ASAA Leadership Board

2011- 2012 Alumni Association Leadership Board

Mark Bilkey, ASAA Board President (Psy.D., ‘97)

Mark Bilkey, Psy.D., earned his Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Resources from Wayne State University, and Master of Arts in Counseling and Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. His specialization is in Gerontological Psychology, and he has focused his service on the needs of older adults for the last twenty years. He has completed extensive training at the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica California, instructed at California State University San Bernardino, consulted for assisted living centers, and maintained a private practice in the Palm Springs regional area. He has presented nationally and internationally on innovative group facilitation, Adlerian interventions and counseling, structured reminiscence, LGBTQ issues, wellness and healthy coping strategies, and older adult peer counseling. Dr. Bilkey currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Counseling Department and is the future Faculty Chair of 2011–2012 Academic Year.

Tim Devitt, ASAA Board Vice President (Psy.D., ‘06)

Tim Devitt has worked in a various capacities over the past 22 years with people who have co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. Currently, he consults Thresholds Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centers in Chicago with implementation of evidence-based practice, Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment, and serves as a lead clinician for quit-smoking research studies being conducted in partnership with the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center. He was a contractual trainer/consultant for the final year of the SAMHSA-funded Illinois Department of Mental Health IDDT Implementation Project. Tim was the start-up program director for Thresholds Grais Apartments, a 44-unit residential program that was a 2004 recipient of the APA's Silver Achievement Award.  Tim holds a Psy.D. from the Adler School and M.Ed. and B.A. degrees from the University of Dayton. He is a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified alcohol and drug counselor. He has coauthored papers in professional journals and presented at local and national conferences on topics related to co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, and is a member of the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers.

Vilija Ball (Psy.D., ‘09)

Vilija Ball was selected by the Adler School to deliver the commencement speech to Class of 2009. Following graduation, Vilija began working at Allendale Association where she collaborated with a large interdisciplinary team inside and outside the agency to coordinate and manage the mental health needs of clients. Prior to earning her Psy.D., Vilija was a Rehabilitation Services Coordinator at Maplewood Care in Elgin, where she cared for individuals with mental illnesses. Dr. Ball believes that research and psychoeducation serve a very important role in all communities and societies as well as training and mentoring a new generation of competent clinicians. Recently, she presented on “Forgiveness and Abuse Survivors,” based upon her dissertation, at the annual conference of the Midwestern Psychological Association.

Vilija Ball earned a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Sociology from Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania. She now serves as adjunct faculty with the Adler School, where she has taught Structural and Systemic Bases of Health and Dysfunction, Theories of Psychotherapy, andBio-psychosocial Bases of Health and Dysfunction. 

Erika Creydt (Psy.D., ‘05)

Dr. Creydt is a private practitioner who provides individual psychotherapy to children, adolescents and adults, as well as to couples and families. She focuses on treating individuals with trauma, sexual abuse, grief, divorce and domestic violence. She also facilitates Anger Management and Self-Esteem groups to adolescents. Her community service includes work at the Wells High School in Chicago, where she conducted an Adlerian Parenting Class for pregnant high school students and community members. She has also volunteered at The Women’s Resource Center in Thousand Oak, California and a domestic violence shelter in Washington State where she currently resides.

In addition to her private practice, Dr. Creydt serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Adler School, Vancouver campus, teaching a course on Effective Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as serving as an Advisor for Master’s thesis projects. Dr. Creydt holds a Psy.D. and Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from the Adler School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy from California Lutheran University. 

Nancy Johnston (MAO, ‘06)

Nancy Johnston received her M.A. in Counseling Psychology Organizational Psychology in 2006 from the Adler School. She is an Executive Consultant at Right Management. She is an accomplished business professional with expertise in marketing, strategy development, and execution. Nancy's strengths are in critical analysis skills that she uses to facilitate groups and coach individuals. She is considered a trusted advisor because of her ability to develop and maintain relationships with internal and external customers at all levels of an organization. Nancy says that Adler School helped her "bring depth and breadth to my previous experience in the form of the human element at work." She works in the business world because "it is vitally important for us to find meaning in all areas of our lives (in all the life tasks as Dr. Adler would say) and the area of work is a major part of that. Since people spend so much of their lives in a 'work' environment, I want to help them find meaning and fulfillment there."

Chasidy Karpiuk (MAC ‘06)

In 2006, Ms. Karpiuk earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School. For the past two years, Ms. Karpiuk is the owner and private practitioner for Building Strength Counseling & Education. She works one-to-one with families providing counseling, facilitating groups for a variety of community organizations and schools, and teaches live and online workshops for health and wellness professionals interested in opening and growing private practices. 

Ms. Karpiuk is a member of BCACC, and Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), where she served on their Board of Directors from 2005-2011. She also holds membership with the British Columbia Play Therapy Association. Prior to graduation, Ms. Karpiuk was employed by Vancouver General Hospital, where she assessed mental status, provided counseling and support and created therapeutic relationship with patients. She has also worked in health care worker as a group facilitator for the Vancouver Detoxification Centre, and as a member of their Educational Committee. Most recently, Ms. Karpiuk was interviewed as a “Parenting Expert” for an article in the Vancouver Courier.

Tony LaBrosse (MAT, ‘10)

Tony LaBrosse is partner and Director of Design and Project Development for the RedBox Workshop, a design, fabrication, and installation firm that specializes in creating interactive and immersive environments for children and their families. These environments can be visited nationally in museums, churches, libraries, science centers, and other public institutions.  He works in community–based and hospital settings with individuals challenged by severe and chronic mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

Mr. LaBrosse earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology – Art Therapy from the Adler School in 2010, completed an Art Therapy Certificate Program from Northwestern University in 2007, and holds as BA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Tony currently serves as Board treasurer of the Illinois Art Therapy Association and has co-presented at three national conferences, including a 2010 workshop he conducted on Use of Art in Response to Interpersonal Violence at the International Art in Response to Violence Conference in Chicago.

Tom Lindquist, Student Representative, Psy.D. Program (Alumnus MAT, ’09)

Mr. Lindquist completed his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology: Art Therapy in 2009, and returned to the Adler School this year to join the Psy.D. program. Tom also serves as a teaching assistant for Adler’s Art Therapy courses and has been a guest lecturer at both the Adler School and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Before returning to Adler as a student, Tom spent two years as an Art Therapist and Counselor for Norwood Crossing, a non-profit senior living community located on Chicago’s northwest side, where he conducted individual and group therapy sessions and open studio art groups. He has also worked for Haymarket Center as a Parent Education Trainer, as well as Rush Behavioral Health Center and Howard Area Community Center. Tom holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Loyola University and had exhibited his own art work and that of students at various galleries and museums in Illinois and Michigan.

Roger Peden (MAO, ‘01)

Roger received his Master of Arts in Counseling & Organizational Psychology Degree from the Adler School in 2001. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Western Illinois University in 1993. Roger has over fifteen years of human resources management experience. Currently, Roger is the Director of Employer Services with Jobs for Youth in Chicago, IL. In his position, he helps low income youths become a part of the economic mainstream. Roger has facilitated over 1,000 job placements for low income adults, including some ex-offenders within a year. He helped provide multiple people with exposure to several careers through employer visits, industry informational sessions, and summer employment. In 2008, he was given the Chicago Defender's Men of Excellence award. This award is given to black men that "define excellence in their work and their commitment to their communities." He is the owner of Roger Peden Designs, which is a collection of his artwork in the pointillism style. In addition, he is involved with the Peden Project, which is an effort to expose low income young adults to different careers and education.

Michael Ryle (MAP, ‘08)

Michael Ryle has been with the Chicago Police Department for over twenty years and currently holds the position of Lieutenant, where he has served as the Tactical Lieutenant/Acting Watch Commander for 11^th District and Field Lieutenant for the 2^nd District. As a Patrolman, Michael worked in Gang Crimes and Special Operations, then as a Sergeant in Narcotics and as a Tactical Team Officer.

Lt. Ryle has co-taught the Tactical and Field Psychology course at Adler School's MAP Program. In addition to his numerous department commendations, two unit meritorious awards and over 60 honorable mentions, Lt. Ryle was awarded the H.I.D.T.A. Drug Interdiction Team of the Year in 2002.

Michael Ryle received his M.A. in Police Psychology from the Adler School, and also holds an M.A. in Criminal/Social Justice from Lewis University, and B.A. in Psychology from North Park University. In his spare time, Michael serves as a licensed umpire for the Illinois High School Association, which he has been doing for the past fifteen years.

Nancy Ukpe (MAC, ‘07)

Nancy currently sits on the Adler School of Professional Psychology Alumni Board and serves as the chair of the Career and Professional Development Committee. Nancy is the Training Event Coordinator at YMCA of the USA where she is responsible for coordinating all of the logistics for Principles and Practices, a 3 day training experience for early career professionals in the YMCA. In addition to her current role Nancy is also responsible for organizing a summer volunteer trip for YMCA of the USA staff to the Sioux YMCA in Dupree, SD.  In this role Nancy has the pleasure of providing an opportunity for staff to get involved in the Native American reservation community. Nancy holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago where she graduated in October of 2007.