What are graduates of our program doing?
Nicole Wozniak, Psy.D. (2018), McCaskill Family Services (Brighton, MI)
Dr. Wozniak completed her internship at Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo in Pueblo, CO. She is currently the Clinical Director of the Brighton location for McCaskill Family Services, a large private practice that sees people throughout the lifespan and conducts neuropsychological testing. About her time at EKU: “I loved everything about the program, but particularly the lasting relationships I developed with the faculty and my peers. The practicum experiences offered to me, in addition to the curriculum, allowed me to feel prepared for almost any post-graduate experience. I have always gotten positive feedback from colleagues and supervisors about the depth of my training!”
Clinton Nowicke, Psy.D. (2020), Compass Counseling (Louisville, KY)
Dr. Nowicke completed his internship at Appalachian Psychology Internship/Woodland Centers in Gallipolis, OH. He currently works with children and young adults with mood disorders, specializing in gender dysphoria and transgender kids and teens. About his time at EKU: “I still find myself asking 'what would Dr. Botts say'! I also still utilize CAMS (mostly with teens but a few mature tweens), and I do not fear working with suicidal individuals.”
Katibeth Sharp, Psy.D. (2020), Eastern State Hospital (Lexington, KY)
Dr. Sharp completed her internship at Agnesian Healthcare in Fond Du Lac, WI. She is currently the Director of Psychology (inpatient psychiatric services) at Eastern State Hospital. Regarding her time at EKU: “So many fond memories of the EKU Psychology Department. EKU was a huge part of my life for about 13 years. While the academic and clinical training has been such a great foundation to support my career, the personal connections I gained have been so much stronger than I anticipated. I was able to see how well the EKU team worked together and supported each other. It showed me the value of having a good group of colleagues around you. I actively sought a position with a supportive team as a result. I also built lifelong friendships with my cohort members. I still connect with them daily and have a strong consultation network when I run into professional challenges.”
Savannah Campbell, Psy.D. (2021), Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
Dr. Campbell completed her internship at the Ball State University Counseling Center in Muncie, IN. She is currently working as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lincoln Memorial University, a private university in northeastern Tennessee. She teaches classes in general education and psychology. She is also the main advisor to students majoring in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and co-advise the school's Psychology Club. Outside of her academic position, Dr. Campbell provides counseling services to students at Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. Regarding her time at EKU: “I feel that EKU's program prepared me very well for my current job in the guidance I received toward my career goals, and I hope I instill and inspire that in the students I advise at an undergraduate level. I also learned a lot about how to be an effective professor as well as a mentor toward students' professional growth whether they pursue graduate degrees in our field or just utilize their undergraduate ones.”
Brian Keller, Psy.D. (2023), Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center (KCPC), Lagrange KY
Dr. Keller completed his internship at Jefferson County Internship Consortium in Louisville, KY. He currently completes forensic mental health evaluations (competency and criminal responsibility) ordered by Kentucky courts in felony cases. Additionally, he assists with assessment of KCPC’s long-term forensic commitment patients. Regarding his time at EKU: “Most of my fond memories are directly from the faculty. I felt that each of them is particularly gifted in their chosen subsets of psychology, and the greatest strength of the program is the inordinate amount of talent and knowledge found in that building. Having access to, not just experts, but extremely respected practitioners in the fields of trauma therapy, child and forensic assessment, suicide, DBT, Cultural competence, and addiction was the thing I will remember and cherish most. And surprisingly, exposure to all those concepts has come into play during internship and at my current job. I literally just spoke with my supervisor at length about the differential diagnosis of a patient here who could be suffering from psychosis, trauma, substance issues, mood problems, BPD, or a bunch of other options. I feel very well equipped to examine any of those possibilities, and more importantly, to generate the questions needed to help think through the problem. Oh, and all of my lifelong friends I made in the program. Those are great too!”
Dr. England completed her internship at Central Regional Hospital in Butner, NC, where she received specialized training in forensic psychology. She currently works in a private practice in Durham, NC, where she conducts individual therapy for all ages and psychological and forensic evaluations (psychodiagnostic clarification evaluations, custody evaluations, and parental capacity evaluations primarily). Regarding her time at EKU: “I have many fond memories of the program and was amazed by the support that I received from professors and peers. Even today, if I have questions or need consultation, I know I can call anyone from EKU without hesitation. EKU’s PsyD program prepared me for the real world and allowed me opportunities to get great experience at practicum sites and a wonderful year-long internship.”
Gabriella Martin, Psy.D. (2023), Fraser (Minneapolis, MN)
Dr. Martin completed her internship at Fraser Clinical Psychology Internship in Minneapolis, MN. She remained at Fraser and is currently completing her neuropsychology post-doctoral fellowship, where she conducts neuropsychological assessments with a focus in Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluations across three age groups (0-5 years old, children/teens, and adults) with the goal of gaining competence assessing across the lifespan. Regarding her time at EKU: “My favorite memory was when our little group of students all piled into Dr. Bundy’s van at 5:00 AM and drove to Somerset for the Commission ASD evaluations. It was an invaluable teaching experience; we observed and learned from upperclassmen, mentored younger students, and participated in multidisciplinary discussions with the rest of the Commission’s team (OT, behavioral peds, etc.). Four evaluations in one day, all hands-on deck. It was extraordinarily chaotic and very fun. I still miss it.”
Harold G. Jones II, Psy.D. (2022), Jones Forensic & Psychological Services, PLLC (Winchester, KY)
Dr. Jones completed his internship at Liberty Healthcare Rushville Treatment and Detention Center in Rushville, IL. He currently has a private practice that focuses on specialized risk assessment and treatment of people who have committed sex-related offenses. He also works with first responder related trauma and training/education to mitigate experienced symptoms and promote future resilience. Regarding his time at EKU: “I have worked with professionals from a variety of clinical/educational backgrounds, all of whom were competent professionals. However, the education and training received from our EKU staff is second to none. Such a level of education and training supported entering into my internship year at an advanced level of competency. Just as important as the education and training, the EKU staff and cohorts feel like family. I cannot express my gratitude enough for everyone always willing to go above and beyond to ensure the best possible training and education is received.”
Hogan Gagle, Psy.D. (2023), Chalmers P. Wylie Veterans Affairs Ambulatory Care Center (VAACC) (Columbus, OH)
Dr. Gagle completed his internship at Robley Rex VAMC in Louisville, KY. He currently provides services at the Columbus VA as a Recovery Services staff psychologist (SUD Outpatient care). Regarding his time at EKU: “I really enjoyed assisting with the development of EKU Trauma and Suicide Prevention Clinic (TSPC), which prepared me for additional responsibilities at my post-doctoral position. Including assisting with development, program evaluation, and structuring of SUD outpatient care.”
Allison Simpson, Psy.D. (2021), New Vista Oakwood (Somerset, KY)
Dr. Simpson completed her internship at Devereux Foundation in Villanova, PA. She currently works with intellectually disabled individuals in a residential setting, providing a blend of services from behavioral psychology to assessment and counseling. Regarding her time at EKU: “I have a lot of fond memories from my time in the PsyD program at EKU, but the fondest memories are those I shared with my cohort. The program really fostered a strong bond between us, and while a lot of us have gone our separate ways, we still reach out to each other when we need to consult or find resources. Some of us have even stayed close friends! The program more than adequately prepared me for my current position. The specific training experiences in autism, trauma, suicide prevention, and rural mental health not only provided me with the necessary skills I need for the work that I do, they actually led to me developing a strong passion for work in those areas. I use the knowledge I gained from my time in the program every single day.”
Valessa St. Pierre Mwnajawala, Psy.D. (2021), Ohio University (Athens, OH)
Dr. Mwnajawala completed her internship at KVC Health Systems in Lexington, KY. She is currently the Assistant Director of Counseling/Diversity Inclusion Initiatives, where she splits her time between providing clinical work, advocating for student access to mental health, and providing workshops and training for student faculty and staff as it pertains to supporting our diverse student community. Regarding her time at EKU: “I think there are too many memories to write down. I received much support and now in turn want to be like all my EKU Professors and pass down all that you all gave to me.”
Angie Van Berkel, Psy.D. (2023), Arlington/DC Behavior Therapy Institute (Arlington, VA)
Dr. Van Berkel completed her internship at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA, where she gained extensive training in treating trauma. She currently works in an outpatient psychotherapy practice in the Washington, DC area, where she primarily treats trauma and anxiety disorders and co-leads a DBT group. Regarding her time at EKU: “The faculty are very supportive, responsive, and accessible at each stage of the program. They provide space for students to wrestle with difficult clinical questions and current issues facing the field, and opportunities to grow in specific areas of interest. The academic coursework and practicum experiences build strong analytical capacities and case conceptualization skills, regardless of treatment setting. The program is also thorough, offering specialized training in trauma and suicide, which have prepared me well to treat high risk clients across a variety of cultural backgrounds and clinical presentations.”
Sydney Yarbrough, Psy.D. (2021), Federal Correctional Complex (Forrest City, AR)
Dr. Yarbrough specialized in correctional psychology during her training at EKU, completing her internship at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. She currently works as a correctional psychologist at Federal Correctional Complex, where she completes brief and long-term intervention, group therapy, and conducts suicide risk assessments. Regarding her time at EKU: “I LOVED EKU. The faculty were always available and helpful. I feel like I received a plethora of experiences that helped me narrow down my career focus and future goals.”
Michael Lemon, Psy.D. (2023), United States Penitentiary McCreary (Pine Knot, KY)
Dr. Lemon completed his internship at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, MS. He currently works as a correctional psychologist at a federal penitentiary in Kentucky. His work primarily revolves around individual therapy, completing rounds in secured housing, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, intakes, screenings for substance use treatment programs (residential and medication-assisted treatment), diagnostic interviews, and evaluations for risk of experiencing and/or perpetrating sexual abuse. Regarding his time at EKU: “I really treasure this program because of the incredible faculty and students that we have. Our classes in assessments and suicide prevention/intervention provided me with knowledge and skills that I use on a daily basis in correctional psych. I am also amazed at the expertise and support of faculty across the program. Additionally, the opportunity to work as a practicum student at FMC Lexington was incredible because it showed me the passion I have for working in corrections. Many of the people I interviewed with for BOP internships were not able to have that kind of opportunity prior to internship, so I am very grateful to have that experience. Our forensic class was also very helpful for my internship, especially for conducting evaluations and even for our mock trial at the prison.”
Jennie Edwards, Psy.D. (2020), Chillicothe VA - Lancaster Outpatient Clinic (Lancaster, OH)
Dr. Edwards completed her internship at University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler in Tyler, TX. She currently works as a Staff Psychologist on the general mental health care line, where she provides outpatient services to veterans. Regarding her time at EKU: “I have found that my training from EKU in rural mental health has been tremendously helpful and that the jobs I’ve applied for have found that specialized training to be a major asset.”
Brett Smith, Psy.D. (2018), University of Michigan Counseling Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Dr. Smith completed his internship at West Virginia University-Carruth Center (Counseling Center) in Morgantown, WV. Since graduating, Dr. Smith has worked in several counseling centers and currently works at the University of Michigan. He works as an Embedded Clinician with students in the School or Kinesiology, providing both individual and group services, in addition to providing and developing outreach programming. Regarding his time at EKU: “The program allowed me to gain extensive experience with ADHD and this has led to incredible opportunities for me to develop and provide support on university campuses as a specialty area.”
Alex Farmer-Jucoff, Psy.D. (2020), St. Joseph Children’s Home (Louisville, KY)
Dr. Farmer-Jucoff completed her internship at the Jefferson County Internship Consortium in Louisville, KY. She currently works as a behavioral health therapist in a Therapeutic Foster Care program. She works primarily with children and families within the foster care system as a part of the child’s treatment team that includes case managers, state social workers, psychiatrist, academic supports, and biological and foster parents. Regarding her time at EKU: “While I do not currently work in a setting that requires me to complete psychological assessment, I am thankful for my background in testing from EKU. Having this training has allowed me to better understand assessments and reports provided for my clients and make recommendations appropriately. Also, EKU’s emphasis on diversity has been very helpful in my work with children and families from across the state of KY involved with foster care.”
Reagan Overby, Psy.D. (2023), Lexington VA Healthcare System (Lexington, KY)
Dr. Overby works at the Lexington VA, where he also completed his internship. He currently works in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, which is a 45-day program for Veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD, substance use disorders, or both conditions. Regarding his time at EKU: “The EKU Psy.D. program prepared me from day one to implement evidence-based practices for high-risk populations. Because of my time at EKU, I was able to specialize my training so that I could confidently pursue my dream of giving back to the Veteran community.”
Brandon Creech, Psy.D. (2022), Longwood University Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) (Farmville, VA)
Dr. Creech gained extensive experience working with college students during his time in the doctoral program, completing practicum at the EKU Counseling Center and his internship at SUNY Stoney Brook Counseling Center. He is currently a staff psychologist at Longwood University Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) & Adjunct Faculty in the LU Department of Psychology in Virginia. In his role as staff psychologist, Dr. Creech provides individual and couples counseling services to students. Additionally, he facilitates the LGBTQIA+ support group offered through the CAPS office, conducts ADHD/SLD testing, provides supervision for practicum students, and engages with the campus community through outreach programs. As an adjunct professor, teaches Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan Development, and Psychopathology. Regarding his time at EKU: “My experience as a doctoral student at EKU was immensely valuable both personally and professionally; the professors provided instruction and supervision of the highest standard, while also challenging students to increase our knowledge base and clinical skills. Their commitment to our success was salient in every interaction, and I felt such an overwhelming sense of support and comradery while at EKU. Due to this environment, I have been more than prepared to encounter a variety of presenting concerns and client populations while on internship (Stony Brook University CAPS) and in my current position at LU. Specifically, the program’s focus on rural mental health and suicide prevention have proved invaluable to my growth as a well-rounded clinician.”
Taylor Chille, Psy.D. (2023), Stein Hospital, Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services (SNAMHS) (Las Vegas, NV)
Dr. Chille completed her internship at Nevada Psychology Internship Consortium, where she performed forensic psychological evaluations and treatment. She currently works as a forensic psychologist, completing psychological testing, evaluation (competency to stand trial and violence risk assessment), psychotherapy, and consultation to clients or inmates in an inpatient setting. She is an active member of an interdisciplinary treatment team along with psychiatry, social services, nursing, and caseworkers. She formulates behavior plans and token economy programs and provides crisis intervention. Dr. Chille also recently became a CAMS-care certified clinician and provides these services when indicated. Regarding her time at EKU: “My time at EKU was unmatched. The relationships I built there will last a lifetime. EKU taught me how to be a professional in this field, but also how important it is to have people in your corner who encourage and support you. I am forever thankful for my EKU family!”
Dr. Thomas completed her internship at the counseling center at West Virginia University, where she continues to work, providing individual therapy, group therapy, workshops, consultations, and crisis intervention services to college students. She also participates in outreach to residence halls, the LGBTQ+ center, and other campus partners. Regarding her time at EKU: “The information and experiences I gained from Dr. Bundy's Autism Spectrum class and Dr. Moore's Understanding Suicide class has continuously served me well as an intern and supervised staff psychologist here. Many of the staff members are surprised that I've had entire classes devoted to working with individuals on the autism spectrum and also about suicide and performing risk assessments and suicide-focused interventions. Also, the experiences I've had as a peer supervisor gave me an edge in applying to internship sites and with supervising master's level trainees at my current site.”
Alexander Kuhl, Psy.D. (2019), Kuhl Clinical & Forensic Psychological Services, United States Air Force (Las Vegas, NV)
Dr. Kuhl completed his internship at Ohio Psychology Internship, where he gained extensive experience in forensic psychology, which he continued at University of New Mexico during a two year post-doctoral fellowship in forensic psychology. He has worked in various settings throughout his career and currently resides and practices in Las Vegas, Nevada. He works full-time at Nellis Air Force Base as a military psychologist, serving primarily Active Duty in the United States Air Force (USAF). He provides individual and group therapy and performs fitness for duty evaluations, disability evaluations, preemployment evaluations, command-directed evaluations, and general psychological evaluations. Aside from serving as a civilian contractor for the USAF, he also operates his part-time practice, Kuhl Clinical & Forensic Psychological Services. In this role, he primarily serves as an independent expert forensic evaluator and consultant for federal court and state courts in the Nevada Judiciary. Regarding his time in the program: "My fondest memories about EKU’s PsyD Program are the tight-knit community and how much the faculty care about each one of their students—in both a professional and personal capacity. I believe their dedication to us really allowed my cohort to thrive in our career field. Whenever we experienced stress or uncertainty in training, I felt our professors were always available. I still feel they are approachable today even as graduates and early professionals."
Taylor Kutchen, Psy.D. (2019), Pediatric Clinical Psychologist at Magnolia Connection (Norwalk, IA)
Dr. Kutchen completed his internship at High Plains Psychology Internship Consortium in Greeley, CO. His is a licensed psychologist in Iowa and works at a private practice where he completes diagnostic evaluations, primarily for neurodevelopmental disorders. Regarding his time in the program: “I felt the excellent faculty offered me opportunities to explore different specialties within clinical psychology. The coursework and practicum experiences had me prepared for internship and my career beyond. I continue to value and consult with my network from EKU!”
Kara Harrison, Psy.D. (2022), Staff Psychologist at Western State Hospital (Hopkinsville, KY)
Dr. Harrison completed her internship at Western State Hospital, in Hopkinsville, KY, where she continues to work as a staff psychologist. Much her of her current work is in the crisis stabilization unity, where she evaluates, diagnoses, and treats patients with serious mental illness. Regarding her time in the program: “My time at EKU was a highlight period of my life. While my personal life was unexpectedly tackled with an incredibly difficult series of events, my experience in the EKU Psy.D. program simultaneously opened a treasure trove of personal growth and learning. As I continue to learn in my new profession, I repeatedly encounter experiences that deepen my appreciation for the quality preparation the EKU Psy.D. program provided. The campus was easy to use and beautiful! I have so many warm memories of the psychology department, my professors, and several very special mentors. I am forever thankful for my decision to apply! I am finding it deeply satisfying to spend the second half of my professional life investing in ways to help some of the most vulnerable members of society. I would never be afforded this opportunity without the EKU program which will forever occupy a special spot in my heart.”
