Meet the Staff
UCC is staffed by licensed psychologists, counselors, social workers, and a consulting psychiatrist. We are professionally trained in a number of areas of expertise to help students through personal transitions and adjustments associated with college life. We are dedicated to helping students with any problem or concern that may require professional psychological assistance.
Senior Counseling Staff
Consulting Staff
Predoctoral Interns
Practicum Counselors
Administrative Staff
Senior Counseling Staff
Karen Baer-Barkley, Ph.D., HSPP
Staff Psychologist
- Degree: Andrews University, 1998, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Practicum Coordinator, Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: eating disorders; substance abuse; ADHD; supervision and training
- Theoretical Orientation: cognitive-behavioral/humanistic
- Personal Interests: reading, collecting beach glass, spending time with family, animals, and good friends
Peter W. Barnes, Ph.D., HSPP
Staff Psychologist
- Degree: University of Memphis, 2003, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: UCC Webmaster, Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: cognitive-behavioral therapy; depression; anxiety; stress management; men’s issues; multicultural issues; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues
- Theoretical Orientation: primarily cognitive-behavioral and humanistic, integrating a variety of other theoretical elements as appropriate
- Personal Interests: spending time with my wife and son and daughter, bass guitarist for the Ricki Lake Effect, LSU and New Orleans Saints football, traveling, movies, cooking (especially New Orleans cuisine), and reading
Megan Brown, Ph.D., HSPP
Staff Psychologist
- Degree: Andrews University, 2002, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Coordinator of Outreach and Consultation, Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: applied positive psychology; outreach; group therapy; multicultural issues; career development; premarital and couples counseling
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach, conceptualizing from a cognitive behavioral perspective in an interpersonal and strengths based context and applying evidence-based techniques
- Personal Interests: traveling, reading, health and wellness, rubber stamping, being outdoors, spending time with family
Josephine Dickinson, Ph.D., HSPP
Staff Psychologist
- Degree: The University of Akron, 2007, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association (Divisions 17 and 35)
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: women’s issues; gender and sexual identity issues; multicultural counseling; trauma recovery; substance abuse treatment; family of origin; psychological assessment; outreach and consultation; and supervision and training
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach incorporating psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, feminist, and multicultural perspectives
- Personal Interests: reading and writing poetry, spending time with my sister, and volunteering in the community.
Rita J. Donley, Ph.D., HSPP
Associate Director, Coordinator of Clinical Services, & Staff Psychologist
- Degree: The Pennsylvania State University, 1986, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association (Divisions 17, 35, 49); ACCCCS (Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services)
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: family of origin; group therapy; women’s issues; eating disorders; trauma and abuse recovery; supervision and consultation
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach incorporating relational theories, feminist therapy, humanistic and cognitive-behavioral perspectives.
- Personal Interests: being a great sports fan (especially college football and college men’s and women’s basketball); being a mom to a 12-year-old; reading and movies
Arlen W. Epp, MDiv, MSW, LCSW, LMFT
Staff Clinician & Substance Abuse Specialist
- Degree: Indiana University, 1994, Masters in Clinical Social Work; Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, 1987, Masters of Divinity, Pastoral Counseling Specialization
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Substance Abuse Specialist; Concurrent Assistant Professional Specialist, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Indiana; Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Indiana; National Certified Addiction Counselor; NAADAC
- Professional Memberships: National Association of Social Workers, National Association of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: alcohol and drug abuse treatment and recovery, treatment of anxiety, depression and
impulse control disorders, dually diagnosed disorders, couples treatment, wellness and spirituality for living - Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach incorporating cognitive, behavioral, motivational interviewing, systems, and psychodynamic perspectives
- Personal Interests: music, wilderness camping and hiking, canoeing, mountaineering, wood working, reading
Miguel A. Franco, Ph.D., HSPP
Staff Psychologist
- Degree: University of Florida, 1991, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Coordinator of Diversity Task Force, Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association (Divisions 17, 47)
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: recovery from trauma; cultural diversity/prejudice reduction; athletic performance enhancement training; supervision; outreach and consultation.
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach, conceptualizing from psychodynamic theory, cognitive behavioral theory and systems theory.
- Personal Interests: sports, athletic training, music, movies
Leonard Hickman, Ph.D., HSPP
Staff Psychologist
- Degree: University of Maryland, 1990, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Coordinator of Professional Development, Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association (Division 17)
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: anxiety; depression; graduate student adjustment issues; grief and loss; men’s issues
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach incorporating self-psychology, interpersonal therapy, humanistic and cognitive behavioral perspectives
- Personal Interests: hiking with my dog, canoeing, sailing, music, reading, movies
Maureen A. Lafferty, Ed.D., HSPP
Staff Psychologist & Coordinator of Internship Training
- Degree: West Virginia University, 1991, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Concurrent Assistant
Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame - License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association (Divisions 17, 35, 44), Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: trauma and abuse recovery, gender and sexual identity issues, supervision and training.
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach incorporating self psychology, feminist therapy, humanistic and cognitive-behavioral
perspectives. - Personal Interests: singing and listening to music, reading, movies, gardening, spending time near water and/or at home with my partner and our furry family
Wendy Settle, Ph.D., HSPP
Staff Psychologist
- Degree: University of Maryland, 1990, Counseling Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Coordinator of the Inner Resources Room; Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association (Division 17), ACPA (Counseling and Psychological Services), ACBS (Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science)
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders; stress management; biofeedback; light therapy; trauma; gender issues, sexual orientation; outreach programs; study abroad; supervision and training
- Theoretical Orientation: integrated approach drawing upon aspects of biopsychosocial, developmental, cognitive-behavioral, acceptance and commitment, and other mindfulness-based perspectives
- Personal Interests: music, yoga, meditation, creating with art and technology, reading, camping, sailing, trips to spend time with and visit family, volunteering for the local school district
Valerie Staples, MSW, LCSW
Staff Clinician & Coordinator of Eating Disorder Services
- Degree: Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, 1981
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Coordinator of Eating Disorder Services, Concurrent Assistant Professional Specialist, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Professional Memberships: NASW, Academy for Eating Disorder Professionals, Eating Disorders Task Force of Indiana
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: eating disorders; body image; group therapy
- Theoretical Orientation: integration of humanistic, interpersonal and cognitive behavioral perspectives
- Personal Interests: spending time at the beach or pool, reading, time with family and friends, travel
Susan Steibe-Pasalich, Ph.D., HSPP
Director of UCC & Staff Psychologist
- Degree: University of Ottawa, Canada, 1980, Clinical Psychology
- Additional Responsibilities/Designations: Concurrent Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- License/Certifications: Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP)
- Professional Memberships: APA (Divisions 17, 29); Indiana Psychological Association; National Register; Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: college student development; psychological assessment and evaluation
- Theoretical Orientation: psychodynamic/humanistic-existential/cognitive-behavioral
- Personal Interests: co-parenting; traveling to places I’ve never been; reading fiction; spending time with friends
Consulting Staff
Suhayl Nasr, MD
Consulting Psychiatrist
- Degree/Training: American University of Beirut, Lebanon 1974; Psychiatry Residency Training: University of Rochester 1974-1977; Psychopharmacology Fellowship University of Chicago 1977-1979
- License/Certifications/Additional Titles: Licensed in Indiana and Illinois; Diplomate in General and Geriatric Psychiatry; American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; Volunteer Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology at Notre Dame; Medical Director of Behavioral Medicine, St. Anthony Memorial Health Centers, Michigan City, Indiana
- Professional Memberships: American Psychiatric Association, Society of Biological Psychiatry, American Medical Association
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: mood disorders, anxiety disorders, college mental health, psychopharmacology and nosology
- Theoretical Orientation: BioPsychoSocial/Eclectic
- Personal Interests: reading, travel, movies, music
Anna Uhran Wasierski, RD,CD
Consulting Nutritionist
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, 1993, Purdue University
- License/Certifications/Additional Titles: Registered and Certified Dietitian
- Professional Memberships: American Dietetics Association, Nutrition Entrepreneurs Practice Group, Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition Group, Northern Indiana Dietetics Association
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: disordered eating, weight management, sports nutrition, general wellness
- Personal Interests: scrapbooking, cooking, spending time with my husband and children
Predoctoral Interns
Karina Chapman, M.A.
Predoctoral Psychology Intern
- Degree Program: Clinical Psychology, Loyola College in Maryland; University of Rochester Personality and Social Psychology, M.A.
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association, Student Affiliate
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: developmental and transitional issues, body image/eating disorders, multicultural counseling, and interpersonal issues
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach with an emphasis on interpersonal and psychodynamic perspectives
- Personal Interests: running, dancing, movies, traveling, and spending time with friends and family
Kristin Hoff, M.A.
Predoctoral Psychology Intern
- Degree Program: Clinical Psychology, Xavier University
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association, Student Affiliate; Ohio Psychological Association, Student Affiliate
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: multicultural counseling, program development/evaluation, and outreach
- Theoretical Orientation: draw from cognitive, interpersonal and feminist theories
- Personal Interests: running, reading, sports, learning new things, and spending time with friends and family
Erica Wagner, M.A.
Predoctoral Psychology Intern
- Degree Program: Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; M.A. Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- Professional Memberships: Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT); Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), Student Affiliate; Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation (OCF); Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC); American Psychological Association (APA), Student Affiliate; Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science (ACBS)
- Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Behavioral and Cognitive-Behavioral therapies; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Anxiety (particularly OCD); Depression; Impulse Control Disorders (hair pulling/skin picking); Perfectionism; Athletic Performance Enhancement; Motivational Interviewing
- Theoretical Orientation: Cognitive-Behavioral and Behavioral with integration as appropriate
- Personal Interests: Spending time with my family and friends; teaching my puppy new tricks; playing and watching sports (especially the Cubs and Bears!); music; reading; trying new recipes and restaurants
Practicum Counselors
Marcée M. Turner, M. A.
Advanced Practicum Counselor
- Degree Program: Counseling Psychology, University of Notre Dame
- Degree: M.A., Counseling Psychology, University of Notre Dame, 2008; M.Ed., Counseling and Personnel Services, University of Maryland, 1998; BA, Sociology, University of Iowa, 1984
- Professional Memberships:American Psychological Associations (Divisions 17 and 45), Student Affiliate
- Clinical Interests: multicultural issues, interpersonal relationship improvement, trauma recovery and stress management
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative, strongly influenced by multicultural, client-centered and cognitive-behavioral approaches
- Personal Interests: Interacting with family and friends, community service, travel, reading, music, and attending artistic performances
Rebecca Cheung
Practicum Counselor
- Degree Program: Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program, University of Notre
Dame; B.S., Michigan State University, 2004 - Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association (APA), Student
Affiliate - Clinical Interests: depression, anxiety, gender and sexual
identity issues, minority mental health, multicultural counseling - Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach with an emphasis on
cognitive-behavioral and humanistic theories - Personal Interests: traveling, reading, music, movies, calligraphy, photography
Elizabeth Hendriks
Practicum Counselor
- Degree Program: Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program, University of Notre Dame
- Professional Memberships: Association for Psychological Science, American Psychological Association, Student Affiliate, Society for Psychology of Women
- Clinical Interests: Depression, Life Stress, Repeated Self-Injury Disorders
- Theoretical Orientation: Integrative approach with particular emphasis on humanistic and cognitive behavioral theories
- Personal Interests: Ballroom dancing, horticulture, movies, and my dog Vega
May Kim
Practicum Counselor
- Degree Program: Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program, University of Notre Dame; B.A., Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 2007
- Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association (APA), Student Affiliate; Association for Psychological Science (APS), Student Affiliate
- Clinical Interests: multicultural issues, depression, anxiety, adjustment issues
- Theoretical Orientation: integrative approach incorporating humanistic and cognitive-behavioral perspectives
- Personal Interests: cooking & baking, traveling, spending time with friends & family
Administrative Staff
Norma Frost
Administrative Assistant
Norma has been with the University Counseling Center for 16 years. Her personal interests include design, spending time with family, playing cards, reading, movies, and travel.
Tina Laskowski
Administrative Assistant
Tina has been an Administrative Assistant with the University Counseling Center since 1970. She is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). Her personal interests include reading, crocheting, arts & crafts, movies, and Chicago sports, especially the Bears and Cubs.
Margaret Strasser
Administrative Assistant
Margaret has worked for Notre Dame for 8 years and was previously with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy at Notre Dame. Her personal interests include gardening, cross-stitch, scrapbooking, and decorative toll painting.
June Harr
Senior Staff Assistant
June has been employed at the UCC since January 2008. She loves sports and enjoys attending college football, basketball and any pro sporting events. Spending quality time with her family and having fun are her most favorite things to do but she also enjoys fitness and making jewelry.
