faculty & staff
Patricia De Barbieri
Phone: (203) 392-5483
Office: Davis 115 H
E-mail: debarbierip1@southernct.edu
Dr. Patricia De Barbieri is a licensed professional counselor with 38 years of experience in education. She began her career as a high school vocational education teacher, a kindergarten and pre-school teacher, and an elementary school counselor in a public school setting. Dr. De Barbieri has experience in urban, sub-urban and rural environments; working in public and private education, not for profit social service agencies, private practice and institutions of higher education. Her early work centered on child development and family life and children at risk for abuse and neglect.
She began her work in higher education at Gateway Community Technical College as an instructor in the Human Services program and later as an adjunct instructor at Albertus Magnus College and Sacred Heart University . During her eleven years of experience serving as both a university student counselor in a mental health counseling center and director of a university mental health counseling center, her professional interest in eating disorders began. Dr. De Barbieri is a member of the NCAA Speakers Bureau and visits colleges and universities throughout the United States to consult with student athletes, coaches and athletic department administrators regarding issues related to the development of programming and support for athletes with eating disorders.
Dr. De Barbieri currently holds a tenured position as Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University where she coordinates the graduate program in School Counseling. She has earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta in Child Development and Family Relations and a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Her Doctorate in Education is from Teachers College, Columbia University in the field of Adult Learning. Her dissertation research focused on "The Role of Learning in Recovery from Bulimia".
Dr. De Barbieri is past Vice President and National Board member of the American Anorexia and Bulimia Association [AABA] as well as first chair of AABA's College Task Force. She also served as a member of Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, a national organization for the prevention of eating disorders. The American Anorexia and Bulimia Association and Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention merged in 2001, to form the National Eating Disorders Association [NEDA]: the leading eating disorders organization advocacy group for the treatment and prevention of eating disorders in the United States . Dr. De Barbieri is a charter member of the Connecticut College Eating Disorders Task Force and is currently a member of the American Counseling Association, the Connecticut Counseling Association, the Connecticut School Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the American Association of University Women and the American Association of University Professors. She remains a well-known presenter in the field of eating disorders. Her publications, both in print and media, focus on the treatment and prevention of eating disorders. Her current research is in building resiliency in school age girls most notably through the North Star Program.
Joy Fopiano, Ph.D.
Phone: (203) 392-5915
Office: Davis 126 B
E-mail: fopianoj1@southernct.edu
Joy E. Fopiano, Ed.D., NCSP is Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of School Psychology in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology. Dr. Fopiano is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), a licensed educational psychologist, a certified elementary school teacher, and a certified elementary school principal. Special interests include psycho-educational assessment and the needs of children and families in urban settings, her Master's Degree specialization; homeless children and families, and the needs of divorced children.
Dr. Fopiano pursues her research primarily in two areas. Under her direction, a Tutor/Mentor program in a pilot homeless shelter matches graduate students in The School of Education to school-age children residing in a local homeless shelter. The Homeless Project works to educate graduate students to the educational and psychological needs of children and families who may be homeless and as school professionals, how to service this special and deserving population. Each semester graduate students have the opportunity, and share the commitment, to working weekly with children one-to-one in the homeless shelter under Dr. Fopiano's direction. Homeless research she has conducted has been infused into course-work as student psychologists seek to understand and to meet the needs of all children in schools so that each may thrive socially, emotionally, and educationally.
The second area of primary research involves early literacy success under the Direction of the Center for Community and School Action Research (CCSAR). This area of research taps into her expertise in education as well as psychology. With literacy evaluation projects directed by CCSAR, Dr. Fopiano has been, and is currently, responsible for formulating protocols for interviews, running focus groups, collecting and analyzing data, and contributing to final reports prepared for State and National projects. It has been her privilege to partner with the scholars in CCSAR and with specialists and experts from other Departments in the University (Reading, Education) and those from the Connecticut State Department of Education. This work is especially exciting as the goal is for improved literacy for all children.
Dr. Fopiano has served in schools from Pre-school - Grade 12 as counselor, school psychologist, and early childhood director. At the University level, prior to coming to SCSU, Dr. Fopiano has served as school psychologist for Veteran's Affairs tending to the distinct needs of this population of non-traditional students and their families. Specializing in assessment and counseling, Dr. Fopiano offers a broad-based perspective to students.
Dr. Fopiano's publications further exhibit her research interests. Dr. Fopiano has co-authored two articles describing research and the needs of homeless children presently being reviewed. She has had accepted (Fall 2002) an article In Press on the needs of homeless children and families in the Encyclopedia for School Psychology by Macmillan Reference USA. In 2001 Dr. Fopiano was first author of a book chapter entitled "School Climate and the Social and Emotional Development of the Young Child" in Caring Classrooms/Intelligent Schools edited by Jonathan Cohen, Teachers College Press. "Promoting High Academic Achievement Through Social and Emotional Development in Schools" was co-authored in 2000 and served as the feature for Infocus, a quarterly newsletter from the Department of Urban Services.
Dr. Fopiano has presented locally and throughout New England in numerous schools, at National Conferences (NASP), and has shared research at SCSU. She is a member of: The National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), American Psychological Association (APA), Division 16 School Psychology, The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), Connecticut Association of School Psychologists (CASP), Massachusetts Association for School Psychologists (MASP).
Dr. Margaret Generali
Phone: (203) 392-5175
Office: DA 115 I
E-mail: generalim1@southernct.edu
Across her career, Dr. Generali has held a multitude of applied clinical positions working with a culturally, developmentally and socioeconomically diverse range of clients, including children, adolescents, undergraduate university students, and graduate level university students. She brings this wealth of applied experiences to Southern Connecticut 's Counseling and School Psychology Program. Dr. Generali received her doctorate at the University of Connecticut in Counseling Psychology. While at Connecticut she focused on substance abuse prevention and intervention with college students. She served as clinical coordinator at the university's substance abuse prevention program. Dr. Generali's doctoral work examined gender roles, gender role conflict and help-seeking attitudes among clinically-referred college men.
Upon completing doctoral work, Dr. Generali headed up the guidance department at Betsy Ross Arts Magnet Middle School, New Haven, Conn. While there she created and implemented a developmental guidance program, including group interventions across a variety of developmental issues. As a site supervisor at Betsy Ross, she served as a mentor and supervisor to numerous fieldwork interns (or trainees) from several Connecticut training programs.
In 2006 Dr. Generali joined the faculty at Southern Connecticut State University. At this time she has an array of clinical supervision experiences with populations that range from college-aged clients to graduate level counselors in training. Dr. Generali has supervised over 20 master's level students covering a wide range of training goals including relationship building, counseling skills, techniques, case formulation, school collaboration and consultation, professional growth, feedback, interventions, and transference. She is an active member of local and national counselor associations including the American Counseling Association, American School Counselor Association, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Association for Specialists in Group Work, Connecticut Counseling Association, and the Connecticut School Counselors Association.
Dr. Generali is a senior research associate at the Center for Community and School Action Research (CCSAR). Her research interests include group processes within school settings, diversity Issues, comprehensive school counseling programs within urban settings, and teen pregnancy prevention and intervention. Dr. Generali is actively involved in the Pathways Project, a Counseling and School Psychology initiative which includes school-based support services, group work with school administration and faculty, and measures to improve upon school climate. As well, this project provides opportunities for counseling students to participate in school-based interventions, including developmental guidance lessons and group work.
Dr. Misty Ginacola
Phone: 203-392-5913
Office: DA 115 A
E-mail: ginicolam2@southernct.edu
Dr. Misty Ginicola is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling and School Psychology (CSP) department at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). She is also a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Community and School Action Research (CCSAR) at SCSU. Dr. Ginicola also currently holds an appointment at the School of the 21st Century and the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University.
Dr. Ginicola earned a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Exceptional Children at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland. She earned a M.A. Degree in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz, where she received training on counseling psychology. She received two additional Masters degrees (M.S., M.Ph.) from Yale University and graduated with a Ph.D. from Yale in 2006. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at The School of the 21st Century further focusing on a state-wide initiative in Arkansas designed to improve children's academics and social and emotional skills.
Before joining the faculty in fall of 2006, Dr. Ginicola worked extensively in the fields of research, clinical psychology and education. Since 1998, she has been involved in multiple research projects involving animal studies, clinical research, development and social psychology and developmental disabilities. Throughout her career she has been passionate about not only performing research, but teaching research to others. She began assisting in teaching psychology and research courses as an undergraduate. In addition to research, Dr. Ginicola worked over 10 years in the field of developmental disabilities and mental health. She worked in roles such as a resident counselor, staff training coordinator and supervisor of program services. She was trained by the State of New York on Positive Approaches to Behavioral Problems, as well as Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention. In graduate school, Dr. Ginicola worked with Edward Zigler and Matia Finn-Stevenson on school reform programs, program evaluation research and interventions designed to improve the whole-child. Although she had a focus on all positive interventions and developmental research, these experiences framed her later research interests in children's mental health.
Dr. Ginicola's primary research interests are resiliency and vulnerability, development of mental health problems in children, alternative forms of treatment for children with psychopathology, and school programs which improve children's social and emotional functioning. In addition, Dr. Ginicola is interested in how to improve teaching and training programs for counselors and psychologists and how to increase diversity and understanding of multicultural issues.
Norris Haynes, Ph.D.
Phone: (203) 392-6402
Office: Davis 207
E-mail: haynesn1@southernct.edu
Post-Doctorate (Yale University); Ph.D. (Howard University); CAGS (State University of New York); M.Sc. (State University of New York); M.B.A. (Howard University); B.A. (State University of New York)
Norris Haynes, Ph.D., is Chairperson and Professor in the Counseling and School Psychology Department at Southern Connecticut State University and Founder and Director of the Center for Community and School Action Research (CCSAR). He is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the Yale University Child Study Center , the Yale Department of Psychology and the Bush Center . Before joining the full-time faculty at Southern Connecticut State University he was Associate Professor of Psychology, Education and Child Development in the Yale Child Study Center and Director of Research for the Yale School Development Program (SDP). He was also a member of the faculty in the Department of Psychology and a faculty member of the Bush Center . Dr. Haynes contributed significantly to the SDP's training and dissemination activities. He was responsible for designing the dissemination plan and for developing and preparing grant applications in support of the SDP's national dissemination strategies.
Dr. Haynes earned a B.A. in Psychology and Master's Degree and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Education and Counseling from the State University of New York. He earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Howard University . He also holds a Master's of Business Administration with a concentration in health services administration. He completed a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Psychology at Yale University . Dr. Haynes is a licensed Psychologist. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and holds Diplomate Status in the International Academy for Behavioral Medicine, Counseling and Psychotherapy.
Dr. Haynes has taught at the elementary and high school levels. He has been a professor at Howard University and adjunct professor at several other universities. He has worked as a senior psychologist and associate director of an educational and psychological research and consulting firm in Washington , D.C. He has served as a consultant to many school districts, state departments of education and colleges of education. He is a licensed clinical psychologist and has worked extensively with children and families.
He is the recipient of many honors and awards including: Membership in the International Academy of Behavioral Medicine, Counseling and Psychotherapy with Diplomate Status in the areas of Behavioral Medicine, Professional Counseling and Professional Psychotherapy, Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Outstanding Young Man of America, citation in several Who's Who publications, The Crispus Attucks Award for Educational Leadership, Fulbright Scholarship, and the Howard University Graduate School Distinguished Alumnus Award.. He serves on a number of editorial boards for professional peer review journals and advisory boards for national psychological and educational research and intervention organizations and agencies. He is a member of the Leadership Team for the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). He is a member of the national expert panel on school violence. He is a member of the Character Education Blue Ribbon Schools Review Panel. He has also been invited to serve as a member of the APA doctoral visitation and accreditation review teams. He is a member of the National Study Group on Supplementary Education and serves on the Harlem Children's Zone Advisory Committee on Research and Evaluation and Co-Principal Investigator of the Longitudinal Study of the Harlem Children Zone's Child development and Educational programs.
Dr. Haynes is the author of over 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and monographs. He has authored or co-authored several books including: (1) Pathways to School Success: Leaving No Child Behind; (2) How social and emotional development adds up: Getting results in math and science education; (3) Critical Issues in Educating African-American Children; (4)Rallying the Whole Village: The Comer Process for Reforming Education; (5)Child by Child: The Comer Process for Change in Education; (6) Social and Emotional Learning :Guidelines for Educators; (7)School Reform From Behind the Scenes; (8)Changing Schools for Changing Times; (9)Early Warning Timely Response: A Guide to safe Schools. He was also a contributor to the Yale University Child Study Center Book on Parenting. He is senior author of the internationally recognized. Yale Child Study Center School Climate Scales and author of the Behavior Assessment Scale for Students (BASS). He is editor of a book that is press titled : Promoting Early Literacy and Language Development. Achieving Reading Success
Tanya Jones
Department secretary
Phone: (203) 392-5910
Office: Davis 126
E-mail: jonest2@southernct.edu
Michael Martin, Ph.D.
Phone: (203) 392-5912
Office: Davis 126 A
E-mail: martinm2@southernct.edu
Dr. Martin is an Associate Professor in the Counseling and School Psychology Program at Southern Connecticut State University, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. He was Director of the School Psychology graduate training program from 1992 - 1998, and Chair of the Department from 1995 - 2001.
He received his B.A. in psychology from the University of Connecticut, his Master's Degree and Sixth Year Professional Certificate from Southern Connecticut State University, and his doctorate in school psychology from the University of Connecticut. He is a school psychology practitioner with 30 years experience in schools, and has taught at Southern for over 25 years. He has been a leader in Connecticut, where he has been on the executive board of the Connecticut Association of School Psychologists since 1975 and has held numerous elected and appointed positions.
Dr. Martin has also been a leader nationally, having held many positions in the National Association of School Psychologists, including Regional Director of the organization, delegate from Connecticut, co-chair of their Ethics and Professional Standards Committee, co-chair of the Accreditation, Credentialing, and Training Committee, member of their Publications Advisory Board, and president of NASP's Educational and Research Trust Fund. He has been a board member, and secretary and treasurer, of the Trainers of School Psychologists, and served as associate editor of their professional newsletter.
Dr. Martin is the senior editor of the book "Solve Your Child's School Related Problems," published in 1995 by HarperCollins. He has made numerous presentations at local, state, and national conferences. He is the recipient of both the "Distinguished Alumnus Award" from Southern Connecticut State University, and the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Connecticut Association of School Psychologists.
Uchenna T. Nwachuku Ed.D.
Phone: (203) 392-5914
Office: Davis 126 C
E-mail: nwachukuu1@southernct.edu
Dr. Uchenna Nwachuku is an associate professor of Counseling and School Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University and the coordinator of a graduate program in Community Mental Health Counseling. Dr. Nwachuku held various clinical positions prior to his current position at SCSU. He was a senior staff psychologist with the state of Massachusetts and North Carolina departments of Mental Health and an adjunct professor at St. Joseph's College, Central and East Carolina State University.
Dr. Nwachuku earned a B.S. from Houghton College, a masters and doctorate degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is the co-founder of Ebon Associates - a human services/development consulting firm.
Dr. Nwachuku taught high school and served as a school counselor for several years. He is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Massachusetts. He is a lifetime member of the International Counseling Association (I.C.A.), the American Counseling Association (A.C.A.), and a member on the President's Council on Crime Prevention. He is also a lifetime member and research consultant for the International Council on Education for Teachers (I.C.E.T.) and the accreditation review and site visitation team for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (C.A.C.R.E.P.).
Dr. Nwachuku has presented numerous research papers, internationally, nationally, and locally. He has also authored and co-authored several articles, book chapters and monographs in the field of counseling psychology. He is married to Dr. Ijey Nwachuku with four children - Nneoma, Uchenna, Ikechuku, and Ugochuku.
Dr. Cheri Smith
Phone: (203) 392-5787
Office: DA 115 B
Dr. Cheri Smith is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor ( AL) as well as a Licensed Counseling Supervisor ( AL). She is a member of American Counseling Association, Association for Spiritual, Ethical & Religious Values in Counseling, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Association for Specialists in Group Work and the American Association of University Women. She has served as President of ASERVIC, President of the Alabama Counseling Association and serves as a site visitor for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
She has been a counselor educator at the University of Montevallo, St. John's University, University of West Georgia and The New York Institute of Technology. Her teaching philosophy reflects Nevitt Sanford's theory of challenge and support. Her research areas of interest include Spiritual Issues in Counseling, Higher Education and HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Smith has received the following honors: CT Counseling Association Mentor of the Year Award, Outstanding Education Faculty Member Award from the University of West Georgia Student Government Association, AL Counseling Association's Jean H. Cecil Counselor Educator of the Year Award, ACA's Ralph F. Berdie Memorial Research Award, Southeastern Network of Youth and Family Services Outstanding Board Member Award.
