Dr. melany rivera maldonado
Melany Rivera Maldonado, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
DIRECTOR, PRIMARY SUPERVISOR
The Safran Center
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Rivera Maldonado moved to New Jersey in 2015 to continue developing her professional and academic career. She is a licensed bilingual-Spanish psychologist in New Jersey and New York. Her career has been focused in promoting the professional and personal development of psychology students, as well as developing programs that serve immigrant communities. Her clinical work integrates multicultural issues, psychoanalytical and psychodynamic theories, and the impact of early relationships across lifespan. She previously served as the Director of Clinical Training at Felician University, as well as the Director of the YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health, where she led an APA Accredited Doctoral Internship Program. Connected with the community and engaged with social justice initiatives, she participates in the several immigration advocacy groups, and provides consultation and workshops to non-profits on topics such as, equity, diversity and inclusion, child development and trauma informed care. She is the current Chair of the Early Career Committee for the New Jersey Psychological Association and served in the past as a Member-at-Large for the Latinx Mental Health Association of New Jersey. In 2020, she received the NJPA's Distinguished Teacher Award.
she/her/hers
DIRECTOR, PRIMARY SUPERVISOR
The Safran Center
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Rivera Maldonado moved to New Jersey in 2015 to continue developing her professional and academic career. She is a licensed bilingual-Spanish psychologist in New Jersey and New York. Her career has been focused in promoting the professional and personal development of psychology students, as well as developing programs that serve immigrant communities. Her clinical work integrates multicultural issues, psychoanalytical and psychodynamic theories, and the impact of early relationships across lifespan. She previously served as the Director of Clinical Training at Felician University, as well as the Director of the YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health, where she led an APA Accredited Doctoral Internship Program. Connected with the community and engaged with social justice initiatives, she participates in the several immigration advocacy groups, and provides consultation and workshops to non-profits on topics such as, equity, diversity and inclusion, child development and trauma informed care. She is the current Chair of the Early Career Committee for the New Jersey Psychological Association and served in the past as a Member-at-Large for the Latinx Mental Health Association of New Jersey. In 2020, she received the NJPA's Distinguished Teacher Award.
Current members
Xiqiao Chen, M.A.
she/her/hers 1st Year Ph.D. Student in Clinical Psychology at New School for Social Research Xiqiao Chen (Pronounced She-Chow) is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology and the Workgroup Manager of the Safran Center. She has a broad interdisciplinary research interests focused on clinical training, psychanalysis, culture, gender, sexuality, and equity, diversity and inclusion. Her master's thesis focuses on developing innovative, engaging virtual tools for clinical training. |
Hally Wolhandler, M.A.
she/her/hers 2nd Year Ph.D. Student in Clinical Psychology at New School for Social Research |
Azeemah Kola, J.D., M.Sc., M.A.
3rd Year Ph.D. Student in Clinical Psychology at New School for Social Research Azeemah is a third year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology, a founding member of the Safran Center Workgroup, and a former Research Manager of the group. She is particularly interested in the lived experience of marginalized populations and improving therapeutic interventions for those with minority identities. Azeemah holds an A.B. with honors from Harvard, where she studied postcolonial history and literature. She also holds an MSc in Forced Migration & Refugee Studies from the University of Oxford, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and an MA in psychology from The New School. Prior to entering the field of psychology, Azeemah practiced corporate law in New York City. |
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Danielle Bryson
she/her/hers 2nd Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research Danielle Bryson is a second-year master’s student in psychology. She holds an M.A. in child development from Sarah Lawrence College. Her current research includes longitudinal attachment research as it relates to adoptive families. An interest in global mental health and attachment has also led her to collaborate with a nonprofit organization in Ghana to develop an intervention for local families of children with special needs. She also delivers low-intensity support to individuals through a task-sharing approach, Problem Management Plus (PM+), and is specifically interested in cultural and community factors that affect access to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) worldwide. |
Samantha Bakke
she/her/hers 2nd Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research Samantha Bakke is a second-year psychology MA student and the data manager of the Safran Center. She received her BA in psychology at Binghamton University in 2020. She is actively involved in the Trauma and Global Mental Health Lab and is currently studying self-efficacy in relation to COVD-19 distress. https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-bakke/ |
Thyme Canton
they/them 2nd Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research B.A. Fairhaven College American Cultural Studies The Safran workgroup is an opportunity for students to get more hands-on experience at the Masters level of the inner workings of the New School Training clinic. In my work I center people of color, sexual minorities, youth and sex workers as those who are the communities I have spent the last decade organizing with. www.linkedin.com/in/thymecanton |
Ali Revill
she/her/hers 2nd Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research |
Marissa Pizziferro
she/her/hers 2nd Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research Marissa Pizziferro is an incoming second year Psychology MA student actively involved in both the Safran Center workgroup and the Center for Attachment Research. Inspired by psychoanalytic thought, she is curious to understand how one's early relationship with caregivers may impact their ability to access, reflect on, and regulate emotions during and outside of therapy. The Safran Center workgroup has been an excellent incubator for such projects, providing a unique learning space to bridge the gap between research and practice. |
Abby Droeger
she/her/hers 1st Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research Abby is a 1st Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research. Abby received her B.A. from The University of British Columbia, and is currently looking toward pursuing her P.h.D. in Clinical Psychology. She hopes to learn more about the Psychotherapy sessions at SCPS, as well as assist with research currently being conducted on the effect of the pandemic on patient presentation, and the development and enhancement of clinical work at SCPS. |
Netta Keesom
she/her/hers 1st Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research
Netta is a first-year master’s student in psychology at the New School. Having studied history and political theory as an undergraduate, Netta is interested in approaching psychological and therapeutic theories from an interdisciplinary perspective. She looks forward to gaining firsthand experience of clinical work and to developing her research interests at the Safran Center |
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Alexandra Simon
she/her/hers 2nd Year Psychology M.A. Student at New School for Social Research Alexandra Simon is a second-year master’s student in Psychology at the New School for Social Research. She earned a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and has a background in Finance. Her research interests center on the effects of acute trauma versus chronic trauma on memory, music as a therapeutic method for trauma, PTSD from environmental injustice and climate change, and reproductive justice. |
Alumni
Deanna Colarusso, M.A.
2nd Year Ph.D. Student in Clinical Psychology with a Health Emphasis at Pace University |
Grainne Daly, M.A.
Production Assistant |
Leslie O'Brien, M.A.
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Sophia Reinicke, M.A.
M.A. in Psychology at New School for Social Research |
Jillian Sucher, M.A.
Researcher at the Palestinian Neuroscience Institute / Rutgers University RESEARCH GATE |
Courtney Townsend, M.A.
Doctoral Student, Clinical Psychology at Ferkhauf Graduate School of Psychology |
Noam Newberger, M.A.
Research Assistant at the National Center for PTSD, VA Boston
Research Assistant at the National Center for PTSD, VA Boston
