Our Staff
The CPS clinical staff includes licensed psychologists, clinical professional counselors, and clinical social workers who attended accredited graduate training programs and are licensed in Montana. CPS also trains advanced graduate students earning their Master’s and Doctoral degrees who practice under the supervision of licensed CPS staff members. All CPS clinicians have specialized interest in college student mental health and can work with a wide range of presenting concerns.
While all clinical staff are generalists, the following is a non-exhaustive list of specific areas of interest or expertise for our staff:
- Anxiety and stress
- Depression
- Relationship concerns
- Adjustment/life transitions
- Identity development
- Grief and loss
- Academic distress
- Trauma
- Family distress
- Self-esteem
- Emotional resiliency
- Body image/eating concerns
- Substance use and addiction
- Suicide prevention
All CPS clinicians recognize people as cultural beings with unique backgrounds, experiences, relationships, and intersecting social identities. When providing clinical services, we consider the whole person including the cultural dimensions of one’s identity and related values, beliefs, and attitudes to support culturally attuned treatment. We also consider the socio-cultural context that may be impacting or contributing to the concerns, goals, or challenges clients want to address. Students may seek services at CPS to address specific cultural concerns including religion and spirituality, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, racial identity, socioeconomic status, discrimination, and cultural adjustment.
Counseling and Psychological Services Staff
Betsy Asserson, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
Director
Licensed Psychologist
Interim Associate Vice President
Student Wellness
Bennett Kern, M.S.
Staff Therapist
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Candidate (PCLC)
B.T. Cooper, Ph.D/ CMPC
Senior Staff Pychologist embedded in Athletics
Licensed Psychologist
Brian Kassar, Psy.D.
he/him
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Senior Staff Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Brianna Windhorst, M.Coun.
Care Manager
Senior Staff Counselor
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Catherine Francis, Psy.D
she/her/hers
Senior Staff Psychologist
Groups Coordinator/ Training Specialist
Licensed Psychologist
Dan Deming, M.S.
he/him
Staff Counselor
Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Eric Uhl, Ph.D
he/him
Senior Staff Therapist
Psychologist Resident
Jacquelyn Rinaldi, Psy.D
Staff Therapist
Psychologist Resident
Julia A. Nance, Ph.D
she/her/hers
Senior Staff Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Katie Darnell, Psy.D.
she/her
Assistant Director of Clinical Services
Senior Staff Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Katy Fritz, MSW
she/her
Senior Staff Counselor
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Laura Thum, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
Assistant Director of Outreach and Prevention
Senior Staff Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Levenae Buggs, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
Training Specialist/ Outreach Specialist
Senior Staff Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Mani Stubbs, M.A.
he/him/his
Clinical Specialist
Senior Staff Counselor
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Mariah Hill, Psy.D.
she/her
Multicultural Coordinator
Senior Staff Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Marshal George, Psy.D
Senior Staff Therapist
Psychologist Resident
Melissa Cassad, M.A.
she/her
Senior Staff Counselor
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Paisley Azra-Lewis, Ph.d
she/her
Behavioral Health Specialist
Senior Staff Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Rachel Woodard, M.A.
she/her
Senior Staff Counselor
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Ryan Niehus, Psy.D.
he/him/his
Assistant Director of Training
Senior Staff Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Sanaye Thompson, M.S.
Veterans Liason
Senior Staff Counselor
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Lindsey Palagi, B.A.
she/her
Medical Records Administrator/ Office Manager
Tara Shannon Pratt, B.S.
she/her
Business Operations Manager
Aram Zelman M.A.
Doctoral Intern
Kristen Wederski, M.A.
she/her
Doctoral Intern
Matthew Duff, M.A.
he/him
Doctoral Intern
Laura Hyder, M.A.
she/her
Doctoral Intern
Eva Ticknor, B.A.
she/her
Master's Intern
Michael Becker, B.A.
he/him
Master's Intern
Olivia Roche, B.S.
she/her
Master's Intern