Counseling and Psychological Services Staff

Welcome to the Kennesaw State University Wellbeing and Counseling Services staff directory page. Here, you can get to know the dedicated and compassionate professionals who are here to support your mental and emotional wellbeing. Our team is committed to providing you with the resources and assistance you need to thrive during your time at KSU. Whether you're seeking counseling, therapy, or simply want to connect with someone who can help, our staff members are here to guide you on your journey towards improved mental health and overall wellbeing.

Explore the profiles of our experienced team to find the right fit for your needs and embark on a path to wellness and personal growth.

Administrative Staff

Name
Position
  • Ariyanna White

    Associate Director, Case Management

    awhit183@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2404

    Joined CPS: 2021

    Professional Interests: Sex Therapy (relationship concerns, kink, sexuality, gender identity, non-traditional relationship structures), anxiety,  social anxiety, LGBTQIA+, identity development, body image, and autism spectrum disorders 

    Education: Master of Social Work, Kennesaw State University; B.S. Psychology, Southern Polytechnic State University

    Therapeutic Style:  An integrative approach that is based in cognitive behavioral therapy and self compassion as well as an individuals lived experience to encourage and support a client in reaching their goals.

    Professional Accomplishments: Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, Be Body Positive Facilitator, Gottman Training Level 1, GSCSW Board Member and Anti-Diversity and Racism Committee Co-Chair

    Personal Interests: All things games (Tabletop, Video Games, Board Games), cats, movies & podcast

    Office Location:  Kennesaw and Marietta Campus

  • Jay Ingram

    Associate Director, Training & Part-Time Assistant Professor of Psychology

    jingra35@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2409

    Joined CPS: 2014

    Professional Interests: Multicultural issues, LGBTIQ concerns, grief and depression, and supervision and training.

    Education: Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee; A.B. Psychology, English, Smith College

    Therapeutic Style: A psychodynamic/interpersonal approach that focuses on understanding personality functioning, specific challenges, and optimal strategies for symptom relief and personal growth.

    Supervision Style: A developmental model that proceeds from the trainee’s level of understanding and need. Works to integrate classroom learning with experiential moments toward enhancing trainees’ ability to be present, utilize strategies, and communicate empathy effectively.

    Professional Accomplishments: Former Chief Psychologist, City of Atlanta; Past Director, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Counseling and Psychological Services; Past President, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Black Faculty and Staff Association; Owner and Presenter, Diversity Dynamics, Inc.

    Personal Interests: Jewelry design and writing songs, novels, and screenplays, having published short stories, poetry, and a detective novel.

  • Gregory Stevens

    Associate Director, Clinical Services

    gsteve17@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CPS: 2015

    Professional Interests: Trauma, diversity concerns, and men's issues.

    Education: Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Auburn University; M.S. Mental Health Counseling, Lee University; B.A. Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Lee University

    Therapeutic Style: A contemporary psychoanalytic approach that focuses on how people respond to their emotions, how this influences their relationships, and how these patterns might be reenacted in therapy.

    Supervision Style: A participant-observer who influences and is influenced by the matrix of supervisory relationships and balances support with challenge for professional and personal growth.

    Professional Accomplishments: Member and Past Co-chair, American Psychological Association Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology Early Career Committee; Presents and publishes professionally at the intersection of contemporary psychoanalytic theory and culture

    Personal Interests: Adventure-eating, creative writing, and modifying Jeeps for off-roading.

  • Wayne Strother

    Associate Director, Counseling & Psychological Services

    wstrothe@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-7391
    A 170h

    Joined CPS: 2017

    Professional Interests: Depression, anxiety, mental health issues of college students, and developmental psychology.

    Education: Doctor of Public Administration, Valdosta State University; M.A. Marriage and Family Counseling, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Master of Business Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham; B.S. Industrial Management, Auburn University

    Therapeutic Style: Cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on modifying thoughts that are overwhelming and challenging unhelpful cognitive distortions. Existential therapy that focuses on human existence including freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of one’s life.

    Supervision Style: A developmental model that views the supervisory relationship as educational and balances support with challenge for professional and personal growth.

    Personal Interests: Live music, running, reading, hiking, and traveling.

  • Nisha Chande headshot image

    Psychiatrist

    nchande@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2427

    Joined CPS: 2015

    Professional Interests: Anxiety, mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, trauma, eating disorders, substance use disorders, psychosis, autism spectrum disorder, and gender identity concerns.

    Education: Psychiatry Residency, Emory University; M.D. Mercer University; B.A. Biology with Neuroscience minor, Wesleyan College

    Therapeutic Style: Works closely with CPS counseling staff and case managers, as well as with Student Disability Services, Student Health Services, and the Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery to provide wrap around care for students. Recognizes that biological, psychological, and social influences interact and impact a person’s mental health.

    Personal Interests: Cycling, playing cello, and reading fiction.

  • Nicole Phillips headshot

    Associate Director, Advocacy and Prevention & Part-Time Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

    nphill10@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-3546
    KH 2422

    Joined CPS: 2023 
     
    Professional Interests: Sense of belonging, identity-based affinity group dynamics, diversity, equity, and inclusion, cultural competence, organization dynamics, and student affairs professional development. 
     
    Education: Ed.D. Student Affairs Leadership, University of Georgia; M.S. College Student Personnel, Indiana University; B.A., University of California, Irvine, CA, Social Sciences  
     
    Training and Certifications: Question. Persuade. Refer (QPR), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Title IX Hearing Officer Training, University System of Georgia, Conflict Dynamic Profile (CDP), KSU Executive Leadership for Women, KSU EXCEL Leadership Program,  KSU Ethical Leadership Certificate Program, Georgia State University's College of Law Consortium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Training, Leadership for Results, National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), and Social Justice Training Institute (SJTI). 
     
    Professional Accomplishments: NASPA Georgia Drive-In Conference’s Best of Programs; Co-Chair of the KSU Student Affairs Professional Development Committee; Founder of the KSU African American Male Initiative (AAMI);  KSU Women’s Leadership Institute, coordinating KSU's first Latino History Month Celebration; The University of Georgia’s Miller/Winston Award for Doctoral Research, the University System of Georgia’s Customer Service Award; GPCA’s Theodore K. Miller Outstanding Professional Service Award. 
     
    Personal Interests: Travel, time with family and friends, poetry (published in 2012), fashion, movies, live music (Jazz, R&B old school hip-hop, and soft rock) 

Clinical Staff

Name
Position
  • Cindy Florido

    Staff Therapist - SAFE Center

    cflorido@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    HSE 48 (3499)

    Joined CPS: 2022

    Professional Interests: Crisis prevention & intervention, trauma, anxiety, depression, Latino/Latinx culture, intergenerational trauma, grief & loss

    Education: Dual M.A. Forensic and Counseling Psychology, Holy Names University; B.A. Psychology, San Francisco State University

    Therapeutic Style: Client-centered approach using Solution-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  I utilize intersectional, culturally-informed perspective to understand a person's unique identity and lived experiences. 

    Personal Interests: Exploring new ventures with my family and our dog, listening to podcasts, weightlifting, Bay Area sports. 

    Office Location:  Marietta Campus

  • Elisheva Funk

    Staff Therapist

    efunk4@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    A 170I

    Joined CPS: 2018

    Professional Interests: Depression, suicide prevention, generalized and social anxiety, family issues, and children of divorce.

    Education: Master of Social Work with Family Therapy certificate, Boston University; B.A. Psychology, University of North Carolina

    Therapeutic Style: Person-centered therapy guides sessions while educating the client about their choices for treatment and encouraging self-reflection.  Tenets of dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are useful to help clients achieve their goals.

    Supervision Style: Finding a balance in teaching the fundamentals and nuances of our field while encouraging use of self to help others.

    Personal Interests: Cooking, hiking, reading, and music.

    Office Location:  Marietta Campus

  • Rachel Gustafson

    Psychologist

    rgustaf1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CPS: 2022

    Professional Interests:  LGBTQ+ issues, identity development, family of origin, religion and spirituality, trauma, and anxiety.

    Education: PsyD Clinical Psychology, William James College; B.A. Psychology, Calvin University

    Therapeutic Style: An integrative approach using techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to build coping strategies and emotion regulation skills, as well as humanistic and interpersonal therapy to explore an individual’s personal values and understand how an individual developed within their relationships and cultural context. 

    Supervision Style:  A developmental and strength-based approach focusing on collaborating with trainees to meet their specific training goals and encouraging them to create their unique therapeutic style

    Personal Interests:  Outdoor activities, Playing musical instruments, Taylor Swift, Broadway shows, Spending time with pets (a dog and a cat), and houseplants.

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

  • Lunden Hawkins

    Psychologist

    lhawki31@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2425

    Joined CPS: 2022

    Professional Interests: Identity Development, Interpersonal and Relational Concerns, Couple and Family Systems, Race and Culture-Related Stress

    Education: Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Chaminade University of Honolulu; M.S. Clinical Psychology, Argosy University Hawai'i; B.S. Family Studies and Human Development, Towson University

    Therapeutic Style: A psychodynamic approach that utilizes interpersonal and attachment-based insight to facilitate meaningful change and a deeper understanding of self  

    Supervision Style: A developmental approach focused on experiential learning, growth in clinical competencies, and increased understanding of self in clinical environments 

    Professional Accomplishments: Distinguished Graduate in Doctor of Psychology Program (Summa Cum Laude), Office of Vice Provost at Chaminade University; Outstanding Graduate of Psychology Award, Hawai'i Psychological Association; Top 100 Women of Maryland Award, The Daily Record Maryland

    Personal Interests: Spending time with family and friends, yoga, traveling, and spending time outdoors

    Office Location: Kennesaw Campus

  • Case Manager

    ehickey1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    A 170F

    Joined CPS: 2023 

    Professional Interests: Women’s issues, trauma, interpersonal concerns, personality disorders, body image, community outreach, creative expression and identity development.  

    Education: Master of Social Work, Kennesaw State University; B.S. Psychology, Kennesaw State University  

    Therapeutic Style:  A client centered approach which focuses on self-empowerment and compassion. Pulling from dialectical behavior therapy practices to aid in emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance to help support overall functioning. Focus on self-talk and the narrative clients tell themselves in order to encourage clients to reach their own goals.  

    Personal Interests: Traveling and exploring new places, live music and shows, spending time with friends and family, and reading fiction.  

    Office Location:  Marietta Campus 

  • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

    mlivin12@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    A 170J

    Joined CPS: 2022

  • Maureen O

    Staff Therapist

    modonn10@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2413

    Staff Therapist

    modonn10@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2413

     

    Joined CPS: 2017

    Professional Interests: Anxiety, trauma, family and relational issues, identity development, and eating disorders.

    Education: M.S. Professional Counseling, Georgia State University; B.M. Music Therapy, Florida State University

    Therapeutic Style: An integrative approach based on cognitive behavioral therapy, incorporating brief solution-focused therapy and mindfulness.

    Supervision Style: A developmental approach focused on self-awareness, motivation, and autonomy, monitoring dynamic changes within the supervisory relationship.

    Personal Interests: Playing music, hiking, going to concerts, traveling, and watching Florida State football.

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

  • Opal Ojeda

    Psychologist

    oojeda@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    A 170

    Psychologist

    oojeda@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    A 170

     

    Joined CPS: 2019

    Professional Interests: Anxiety and stress management, family issues, identity development, trauma, first-generation college students, supervision and training.

    Education: Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, University of Minnesota; M.A. Community Counseling, Gonzaga University; B.A. Psychology, Brigham Young University-Idaho

    Therapeutic Style: Psychodynamic approach that looks at how early experiences form a person’s worldview and current patterns as well as influences from Person Centered and Cognitive Behavioral therapies. This manifests in the importance of the therapeutic relationship and concrete skills to help facilitate change.

    Supervision Style: A psychodynamic approach to supervision where it is important to focus on the relationship between the supervisor and supervisee as the basis for the work. While also taking a developmental approach that meets supervisees where they are and balances support with challenge to encourage personal and professional development.

    Personal Interests: Spending time with family and friends, reading, crafts, and listening to podcasts.

    Office Location:  Marietta Campus

  • Sheldon Rifkin

    Psychologist & Part-Time Assistant Professor of Psychology

    srifkin@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2419

    Psychologist & Part-Time Assistant Professor of Psychology

    srifkin@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2419

     

    Joined CPS: July, 2010

    Education: Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee; M.S. Psychology, Temple University; B.S. Psychology, Brooklyn College

    Professional Interests: Mental health issues on college campuses, anxiety, depression, stress, interpersonal conflicts, motivation, study skills, time management, teaching, and clinical and forensic psychology.

    Therapeutic Style: A generalist with a multicultural focus emphasizing an interpersonal supportive approach that encourages personal growth, personal responsibility, and cognitive and emotional self-awareness, and will enable individuals to feel competent and self-directive in their approach to life issues.

    Supervision Style: An interactive observer and participant who is focused on challenging and enabling supervisees to learn and understand the value, limits, and significance of their professional role and skills, to develop and have confidence in their unique therapeutic style, to become aware of the impact of their feelings and perceptions, and to enhance their diversity of professional and personal skills.

    Personal Interests: Family, travel, and photography.

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

  • Ramsey Rutherford

    Staff Therapist

    rruther6@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2408

    Staff Therapist

    rruther6@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2408

     

    Joined CPS: 2023

    Professional Interests:  Addiction, Depression, Anxiety, Religion & Spirituality, Identity Development, and Mens Issues

    Education: M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Mercer University; B.S. Psychology, Minor in Religious Studies, Kennesaw State University

    Therapeutic Style: A Culturally-informed Person-centered approach, using Narrative Therapy to reauthor life stories that are no longer adaptive and Existential Therapy to push for growth and begin to implement change. Positive, warm, and empathic counseling allowing for students to feel understood and validated while discussion is challenging and direct in order to accomplish desired goals.

    Personal Interests: Being outdoors hiking and camping with two Pitties, reading fantasy books, experiencing different cultures, and playing board and video games with family and friends

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

  • Afton Storno

    Staff Therapist

    astorno@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2415

    Joined CPS: 2018

    Professional Interests: Women’s issues, couples and relationship concerns, and difficulties obtaining self-acceptance.

    Education: M.A. Clinical Psychology with a Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis, Pepperdine University; B.A. Clinical Psychology, Clark Atlanta University

    Therapeutic Style: A client-centered approach to promote confidence in healthy decision making to ultimately obtain self-acceptance. The goal is to facilitate a non-judgmental atmosphere to fully understand and advocate your wants and needs.

    Personal Interests: Spending time with friends and family, visiting local restaurants and trying new food, shopping, exercising, traveling to amazing museums, and listening to music.

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

 

Doctoral Internship Staff

Kennesaw State University's Counseling & Psychological Services (CPS) Doctoral Internship in Health Services Psychology.

Name
Position
  • Counseling and Psychology Doctoral Intern

    lmanya@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6034
    KH 2421

  • Counseling and Psychology Doctoral Intern

    lmoor149@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2414

Clinical Trainees

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) office of Kennesaw State University (KSU) offers training experiences for masters and doctoral students in counseling, social work and psychology. 

Pictured from left to right

Melanie Gelernter, Mercer University, Clinical Psychology

Eliana Pimentel, Mercer University, Clinical Psychology

Jace Mitcham, Georgia State University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling program

Shelly Banks, Kennesaw State University, Master of Social Work

Madeline Hammond (not pictured), Georgia State University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

Counseling and Psychological Services is a function of the Division of Student Affairs.

 

Clinical Trainees