashi Aggarwal, M.D., Residency Training Director, Department of Psychiatry, NJMS