Adler School launches the first ever Alumni Association!

Welcome to the Adler School Alumni Association home page, your source for information about alumni benefits, contacts, resources, and updates. As a graduate of Adler School, you are a member of the Alumni Association which works to further the professional and intellectual growth of Adler School graduates.

We are proud to introduce the following members of the Adler School Alumni Association - Leadership Board…

Michael Banghart (M.A. in Counseling 2002)

Michael has been working in the Social Service field for over fifteen years in a variety of capacities. He began his career working with chronically mentally ill adults residing in a group living facility in Michigan before moving to Chicago. In 1995, he began conducting research with homeless and seriously mentally ill (HSMI) adults for a longitudinal federal grant. After finishing his Masters in Counseling Psychology in 2001 from the Adler School of Professional Psychology, Michael began working with Renaissance Social Services, an organization assisting homeless individuals and families to secure work and housing. Michael serves Renaissance Social Services as its Executive Director. The organization has doubled its annual revenues and tripled the number of people served to over 400 annually.

Michael has published in peer reviewed journals and has two published book chapters. He has presented at conferences around the country and is currently a member of the American Counseling Association, American Psychological Association, and North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. His interests include free speech, access to healthcare and affordable housing for all.

Dennis Connelly (M.A. Police Psychology 2006)

Dennis grew up in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood and is a 20 year veteran sergeant of the Chicago Police Department. In 1987, he joined the Chicago Police Department and was assigned to the Town Hall station at Addison and Halsted where he worked as a tactical officer. In 1996, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was transferred to the Belmont District, where he is currently a gang team Supervisor. He earned his B.A. in Criminal/Social Justice from Lewis University and then an M.B.A. in Training and Performance Management and M.S. in Finance from St. Xavier University in Chicago. In 2006, he graduated from Adler School with a M.A. in Police Psychology. Dennis serves on the advisory board for Adler School's Police Psychology program. Before his work in the field of law enforcement, Dennis spent 12 years working for the Chicago Cubs as an assistant clubhouse manager.

Lisa Lavella (Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology 2004)

Lisa graduated from the Adler School of Professional Psychology with the Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology in 2004. Her clinical experiences include working in private practice with in-patient and homeless populations. Upon graduation, she spent seven years working as an individual and group psychotherapist with the Chicago Christian Industrial League, a transitional living center for people who are homeless. In 2006, she became the Co-Director of the graduate training program for masters and doctorate students in clinical psychology at Chicago Christian Industrial League.

Currently, she owns Lisa Lavella & Associates, Ltd., a full-time private practice in Downers Grove, IL, where she empowers adults, adolescents, couples and groups to reach their potential. Moreover, she has been a member of the Adler School Adjunct Faculty since 2005 and teaches courses in Group Psychotherapy, Ethics, and Clinical Intervention.

Dan Lustig (Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology 2005)

Dan is the Vice-President of Program Development at McDermott Center where he not only meets individually with clients but also oversees clinical programming, research, grants, supervision of clinical staff, and implementation of evidence-based interventions for the Center. Dan currently sits on numerous State committees evaluating methamphetamine and its clinical interventions statewide, including Chicago's Crystal Meth Taskforce, and the Illinois Attorney General's Taskforce. He has been featured along with community partners on Chicago Tonight examining the impact of methamphetamine in Chicago. Dan also sat on Mayor Daley's HIV planning council and is a member of its priority setting committee. He is also a board member of IODAPCA - the Illinois Certifying Body for Addiction Counselors. Dan is certified in crisis intervention, mental ill substance abusers (MISA), and as a substance abuse counselor (CADC).

Dan has been recognized by John P. Walters, Director of ONDCP, for his contributions on data collection for the field of substance abuse, by Dr. Nora Volkow, acting Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) for his work in bringing research to practice with community based organizations, and was recognized in 2004 as a "Friend for Life" award recipient for his long volunteer services at Howard Brown Health Center.

Laura Mathis (Psy.D in Clinical Psychology 2004)

Laura Mathis graduated with a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Adler School in 2004. Currently, she is in private practice in the Chicago loop area where she sees both individuals and couples. Her practice has a focus on spirituality and incorporating the spiritual task as part of the healing process.

One of Laura's areas of special interests is working with immigrants. Having lived abroad for several years, she has developed a strong interest and empathy for the difficulties that occur when one is facing a new culture and fighting for inclusion. The second population of special interest for Laura is working with others in the helping professions (teachers, non-profit workers, etc.) and providing them with affordable services.

Laura has brought leadership and enthusiasm to Adler School programming over the past few years by participating on Alumni Panels and speaking to Adler School students about licensure and "getting started" with private practice.

Mike C. Rooney (Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology 1996)

Mike earned his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in 1996. The focus of his graduate work was on executive assessment and career development. His doctoral dissertation investigated the personality traits of senior healthcare executives in career transition.

As Principal of Rooney & Associates, LLC, Mike oversees the career consulting, coaching and assessment programs of the firm's management development and executive assessment services. Mike has consulted with senior executives in operations, sales and marketing, finance, law, human resources, information technology, and research and development. His career consulting and coaching work, while including all organizational levels, is primarily focused on senior management and executive issues.

Derrick Johnson. (Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology 2002)

Derrick is the Founder and President of Youth and Family Guidance Inc. The company is entering it's sixth year, they have over 30 highly qualified master and doctorate level professionals that provide in-home and on-site bilingual therapy services for adults, children, and families. Currently, his organization is represented in every community in Chicago and many of the surrounding suburbs. They are in the process of negotiating sites in Atlanta and Detroit.

Derrick has been a professor in higher education for over 20 years. He is fluent in Spanish and has traveled nationally and internationally speaking on the subject of overcoming adversity to achieve internal and external success and other messages that uplift, inspire and empower.

Nadia Pershad (Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology 2003)

Nadia Pershad earned her Masters in Counseling Psychology in Toronto in 1999 and moved to Chicago to pursue her doctoral degree from the Adler School which she completed in 2003. Currently, she is the Assistant Program Director at Haymarket Center, where she manages three clinical programs. She is also the Training Director for the Practicum Program at Haymarket Center, where they have doctoral and masters level students from the Adler School, Argosy, and Chicago School. In addition, she has a small private practice in downtown Chicago.

Yael Ron (Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology 2004)

Yael obtained her B.A. in Behavioral Sciences from the Ben-Gurion University in Be'er Sheva, Israel. She received a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in 1995 and then continues to complete her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2004. Throughout her career, Yael has attained diverse experiences working with individuals from all walks of life and in a variety of settings. Prior to immigrating to the US, Yael directed and managed a local branch of a national head hunting agency. Subsequently to immigrating to the US, and between the years of 1990 and 1995, she worked for the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, supporting the local Israeli community and diplomatic staff on issues related to immigration and acculturation. Upon graduation with her Masters from the Adler School, Yael worked as a special needs adoption coordinator, clinician, consultant to early childhood programs, and a clinical supervisor at a child welfare agency at Jewish Children's Bureau. Additionally, for the past seven years, Yael has provided assessment and treatment to individuals recovering from substance abuse, trauma, incarceration and homelessness within an inner city transitional residential Chicago Christian Industrial League. In this setting, she served as the co-director of the training program in psychology, supervised members of the professional staff and graduate doctoral students in psychology, as well as consulted to program directors and management.

Currently, Yael teaches at the Adler School as an adjunct faculty and has her own private practice in Skokie and Arlington Heights, IL. She specializes in the treatment of dually diagnosed individuals, survivors of trauma, treatment of complex PTSD, loss and grief.

Gregory Sarlo (Psy.D in Clinical Psychology 1999)

Greg is the President of Illinois Psychological Association (IPA) and Core Faculty and Program Director of the Masters in Counseling Psychology Program at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. He is the founder and Clinical Director of Psychological Consultations, a Private Clinic in Lincoln Park, IL. Greg has devoted his life's work to the LGBT community, providing services since 1987. Greg has served for 5 years as a steering committee member and chair of the Midwest Association of Gay and Lesbian Therapists, and works with the HIV impacted community providing studies and neuropsychological testing. He also provides clinical supervision and training for graduate students. As an Executive Council member and Secretary of the Illinois Psychological Association and as former Chair of the Sexual Orientations Section, he continues to initiate more attention, particularly in the area of diversity in the professional community.

Ellen McGury Stone (Psy.D. 2002)

Ellen is a licensed clinical psychologist and is currently Coordinator of the Cook County Employee Assistance Program. In that capacity, she supervises six EAP Counselors and one support staff member. As Coordinator of the Program, she oversees implementation of the EAP's policies and procedures throughout the offices of Cook County Governments' more than 25,000 employees. She consults with management and union representatives on how to recognize early signs of difficulty in the work place and how to effectively intervene and refer troubled employees. She conducts seminars and workshops on stress, wellness and other topics. She also provides counseling services to employees who are involved with the EAP as clients.

Her past experience includes work with children and families involved with the court system due to child abuse and neglect. She worked for four years in that setting specifically with children, adolescents and families involved in incest and child sexual abuse. She also worked in a private practice in the near southwest suburbs of Chicago counseling individuals and families with a variety of challenges, including alcoholism and other addictions. She received her Masters in Counseling Psychology in l980 and a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2002 from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. She has served as a Board Member for the Northern Illinois Employee Assistance Professional Association and is currently vice-president of the Illinois Consortium of Assistance Programs for Professionals.

Click Here to see the Bylaws of the Adler School Alumni Association.