Our Staff
Senior Staff
Christine Frizzell, Ed.D.
Gordon McLennan, Psy.D.
Laurajane Fitzsimons, M.Ed., A.C.D.P.
Jonathan Schwartz, M.D.
Deborah Taylor, MA
Rachel Jameson Lively, PsyD
Christopher Frazer, PsyD
Administrative Support Staff
Candida "Candy" Hodge, B.A.
Carol Olancin, A. S.
Doctoral and Master's Level Interns
Meghan Driscoll, BS
Whitney Moore, BS
Brian Lucier, B.A.
James "Jamie" Powderly, BA
Andrea Damon, BA
Senior Staff
Christine Frizzell, Ed.D. joined the Counseling and Student Development Center first in 1988-1989 as a doctoral intern then later as our Staff Psychologist in January, 1993. She assumed the role of director in 1996. Chris graduated from the University of Rhode Island and earned her Ed.D. at Northeastern University. She worked for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health prior to coming to UMD and has extensive experience dealing with the chronically mentally ill.
She has a strong background in emergency mental health services, as both a clinician and an administrator. She is an avid gardener and often sells cut flowers and plants to the UMD community to support Southcoast Compeer, a local chapter of Compeer International that she and Dr. Sharon Sousa of the College of Nursing established. Compeer's mission is to provide trained volunteer friends to persons with mental illness. Chris can be reached at X8649 or cfrizzell@umassd.edu.
Gordon McLennan, Psy.D. has been with the Counseling and Student Development Center since 1978. He received his M.Ed. from the University of Vermont after attending Colgate University. He earned his Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. Gordon's professional interests include family, group, and gestalt therapy, object relations theory, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Gordon can be reached at X8656 or gmclennan@umassd.edu.
Laurajane Fitzsimons, M.Ed., A.C.D.P. joined the Counseling and Student Development Center in 1993. She developed and coordinated the university's alcohol and drug education program until 2004, when she became the Assistant Director of Counseling/Addictions Specialist. Laura graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston with a degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, then earned a M.Ed. with a concentration in substance abuse counseling, from Providence College. She is a certified Chemical Dependency Counselor and is currently completing a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Mental Health Counseling at Bridgewater State College.
Jonathan Schwartz, M.D. joined the Counseling and Student Development Center in 1985 as our consulting psychiatrist. He is certified in both child and adult psychiatry. His training was completed at Children's Hospital in Boston and Mass. General Hospital. Dr. Schwartz specializes in the treatment of ADD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder and depression. Students will often be referred to him for diagnostic evaluation and/or to discuss the risks and benefits of possible use of medication in situations where this would be appropriate. Students must meet with a counselor first, before scheduling an appointment with Dr. Schwartz.
Deborah Taylor, M.A. joined the Counseling and Student Development Center in April, 1997. Prior to this she was staff assistant to the Dean for Outreach Programs in the Division of Continuing Education. Debbie is a double UMD grad, having earned both her BA and MA in psychology here. Debbie's areas of interest include depression, anxiety, career development counseling, and working with international students. Debbie can be reached at X8653 or dtaylor@umassd.edu.
Rachel Jameson Lively, Psy.D. completed her B.A. in psychology at Tufts University and her Psy.D. at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She has worked in a variety of programs within the mental health field, including several hospitals, a residential treatment facility, a day program, and a support program for people with cancer and their families. Rachel also worked at the UMD Counseling and Student Development Center for two years as an intern as part of her doctoral studies. Rachel's areas of focus are broad and include depression, anxiety, trauma and anger management. Rachel can be reached at X8652 or rachel.lively@umassd.edu.
Christopher Frazer, PsyD earned his doctorate at the Massachusetts School for Professional Psychology, and his masters at Springfield College. He has specialized training in the areas of couples and family therapy, addictions treatment and recovery, and career/organizational consulting. His areas of interest beyond these specializations include sports psychology, men's issues, and all facets of internet communication and relationships. In addition to his work at the counseling center, Chris maintains a private practice office in Raynham and is a visiting lecturer in the Counselor Education department at Bridgewater State College. Chris can be reached at X8164 or cfrazer@umassd.edu.
Administrative Support Staff
Candida "Candy" Hodge, B.A. is presently in the position of Administrative Assistant I. Candy has been with the Counseling and Student Development Center since 1982. She graduated from Graham Junior College in Boston and completed her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology here at UMD in 2002. Her education and training have provided her with the opportunity to work in various fields (community service, civil service, radio spot sales, music/broadcasting, corporate, law, TV production, media/public relations, college counseling/student development), and live in various areas of the U.S. (Boston, New York, St. Thomas, Los Angeles, and Greensboro) coming full circle back to her hometown area of New Bedford/Dartmouth. Candy can be reached at X8650 or chodge@umassd.edu.
Carol Olancin, A. S., Clerk IV, is the other half of the administrative support team. She came to UMD in January of 1983. She began in the Medical Technology Department, now known as Medical Laboratory Science, then worked in the Alumni Office, and the Management Department, before joining the administrative support staff of the Counseling and Student Development Center in February of 1999. Carol earned an associates degree from Bristol Community College. She has also worked at BMC Durfee High School as a substitute teacher and at BCC in the Job Placement Office. Carol can be reached at X8648 or colancin@umassd.edu.
Our Doctoral and Master's Level Interns
Meghan Driscoll, B.S. is a third-year doctoral student at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Georgia. Meghan has worked on research studies investigating techniques to help individuals with mental illness live more successful lives in the community. Having interned with children in a public school system and in an inpatient hospital unit, Meghan has experience working with individuals, groups and families. Her clinical interests include, but are not limited to, depression, anxiety, group therapy, adjustment and relationship issues.
Whitney Moore, B.S. is a third-year doctoral student at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She grew up in North Carolina, and earned her BS in Psychology from Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, she was a research assistant in a lab that studied Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of residential fires. She was also a research assistant in a neuropsychology lab, and worked at a crisis hotline.
She began graduate school directly after undergrad, and interned at an elementary school during her first year. Last year, she interned at an adolescent partial hospitalization program and worked with adolescents struggling with substance abuse and/or mental illness. During the summers, she works on an adolescent acute residential treatment unit and an intensive dialectical behavior therapy adolescent unit. Her professional interests include identity formation issues, relationship and family issues, anxiety, trauma, and working with young adults.
Brian Lucier, B.A. is a third year doctoral student at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. He received his undergraduate bachelor's degree in psychology from Rhode Island College. He has a background in community mental health working with adults suffering from chronic and persistent mental illness. Brian was pursuing state licensure as a "Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional" when he transitioned to his doctoral program. He has extensive experience working with depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, substance abuse, and personality disorders.
He has done neuropsychological, cognitive and behavioral testing with many different populations. Additionally, he has been involved in the cognitive rehabilitation of brain injured individuals and is interested in teaching students how to improve their cognitive strengths through psychoeducation. As a non-traditional-aged student himself, Brian is interested in working with non-traditional-aged students.
James "Jamie" Powderly, B.A. is a third-year student in the clinical psychology program at UMass Dartmouth. He grew up in Ashland, Massachusetts, a small suburb of Boston, and received his undergraduate degree in psychology from the College of the Holy Cross. After graduation, he served for two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer at Nativity Prep School in New Bedford. Since Nativity, he has worked with dually diagnosed adolescents in a residential setting and with students of all ages in the New Bedford Public Schools. His professional interests include sport psychology, relationship issues, OCD and other anxiety disorders, and ADHD and other learning disabilities.
Andrea Damon, B.A. is a third-year master's student in the clinical psychology program at UMass Dartmouth. She grew up in North Miami Beach, Florida, where she attended St. Thomas University, earning her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in communications. As an undergrad, she spent time studying at the in-patient unit of Miami Children's Hospital, specifically observing group dynamics, mood and personality disorders within the child and adolescent populations.
Since moving to Massachusetts, Andrea has worked with children on the autistic spectrum as an ABA therapist for Children Making Strides and completed a practicum placement at Community Counseling of Bristol County's day treatment and partial hospitalization program, where she assisted in social skills process groups for adults with various mental illnesses.
Currently, Andrea works with clients with schizophrenia, PTSD and bipolar disorder for the May Institute in their adult residential and rehabilitation program. Her current clinical and counseling interests include problems with anxiety and depression, skills training, issues of the physically disabled, self-esteem, adjustment/transitional problems, women's issues, and relationship and family issues.
