Colleague - Vol. 26, Iss. 1 (Spring/Summer 2009)

Spring/Summer 2009 Volume 26, No.1

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY Graduate School of Education and Psychology

A Home for Health Transitional Living for Those Overcoming Eating Disorders

Family Connections | Technology in Nepal | Niapele Project | NEW Academy | Media Psychology

L ette r From t he D ean

Though the nation may be in the midst of a recession, the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) is determined to support our students and alumni with the same level of commitment and resources as we have throughout our history of educating. Budget constraints have only inspired more creative and efficient use of capital, resulting in streamlined processes, a focus on critical instruction, and a vigor to do “more with less.”

To demonstrate our concern for those in our University community affected by the economic downturn, GSEP established the Waves Education Development Growth and Excellence (EDGE) scholarship program, open to all Pepperdine alumni interested in pursuing one of the six master’s or five doctoral degrees offered at GSEP starting in Summer or Fall 2009. Our goal is to ensure that those who want to retool after recent job losses or enhance their skills with an advanced degree are not denied that opportunity due to any financial restrictions. This is our way of acknowledging the significant challenges facing communities both locally and globally, and lending a hand to our extended Pepperdine family.

A graduate degree is an asset now more than ever. In fact, GSEP was recently recognized in the national news for discussing how a graduate degree can provide security during times of economic turmoil. Our comments in the front-page article in the “Jobs” section of the Los Angeles Times asserted that graduate school is as much about building relationships as building knowledge.

With this in mind, I encourage you to stay in contact or reconnect with your former classmates, as an expanded network can offer new opportunities for job prospects and learning experiences that may help you continue to advance your career in spite of financial uncertainty. I also invite you to touch base with our exceptional career services team, always at the ready to help you achieve your professional goals.

We are confident that by staying true to our mission we will be able to persevere through this difficult time, and ultimately become even more effective and compassionate leaders of society.

Margaret J. Weber, Ph.D. Dean

F e at u r e s

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Entertainment Technology and and Psychology Globalization

The Niapele Project

NEW Academy Canoga Park

Rebecca’s House

Creating Opportunities for Refugee Children

A Charter School Gets Creative

Helping Clients with Eating Disorders

GSEP Supports Healthy Relationships

Faculty, Student, and Alumni Perspectives

Empowering Nepalese Youth

Departments 02 Initiatives 04 News 24 Class Notes

Perspectives 22 Changing Lives: From Trauma to Healing

By Dr. Rene Hernandez-Cardenache

23 Giving Wings to Make Hope Soar

By Wendy McElfish

23 Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Happiness

By Kimberly Anderson-Jefferson

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY Graduate School of Education and Psychology Spring/Summer 2009 Volume 26, No. 1

Managing Editor Jennifer Scharnikow Editor Jaya Bhumitra

Administration Dean Margaret J. Weber Associate Dean, Psychology Robert A. deMayo Associate Dean, Education Eric R. Hamilton

Creative Director Brett Sizemore Art Director Gayle Wheatley Graphic Designer Maz Ameli Production Manager Jill McWilliams

The Pepperdine ColleagueŠ is published two times per year by the Graduate School of Education and Psychology and the Office of Alumni Relations. The opinions expressed in the Colleague do not necessarily reflect those of the University or its administration.

Director of Alumni Relations Claudette LaCour

Please send address changes and alumni updates to:

Photographer Ron Hall

Pepperdine Colleague GSEP Alumni Office 6100 Center Drive Los Angeles, CA 90045 Tel. 310.568.5649 E-mail: gsepalum@pepperdine.edu

Copy Editor Vincent Way Contributing Writers Dr. Ken Canfield, Dr. Rene Hernandez-Cardenache, Erica Lee, Wendy McElfish, and Kimberly Anderson-Jefferson

To contact the Colleague editor, e-mail gsepedit@pepperdine.edu.

GSEP Colleague Summer 2008 1

G S E P I nitiatives

GSEP Receives $ 50,000 Grant from Microsof t For Exploration of Future Learning Environments Dr. Brinkley-Kennedy and the staff of Hope Gardens, a partner of the Urban Initiative.

The Urban Initiative Leadership and Partners Meet to Discuss Goals for the Year Ahead On January 27 the GSEP Urban Initiative leadership and partners gathered to discuss how to expand their collaborations in the year ahead. The breakfast meeting, hosted by GSEP at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus, included a presentation

by Dr. Rhonda Brinkley-Kennedy, director of the Urban Initiative, followed by an open forum in which partners described what support their agencies required that the Urban Initiative could provide.

“This is the first time that our new partners had the opportunity to meet our longtime partners, and learn from them what we can offer,” stated Brinkley-Kennedy. “Our purpose for this roundtable was to strengthen relationships, contribute to the great work

that each of these agencies is undertaking, and ultimately give GSEP’s students a r ich, hands - on learning experience.”

The Urban Initiative is Dr. Brinkley-Kennedy an umbrella program developed to prepare students for long-term work in underserved urban communities.

Its goals are to develop a new generation of education and mental health professionals with the skills and will to work in culturally and ethnically diverse urban settings, and to impact future legislation affecting education and mental health services.

GSEP has received a $50,000 grant from Microsoft Research for conducting classroom research with undergraduates from Seaver College of Pepperdine University. The funding helps Dr. Eric Hamilton, associate dean of education at GSEP; Dr. Brian Fisher, assistant professor of mathematics at Seaver; and their colleagues at the United States Air Force Academy carry out research on the effectiveness of tablet computer interfaces with collaboration software in mathematics classes.

Early work supported by the first part of this grant at the Air Force Academy demonstrated that college students remain more engaged in mathematics classrooms that blend tablet computing with networking software to permit a professor to see all of his or her student’s work. Hamilton’s paper summarizing this research, “Combining Collaborative Workspaces with Tablet Computing: Research in Learner Engagement and Conditions of Flow,” was selected as the winner of the Frontiers in Education Conference 2007 Benjamin J. Dasher Best Paper Award. Further research is now underway in the Seaver Division of Natural Sciences, in a course that Hamilton and Fisher coteach with tablet computers that the University purchased for this effort.

GSEP Thanks Pepper dine U niversity Alumna Evely n B. Blak e For Establishing Endowed Scholarship

The Evelyn B. Blake Endowed Scholarship was established in honor of the late Evelyn Blake (’68), a Pepperdine alumna, and generous benefactor of Christian education and GSEP. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a doctoral student in the field of psychology who demonstrates financial need.

Blake received her bachelor’s degree from George Pepperdine College, and a master’s degree in psychology and English from the University of Southern California.

Afterward, she started her career as a special education teacher at Gardena High School, where she taught for 25 years, until she retired in 1991 at age 77. Blake’s family hopes that her love for Christian education will live on through the scholarship and continue to inspire Pepperdine students for generations to come.

G S E P initiatives

Alumni Authors

FACULTY Authors

Ginger Carlson (MA ‘97, Education)

Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children

Thriving in the Wake of Trauma: A Multicultural Guide

C ar lson’s aw ar d winning book teaches p ar e n t s an d e d uc a t or s t o e nc o ur age children’s creative development through the use of hands-on activities such as imaginative play, math, movement, music, cooking, science, storytelling, visual arts, questioning, cooperative games, media, and nature. The practical guide offers a collection of techniques that addresses the many ways in which children learn. (Common Ground Press, 2008) Dr. Michael A. Moodian (EdD ‘07, Organizational Leadership) Contemporary Leadership and Intercultural Competence This book is an edited volume composed of 20 chapters, many of which are written by GSEP faculty and alumni, addressing the evolving role of cultural diversity in the modern workplace. Intended for students, senior managers, government leaders, and human-resources practitioners, this text offers real-life examples of contemporary issues around intercultural competence and the legal implications of cross-cultural leadership. (Sage Publications, 2008)

Addressing trauma from a cultural viewpoint, this book teaches healthy coping methods and emphasizes the importance of not only surviving, but thriving. Dr. Bryant-Davis delves into the complexities of how different cultures deal with distress and shares empiricallybased research to help both patients and clinicians manage the devastating effects of trauma. (AltaMira Press, 2008)

Dr. Louis Cozolino, Professor of Psychology The Healthy Aging Brain Scientifically based on the physiology of the brain, this book serves as a theoretical guide to maintaining optimal brain health and well-being.

Dr. Cozolino’s book includes research on childhood brain development to brain activity throughout adulthood. The text is useful not only for doctors and psychologists, but also for anyone who wants to keep their mental capacity in top shape throughout their lifespan.

(W. W. Norton & Co., 2008)

Dr. David Levy, Professor of Psychology Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications The fourth edition of the internationally best-selling text provides a comprehensive review of theories in cross-cultural psychology within a critical-thinking framework. Authored by Dr. Levy in collaboration with colleague Eric Shiraev, the book introduces the field of crosscultural psychology and discusses basic methodology for crosscultural research. (Allyn & Bacon, 2008)

Dr. David Levy, Professor of Psychology Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology The second edition of this innovative book is designed to improve thinking skills through the application of 30 critical-thinking principles, called metathoughts. The book utilizes clinical vignettes, illustrations, and exercises to enhance study skills, inquiry, and problem solving.

(Waveland Press, 2009)

Dr. Edward Shafranske, Professor of Psychology and Doctor of Psychology Program Director; and Dr. Carol Falender, Adjunct Faculty in the Psychology Division Casebook in Clinical Supervision: A Competency-Based Approach This compilation of articles by notable psychologists provides a practical approach to the many facets of supervision. The numerous case studies offer a unique, realistic perspective on issues that frequently arise during supervision and ideas on how to resolve them. (American Psychological Association, 2008) GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009 3

GSEP NEWS

Dr. Joy Asamen and Dr. K athy Church

Receive Howard A. White Excellence in Teaching Award Dr. Joy Asamen, professor of psychology, and Dr. Kathy Church, assistant professor of education, were named recipients of the Howard A. White Excellence in Teaching Award at the faculty conference in October 2008.

Both GSEP professors received a plaque of commendation, along with a cash award and a medallion to wear with their academic regalia. Asamen received the GSEP tenuredfaculty award, which commends one faculty member from that group. Church received the pre-tenure faculty award, which honors three

faculty members from all of the Pepperdine University schools. One nomination for Asamen stated that she has an “inextinguishable dedication to students.” In addition, “She makes herself available as a professor, advisor, and mentor, and models a disciplined work ethic...and has encouraged me to continue growing beyond what I initially envisioned for myself. In sum, it is because of Asamen that I was successful in the doctor of psychology program at Pepperdine University and continue to be successful as a psychologist.”

A nomination for Church described her as “a strong individual with solid morals, empathy, and excellent leadership skills. In the classroom, she utilizes a vast array of engaging instructional strategies and, while she expects a lot from her students, she is very flexible and understanding…the students in our program are extremely lucky to have her as a professor, mentor, and friend.”

GSEP Selects 2009 Superintendent of the Year The GSEP Superintendent Advisory Council selected Dr. Sharon McClain, superintendent of Del Mar Union School District, as the recipient of the 2009 Pepperdine University Superintendent of the Year award. The council comprises California superintendents and school leaders, and utilizes Pepperdine University as a forum to discuss issues that concern superintendents and their schools.

McClain, an adjunct faculty member in the Education Division at GSEP, was chosen for

her dedication to education and embodiment of the GSEP mission of purpose, service, and leadership. Of this recognition, McClain commented, “I’m very excited and honored to receive this award. I know so many wonderful superintendents and feel humbled to be recognized by the Pepperdine faculty. It has been a privilege to teach at Pepperdine, and I admire its fine work on behalf of educators and children.”

Multicultural Research and Training Lab Supports Nonprofits Through Conference Donations Symbols of Hate,” and keynote speaker Dr. Terrence Roberts spoke on “Navigating the Racial Terrain of America.” Roberts was formerly the chair of the master’s degree in psychology program at Antioch Universityin Los Angeles, California, and is CEO of Terrence J. Roberts & Associates, a management consultancy focused on racial and ethnic diversity and developing multicultural awareness.

GSEP’s Multicultural Research and Training Lab (MRTL) held its biennial conference for doctoral students in clinical and counseling psychology at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus on October 11, 2008. The topic of the conference was “Practices of Healing: Using Multicultural Psychotherapy to Confront 4 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009

In lieu of registration fees, the student planning committee, led by Erin Gabrielson, selected two charitable organizations to which conference attendees could donate school supplies and toys. The group chose Casa do Caminho in Brazil and Hope Gardens Family Center in Sylmar, California. The Casa

do Caminho facility aims to shelter children and adolescents from vulnerable situations and to develop projects promoting education, health, sports, and culture. Hope Gardens offers transitional living and permanent supportive housing for women and children.

Conference participants donated school supplies such as markers, notebooks, crayons, pencils, and notepads, as well as gently used toys. GSEP students so enjoyed this effort that MRTL decided to continue this practice at future conferences. MRTL facilitates scholarly dialogue, collaboration, and networking among students committed to multicultural issues in psychology.

GSEP NEWS

Psychology Professor Making Waves in Academia Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis, assistant professor of psychology and director of the Culture and Trauma Research Lab at GSEP, has been busy in the publishing sphere. In collaboration with doctor of psychology student Shaquita Tillman, Bryant-Davis authored an article on human trafficking in The Encyclopedia of Psychological Trauma (Wiley & Sons, 2008).

Bryant-Davis and Tillman also wrote an article titled “Intimate Partner Violence Against African American Women: An Examination of the Socio-Cultural Context,” which appeared in the January-February 2009 issue of the journal Aggression and Violent Behavior.

Bryant-Davis, Tillman, and fellow doctor of psychology students Alison Marks and Kimberly Smith penned the piece “Millennium A bolitionists: Addressing the Sexual Trafficking of African Women,” which will be published in the journal Beliefs and Values this summer. Finally, Bryant-Davis, Tillman, and doctor of psychology student Heewoon Chung collectively authored a chapter titled “The Cultural Context of Trauma Recovery: A Look at the Experiences of Ethnic Minority Women,” which appeared in Diversity in Mind and Action (Praeger Publishers, 2009).

“I am primarily committed to uncovering and attending to the role of culture in the trauma recovery process,” Bryant-Davis offered.

“Secondly, I seek to both teach and build on the empirical knowledge base that equips people to move from victims to survivors and from surviving to thriving.”

Bryant-Davis was also featured in the 2008 film Exploring the Impact of New Connections Programs on Junior Investigators, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Last year Br yant-Davis was awarded a $48,000 grant from RWJF’s New Connections Initiative to study intimate partner abuse, and this year, as a member of the trauma research study group for emerging scholars, she was awarded an $8,000 grant.

The group comprises minority psychologists and sociologists studying trauma among ethnically diverse populations. This particular grant is meant to support the creation of a special, peer-reviewed issue of the journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research,

Practice, and Policy, published by the American Psychological Association. BryantDavis currently sits on the editorial board for this journal. The special issue, titled “Cultural Considerations of Trauma: Physical, Mental, and Social Correlates of Intimate Violence Exposure,” will be available to researchers and practitioners in the field of psychological trauma. Bryant-Davis was selected to serve as editor of this special issue.

In addition, Bryant-Davis has been active on the lecture circuit, having given the keynote speech at the Association of Black Women in Higher Education’s (ABWHE) 30th Anniversary Conference hosted by Princeton University in October 2008, and at the Los Angeles Chapter of ABWHE Empowering Breakfast Conference on April 18.

Bryant-Davis teaches on the topics of individual and family development, as well as intimate partner violence. Her work is based in an interdisciplinary understanding of spirituality, culture, and psychology. BryantDavis says she is “invested in helping future generations of psychologists take an interdisciplinary approach as they expand the scope of the possibilities that exist for them as practitioners, researchers, policy shapers, social justice advocates, and global citizens.”

PsyD Student Appointed to APA Committee

on Ethnic Minority Affairs Doctor of psychology student Kimberly Smith was appointed to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Graduate Student Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA), a subcommittee for the APA of Graduate Students. Acting as regional diversity coordinator for the western region, Smith helps advocate for ethnic minority graduate students in the field of psychology.

CEMA promotes cultural competency and sensitivity, and encourages the recruitment and retention of ethnic minority students in psychology by developing student resources, providing grants for regional student-organized multicultural training

events, and engaging in other activities to increase awareness of multicultural issues.

Formerly, Smith was a behavioral health specialist and educational case manager, which strengthened her ability to work with populations based on ethnicity and socioeconomic, mental health, and physical disability status. Smith currently serves underrepresented groups by participating in professional conferences and writing. “In this way, I am able to share my ideas with the professional mental health community and spark needed discourse surrounding clinical issues affecting these special populations,” Smith explained.

Smith says that she aims to empower these groups nationally and internationally, and to inform clinical practice. Her goal is to pursue neuropsychology, an area in dire need of clinicians who possess the unique blend of cultural awareness and therapeutic skills to help clients reach their potential. “I am honored to serve on this influential subcommittee in support of students of color,” said Smith.

“My objectives include promoting culturally responsive neuropsychological services to all people, conducting research inclusive of underserved populations, and encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to enter into the field.”

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Interpersonal Connections The Foundation for Every Community

By Dr. Ken Canfield, Executive Director of the GSEP Boone Center for the Family

Healthy relationships are essential to our future. Without them, the hope of creating strong households and communities will not be realized.

Over the past decade, dozens of scholars have been monitoring and investigating our culture’s relational status. In the publication Hardwired to Connect, a compelling case is made, based on biological and social evidence, that the development of healthy relationships and environments to form those relationships are fundamental to our future.

Scientific evidence suggests that in the early stages of life the brain is primed and ready to be shaped by close attachments to other people, notably our mothers, fathers, and extended family. Dr. Allan Schore of the UCLA School of Medicine writes, “We were born to form attachments, and our brains are physically wired to develop in the context of a relationship with another.

This relational context can be growth-facilitating or growth-inhibiting, and so it imprints into the developing

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Perhaps our crisis is not purely economic but relational. right brain either a resilience against or a vulnerability to later forming psychiatric disorders.”

The need to develop a young child’s relational and emotional capacity cannot be underestimated. Not only does this aid in the development of their right brain, which provides a reservoir of strength for a child to tap into when they mature and face challenging life situations, but as anthropologist Sarah Hrdy notes, children develop attachments instinctively. Further, this drive provides the crucial foundation for the emergence of conscience and moral meaning.

Barbara Stilwell concluded that this process is set in place during infancy: “Very early in development, infant attachment and parent bonding interact to form a security-empathy-oughtness representation within a child’s mind. Physiological feelings associated with security and insecurity combine with intuitively perceived, emotionally-toned messages that certain behaviors are parent-pleasing or non-pleasing; prohibited, permitted, or encouraged; while other behaviors gain no attention at all. A bedrock value for human connectedness (read relationship) guides the child’s readiness to behave in response to parent wishes and attentiveness.”

If the drive and need for relational attachments are ignored, it can result in a stream of negative outcomes.

Attachment expert Robert Karen notes that when children in a study were deprived of relational attachments they lived with superficiality in other relationships, had a poverty of feeling for others, were inaccessible, were lacking in emotional responses, and had difficulty concentrating in school.

As Hardwired to Connect concludes, “Our sense of right and wrong originates largely from our biologically primed need to connect with others. In this sense, moral behavior—good actions—stem at least as much from relationships as from rules. Thwarting a child’s need

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for close attachments to others also thwarts basic moral development, the social consequences of which can be stark and tragic.”

As children develop, the realities of their relational assets or deficits become obvious. By adolescence one in every four teens is at serious risk of not achieving a productive adulthood. The failure to attend to the relational and emotional needs of a child places them in a vulnerable state. Such was the case of John, an 18-yearold Caucasian male who was recently murdered by his peers. John slipped into depression between his junior and senior years of high school. Even though he was quickly diagnosed with a mental disorder and was showing signs of improvement, John’s peers used this situation to prey on their weak classmate. They coaxed a fragile young man into an unhealthy environment where they ridiculed his condition and then took his life with no remorse. Now the four perpetrators—teenagers—are sitting in jail wondering how they got there.

We are not talking simply about an increase in crime, juvenile delinquency, or a loss of revenue due to our failure to achieve our potential through our relational stiltedness. It is much more subtle and insidious. We are beginning to see anomie (disconnectedness), epidemic rates of anxiety, depression, conduct disorders, suicide, and other serious disorders emerge at a rate that challenges our ability to deliver help.

Scholars at the National Research Council project that more than 25 percent of the adolescents currently living in the United States may not achieve a productive adulthood. This sobering statistic, coupled with the costs of family fracture, yields a bleak picture of the relational health of our youth and nation.

How can we distill this knowledge into practical information for moms and dads? First, the home and household relationships are an area where trust must be developed

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Businesses are most often stuck in their inability to let go or trust one another. This lack of trust, which has relational foundations, is what is undermining confidence in the American economic system at present. and held in high regard. Over the lifespan the ability to trust and put confidence in relationships is vital to other areas of family life. Family business expert Roy Williams believes that distrust, betrayal, and failure to keep promises are the villains that undercut family strength.

In his study of over 3,500 family businesses seeking to pass on their assets, domain knowledge, and power to the next generation, businesses are most often stuck in their inability to let go or trust one another. This lack of trust, which has relational foundations, is what is undermining confidence in the American economic system at present. Perhaps our crisis is not purely economic but relational. We have simply left the fundamentals of trust, integrity, and a moral conscience waiting in the wings while pursuing non-relational ventures.

Finally, in coupling our relational pilgrimage to the development of trust, we must also integrate our understanding of transcendence. Notable psychologist Jean Piaget observed that a child will often project on God the attributes learned relationally from his or her parents. This has some profound implications, particularly where there has been absence, relational poverty, or a lack of trust.

This transcendent aspect of relational development must be fully explored if we are to tap into its corresponding products of hope, happiness, and optimism. As children mature, healthy and authentic spirituality is associated with a range of positive behaviors. In addition, religious involvement increases

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social connectedness and commonly exposes youth to others who are seeking the same.

Failure to recognize this profound element of our development and growth keeps us in the cesspool of relativism, which is so ambiguous that the care of each other relationally is often put aside. In order to wade through this cesspool, children and young people must be equipped emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually with the tools to choose the best course of action in a variety of circumstances. Each person’s involvement in society, whether positive or negative, depends on that person’s ability to connect with those around him or her, which is contingent on his or her ability to develop healthy relationships early in life. Therefore, it is to the benefit of all that families are supported and equipped with the knowledge necessary to cultivate nurturing relationships.

With this important information mind, we recently held our first Family of Faith Network Conference, from June 18 to 20 in Malibu, California. Sessions integrated biblically-based teaching, weaving together themes of ministry common to families and the church. The symposium provided an opportunity to share ideas, applications, and strategies conducive to strengthening connections, and a setting for personal renewal and reflection, the foundation for building prosperous relationships.

For more information, visit family.pepperdine.edu/faith/conference. n

Cre ativit y, Celebrit y, a n d Pathology A Faculty Member, Student, and Alumnus Operate at the Nexus of Entertainment and Psychology By virtue of being situated in Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of America, GSEP faculty, students, and alumni have an exclusive opportunity to apply their skills in a particularly creative manner.

Following are three profiles of members of the GSEP community who are leveraging life in the land of celebrity.

Dr. David Levy, The Professor Dr. David Levy, professor of psychology, knows firsthand how big “industry” personalities can be, and how the competitive and unpredictable nature of the industry can take its toll psychologically. As a former actor, director, and Emmy nominee for famed children’s television show Wonderbug, Levy experienced great success in his artistic pursuits, but grew interested in becoming a practitioner of psychology when he began to see how the lack of controllability in the field of entertainment could contribute to depression. Levy also saw that narcissism and neuroses were common pathologies.

“It is difficult when your life is in the hands of other people, and you are always wondering when the next job will come,” said Levy. “Alternatively, if someone hits it big, it is amazing how much their worldview changes and how their values can be so easily corrupted. The intersection of power, money, and creativity is pretty unique to entertainment. People tend to have GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009 9

a more emotional investment in what they are creating because it is such a personal endeavor.” However, Levy—who has commented on major television stations from CNN to NBC and in a number of top-tier papers, including the Los Angeles Times, on celebrities such as the Lakers, O. J. Simpson, Madonna, Britney Spears, Princess Diana, and Marilyn Monroe—has found a way to utilize his background in acting and directing to assist his current clientele of actors, writers, producers, designers, and cinematographers.

“My experience in entertainment has made me a better observer of human behavior and interaction. It has influenced how I teach and perform (no pun intended!) as a therapist. In fact, in working with this creative population I am able to employ some especially creative therapeutic techniques, such as engaging in role-play or recommending relevant movies to watch.”

One of Levy’s favorite acting experiences was when he ironically played one of television character Frasier’s psychotherapy patients on the popular program Cheers. “I had the dubious distinction of being the leader of the low self-esteem group,” Levy laughed.

Kongit Farrell, the Student Like Levy, Kongit Farrell, a current student in the master of arts in clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy program, also started out acting. However, frustrated by the limited roles for African American women, Farrell decided to take the initiative and create for herself the characters that she wanted to play and see on television and in films.

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“I wanted to see African Americans who are like people that I know—funny, neurotic, intelligent, fragile, and sometimes despondent.” That led Farrell to write, produce, direct, and perform in the original stage presentation Landing of the Urban Rebels. Consisting of a series of monologues chronicling the lives of young African American urbanites rebelling against various facets of mainstream society, the play explored the range of life’s highs, lows, and overall contradictions. The performance was staged at Two Roads Theatre in Studio City, California, to much acclaim.

“So far, my psychology education has been paramount in my character development, both as a playwright and an actor,” said Farrell. “For my recent production, Landing of the Urban Rebels, I found that the depth of knowledge about human behavior, emotion, and thought processes that I have gained while at Pepperdine helped me give my characters authenticity.”

Farrell sees an obvious link between her interest in entertainment and psychology. “I think that writing plays is another way of contributing to the mental health of a society because artists who create what they see (rather than what someone tells them will sell) often make profound statements about the characteristics of society, but of which the society itself may not be aware. Plays can communicate concepts that might be hard for people to grasp if not explained within the context of entertainment.”

Dennis Palumbo, the Alumnus Dennis Palumbo, a graduate of the master of arts in clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy (MA ’88) and a former student of Levy, applies his 15 years of experience as a Hollywood film and television writer to his psychotherapy practice today treating writers, actors, directors, composers, and other artists.

“Because of my history in the field, I have a unique and personal perspective on common issues such as procrastination, creative ‘blocks,’ rejection, and depression that trouble my patients,” Palumbo disclosed. “In addition, for many patients, working in the entertainment industry can reawaken painful childhood issues around self-esteem and vulnerability to criticism, and the high-stakes struggle for show business success can exacerbate relationship problems. Here, my training and experience as a psychotherapist dovetail nicely with my entertainment industry background.”

tion of diligence, resiliency, open-mindedness, and risk-taking which has been crucial in my work as a therapist. These experiences—typical of those that many of my patients deal with today—make it much easier for me to relate to their dilemmas and concerns.”

Palumbo further explained why he believes psychology has such a significant role in the entertainment field: “Creative people use what’s going on inside of them as the raw materials for their work. Just as a bricklayer’s raw materials are his bricks, for the artist those materials are his or her own feelings and impulses. These interior states give the artists access to their imaginations, passions, and unique drive to tell a story. On the down side, these feelings can be overwhelming and confusing, especially when the patients believe that this anxiety ‘says’ something negative about their ability. It is the therapist’s job to help patients address these selfassigned and self-defeating meanings and conflicting emotions. It takes sensitivity and clarity on the part of both the therapist and the patient to do this successfully. This is why good clinical work, with its mixture of intuition and technique, is as much an art as a science.”

Palumbo got his start as a professional in the entertainment industry in his 20s after moving to Los Angeles to “make it” as a television writer. Soon, Palumbo added to his credits the feature film My Favorite Year, for which he was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay, and classic television show Welcome Back, Kotter, which aired on ABC. “My work in entertainment, and in particular my observations of the personal dynamics among the writers, producers, and crew, gave me early insights into group process, especially when under stress,” said Palumbo. “Moreover, my years as a screenwriter, which involved dealing with a wide variety of producers’ and directors’ personalities, helped build a foundaGSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009 11

Empowering a Nation with the Click of a Mouse Doctoral Candidate-Alumnus Investigates How Nepalese Youth Utilize Technology

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When Jeffrey Lee (MA ’01), GSEP online master of arts in educational technology alumnus and current doctor of education in educational technology student, joined associate professor of education Paul Sparks on a month-long trip to Nepal, neither anticipated the dysentery, monsoon rains, rolling blackouts, and local protests.

Still, they resolutely traveled for hours by jeep to deliver computers to remote mountain villages as part of a project to promote youth leadership and social change through the use of technology.

“As jobs become outsourced and local job markets become global, it is important for youth in the 21st century to learn how to navigate their way through the world,” said Lee. “Facilitators such as social networking sites MySpace, Facebook, and Friendster, as well as Web 2.0 tools such as blogs and wikis, are penetrating Nepal despite its geographic isolation. However, Nepalese youth still struggle to keep up with the rest of the world while adhering to traditional customs. I feel strongly that technology is the greatest equalizer, and that is why I became interested in developing Youth Managed Resource Centers (YMRC), technology centers in rural Nepal through which the youth could promote community-based projects and learn technological applications simultaneously.”

“As jobs become outsourced and local job markets become global, it is important for youth in the 21ST century to learn how to navigate their way through the world.” — Jeffrey Lee is dominated by deeply rooted cultural and religious traditions that have affected the way education is delivered, and Lee saw a need for a study such as his to assist government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and schools in making informed decisions in the fields of education, technology, and development. “At the YMRCs we demonstrated basic computer skills, as well as advanced applications such as video editing and presentation tools,” Lee described.

“We taught the youth to be leaders and facilitators of technology. Students gathered weekly to use the center for various community projects, from preserving traditional dance to promoting better sanitation.”

Nepal is a landlocked country enclosed within the rugged Himalayas and largely hidden from the rest of the world. The dramatic landscape creates significant obstacles to health care and education, including limited or delayed dissemination of information. Literacy rates are significantly lower in rural areas; those who live in remote mountain villages are often a day’s walk from health and education services. Formal schooling in Nepal is constrained by economic and cultural factors such as a bias against educating girls and a need for children to work at home or in the fields.

While studying how young people use technology in their daily lives, Lee hoped to uncover which efforts have been successful and which have failed. Nepal

Lee stressed that his research could have a profound impact on how the Nepalese government institutes education, and consequently on Nepal’s viability in an increasingly global market: “I have worked in elementary schools in Southern California for 11 years.

I have seen firsthand the conditions of Title I schools in low-income environments, and have witnessed how technology can enhance the lives of the underprivileged. In a developing country like Nepal, technology is a powerful, liberating tool. Understanding how youth use technology is the key to Nepal’s future.”

To see photographs from Lee and Sparks’ research expedition to Nepal, visit www.projectnepal.net. n GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009 13

Psychology Alumna Forms Aid Organization for Refugee Children

Dedicated to th D i s p

Celina Guich (MA ’05) has taken the road less traveled.

Her penchant for traveling has led her to India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and many other countries. These international experiences inspired her volunteerism for various nongovernmental organizations, including the office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees at a refugee camp in Buduburam, Ghana. While there Guich befriended fellow volunteer Penelope Chester, who became her partner in establishing The Niapele Project, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable strategies for the empowerment of vulnerable refugee children through the development of community-based initiatives.

“Niapele” (pronounced nee-uh-peh-lay) means “children” in Kpele, a Liberian dialect. Guich and Chester chose the name to identify their organization as a project ultimately intended to support the needs of refugee children in the Buduburam refugee settlement, originally

14 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009

established in 1990 to accommodate Liberians fleeing civil war in their country. These children are often the hardest hit by the economic hardships, health issues, and food and water shortages affecting the 40,000 refugees living in the camp.

“Our approach is based on the principles of sustainable development, which is much more effective than handouts,” explained Guich. “We support grassroots initiatives that address the needs of refugee children, providing them with increased access to health care, education, shelter, food, and a stable, nurturing environment. We provide our partners with multidimensional support—helping them to develop long-term strategies for independence, and assisting them in strengthening their organizational capacity through the provision of skills and management training, expertise and advice, and financial aid.”

he

As executive director of The Niapele Project, Guich establishes policy, coordinates the organization’s field efforts with project partners, develops collaborative relationships, and monitors and evaluates projects to ensure quality control of all operations. Current projects include the development of a nutrition program at a free school for vulnerable children in Monrovia, Liberia, and the relocation of the Harmony Children’s Center for handicapped children from the settlement to Monrovia.

“We work with local leaders in order to strengthen the fabric of communities, an essential element of a vibrant and open civil society,” Guich offered. “The services provided by local organizations are indispensable in places where government capacity is limited. In addition, by assisting the local leadership we contribute to the overall vitality of the communities in which we operate. We strive to integrate best practices into all of our work by encouraging women’s empowerment, local ownership and leadership, and environmentally sound practices.”

share her vision to assist with event planning, fundraising, grant writing, and marketing.

Guich asserts that her education at GSEP has been invaluable to her current work. “Some ask me why I am not pursuing a career in the field of psychology considering that I hold a degree in that subject. However, I utilize the skill set acquired through my course of study in my role as executive director of The Niapele Project.

Coordinating sustainable development projects for refugee children requires one to exercise empathy and compassion, sound judgment, critical analysis, and objective, goal-oriented decision-making—all which have been enhanced through my education at GSEP.” For more information, visit www.theniapeleproject.org.

Guich invites anyone with an interest in the effort to participate. She noted that while financial donations are always helpful, there are numerous ways that people can contribute to the cause, such as linking to the organization’s Web page from a personal

l

a c

Web site or blog; using the organization’s Goodsearch toolbar when navigating the Internet; making online purchases through the organization’s We-Care site; forwarding information on the organization through social networking sites; and donating old cell phones, ink cartridges, and laptops to the organization for reuse.

Guich is also looking for enthusiastic volunteers who

e

d GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009 15

ELA Alumnus Founds Creative Charter School for Underserved Communities

As founding principal of NEW Academy Canoga Park, a K–5 charter school in its third year of operation, Eddie Fiszer (MS ’97) is advancing the implementation of a new kind of teaching.

Subscribing to the mantra, “children learn in different ways on different days,” Fiszer, an alumnus of the Educational Leadership Academy at GSEP, is well aware that more effective learning can be achieved if students are allowed to cultivate their creativity and belief in possibility. That is why NEW Academy Canoga Park teachers are

16 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009

required to read The Art of Possibility and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, and encouraged to participate in the students’ extracurricular clubs for running, yoga, dance, volleyball, reading, and chess, among others.

“The mission of NEW Academy Canoga Park is to create an exciting, standards-driven learning environment where students use their talents to contribute positively to the community,” said Fiszer. “We want to create a model for other schools in tone, efforts, and results.

Thus, in order to make sure our teachers speak a positive common language, they read these books which help shape their thinking and allow them to effectively communicate to students the importance of tenacity, intentionality, responsibility, and positivity.”

Children can read in the garden during recess.

To reaffirm these thoughts, a positive “message of the day” is broadcast to students via the school sound system each morning, and the school’s tenets intended to foster character development are reiterated throughout the curriculum: everyone is deserving of the highest respect, doing extra makes a difference, and everyone is responsible for individual choices.

NEW Academy Canoga Park was built by New Economics for Women (NEW), an organization that develops affordable housing throughout Los Angeles. The organization acquired a five-acre property, held focus groups with members of the community, and determined that the locality most needed a 119-unit afford—Eddie Fiszer able housing complex,

“By enriching students we enrich society.”

Keisha Bolling (MA ’06), a teacher at NEW Academy Canoga Park, is an alumna of GSEP master’s program in education.

community center, and K–5 elementary charter school emphasizing art and science. Approximately 50 of the 450 students attending NEW Academy Canoga Park live in the adjacent complex and can walk directly into the school through an inner gate. More than 90 percent of families are Spanish-speaking and qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The school caters to Canoga Park, though immediate neighbors include West Hills, Chatsworth, and Woodland Hills.

Fiszer emphasized his excitement for the nontraditional approach to learning that NEW Academy Canoga Park offers: “By emphasizing art, music, science, and character development, we are contributing to positive student outcomes, which, in turn, create positive interactions with the families in the community. By enriching students we enrich society.”

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009 17

A Home for Health MFT Alumna Opens Transitional Living Facility for Those Struggling with Eating Disorders

When she was 13 Rebecca Cooper (MA ’97) started a diet that sent her into a vortex of an eating disorder that lasted for many years.

At that time, talking about eating disorders was taboo, so it was up to Cooper herself to determine her own path to recovery. By keeping journals, she garnered insight into the cause of her disorder. By researching, she learned more about the disease. Her interest in helping others grapple with this serious condition led her to pursue her master’s degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy at GSEP. “One of the reasons for going back to school was to learn more about how to help others who were so disconnected from their appetite, feelings, and body,” said Cooper. “I asked one of my professors, ‘What are the best interventions to use with eating disorder clients?’

She said, ‘There is no intervention or theory that really produces recovery for eating disorders. Maybe that is what you are supposed to do.’ That remark touched something deep inside me and I knew I had to try.”

In 1999 Cooper started working with clients who wanted help with yo-yo dieting. Soon local treatment centers 18 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009

were sending her clients who were attempting to recover from substance abuse by substituting their alcohol and drug addictions with food addictions such as binge eating. That was when Cooper formed the groups that became the start of Rebecca’s House Eating Disorder Outpatient Programs. As time went on Cooper found that clients in the groups who wanted recovery from disordered eating were having a hard time watching others binge eat in early alcohol and drug recovery.

As Cooper sought a solution, she learned that there were many great inpatient eating disorder treat-

ment programs and hospitals, but because patients were learning in a controlled environment, they fell back into their previous eating habits after leaving the facility. Cooper saw a need for establishing an environment in which clients could resolve the underlying issues contributing to the eating disorder and practice recovery in real-life situations. And with that, Cooper founded Rebecca’s House Eating Disorder Transitional Living Residence, a warm, homelike setting minutes from Laguna Beach, California, where people can learn life skills and heal emotional wounds while building lifestyles free from eating disorders.

The outpatient programs provide access to licensed therapists, an exercise physiologist, yoga and tai chi instructors, a medical doctor, a psychiatrist, counselors, and registered dietitians. Rebecca’s House has aroundthe-clock house managers, a pool, a vegetable and flower garden, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a meditation cottage, a gym, an outside fire circle, and a crafts area. The house is walking distance from a mall, a location for 12-step meetings, banks, shops, and employment opportunities. Many optional activities such as swimming, cooking classes, sewing, massages, and gardening are also available, all in a structured environment conducive to women helping other women overcome their challenges with food.

“Our mission is to help people suffering from eating disorders connect back to their true self so that they can listen to their own internal cues from their appetite, feelings, and body, and can learn to love themselves so they may love others,” Cooper explained. “We believe recovery from eating disorders includes physical, emotional, and spiritual components, so that you are living life to your fullest potential with meaning and purpose, without the constant thoughts of food, weight, diet, and body image.”

Cooper is most excited about the new chemical dependency recovery outpatient program she has launched called New Method Wellness. “We see a large percentage of clients with eating disorders who have tried to self-medicate with alcohol and other substances,” Cooper said. “Both must be addressed.

The groups are separate and each client’s treatment plan is individualized to include the best groups for them. Equine therapy is a combined group. Some people wanting chemical dependency help find they also need some eating disorder groups.” Furthermore, Cooper plans to expand her operation, becoming more involved with community service and schools in order to inform others about eating disorders and the connection with dieting and substance abuse. (continued) GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009 19

“A

t no time in history have we had more diets, diet aids, and weightloss programs, but at the same time we have the most problems with obesity and eating disorders.”

—Rebecca Cooper

To encourage public involvement, Cooper recently formed the nonprofit Rebecca’s House Eating Disorder Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation whose purpose is to provide scholarships for those who want eating disorder treatment but are not able to afford it. This can be used for hospitalization, inpatient, or outpatient programs. Cooper also tries to connect with the community by speaking at schools, churches, and other organizations where she can raise awareness about eating disorders and the services that Rebecca’s House provides, such as an after-school adolescent program, outpatient programs, individual appointments, and even a free family support group for anyone who has a loved one struggling with an eating disorder.

“Thirty-five percent of people who start a diet progress on to an eating disorder,” cautioned Cooper. “It starts with that disconnection from one’s own internal ap-

20 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009

petite and a focus on external cues, like the diet. We don’t know when we are hungry or full any longer. We just want to be ‘good’ and stay on the diet regardless of our appetite. Of every 200 people who go on a diet only four will maintain their weight loss after one year. At no time in history have we had more diets, diet aids, and weight-loss programs, but at the same time we have the most problems with obesity and eating disorders.

Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Of course, there are a lot of other factors in the formation of an eating disorder, but this is something of which the general public should be aware.”

For more information on Rebecca’s House and how to get involved, visit www.rebeccashouse.org. To purchase Cooper’s Diets DON’T Work, now available in book, CD, and DVD formats, visit www.dietsdontwork.org. n

In education and psychology careers, professional relationships are integral to growth and success. Recognizing this, the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) named its alumni organization Colleagues.

The relationships that you formed as a student don’t have to end after graduation. Through GSEP Colleagues receptions, lectures, and enrichment offerings, we advance the spirit of collegiality between alumni, faculty, and current students.

Colleagues fosters meaningful connections with opportunities to mentor current students or recent graduates and to volunteer their expertise with some of the GSEP’s community partners.

Your annual membership in Colleagues helps GSEP with our most important initiatives: • Graduate student fellowships and scholarships • Recruitment opportunities to attract top students and faculty • State-of-the-art facilities, technology, and research library

Please join as a member of Colleagues by sending your gift in the envelope included in this magazine.

Or, you may join online at our secure Web site: gsep.pepperdine.edu/alumni/giving If you have questions regarding Colleagues, please contact Claudette LaCour at (310) 568-5649 or via e-mail at claudette.lacour@pepperdine.edu or gsepalum@pepperdine.edu.

“The Colleagues are a vital part of the GSEP community. They provide scholarships and other forms of academic support for current students and networking opportunities to assist alumni in career advancement. Our alumni are critical part to Pepperdine’s success and we look forward to continually advancing the influence and reputation of Pepperdine in our local community.”

— Dr. Ed Shafranske, Professor, Psychology

Visit us online at:

gsep.pepperdine.edu/alumni/colleagues

G S E P pe r spectives

Changing Lives From Trauma to Healing

By Dr. Rene Hernandez-Cardenache (PsyD ’06) Doctor of psychology alumnus and assistant professor of clinical psychiatry and neuropsychology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Pagers beep and vibrate throughout the halls, two-way handheld radios resonate with medical lingo, and in the distance the persistent hovering of a trauma helicopter can be heard. This is not a scene from an action movie, but a familiar litany that spells just one word to the physicians and staff at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH), Ryder Trauma Center. The word is “trauma,” signifying to all present that another victim of severe brain injury has been airlifted by paramedics and is headed our way. As chief, postdoctoral fellow, and intern of an American Psychological Association, Division 40, Bilingual Neuropsychology Internship, I found myself at the heart of this thrilling and fast-paced environment.

Upon arriving from Pepperdine’s doctor of psychology program I was excited, intimidated, and challenged by each day’s events. Many patients had sustained serious head injuries and faced the reality of permanent brain damage with alterations in their levels of intelligence, cognitive functioning, personality, role within their family hierarchy, and ability to work and care for their families. These patients’ functional recovery was partly in my hands. The pressures of the training tested my drive, fortitude, and stamina.

22 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009

In spite of wearing the “white coat,” the challenge was palpable and always present.

I tried to face these challenges systematically. I involved myself in brain injury research; pursued the training of medical residents, doctoral students, and neurorehabilitation staff in the assessment of brain-injured populations; and made improving the quality of life of victims a personal career objective.

At present, I examine and treat neurologically impaired patients at the University of Miami, Coconut Grove and JMH centers, train psychiatry and psychological residents, and teach medical students about the effective psychological management of victims of traumatic brain injury. I am actively involved in research exploring the extent to which “brain fitness” (stimulating brain functions to preserve capacity after disease or injury) can improve the recovery of cognitive functioning in victims of brain injury, Alzheimer’s, and other progressive degenerative disorders. That is why when I hear the hovering sounds of a helicopter today I not only think of the word “trauma,” but also “opportunity”—for each time a patient reaches me, I have a new opportunity to heal.

G S E P pe r spectives

Giving Wings to Make Hopes Soar

By Wendy McElfish (’97, MA ’99) Master of arts in education with teaching credential alumna and founder of Protection Wings As I sat with my hand on my growing belly, I began to realize how blessed my life is. I have a wonderful husband, an incredible career as the art teacher at Tesoro High School for the past five years, and was then expecting my first child. As this realization took root, the idea emerged that I should use my blessings, in particular my artistic talent and penchant for fairies, to lend a hand to others. Thus, in 2005, I started a series of watercolor paintings called “Protection Wings” to draw attention to various diseases and difficulties that many people face: breast cancer, melanoma, autism, sudden infant death syndrome, eating disorders, heart disease, bipolar disorder, ovarian cancer, juvenile diabetes, dyslexia, and infant loss or miscarriage.

portion of the profits made from the sales of the image going to a charity that aids people suffering from the same condition. All of the images can be purchased in the form of fine art prints, apparel, totes, mugs, jewelry, greeting cards, and other gift items.

It was as an undergraduate and graduate student at Pepperdine University that I learned the importance of service and realized that I could become an agent of change for the good of others. Not only did I gain the knowledge to be the best educator I can be, but I also learned how to use this understanding to help others. As Dean Margaret Weber said, both my “heart and hands” were prepared at Pepperdine.

Each painting is inspired by a true story and dedicated to that person. Each painting is intended to be a source of comfort, beauty, and encouragement for those experiencing the disease or difficulty, with a

To see McElfish’s art, visit www.wendykathleenart.com/protectionwingsart.html.

Life , Literacy, and the Pursuit of Happiness

By Kimberly Anderson-Jefferson (MA ’06) Master of arts in education with teaching credential alumna and faculty member in the Department of Reading and Study Skills at San Bernadino Valley College Teaching is more than a profession; it is a calling from God. I answered this call by pursuing an education at GSEP. After completing courses in Language Acquisition and Language Arts Methods taught by Dr. Cara Garcia, professor of education, I narrowed my focus from general education to literacy. This decision led me to pursue an even deeper understanding of reading theory, and following graduation I earned my Reading Specialist Credential, Reading Certificate, and a second master’s in reading, language arts from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). In 2008 I was honored with CSUSB’s prestigious Outstanding Student of the Year award.

I am a full-time faculty member in the Department of Reading and Study Skills at San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC). The department offers a range of courses spanning all skills and ability levels, from developmental literacy to transfer-level courses. The majority of students in the program typically assess between the fourth- and 10th-grade reading levels. Some will transfer

to universities; some will earn certificates; some Kimberly Jefferson (center) and students. will take a class on how to become critical readers and thinkers.

Whatever the students’ goals, I am here to support them.

To make learning more comprehensible, reading classes should be offered in multiple instructional models: face-to-face, hybrid, and online. Alternative reading courses can make literacy instruction more accessible to our diverse community of learners. As such, I am working with a team of advisers at SBVC to design online and hybrid reading courses that increase the accessibility of literacy to our broader community. According to renowned abolitionist, editor, and orator Frederick Douglass, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” My goal is to empower students through literacy; live a life of purpose, service, and leadership; and, with God’s grace, touch the lives of many.

GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009 23

G S E P C lass notes

’08

tiative in support of the city’s $200 million digital-game industry.

Todd Coston (MA), was named Standout Colleague of Excellence for Online Teaching by his peers at Bakersfield College.

In addition, Coston is part of his district’s L e ader ship Ac ademy, w hich invol ves meeting with legislators to advocate for community colleges.

’05

Emilio Pack (EdD) is the assistant director of the school administration program at Loyola Marymount University. Pack also runs the Charter Leadership Academy for students seeking an administrative credential with a specialization in charter schools.

John Anderson (MA) started a new business called Orange County Debt Settlement Group.

Jon Pease (MA) established nonprofit Not the Target to provide children with assertiveness training in the event that they are confronted by a bully. Pease offered this training to the GSEP community through a recent Clinical Connections presentation.

Jennifer Predolin (PsyD) presented a poster “Understanding Police Officers’ Stress Experience and Coping Strategies” at the Los Angeles County Psychological Association meeting.

James Sulton (EdD) is principal at Oakland Aviation High School; previously he served on the board.

’07

Emily Chen (MA) won the Christian Association for Psychological Studies’ annual Student Paper Competition for her piece “The Impact of Childhood Sexual, Physical, and Combined Sexual/Physical Abuse on Religious Behaviors for Male Veterans.” Chen is a doctoral student at Fuller Theological Seminary.

’06

Fereshteh Amin (EdD) published her first book, Success Strategies of Iranian American Leaders. Based on her dissertation research, the text is in Farsi. Amin is a professional coach and business consultant in Los Angeles.

Pau l Re y n o l d s (M A), pr e side n t o f FableVision, hosted Boston mayor Thomas Menino for the launch of a major gaming ini-

24 GSEP Colleague Spring/Summer 2009

Chris Bigenho (MA) authored an article on Real Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary (RSS) in the education trade publication Learning and Leading.

’04

Deborah (Greene) Dellvon (MS) and her husband Robert are expecting twins in July.

They are living in Hampton, Virginia, while he completes his career with the U.S. Navy.

Ena LaVan (MS) is principal of the William & Carol Ouchi High School in Los Angeles, California, recently recognized by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction as a California Distinguished School.

Jennifer Neuhauser (MA) was named director of alumni relations at Northwestern College in Iowa.

’99

Marianne Pesci (PsyD) was promoted to senior community health psychologist with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, where she has worked for more than seven years.

’98

Ted Hamory (MA) established the New City Schools in Long Beach, California.

The schools are bilingual and focus on the arts, community involvement, and student leadership.

’95

Randy Peebles (EdD) was appointed to the top administrator position at the Advanced Technology and Education Park in Tustin, California, part of the South Orange County Community College District.

’93

Amelia Walsh (MA), published her first book, a science fiction novel entitled Second Summer: The Turnback Time. Walsh is a licensed therapist in Colorado.

’90

Roberto Estrada (MA ’98, MS ’03) is principal of Lennox Middle School. He attended schools in the district as a child and began working with the district as a teacher’s assistant in 1992.

Lauren Walters (MS ’90, EdD ’99, MS ’00), current adjunct professor at GSEP, was awarded executive leadership of one of the new Los Angeles Unified School District schools being built on the site of the Ambassador Hotel. Walters is a National Board Certified classroom teacher of second- and third-grade students at Weems Elementary.

’02

’88

’03

Bertha Benavides (MA) was awarded GSEP’s California Association for Bilingual Education Visionary Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership and education of English-language learners.

Benavides teaches at Segerstrom High School, Santa Ana Community College, and GSEP.

Sean Iversen (MA) was promoted to deputy probation officer III with the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

’00

Cathy Lynn Hasson (EdD) works for the San Diego Community College District as director of institutional research and planning.

Dennis Palumbo (MA), was a recent guest on the NPR radio show Word of Mouth, which addresses trends in science, technology, health, and popular culture.

He discussed psychological techniques for overcoming job loss. Palumbo also presented a “Best of Pepperdine” lecture during homecoming based on his book Writing from the Inside Out. He continues to blog for the Huffington Post.

Leanne Neilson, (’85, MA ’88, PsyD ’92), was appointed provost and vice president for academic affairs at California Lutheran University (CLU). Neilson had been interim provost since 2008, and associate provost for graduate/adult programs and accreditation since 2004.

2009 Psychology • Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient •

Neva Chauppette, Psy.D.

D

r. Neva Chauppette received the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the GSEP commencement on May 23. Chauppette is a licensed psychologist in part-time private practice in Los Angeles, California, and the full-time project director of a mobile medical clinic that provides free and comprehensive HIV, Hepatitis ABC, and STD services to at-risk individuals.

Chauppette is also a consultant to numerous HIV and chemical dependency treatment facilities throughout several states.

staff and client trainings. She provides technical assistance to the California State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, the California State Office of AIDS, and the Los Angeles County Office of AIDS Programs and Policies. Services provided include statewide trainings, staff consultations, and program design and implementation. In addition, Chauppette is on the speakers bureaus of several pharmaceutical companies, such as Abbott, Roche, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

As a consultant, Chauppette offers psychiatric consultation regarding individual psychotherapy clients of other providers or agencies (multidiagnosed: psychiatric illness/ HIV+/HCV+ / addiction), as well as program needs assessments, curriculum development and design, technical assistance, crisis intervention, and

Chauppette has worked in the field of substance abuse and HIV since 1988. She is the former clinical director of an outpatient mental health clinic for women of color with multiple morbidities (HIV, HCV, psychiatric illness, and substance misuse). She earned her doctorate in psychology from GSEP in 1992.

•

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