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  Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology 2012–2014 Degrees Conferred, Dissertations October 2009-May 2012  

Degrees Conferred, Dissertations, October 2009-May 2012


Following each student's name is the dissertation title and the names of the dissertation advisers.


Doctor of Psychology


Lisa Allgaier

Exploring "I Have A Dream" Through Grounded Theory

Advisers: Kenneth Schneider, Ph.D. and Lucinda Seares-Monica, Psy.D.

 

Tal Astrachan

Agency in Relational Psychoanalysis: Can Psychoanalysis Still Set Us Free?

Advisers: Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D. and Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D.

 

Mikaela Bachoe

Factors That Influence School Psychologists' Special Education Eligibility Decisions

Advisers: Nancy Fagley, Ph.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.


Karla Bailey

An Exploratory Study of Child Obesity Concerns Among African-American Children and Parents

Advisers: Daniel Fishman, Ph.D. and Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.


Deirdre Barrett
Development of an Improved Methodology for Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations in New York City
Advisers: Frederick Rotgers, Psy.D. and Daniel Fishman, Ph.D.

 

Kyla-Gaye Barrett

The Work Experiences of Professional West Indian Immigrant Women in the United States: An Exploratory Study

Advisers: Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D. and Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.


Melissa Batista
Rutgers-Somerset Counseling Program: Preventing Violence and Decreasing Risky Behaviors Among Adolescent Girls
Advisers: Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D. and Brenna Bry, Ph.D.  

 

Kara Biondo

Careers of Professional Psychologists: A Comparison of the Career Experiences of the Graduates of the Clinical Psy.D. and the Ph.D. Programs at Rutgers University

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Dan Fishman, Ph.D.

 

Oren Blass

Respect for Clients in Therapeutic Relationships: A Phenomenological Study

Advisers: Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.

 

Ayanna Boyd

Lessons to My Child: How Black/White Interracial Parents Perceive and Shape Racial Identity In their Biracial Children

Advisers: Shalonda Kelly, Ph.D. and Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.

 

Nasya Breach

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in the Treatment of Major Depression

Advisers: Maria Karavidas, Psy.D. and Donald Morgan, Psy.D.

 

Candice Burke

Black Parents and Predominantly White Schools:An Exploratory Study of Race and Parental Involvement

Advisers: Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D. and Rita Johnson, Psy.D.

  

Kristin Carbone

Evaluation of a Leadership Development Program:Investigating the Impact and Key Factors Facilitating or Impeding Success

Advisers: Cary Cherniss, Ph.D. and Daniel Fishman, Ph.D.


Katharine Chittenden

The Cost of Normal: The Subjective Experience of Intersexed Individuals Who Have Undergone Corrective Genital Surgery

Advisers: Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D. and Nina Williams, Psy.D.


Daniela Colognori

Safety Behaviors, Compulsive Behaviors, and Therapist Extensiveness as Predictors of Outcome in Behavior Therapy for Youth OCD

Advisers: Brian Chu, Ph.D. and Lori Rockmore, Ph.D.

 

Melissa Corbo

Measuring Behavioral Regulation and its Relation to Early Language Skills and Teacher-Rated Behavior in an Urban, Culturally Diverse School District

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Kwanghee Jung, Ph.D.

 

Claudia Cumes

Tipping Toward Change: Factors Associated with Pre-Treatment Drinking Cessation in Women with Alcohol Dependence

Advisers: Elizabeth Epstein, Ph.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.

 

Malkie Davidson

Selective Mutism:Exploring the Knowledge and Needs of Teachers

Advisers: Geraldine V. Oades-Sese, Ph.D. and Karen Haboush, Psy.D.

 

Lauren Dehler

Starvation as Self Preservation: Schizoid Concerns in Anorexia Nervosa

Advisers: Louis Sass, Ph.D. and Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D. 


Olga Diamantis

An Exploration of the "I Have a Dream Program" and Its Impact Upon Urban Students' Academic Trajectory

Advisers: Kenneth Schneider, Ph.D. and Tanya Romasz-McDonald, Psy.D.

 

Victoria Dietz

A Survey of New Jersey School Psychologists Regarding the Measures They Use to Assess Students

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Karen Haboush, Psy.D.

 

Ebony Evans

The Influence of Family of Origin Dynamics on African-American Women's Behavior in the Workplace: An Exploratory Study

Advisers: Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D. and Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D.

 

Shawn Ewbank

Conceptualization of Children and Adolescents with Tourette Syndrome and a Complex Presentation of Comorbidity

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Lori Rockmore, Ph.D.

 

Melissa Extein

Examining a Culturally Diverse Non-Governmental Organization Through the Lens of Embedded Intergroup Relations Theory: An Exploratory Study

Advisers: Michele Ballet, Psy.D. and Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.


Laura Feder

Are They Getting the Main Idea? A Case Study of Consulting and Evaluating a Camp-Based Leadership Program for Low-Income Adolescent Females

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Anita McLean, Psy.D.

 

Jason Fleming

A Pragmatic Case Study Evaluation of the Process of Juvenile Sexual Offender Treatment

Advisers: Daniel Fishman, Ph.D. Charles Maher, Psy.D., and Peter Nathan, Ph.D.

 

Jessica Floyd
Former Foster Care Individuals' Experiences of Racial/Ethnic Socialization and Identity Development: An Exploratory Study

Advisers: Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D., Robin Lang, Psy.D., and Sandra Leiblum, Ph.D.


Jennifer Foster

A Case Study of the Process of Formulating a Strategic Plan for the Delivery of Mental Health Services in an Urban School District

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.

 

Michael Fowlin

Extracting the Sense from (Non)Sense: A Theorectical Dissertation Applying Existential Themes to Gang Membership and Behavior

Advisers: Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D. and Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.

 

Brian Friedman

Psychometric Properties of the Jewish Beliefs Actions and Living Evaluation Middle School Form

Advisers: Geraldine Oades-Sese, Ph.D. and Scott Goldberg, Ph.D.

 

Graceann Furnari

The Design of a Relational Aggression Program for 6th Grade Female Students

Advisers: Kenneth Schneider, Ph.D., and Karen Haboush, Psy.D.

 

Ayorkor Gaba

Substance Abuse Risk Amongst Immigrant Adolescents - Understanding the Impact of Acculturation and School Factors

Advisers: Brenna Bry, Ph.D., Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D., and Valerie Johnson, Ph.D.

 

Allison Gallegly

A Survey of New Jersey Public School Mental Health Service Delivery

Advisers: Kenneth Schneider, Ph.D. and Karen Haboush, Psy.D.

 

Kristen Gawley

Information Seeking by Survivors of Suicide:What Did They Know, When Did They Know It, How Did They Find It, and Was It Helpful?

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Brenna Bry, Ph.D.


Bianca Georgescu

A Combined Intervention for Executive Deficits and Anxiety in Parkinson's Patients:A Case Study

Advisers: Brian Chu, Ph.D. and Jan Mohlman, Ph.D.

 

Binyamin Goldman

...And Keep the Change:A School-based Community Intervention Model for Creating Community-wide Capacity and Change

Advisers: Maurice Elias, Ph.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.

 

David Goldstein

Evaluation of a School-to-Work Internship Pilot Program for High School Seniors with Special Needs

Advisers: Eun-Young Mun, Ph.D. and Russell Kormann, Ph.D.

 

Fiona Graff

Changes in Coping Strategies Among Women Receiving Treatment for Alcohol Disorders

Advisers: Elizabeth Epstein, Ph.D. and Thomas Hildebrandt, Psy.D.

 

Jennifer Grant-DeFini

An Evaluability Assessment of an Elementary School Giftedness Program for Third- Through-Fifth Grade Students

Advisers: Kenneth Schneider, Ph.D. and Tanya Romasz-McDonald, Psy.D.

 

Corey Grassl

Psychosocial Risk Factors in Young Women for Noncompletion of a Residential Vocational and Academic Training Program

Advisers: Kenneth Schneider, Ph.D. and Eun-Young Mun, Ph.D.

 

Laura Greene

Principals' Attitudes About School Psychological Services:A Qualitative Study

Advisers: Susan Forman, Ph.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.


Rebecca Greif

Reducing Eating Disorder Risk Factors in Members of a National Sorority: A Benchmarking Study

Advisers: G. Terence Wilson, Ph.D. and Thomas Hildebrandt, Psy.D.

 

Lisa Grinfeld

Assessing Lay Theories of Psychotherapy Using the Q-Sort Method

Advisers: Stanley Messer, Ph.D., Daniel Fishman, Ph.D., and Jill Richards, Psy.D.

 

Cynthia Haines

An Evaluation of the Proximal Outcomes of a School-based Suicide Awareness Program: Changes in Knowledge, Attitudes, and Responses to Analog Scenarios

Advisers: John Kalafat, Ph.D. and Brian Chu, Ph.D.

 

Kimelle Halaby

Variables Predicting Non-Compliance with Short-Term Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Suicidal and Parasuicidal Adolescents

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Alec Miller, Psy.D.

 

Heather Hamed

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy Beliefs & Social-Emotional Competence in At-Risk Girls

Advisers: Maurice Elias, Ph.D. and Geraldine Oades-Sese, Ph.D.

 

Robert Happich

Tourette Syndrome in Adolescence:How it Impacts an Adolescent's Experience of Their Family, Peers, School, Self-concept and View of the Future

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Lori Rockmore, Ph.D.

 

Lina Harris

Therapeutic Alliance Factors in a Sample of Depressed Latinos Receiving Brief Motivational Interviewing

Advisers: Daniel Fishman, Ph.D. and Alejandro Interian, Ph.D.

 

Carolin Heindel

Group Therapy with Adolescent Girls in Foster Care: A Clinician's Training Manual for the Rutgers Foster Care Counseling Project

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Robin Lang, Psy.D.

 

Julie Henderson

Executive Coaching and Educational Leaders: An Exploratory Investigation

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D., Cary Cherniss, Ph.D., and Jeff Graber Ed.D.

 

Chelsea Hersperger

An Examination of Quality of Life in Women with Compulsive Hair Pulling

Advisers: Michael Petronko, Ph.D. and Lori Rockmore, Ph.D.


Nathan Hilton

The Influence of Social Factors On the Course of Addiction:Social Network as a Crucial Force in the Treatment of Women with Young Children

Advisers: Thomas Morgan, Psy.D. and Patrick Clifford, Ph.D.

 

Justin Jaramillo

A Phenomenological Investigation of Motivational Deficits in Chronic Schizophrenia

Advisers: Louis Sass, Ph.D. and Steven Silverstein, Ph.D.

 

Gavin Kenny

The Invisible Men:Validation, Belonging, and Identity Development in Gay Males

Advisers: Karen Riggs-Skean, Psy.D. and Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.

 

Brett Kociol

Clinical Reluctance to Refer to Group Psychotherapy:Theoretical and Empirical Considerations

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and David Panzer, Psy.D.


Sarah Kowal

An Exploration of the Impact of Social Institutions and Interpersonal Connections on the Sexual Expression and Identity of Dually Attracted and Bisexual Women

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Nina Williams, Psy.D.

 

Yair Kramer

Transformational Moments in Group Psychotherapy

Advisers: David Panzer, Psy.D. and Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D.

 

Greta Kugler

Professional Practices Utilized by Psychologists and Performance Enhancement Specialists in Their Work With Performing Artists

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.

 

Fatos Kusari

Predicting Presidential Election Outcomes Based on Candidates' Power, Affiliation and Achievement Motives

Advisers: Cary Cherniss, Ph.D. and Robert Emmerling, Psy.D.

 

Amy Kratchman

The Design, Implementation, and Formative Evaluation of a Program for Wait-listed Caregivers of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Russell Kormann, Ph.D.

 

Charlotte Labys

The Treatment of Gulf War Syndrome with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Case Comparison Study

Advisers: Daniel Fishman, Ph.D., Monica Indart, Psy.D., and Helena Chandler, Ph.D.

 

Stephanie Lee

Program Evaluation of the Douglass Outreach Early Intervention Program at Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Sandra Harris, Ph.D.

 

Veronique Lee

Implementation and Evaluation of a Psychoeducational Program for Parents Recently Reunified with their Children: A Case Study

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.

 

Nadia Lemp

Navigating Dating and Romantic Relationships as an Adult with Tourette Syndrome: An Exploratory Study

Advisers: Monica Indart, Psy.D. and Lori Rockmore, Ph.D.

 

Jane Liaw-Gray

A Post-Modern Critique of Psychology's Representation of Asian-Americans

Advisers: Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D. and Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D.


Terri Lipkin

The Creation of a Manual for a Diversity Leadership Training Program for Suburban High School Students

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Patrick Connelly, Psy.D.

 

Laura Lokker

An Exploratory Study of the Experience of Motherhood Among Maternally Bereaved Women

Advisers: Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D. and Monica Indart, Psy.D.

 

Igor Malinovsky

An Empirical Evaluation of Recovery Transformation at a Large Community Behavioral Healthcare Organization

Advisers: Paul Lehrer, Ph.D. and Steven Silverstein, Ph.D.

 

Elena Marszalowicz

Responding to Bullies:Primary Influences in Decisions of School Disciplinarians

Advisers:Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Bradford Lerman, Psy.D.


Rachel Merson

What To Do When You've Tried It All: The Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Skills Group For the Parents of Anxious Youth

Advisers: Brian Chu, Ph.D. and Jami Young, Ph.D.

 

Dana Millstein

Predictors of Caller Feedback Evaluations Following Crisis and Suicide Hotline Calls

Advisers: Brenna Bry, Ph.D. and Monica Indart, Psy.D.

 

Benjamin Mueller

An Exploratory Study of the Creation of a Group Psychotherapy Training Clinic

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and David Panzer, Psy.D.

 

Na'ama Nebenzahl

Doing and Being: The Experience of Israeli Volunteers During the Second Lebanon WarAdvisers: Kenneth Schneider, Ph.D. and Monica Indart, Psy.D.

 

Paraskevi (Priscilla) Noulas

A Qualitative Research Study on the Effects of Culture on Career Choice for First-Generation American Psychologists

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Monica Indart, Psy.D.

 

Robyn Odegaard

A Case Study of the Design, Implementation, and Formative Evaluation of a Team Development Program for a Women's Swimming and Diving Team in a NCAA Division I University Setting

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D.

 

Diana Ong

An Exploratory Study of Multiple Self Identities and Communities in East Asian American Women Who Are Attracted to Women

Advisers: Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D. and Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D.

 

Melissa Ortega

Generalization of Verbal Speech Across Multiple Settings for Children with Selective Mutism: A Multiple-Baseline Design Pilot Study

Advisers: Geraldine Oades-Sese, Ph.D., Robert LaRue, Ph.D., B.C.B.A., and Steven Kurtz, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.

     

Andrea Parent

Effects of a Comprehensive Substance Use Prevention Program with Urban AdolescentsAdvisers: Nancy Fagley, Ph.D. and Susan Forman, Ph.D.

 

Paul Park

Overcoming the Barriers to Mental Health Treatment Services in Korean-American Populations: A Phenomenological Study

Advisers: Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D. and Monica Indart, Psy.D.


Erica Pass

Combining Expressive Writing with an Affect- and Attachment-Focused Psychotherapeutic Approach in the Treatment of a Single-Incident Trauma Survivor: The Case of Grace

Advisers: Daniel Fishman, Ph.D. and Monica Indart, Psy.D.

 

Nora Pellegrino

Comorbidity & Childhood Psychopathology:Relations to Profiles of Behavior and Neuroanatomy

Advisers: Marsha Bates, Ph.D., Eun-Young Mun, Ph.D., and Jennifer Buckman, Ph.D.

 

Ariel Penkower

A Case-Based Evaluation of One Community-based Program for Orthodox Jewish Singles

Advisers: Daniel Fishman, Ph.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.

 

Damian Petino

An Evaluation of a Public High School Special Education Class Program for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.


Ashleighann Pierre-Morgan

The Process of Consulting with an Organization to Design an Independent Living Skills Program for Children in Residential Placement

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Nancy Boyd-Franklin, Ph.D.

 

Ariana Prawda

Pragmatic Case Study Analyses of Motivational Interviewing with Depressed Hispanics Advisers: Daniel Fishman, Ph.D. and Alejandro Interian, Ph.D.

 

Vanessa Ramirez

The Effects of Parental Acculturation and Parenting Behaviors on The Social-Emotional Functioning of Young Hispanic Children

Advisers:Geraldine Oades-Sese, Ph.D. and Brenna Bry, Ph.D.

 

Marissa Randazzo

Elementary Teachers' Knowledge and Implementation of Applied Behavior Analysis Techniques

Advisers: Susan Forman, Ph.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.

 

Gina Restivo

Managing and Supporting Students with Challenging Behavior:An Assessment of Perspectives and Practices within Public School Systems

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Russell Kormann, Ph.D.

 

Laura Robinson

Therapist as Mother, and Mother as Therapist:The Reciprocity of Parenting and Profession for Female Psychoanalytic Psychologists

Advisers: Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D. and Ellen Toronto, Ph.D.

 

Jason Ruch

Development of a Time-Limited Group for Adolescents With a Relative Who Has Cancer

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Karen Haboush, Psy.D.

 

Stephanie Sasso

A Qualitative Study of Gender Role Identity and Relationship Satisfaction in Adults Raised in Equal Parenting Households

Advisers: Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D. and Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D.

 

Susan Schnur

Hazing: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of a Universal Phenomenon

Advisers: Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D. and Seth Warren, Ph.D.

 

Jeffrey Selman

Father Involvement in Special Education

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Maurice Elias, Ph.D.

 

Maliha Sheikh

An Exploratory Study of the Challenges of Living in America as a Muslim Adolescent Attending Public School

Advisers: Maurice Elias, Ph.D. and Karen Haboush, Psy.D.

 

Jill Spero

Comparison Between a Dynamic Assessment Procedure and the WMLS-R in Distinguishing Language Abilities Among Hispanic Children in First Grade

Advisers: Geraldine Oades-Sese, Ph.D. and Karen Haboush, Psy.D.

 

Maria Staropoli

Does Teacher Certification in Mathematics Improve High School Special Education Students' Performance on the High School Proficiency Assessment? A Preliminary Investigation

Advisers: Linda Reddy, Ph.D. and Susan Forman, Ph.D.

 

Denise Steiner

Collegiate Student-Athletes:Report of Stressors and Coping Mechanisms

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D.


Matthew Strobel

Civics Education at the High School Level: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Educating Diverse Populations,The Utilization of School Psychology to Better a Political Science Project

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Susan Forman, Ph.D.

 

Suzette Sularski

An Evaluation of the Implementation of a Positive Behavior Support Approach in an Urban Preschool Setting

Advisers: Charles Maher, Psy.D. and Russell Kormann, Ph.D.

 

Elena Tamanas

The Role of Ethnic Identity in Participatory Processes that Facilitate Psychological Empowerment Among Urban Youth

Advisers: N. Andrew Peterson, Ph.D. and Cary Cherniss, Ph.D.

 

Amanda Urdang

Assistive Technology and Inclusive Education:Investigating Decision-Making and Implementation in New Jersey Schools through Surveys and Interviews with District Directors of Special Services

Advisers: Kenneth Schneider, Ph.D. and Tanya Romasz-McDonald, Psy.D.

 

Brian Welch

A Survey Investigation of Competition Among Private Practicing Psychologists

Advisers: Lewis Gantwerk, Psy.D. and Karen Riggs Skean, Psy.D.

 

Aurelie Welterlin

The Home Teaching Program:A Study of the Efficiency of a Parent Training Early Intervention Model

Advisers: Sandra Harris, Ph.D., Gary Mesibov, Ph.D., and Lara DelMolino, Ph.D., B.C.B.A.

 

Alexandra Wiltshire

Exploring the Model Minority:Views of Asian-American Students on School Climate with Implications for School Professionals

Advisers: Maurice Elias, Ph.D. and Brian Chu, Ph.D.

 

Veronica Zak-Abrantes

Enhancing Student Leaders' Emotional Intelligence Through Multi-dimensional Executive Coaching: A Pragmatic Case Study

Advisers:Cary Cherniss, Ph.D. and Daniel Fishman, Ph.D.


 
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