DSW Students
Third Year
Ingrid Aarons-Porter
Ingrid Aarons-Porter, LMSW, earned her Bachelor's in Psychology and her Master's in Social Work from the University of Connecticut. She is a Program Supervisor in the Strategic Planning Division at the State of CT Department of Children and Families. With over 30 years of experience in child welfare, Ingrid has dedicated her career to working with vulnerable children and families. As a doctoral candidate, Ingrid’s research focuses on exploring supervisory approaches that can be adapted to enhance the professional growth of Women of Color in the field of social work.
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 Cardillo-Cunningham, MSW, LCSW, is a Program Director in the Contracts and Fiscal Division at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. Beginning her career at DCF as an intern, she has progressed within the agency for 28 years. Bridging her child welfare knowledge into the realm of sports, Susan’s doctoral research explores social work's role in insuring athletes' mental health. Susan aims to create a curriculum illuminating the intersection between social work and sports.
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 at the Connecticut Mental Health Center as the Director of Care Management, has a Private Practice in downtown 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. She has and continues to work towards addressing and combatting trauma due to racism.
Second Year
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.
First Year
Morgan Keegan
Morgan is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Connecticut working with youth, adolescents, and adults in a private practice in Burlington CT. Morgan has a passion for working with survivors of violent crimes, youth, and the veteran population. Morgan started working in the field after being exposed to equine assisted therapy with her horse, Tiffany. Morgan graduated from the University of St. Joseph's in 2021 with her MSW and Eastern CT State University in 2020 with her BSW.
Lee Bowbeer
Lee is a licensed clinical social worker and works as a school social worker in Greenwich, CT. He also maintains a private practice, where he provides psychotherapy and clinical supervision. He earned his MSW from the University of Michigan, and he holds post-graduate certificates in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and infant-parent mental health. His research interest is in how reflective clinical supervision might improve the lived experience of school social workers. He is married with two children.