Administrative Staff

Name
Position
  • Nicole Phillips

    Associate Director, Outreach and Engagement & Part-Time Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies

    nphill10@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    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)

  • Greg 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 and Psychological Services

    wstrothe@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    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.

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

  • Lunden Hawkins

    Associate Director, Embedded Counseling Services

    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

  • Associate Director, Case Management and Operations

    ehickey1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    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, ºÚÁÏÍø; B.S. Psychology, ºÚÁÏÍø  

    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 

  • Maureen O

    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

    Interim Associate Director, Training

    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

    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 headshot

    Staff Therapist

    rruther6@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2404

    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, ºÚÁÏÍø

    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

Military-Affiliated Students 

The transition to university life can be challenging for many students.  Military-affiliated students (i.e., Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves, and ROTC) and student veterans may face different challenges than the typical college student. Our office is proud to provide support and services in this endeavor.    Give us a call or stop by our Kennesaw Hall office to schedule an appointment with Katherine.  

Name
Position
  • Case Manager

    kmoor219@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-3033
    House 3217 - 202

    Joined CPS: 2023 

    Professional Interests: Trauma, military, first-responder, latinx. transitioning/adjustment hardships, suicide prevention/postvention, anxiety, resilience, intimate partner violence, and family conflict.   

    Education: Master of Social Work ºÚÁÏÍø  

    Therapeutic Style: A holistic approach using interventions from cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused brief-therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and mindfulness.

    Personal Interests: Spending time with family, friends, and dogs, traveling, crafts, watching and attending sports games, group exercise, doodling, music. 

    Office Location: Kennesaw Campus (Mondays)

Doctoral Internship Staff

ºÚÁÏÍø's Counseling & Psychological Services (CPS) Doctoral Internship in Health Services Psychology.

Clinical Trainees

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) office of ºÚÁÏÍø (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, ºÚÁÏÍø, Master of Social Work

Counseling and Psychological Services is a function of the .

cps trainees