Counseling Staff
All counseling staff are trained as generalists with experience specific to university mental health. Our training is extensive across areas of mental health concerns, interpersonal/family concerns, as well as issues pertaining to diverse groups and social justice. Please also read more about our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.
*Please note that we cannot accommodate individual counselor preferences for your initial intake/assessment. Your initial assessment is used as an opportunity to discuss your counseling needs and preferences.
Dianne Aguero-Trotter, Ph.D.
Director (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Pre-doctoral internship
with the NJ Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Interest Areas: Depression, suicide prevention, grief/loss, family of origin issues, eating disorders, first generation and acculturation issues, substance use and abuse, supervision and training. Fluent in Spanish.
Priti Shah, Ph.D.
Associate Director (she/ her/ hers)
Education and Training: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. Pre-doctoral Internship
at University of Massachusetts Amherst, Counseling and Assessment Services. Postdoctoral
Fellowship at Boston College, University Counseling Services.
Interest Areas: Trauma and loss, family/intergenerational violence, family of origin and relationship concerns, multicultural issues, microaggressions, acculturation and migration concerns, supervision and training.
Daam Tapiwa Barker, Ph.D.
EOP Staff Psychologist (he/him/his)
Education and Training: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Fordham University. Pre-doctoral internship at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System. Post-doctoral training at Positive Developments, LLC.
Interest Areas: Social justice, systemic oppression, multiculturalism, cross-cultural counseling, intersectionality, identity development, imposter syndrome, complex anxiety, trauma, historic trauma, intergenerational trauma, resilience and posttraumatic growth.
Caroline E. Black, LCSW, MSW, M.Ed.
Mental Health Clinician and Outreach & Prevention Coordinator, (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Master of Social Work and Master of Education in Human Sexuality Studies from Widener University. Generalist internship at Princeton University, Sexual Harassment/Assault Advising, Resources & Education and Health Promotion and Prevention Services. Clinical internship at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services.
Interest Areas: Anxiety, relationships, sexuality, gender identity, emotion dysregulation, substance abuse/addictive behavior, faith/religion and mental health.
Chenelle T. Lauture, MSW, LCSW
Mental Health Clinician and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Initiatives
Outreach Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Master of Social Work from Temple University. Internship at Access Services, Mobile Crisis Supports Services, Foster Care and Supported Living programs.
Interest Areas: Anxiety, family of origin and relationship concerns, trauma, historic trauma, intergenerational trauma, identity development and depression.
Yessine Griffin, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology, Saint Elizabeth University. Combined Pre-doctoral internship at Overlook Medical Center and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen.
Interest Areas: Social justice, multiculturalism, grief/loss, athlete mental health concerns, maternal mental health, body image, managing severe and persistent mental health symptoms.
Jamie C. Stillwell, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from La Salle University. Pre-doctoral internship with OhioGuidestone in Cleveland, OH.
Interest Areas: Anxiety, depression, emotion dysregulation, OCD, self-esteem, identity development, microaggressions, supervision and training.
Zsuzsa A. Nagy, dr. univ., MSW, LCSW
Mental Health Clinician (she/her/hers) Seton Hall University Law School Embedded Clinician
Education and Training: Graduate degree received from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary in psychology (dr. univ.), MSW degree received from Rutgers University. Generalist internship at Columbus Hospital and clinical internship at Family Connections. Post-graduate experience at Crisis Intervention Services of Morristown Medical Center and Saint Elizabeth University Counseling Services.
Interest Areas: Cross-cultural and acculturation issues, resilience, crisis intervention, positive psychology, personal growth, social justice, psychodrama, advocacy, nature and environment and its role in our well-being.
Jayne Duncan, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist (she/her/hers) Seton Hall University IHS Embedded Clinician
Education and Training: Ph.D. Clinical Psychology with Health Emphasis from Yeshiva University, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Pre-doctoral internship at Rutgers University Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services.
Interest Areas: Eating disorders and disordered eating, body image concerns, complex trauma, intergenerational trauma, interconnection of physical and psychological concerns, self-compassion.
Brendan Sullivan, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist (he/him/his)
Education and Training: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology, Saint Elizabeth University. Pre-Doctoral Internship at Seton Hall University, Counseling and Psychological Services.
Interest Areas: Anxiety, depression, group counseling, sport and performance related issues, underserved populations, men’s mental health, EMDR, lifespan transitions, interpersonal relationships.
Marisa Garrity, MSW, LCSW
Case Management and Crisis Counselor (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Master of Social Work from Boston University with a certification in adolescent trauma and violence. Graduate internships with early Intervention Services and school counseling in the greater Boston area.
Interest Areas: Anxiety, depression, relationships, emotion dysregulation, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, trauma, self-esteem and case management.
Joyce Southers, Psych APN, CARN-AP, MA
Consultant in Psychiatry (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Masters of Arts in Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from New York University, 2002. Graduate training experience at Bellevue Hospital Center, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital and FEGS in New York City.
Interest Areas: Underserved populations, cultural beliefs and identity, trauma, anxiety disorders, substance and behavior addictions, ADHD, physical effects of underlying mental health issues.
Joyce Cito
Department Secretary, South Orange Campus (she/her/hers)
CAPS is also a training center and our team includes advanced doctoral students who are training to be psychologists as well as social workers who are working toward their independent clinical licensure.
Kathryn (Katie) Cornet, M.A.
Clinical Intern (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Master of Arts in Educational Psychology, Kean University. Doctorate in Clinical and
School Psychology in progress, Kean University. Doctoral externships at Stevens Institute
of Technology – Counseling and Psychological Services, High Focus Centers and Warren
Middle School.
Interest Areas: Anxiety, self-esteem, mindfulness-based interventions, stress, adjustment difficulties, self-compassion, mind-body connection.
Leslie Perez, M.A., Ed.S.
Clinical Intern (she/her/ella)
Education and Training: Master of Arts and Education Specialist in Professional Counseling from Seton Hall University. Doctorate of Psychology in progress at Saint Elizabeth University. Doctoral externship at Seton Hall University-Counseling and Psychological Services and Youth Consultation Services-Helen May Strauss Clinic. Fluent in Spanish.
Interest Areas: Social justice, anxiety, identity development, self-esteem, advocacy, depression, positive psychology.
Ashley I. Robinson, MSW, LSW
Clinical Fellow (she/her/hers)
Education and Training: Master of Social Work from Seton Hall University. Social Work internship training at the Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center, The HUBB Arts & Trauma Center and the City of Newark, NJ Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery.
Interest Areas: Mental health promotion,juvenile justice, social justice, community outreach and organizing, advocacy,trauma and healing, international development, social policy.