Recent Alumni Updates

We post updates from alumni and friends as we receive them. Use our handy online form to send us your news!

Wesley Sanders '11 (MA) I am currently a first-year graduate student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Vermont. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Jamie Abaied, I am establishing a research protocol for our study on the socialization of coping between parents and children, as well as child peers. In addition, I am conducting clinical assessments and developing a caseload in the ADHD specialty clinic under the supervision of Dr. Betsy Hoza. Between these two efforts I have quite a busy schedule! I'd like to thank the department of psychology at William & Mary as well as my advisor, Dr. Janice Zeman, for going to such great lengths to prepare me for this challenging endeavor. (09/11)

John Hall '90 (BS) I was hired as Health Behavior Coordinator by the Fayetteville NC VA Medical Center. My duties are as coach-in-chief to the primary care service so that they can better help the 50,000 veterans they serve meet their health promotion and disease prevention goals. I also do health-related evaluations and coaching for veterans with the most severe obstacles. I still maintain a small private practice in Charlotte on my days off from Fayetteville. (09/11)

Brian Borsari '95 (BS) I received my PhD in clinical psychology from Syracuse University in 2003. I am currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at Brown University. My research interests include the development and implementation of brief motivational interventions with college student drinkers, the social influences on alcohol (e.g., modeling and norms), and in-session processes of motivational interviewing related to behavior change. In 2007, I joined the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program at the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a clinical psychologist. My research interests there involve the assessment and treatment of PTSD and co-morbid substance use disorders, improving sleep in veterans through the implementation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and working with veterans who are attending college. (09/11)

Michael Griffin '01 (MA) My wife and I will be having our first-born son in early-December of this year! (09/11)

Nate Lucena '07 (MA) I have just started my third year in the Psychology PhD program at Washington University in St Louis. Broadly, I am interested in aspects of cognitive and brain aging. I have three major lines of research. First, I investigate the heritability of brain structure and functional networks in old age. Second, I study the neural and cognitive factors leading to age-related differences in spatial navigation abilities. Finally, I am investigating biological, cognitive, and social moderators of the relationship between chronic stress and memory performance in older adults. (09/11)

Jeremy Burroughs '05 (BA) Working as a school psychologist in Fairfax County Public Schools. (09/11)

Amber (Hard) Bond '98 (BS) I live in the Chicago area with my husband and 2 young sons. I'm also proud to be the Administrative Director of the Institute for Therapy through the Arts, a Creative Arts Therapy Practice in Evanston. Our practice is a leader in integrating all four modalities of Creative Arts Therapies: Music, Art, Dance, and Drama. Look us up at itachicago.org. (09/11)

John Foubert '90 (BA) Recently published my 8th book, The Men's and Women's Programs: Ending Rape through Peer Education. Am now the Anderson, Farris and Halligan endowed professor of College Student Development at Oklahoma State University. (09/11)

Janet Muse '75 (BS) I am a Case Manager with Care Connection for Children, working with families who have children with special health needs, helping them navigate medical, social, whatever systems they encounter. On a different note, this year I released a CD of original waltz tunes with a fiddler - I play piano. Check out www.musedunn.com. (That's what you can do with a Psychology degree!) (09/11)

Rebecca (Butz) Williamson '98 (BA) We've had a busy year, with twin daughters born in London November 2010, and a recent move to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Rebecca continues to work with Personnel Decisions International doing leadership consulting. (09/11)

Nancy L. (Stone) Johnston '74 (BA) I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner in private practice in Lexington, VA. I have been a practicing clinician for 35 years. I know I have written to you before, letting you know about my book, Disentangle, When You've Lost Your Self in Someone Else, released by Central Recovery Press in March, 2011. I am writing to you again to let the Psychology Department know that I am going to be doing a book signing over homecoming week-end. I will be signing books at the W&M/Barnes & Noble Bookstore on Duke of Gloucester Street on Friday, October 21, 2011, 10am-1pm. I did such a signing there this past July and have been invited back by the store for Homecoming. I wanted you to know what one of your graduates is doing and invite you to come by on the day of the signing to meet each other. I have attached the press release (pdf) for the book to give you more information about this book which is for both the general public as well as professionals. My press had me signing and giving away copies of Disentangle at APA in DC this past August. The book received much interest and many conversations. (09/11)

Scott Cassidy '06 (MA) I recently completed my PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Penn State and currently work as a consultant at SWA Consulting in Raleigh, NC. (6/11)

Debbie Dalton '72 (BS) After deserting psychology for a graduate degree in environmental biology from UVA and working for EPA for 15 years as a scientist, I made a change in 1986 to being a mediator and facilitator for conflict resolution in the environmental field. Finally, my degree in psychology, especially the courses in small group psychology became relevant and even useful (much to my parents surprise and relief!). Over the past 22 years I have helped EPA interact with environmental and industrial stakeholders on everything from regulations to permits to cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Who knew??!! I would love to hear from Michael Bauer, who was a grad student in '72 if anyone knows where he is. (3/11)

Jennifer Lodi-Smith (Smith) '01 (BA)  '03 (MA)  Just accepted a position as assistant professor of psychology at Canisius College in Buffalo NY. Canisius a small, liberal arts college with a psychology department that is dedicated to high quality undergraduate research training. (03/11)

Susan Harris '82 (MA) After graduate school, I went to law school and now work in state government. My son, Alan Harris is a freshman at William and Mary. Coincidentally, he is taking his second class from John Nezlek. Professor Nezlek was a member of my thesis committee at William and Mary (along with Virgil McKenna and Professor Friedman). It seems to me that it is a very small world indeed! Thanks. (3/11)

Allen Grove '96 (BA) I'm a clinical psychologist with the U.S. Navy, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. I work with sailors, Marines, some soldiers and airmen, as well as dependents (spouses and children of service members), contractors, and civilians. (3/11)

Lisa Hinz '81 (BS) I recently published the book, "Expressive Therapies Continuum: A Framework for Using Art in Therapy." I am an adjunct professor of art therapy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana. (3/11)

Elizabeth Sadock '07 (BS) I am a 2nd year doctoral student in clinical psychology at the The Virginia Commonwealth University after spending two years working at Massachusetts General Hospital on a genetic linkage study of Tourettes, OCD, and ADHD under the PI, Dr. David Pauls.  (03/11)

Kathleen (Lovins) Herndon '03 (BS) I have two wonderful pieces of news. First, I have recorded a new album, and will release the first single on January 31. The single will be considered for Gold Record certification by the RIAA. To listen to the single, visit KatePublishing.com and find "Copathetic" In addition to my efforts in music, I have been accepted to a PhD program in Clinical Psychology! (01/11)