DSW Students
Third Year
Thomas Blackwell
Thomas Blackwell is an U.S. veteran and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in southwestern Connecticut. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Social Work Degrees from Southern Connecticut State University. His experience includes approximately 18 years at the state of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and 12 years of providing psychotherapy at his private practice. Thomas’s personal interests include music, film, travel, spirituality, and social justice
Christine Catania-Rachlin
Christine Catania-Rachlin, LICSW is licensed in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. She received her MSW from Boston College. Christine has worked in a variety of social service settings providing clinical care and held leadership positions of supervisor and program director. Now in private practice, she has advanced training in EMDR (certified), DBT, and Developmental Needs Meeting. Christine is on the board of the Western Massachusetts EMDR Association. As a doctoral student, she hopes to contribute to elevating trauma knowledge through education for MSW students and new practitioners.
Emmanuel Charles
Emmanuel Charles has worked for New York City as a fair hearing representative, field supervisor, and director of rehabilitation services and for New York’s Office of Mental Health as a forensic program administrator, director of sex offenders, and treatment team leader. He has experience as a clinical supervisor. He holds degrees in philosophy, law and Justice, and social work. He is a clinical member of the Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Sexual Abuse.
Lleidy Ivelisse De Leon
Lleidy Ivelisse De Leon, aka Reina, works full time for the Department of Corrections as a Corrections officer. While working in Corrections she obtained an MSW and began to provide clinical services shortly after. She is an LCSW and has a private practice in Hartford, CT. She is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saint Joseph MSW program. Reina is the Chair for the Latinx Social Work Network NASW CT chapter. Obtaining a DSW is the next step in her educational/professional career.
Christopher Gackenheimer
Christopher Gackenheimer, LCSW is a school social worker and Clinical Supervisor. He earned his MSW from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois Chicago and has worked in Chicago Public Schools, small special education settings, and in private practice. His doctoral research has focused on the impact of disability on adolescent sense of belonging in schools.
Jennifer Gereda
Jennifer Gereda, MSW, LCSW, Jennifer is heavily rooted in intensive in-home work and has both leadership and clinical experience. As a bilingual, multicultural therapist, Jennifer is passionate about preserving the indigenous knowledge and culture Latine immigrants bring and supporting wholistic healing practices. She hopes to contribute to the field of social work by further developing social work knowledge and skills to decolonize practice and address the continued structural violence against marginalized communities.
Valerie Martin
Valerie Martin is a licensed clinical social worker who has over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in working with adults who struggle with mental health issues and has worked in outpatient, inpatient, and private practice settings. Her areas of focus include spiritual emergencies and mental health. She received her MSW from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and is currently enrolled in the DSW program at Southern Connecticut State University.
Ashley Mathews
Ashley Mathews is currently working as a School Social Worker. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bennett College for Women (2005) and her MSW from the University of Connecticut (2009). She is currently a doctoral candidate in the DSW program at Southern Connecticut University. Over the last 15 years she has supported many children and families. She is passionate about early childhood social-emotional development, positive self-concept among youth, and racial equity in education.
William Mecca
Mr. William Mecca, LCSW, LADC: Bill has been a social worker for over 25 years with experience in community mental health, substance abuse, workplace mental health and the public schools. He is a full-time school social worker at Trumbull High School and per diem social worker in Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency Services. He is licensed as a clinical social worker, certified as a school social worker, licensed as an alcohol and drug counselor, certified public-school administrator and certified in critical incident stress management. Bill holds a Masters of Social Work degree from New York University.
Glory Ogbaa
Glory Ogbaa, a Social Worker with Clifford Beers' Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit, brings over 15 years of expertise in outpatient mental health and substance abuse therapy. Her skills include individual counseling, couples therapy, and group sessions for recovery and anger management. Glory's past experience includes working with adolescents at the Children's Center of Hamden. A graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with both BSW and MSW, she's presently pursuing her Doctorate at the same institution.
Domonique Pascascio
Domonique Pascascio, LMSW is the proud Interim Associate Director of Social Work Admissions at Southern CT where she also received her MSW. Domonique is a Certified School Social Worker. She brings enthusiasm, passion and her full self to all she does. It is an honor to be a member of SCSU DSW Class of 2024. This has been a remarkable journey! Domonique is an avid quote lover and wants to leave you with this, “Let all you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14.
Jara J Rijs
Jara J Rijs is an LCSW and Certified School Social Worker in Connecticut. She received her BA from ECSU in Psychology and her MSW from UCONN. Her career and volunteer interests focus on childhood mental health, advocating for social workers’ rights and responsibilities, and using higher education to develop future social workers. Jara’s research area as a doctoral candidate focuses on how clinical supervision for school social workers affects the production of sound, ethical, and reflective practices.
Charmaine Samuda
Charmaine Samuda is a CT Licensed Clinical Social Worker, graduate of Columbia University Master of Social Work program and mental health practitioner and owner of a private practice in Woodbridge, CT. Her desire to further expand knowledge and impact led to the current pursuit of a Doctoral degree in Social Work at Southern CT State University. She aims to utilize the DSW degree to provide social work education to aspiring social work professionals.
Second Year
Ingrid Aarons-Porter
Ingrid Aarons-Porter, Licensed Social Worker (LMSW) in Connecticut. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1993 and a Masters in Social Work in 1999, from The University of Connecticut. Ingrid has over 28 years of experience within Child Welfare: working with children and families along the child protection spectrum. She is currently a Quality Assurance Program Supervisor in the Strategic Planning Division, at the State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
Catherine G. Corto-Mergins
Catherine G. Corto-Mergins, LCSW, is the Director of Training at the Village for Families and Children in Hartford. Her career has included the provision, supervision, administration and training of clinical and community-based services. She earned her master's degree from UCONN School of Social Work and her undergraduate degree from St. Joseph College. She is a lifelong Hartford resident, who, with her husband, is the proud parent of two adopted children and a multi-cultural dog.
Susan C. Cunningham
Susan C. Cunningham MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers) is a Program Director in the Contracts and Fiscal Divisions for the State of CT Department of Children and Families (DCF). Susan received her BSW from Sacred Heart University and her MSW from Fordham University. She began her career as a DCF intern and advanced through the agency over the last 27 years. Susan’s work focuses on macrolevel systems in the coordination, development and enhancement of services contracted by DCF to meet the needs of children and families.
Trond Harman
Trond Harman earned his Masters of Social Work with a concentration in Developmental Disabilities from Widener University in Chester, PA and his Bachelor of Science in Education with a minor in coaching from Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, PA. His training and certificates include: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy and DBT (dialectical behavior therapy), and Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist II. He has a Pennsylvania Clinical Social Work License.
Molly Haynes
Molly Haynes, LCSW is currently a social worker for the State of Connecticut Department of Correction. Molly holds a bachelor's in social work from ECSU (class of 2015); a master's in social work from SCSU (class of 2017). Her areas of research and publication include attitudes and beliefs surrounding affirmative action policy and adolescent suicide prevention programming. Molly’s field of interests include clinical work surrounding self-harm and suicidality, as well as balancing client-based and system-based needs.
Britt Lewis
Britt Lewis, LCSW, is a “New Havener” born and raised and a bi-racial Black woman. She currently works for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as a Behavioral Health Program Manager, has a Private Practice in New Haven, and has a Yale faculty appointment as a Clinical Instructor of Social Work in Psychiatry. Britt received her Bachelor of Social Work from SCSU, and her Master of Social Work from Fordham University.
First Year
Heather Allen
Heather Allen is a psychotherapist working with adults in a rural community mental health clinic in NY. She graduated with a BSW degree from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2012 and with a MSW degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2013. Her practice interests include interventions improving engagement for high-risk clients and those with severe and persistent mental illness. She is also a trained divorce mediator interested in how psychotherapy can support parents experiencing high-conflict divorce.
Tammy Cassile
Tammy Cassile, MSW is an Assistant Superintendent for student services at Capital Prep Schools serving schools in CT and NY. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University. Currently she works for Capital Prep Schools overseeing student services for five schools in CT and NY. Her goal as a doctoral student is to develop her leadership and management skills in order to continue to deliver equitable education experience to all.
Kerry-Ann Frank
Kerry-Ann Frank, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Connecticut. She received my master’s in social work from Springfield College, and bachelor’s in psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. She has worked in an agency by New Haven and Fairfield County. Her focus has always been on the family system and how the whole child cannot be healed unless the family as a whole is healed. Her passion is generational trauma and the impact of parenting.
Julienne Giard
Julienne Giard is a licensed clinical social worker in Connecticut. She currently works at the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in the Office of the Commissioner as the Director of the Community Services Division. During her tenure at DMHAS since 2006, Julienne has held multiple leadership positions, including Director of Evidence-Based Practices and Grants. Julienne started a small private practice in 2016, which she continues today.
Michelle Jefferson
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Michelle Jefferson is currently employed at Community Health Resources as a clinical supervisor, overseeing the mental health clinicians embedded in five police departments. Ms. Jefferson is passionate about working with people of color, helping women avoid unhealthy relationships, being a mental health advocate for clients who are currently in crisis, and educating law enforcement on mental health.
Jasmine M. McLean
Jasmine M. McLean (She/They) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing in Sex Therapy and Queer Affirming Care. With degrees in Social Work and Human Sexuality Studies, Jasmine has extensive experience as a Clinician, Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Program Coordinator, and Program Director. Jasmine also is the Co-Founder/Co-Owner of New Streams, LLC, a therapy practice focused on providing Queer Affirming, Sex Positive, and culturally sensitive mental health care.
Omar Rivera
Omar Rivera, LCSW, is a social worker that works in his own private practice, and as a Program Director for the Department of Mental Health and Addition Services. Omar earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin. He earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Connecticut. He has 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups.
Liz Schacht
Liz Schacht is a bilingual Spanish speaking Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from New Jersey City University and a Masters in Social Work from University of Connecticut. Liz currently works at the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Education Center (SHARE) at Yale University as a Counselor. Liz specializes on trauma related to childhood trauma, sexual assault, sexual harassment and intimate partner violence.
Susan Tobenkin
Susan Tobenkin is Director of Psychological Health with the Connecticut National Guard. Mrs. Tobenkin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is additionally a CCB Certified Professional in the treatment of Substance Abuse (AADC). She has twenty-five plus years of experience in many aspects of practice from management of day-to-day operations to the treatment of clients ranging in ages from six to 106. She is committed to giving quality behavioral health care to Service Members.