Social Sciences

B.A., Lynchburg College
Ed.D., Boston University
Dr. Lambdin is a licensed psychologist who has maintained a private practice providing psychotherapy for adults and families for more than 30 years. He has taught psychology in graduate and undergraduate schools, and served as a consulting psychologist in public and private elementary and secondary schools. He is interested in the practical application of psychology to all areas of human behavior. He is also interested in the role of humor in learning and mental health, and psychology in the media.

B.A., Dominican University
M.S.W., Smith College
Ph.D., Boston College
Dr. Brainerd's social work practice experience is in the areas of mental health and developmental disabilities. Her work includes individual, couples, family and group psychotherapy in private and public settings. She consults with organizations in designing research and new programs, and serves on several boards of community agencies. Her research interests focus on preparing students for culturally competent practice. She is developing curriculum models to teach cultural competency and has recently implemented a model in a local community health center. Dr. Brainerd has a strong interest in international social work and has published in this area. She participated in a faculty exchange and taught and did research in Northern Ireland. She presents at local, national, and international conferences.

B.A., Simmons College
M.B.A., Western New England College
M.A., Ph.D., University of Connecticut

Dr. Fay advocated for first-time offenders through a pre-trial diversion program before earning a business degree. Her doctoral research focused on the employment relationship, specifically on the impact of nonprofit organizations' social context on employees' evaluation process. For the past 17 years, she has taught management and sociology, coordinated internships, mentored student entrepreneurs, and served as chair of the Division of Business and Law.

 

B.A., Boston University
M.S.W., West Virginia University
Professor Hartblay's experience includes work in community and program planning, public welfare, community centers, mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, and school social work. His interests include social work history, genocide studies, issues of oppression and discrimination, civil rights, social justice issues, government and public policy, and the development of values and ethics in social work students. Professor Hartblay believes in the importance of a strong liberal arts base in the education of social work students. His courses feature literature, art and film as part of the teaching and learning processe. He is interested in international social work and, in addition to many years of teaching at Elms College, has taught in Poland, Lithuania, and Northern Ireland. Professor Hartblay has presented at international social work conferences, and leads students on educational trips to Ireland and Poland.

B.A., Florida International University
M.S., University of Miami
Ed.D., American International College
Dr. Lewis is an educational psychologist who has been teaching psychology courses at Elms College for 15 years to both undergraduate and graduate students. She has worked as a clinician and conducted research in the area of language-based learning disorders. Most recently, her interests have been in school bullying and mental health. Dr. Lewis is also a faculty advisor to the Active Minds Chapter to promote mental health awareness on campus.

B.S., College of Our Lady of the Elms

M.S.W., Springfield College

Doctoral candidate, University of Connecticut

Maureen Holland's social work practice experience is in the areas of administration, child welfare, maternal child health, and disabilities. She is interested in making higher education accessible to traditionally underserved communities. She serves in an administrative role at New North Citizens' Council, Inc., a community-based agency in the North End of Springfield. Her research interests center around Hispanic families, maternal child health, and disparities. Maureen is a doctoral student at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, where she focuses on infant feeding decisions.

B.S.W., Elms College

M.S.W., Springfield College

Cathy Machak practices social work in mental health settings, and is a consultant on trauma. Her areas of interest are in working with non-traditional students, where she encourages them to "reach high, plan for success, and not quit in setting goals because a goal is only a dream if you do not have a plan." Cathy is often a storyteller in the classroom, inspiring students with stories that she believes put flesh and blood on skeletal principles of social work. Her research interests are spirituality and healing, and she has spoken at international conferences on this topic.

B.A., Purdue University Calumet
M.A., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Ph.D., Saint Louis University
Dr. Rivers is an experimental social psychologist with research interests in basic processes related to self-concept change, social influence (e.g., cognitive dissonance, and reactions to feedback about the self), and prejudice. She has worked for the School of Public Health at Saint Louis University conducting research on public response to emergency health directives related to bioterrorism events. Dr. Rivers teaches courses in research methods, statistics for the behavioral sciences, general psychology, and social psychology. In addition to her teaching, Dr. Rivers is advisor to the Psychology Club.

B.A., Eastern Connecticut State University
M.S.W., University of Connecticut
Ed Silva has diverse experience in working with high school and college students. Formerly an advisor in UConn's Upward Bound Program, Ed now combines teaching in the social sciences with coaching the Elms men's basketball team.

B.A., M.A., Salve Regina University
M.A., Maryknoll School of Theology
Sr. Carol brings a unique level of expertise on the victims of crime based on her years of experience working in the office of the Hampden County District Attorney as a victim witness advocate and implementer of the Restorative Justice Program. She worked for the Open Pantry Community Services focused on women in recovery. In addition to sociology, Sr. Carol also teaches a First Year Seminar.

 

B.A., University of Texas at El Paso
M.S.W., San Jose State University
Miguel Arce is an experienced social worker, and currently a faculty member at Springfield College.

M.S.W., Hunter College School of Social Work

Susan Goldman has been in clinical practice for more than 30 years. She is currently in private practice in West Springfield, and has a special interest in couples and family treatment as well as trauma work. She has taught "Introduction to Counseling" at Elms for several years, utilizing an innovative in vivo method, and previously had been a field instructor for Springfield College and the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.

A.S., Greenfield Community College
B.A., M.S., M.P.A., Westfield State College
Jody Kasper is a full time member of the Northampton Police Department, where she has served as a detective and is currently a staff sergeant. The combination of her professional experience with academic material enlivens the content of her courses and provides interesting and contemporary perspectives.

 

B.S., Springfield College
M.S.W., University of Connecticut
Ph.D., University of Southern California
Dr. Lachiusa brings a rare combination of expertise and experience to teaching courses in criminal justice. He is a licensed independent clinical social worker with a private practice as a psychotherapist, and is also currently working at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow. In addition to his direct clinical experience, Dr. Lachiusa taught for many years at Springfield College.

 

B.A., Iona College
M.A., University of Pittsburgh
M.A., Duquesne University
Ed.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Dr. O'Connor has been teaching sociology at Elms College for more than 30 years. He is chairman of the sociology department at Holyoke Community College, and brings experience and recognized expertise in teaching undergraduate students. His doctoral studies in counseling provide an added dimension to his teaching.

 

A.S., Springfield Technical Community College
B.S., Elms College
M.S.W., Smith College
Elizabeth Pitoniak is a trained social worker and counselor who has considerable experience with the juvenile justice system, with a particular interest and experience in working with girls confined by court order to locked facilities.

 

B.S., M.A., American International College

Bob Sabato is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been working with children and families for the past 30 years. Bob has worked in virtually all of the children's clinical milieus, including inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization. Bob currently serves as the clinical director of a therapeutic day school for children between the ages of 5 and 18. He has been an adjunct professor in the Psychology Department at Elms College for the past 10 years.