Recent Alumni Updates
We post updates from alumni and friends as we receive them. We love to hear from our alumni, please send along any updates to psychology@wm.edu.
James "Jay" Watts '94
Ever since I graduated in 1994, I have been involved in education as a teacher, coach, and administrator. I have been involved with national organizations that support teacher and coach development, and I have been a part of several international sporting events from an administrative side including the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 2009 Women's Lacrosse World Cup. I have earned the highest level of certification from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), and I am a member of two different sport Hall of Fames. Currently I am the Director of Athletics at Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, TN. I am also the head coach of the Polish Women's National Lacrosse Team.
William Geoghegan '68 I received my MA in Social Psychology in 1972 at the University of Missouri - Kanas City. I immediately accepted a Counseling position at Longview Community College in Lee's Summit, MO. This campus was one of four in the Metropolitan Community College system serving Kansas City
After five years as a counselor, I moved into the classroom teaching General Psychology. I found I loved this and spent the rest of my 31 year career teaching General Psych, Advanced General Psych ( an intro to psych research methods and simple stats ), Adjustment and Personality, Group Processes, and Child Development.
After I took an early retirement offer, I developed the college districts first on-line General Psychology course and later did the same with Social Psychology. While on-line teaching offered a different kind of teaching challenge, I found that the bountiful resources for teaching online, such as videos, demonstrations, graphics, etc, made for dynamic online learning experiences. I also extensively required student interaction with others and myself using assigned discussion questions which were analyzed in blogs set up for that purpose. While not as satisfying as face to face teaching in the classroom or office, I found it to be a good option for many students. Drop out rates and grade distributions were not different compared to on campus classes.
I did that for seven years, then spent my last two years as a teacher at the University of Missouri teaching Experimental Psychology.
I value my W&M experience and thoroughly enjoyed introducing students to the history ,foundations, and current applications of psychological science to both basic and applied psychology. I feel very fortunate to have received the preparation for this life's work at W&M, and with many high schools now offering psychology courses, I suspect that job opportunities in the teaching of psychology without a PhD is very robust there and in the community colleges around the country.
Crystal (Morrison) Joseph '09 I'm an alumna of the College and what was previously called the Black Studies and Psychology department ('09). I received your information from alumnus Amirio Freeman. I would like to provide the department with an update about an eBook I recently published--"Conversation With A Clinician of Color: Likeness, Lucy & Lemonade." You will find the link below. This book is first person commentary speaking to the void in mental health and the availability of black therapists in the professional realm serving the black community. Case studies and survey data are presented. In June, I have a hard print book due out entitled "PoundCake & Private Practice: 5 Things I Learned During My First Year." This book is about my journey as a building a practice with no investors or loans and supporting the black community. I'll be sure to send a copy to the department as well as the Psych department. I hope you're able to check out the eBook:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=likeness+lucy+lemonade
Sincerely,
Crystal Joseph, CCM, LCPC, LPCThe Chicago School of Professional Psychology
The College of William & Mary
William & Mary Class Ambassador
William & Mary DC Metro Area Alumni Board Member
Barbara Keller BA '72 MA '75 Barbara Keller, Ph.D. and Licensed Clinical Psychologist, earned her BA in 1972, a master's in Special Education in 1973, and a master's in General Psychology in 1975 -- all from William and Mary -- and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and completed postdoctoral Cross-Training in School/Child/Clinical Psychology from the University of Virginia. She now conducts a private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, specializing in psychoeducational assessment and cognitive testing of children.
Heidi Fritz '93 is now an Assistant Professor at Salisbury College.
Lori Newman '04 is starting as an Assistant Professor at Vassar College.
Kristina (Kristie) Jackson '92 is now a Professor at Brown University.
Crystal (Morrison) Joseph '09 My husband is an architect employed with the firm who designed the ISC, although not on the project, he introduced me to the project architect a few months ago. Can't wait to see it! I just returned home (Alexandria, VA) from Louisiana with the American Red Cross serving in the function of Disaster Mental Health. I read in a previous alumni magazine about Dr. Langholtz's travels and research regarding disasters. The national director of disaster mental health has asked me to be apart of their training overhaul, so tomorrow I am going downtown to film a new training series with her and few other volunteers! I opened my own private practice in Takoma Park, Maryland and am working on an article draft to submit to the Smith College journal (qualitative). Thanks for keeping us informed!
Diana Morelen '08 I accepted an assistant professor position in the Department of Psychology at East Tennessee State University.
Andy DeSoto '09 I am now the Assistant Director for Policy at the Association for Psychological Science in Washington, DC.
Andrea Callahan Deege '94 Recently toured W&M with my HS freshman and was delighted to see Dr. Ventis in his office as we walked by. He was my senior advisor. I'm currently getting my Master's in I/O and it is wonderful to be back in school again. Keep doing great things, W&M!
Jackie Woods '09 Jackie graduated with her PhD in Counseling Psychology from VCU in August 2015. She is now a staff psychologist at UVA Counseling & Psychological Services.
Al Azzarone '72 I never did anything with my psychology degree, but credit taking an Industrial Psychology class and a business class where I saw a film on a planned community in Finland with directing to my interests towards landscape architecture. After unsuccessfully trying to find a masters program combining design, planning and psychology, I returned to W&M to talk with my psychology adviser, Peter Dirks, who pointed me to the graduate landscape architecture program at the University of Virginia's architecture school. I had never heard of landscape architecture, but it was a fit for me. UVA's program was perfect, and I have immensely enjoyed my career in this profession. Thank you W&M, Thank you Psychology department, Thank you especially to Dr. Dirks!
Andy DeSoto '09 I obtained my Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, MO in May 2015. My dissertation explored the relationship between confidence and accuracy in recognition memory. In June I began a fellowship with the Association for Psychological Science (APS) in Washington, DC, where I aim to help tackle thorny issues of replicability, methods, and metascience in the field. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about APS, and do consider joining this professional organization!
Carla Messenger MA'97 I graduated with a Masters degree from the Department of psychology in 1997. I continued my education at the George Washington University, and earned a PhD in clinical psychology in 2005. It's been a long time since I have provided The department with an update. However, Dr. Glenn Shean was my advisor, and upon reading that he had retired, I thought I should send along a more recent update about my career. I am not sure how many of the faculty that were on staff in 2005 are still around, but there may be a couple who are and who would be interested in knowing how I'm doing. After completing my PhD in clinical psychology from GWU, I completed the post doctoral fellowship at the children's national medical Center in Washington DC. I served for a period of time as an adjunct clinical assistant professor at the George Washington University; teaching psychological assessment to PhD candidates and providing supervision. I also worked for a time at two group practices; cornerstone family counseling in Fairfax Virginia and the capital Institute for cognitive therapy in Washington DC. In 2012, I started my own practice in Arlington Virginia. I conduct individual therapy specializing in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders, ADHD, Learning disabilities, and adjustment disorders. I also enjoy working with individuals who are coping with chronic pain and illness, children and families going through a divorce, or other significant life challenges that include trauma. Beginning this fall, I will contact psychoeducational groups that focus on teaching coping skills to individuals struggling with many of the above issues. I also provide supervision to license eligible psychologists who early in their career. I enjoy consulting with schools, medical professionals, and the community, as well as public speaking engagements. The theme of my practice is healing, hope, and resilience. Faculty and other interested parties can view my website: Dr.CarlaMessenger.com. I would be more than happy to speak to William and Mary alumni who are interested in the field of professional psychology. They may contact me at this email address: drcarla.messenger@gmail.com or at 703-527-1200. I very much enjoy mentoring and helping young adults Who are interested in mental health careers.
JosephSandford '74 I graduated from W&M in psychology in 1974 and now have a PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology. I have been President of BrainTrain, Inc. here in Richmond, VA for over 25 years and am now focusing on research using the psychological tests and brain training software that I have developed. I am writing to find out if there is any faculty currently at W&M who is interested in research in the fields of ADHD, brain injury, cognitive rehabilitation or Neurofeedback. I am currently working with researchers in the University of California system, the University of Syndney Australia and the Fielding Institute. In addition, I am conducting my own normative research with the new neuropsychological tests that I am currently developing. Please let me know if there is any faculty interested in exploring research in my areas of interest.
Lisa Bateman '09 I received my Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of South Florida in August 2014. I am currently completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I work with a multidisciplinary team providing treatment for and conducting research on anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.
Elicia Lair BA'07 MA'09 I finished my doctorate in Social Psychology at The University of Massachusetts Amherst this summer, and will now be an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Mississippi.
Julie Owen '93 Recently promoted to tenured Associate Professor of Leadership & Integrative Studies, New Century College, George Mason University. Inducted as a Diamond Honoree at the 2014 annual meeting of the American College Personnel Association.
Willie Anne Wright (Boschen) '45 Since receiving a MFA in Painting from RPI(VCU) in 1964, I have had a career in art in exhibitions and collections nationwide and abroad.The VMFA is traveling a show of my pinhole photographs through 2014.An exhibition of my recent lumen prints opens at the Page Bond Gallery in Richmond, VA on June 6th and continues through July 7th, 2014.
Sherry Hamby BS'85 MA'89 I am pleased to announce my new book about domestic violence: Battered Women's Protective Strategies: Stronger Than You Know (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0199873658) (2014, Oxford). The book is an effort to counter the negative--and inaccurate--stereotypes about victims of domestic violence as passive, helpless and in denial. The book describes a strengths-based approach, common protective strategies engaged in by many battered women, and new approaches to safety planning . The new safety plan described in the book, the Victim Inventory of Goals, Options, and Risks (the VIGOR) can also be accessed for free online: http://thevigor.org
Laura Judd-Glossy '01 I completed may PhD in School Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin in August 2013 and am currently a postdoc at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
