Curious about what it is like to be a student in the Counseling Psychology Program?
Erin Budesheim
I completed my undergraduate education at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where I graduated with my B.A. in Psychology in 2019. During my undergraduate career I participated in internships working with adolescents in juvenile detention centers and partial psychiatric hospitalization settings. In my prior research experience, I found my passion for mental health stigma in college students and promoting positive development.
I am in my third year at the University of Illinois in the Counseling Psychology Program working with Dr. Chris Napolitano. My research focuses on young adult wellbeing through the lens of social media use. I work in collaboration with Hopelab, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, to understand the how wellbeing interacts with social media use and inform technological developments to meet the concerns of young adults. Moreover, I am interested in understanding who is susceptible to the negative effects of social media use and how to inform positive and protective social media practices among young adults.
Outside of school, I enjoy exercising (e.g., weight lifting, yoga), art history, traveling, reading, and cooking new dishes!
Whitney Clarke
I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Maryland, College Park where I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Concentration in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and a Minor in Black Women's Studies. During my undergraduate career, I began to gain clinical experience as a peer counselor at the university’s crisis hotline and at the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project working with both diverse adults and children who have experienced different traumas. As a McNair Scholar, I explored coping strategies utilized by Black women dealing with discrimination through an individual study. This solidified my call to advocate for Black women and examine healing.
I am in my second year in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program working with Dr. Jarrett Lewis and Dr. Helen Neville. My research focuses on Black populations specifically Black women and girls’ mental health issues, our ability to heal and hope radically despite oppression, and how trauma and racial identity uniquely impact us. My work centers Black communities where participants are active in the research project, rewriting what academic research looks like. Throughout the year, you may hear that I have gone home to Jamaica for a little to get away from the cold weather!
In my free time, I love to travel any and everywhere, weight-lift, binge shows, and try new restaurants.
Gabrielle (Gabby) Drong
I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Dallas, Texas, where I graduated with my B.A. in Psychology and English in 2018. During my time as an undergraduate, I conducted a phenomenological thesis on the experiences of women who lost their spouses, which then prompted my interest in bereavement and continuing my research career. I went on to obtain my Master of Science in Psychological Science at the University of Illinois under the guidance of my advisor, Dr. Chris Fraley, and my program director, Dr. Caroline Tancredy.
Currently, I am in my 2nd year in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program, and I work with Dr. Chris Napolitano. Broadly, my research focus is on bereavement and mental health outcomes. I am specifically interested in the different forms and ways that people experience loss, as well as the individual/cultural differences that are at play.
Outside of school, I love boxing, backpacking, hiking, and spending time with my friends.
Chris Elmi
I am very fortunate to have had an unexpected yet exciting academic journey that has spanned across continents and multiple countries. After completing my bachelors, I left my home in Southern California to start a new life in Germany. While there, I completed my master’s in psychology at Jacobs University in Bremen where my research focused on the place in which you leave or are attached to impacts your sense of loneliness and quality of life. I was then afforded the opportunity to pursue my first Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, which I successfully defended in July of 2023. My research focused on how people pursue their goals, manage their resources, and deal with unexpected setbacks. I hoped to become an academic but found myself longing to work in service of people again. I decided to pivot my career back to therapy and pursue my second PhD in Counseling. My current research hopes to explore how fitness might impact the therapeutic relationship, specifically how exercise could strengthen the therapeutic relationship and bolster psychological outcomes.
Outside of my academic pursuits, I am an avid cyclist and weightlifter, finding solace and challenge in the outdoors and the gym. My zest for discovery extends to my love for traveling, which fuels my fascination with diverse cultures and perspectives. I thoroughly enjoy indulging in new food and drinks, savoring the rich experiences they bring. And amidst it all, I am graced by my two kittens, adding an extra layer of warmth and joy to my life.
Email: celmi2@illinois.edu
Nic Heimpel
My research interests lie at the intersection of vocational psychology and methods/statistics. I am interested in advancing operationalizations of Person-Environment Fit (P-E fit) in the vocational domain. Such operationalizations can serve as tests of theory in this area, but also have direct applied utility for career recommendations via assessment and algorithmic matching of people to occupations. Relatedly, I am interested in integrating information from different domains of individual differences (i.e., aptitude, vocational interests, and work values) in vocational P-E fit research and career guidance. I am currently involved in projects that seek to develop comprehensive assessments that can be directly linked with information in the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).
Giovanina “Giovi” Kelly
I am a first-year Master’s student in Mental Health Counseling. Previously, I graduated with my B.S. in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. At my time at North Central College, I conducted research within the Sleep Lab and the Time Well Spent Lab. Additionally, I worked with children on the autism spectrum as a registered behavior technician and gained experience working within a neuropsychology private practice.
Currently as a master’s student, I am advised by Dr. Lisa Kinderman and am focusing on gaining more clinical skills this semester by interning at the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) here at the University of Illinois.
Outside of school I like playing ultimate frisbee, rollerblading, and enjoying time with friends and family.
Diana Lesmes
I worked for almost 7 years as a professor for the industrial engineering department of the Universidad de los Andes, in Bogota, Colombia. Where I also did my B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in Statistics.
For the last 4 years, I taught a class for first-year industrial engineering students, in which I helped them to develop entrepreneurial projects, their soft skills, and career plan. This experience made me realize my love for teaching and encouraged me to do a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology.
I joined this program in fall 2019, and since then, my research interest focuses on career counseling. In specific, research that seeks to help people to find fulfillment and joy with what they study or do for a living. At present, I work under the guidance of Dr. James Rounds, doing research on major life goals and its relationship with interest and personality.
In my free time, I enjoy jogging, reading, and watching superheroes series on Netflix with my daughter.
Hameed Makttoof
I completed my undergraduate education at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington where I graduated with my B.A. in Psychology in 2020. During my time as an undergraduate, I volunteered with Lutheran Community Service Refugee NW for 3 years working with immigrant middle and high school students who came from the Middle East, Africa and South America. Most of these students came from areas of poverty and war and had already gone through traumatic life events. I worked as a teacher/mentor to help with their transition to the US so they could be successful.
I am currently a doctoral student in the counseling psychology program at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Under the direction of Dr. Helen Neville, my research focuses on the mental health effects of millions of Iraqi civilians due to the United States lead invasion of Iraq in 2003. I am also interested in studying the resiliency of refugees and immigrants. Due to my experience of growing up during war in Iraq, this influenced me to focus on people who have a similar background.
Outside of school I enjoy working out, running, boxing, playing soccer, cooking, and reading.
Salmān Safīr (he/him)
I am first year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program under the mentorship of Dr. Helen Neville. My interests focus on Critical Race Theory, enthno-racial identity development, South Asian American Identity, Shī’īsm, and gender & sexuality among US Muslims as they each relate to mental health. Prior to beginning my doctoral degree, I earned my MA in religious studies from the University of Chicago, where I also received a graduate certificate in Health Care Administration and Policy. I received my BA in Educational Studies and Psychology from Swarthmore College. Between my undergraduate and graduate studies, I worked in the Intercultural Engagement Programme at Yale-NUS College in Singapore.
Outside of academics, I enjoy rooting for Wisconsin professional sports teams, as well as browsing any bookstore I can find. I live with my cat Eeyore, who tolerates me.
Evin Tari
I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I graduated with my B.S. in Psychology with a clinical-community concentration in 2021. During my time as an undergraduate, I had many volunteer and internship experiences working in the Urbana-Champaign community. I have worked with children and adolescents in after-school programs as well as residential and psychiatric hospitalization settings. Currently, I am a first year Master’s student in the Mental Health Counseling Program.
I enjoy spending time in nature, learning new languages, and meditating. I am also obsessed with my Holland lop bunny, Kuki."
Cherese Waight
I am a second-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Division. Before starting the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Illinois, I graduated from University of Illinois with a B.S. in psychology and African American Studies. As in undergraduate student I worked with the Policing in a Multiracial Society Project, a program with the Police Training Institute to study the Color-blind Racial Ideology of the police recruits through a pre and post survey. I am working under the direction of Dr. Helen Neville in her Liberation Lab. My research interest is broadly focused on understanding the psychological effects of racism in the Black community, which is inclusive to understanding racial ideology, well-being, radical healing, radical hope, intergenerational trauma & coping, mental health resources for underrepresented communities and community interventions. My current research is focused on understanding the experiences of Black police officers. I am passionate about social justice and advocacy in my training.
I work as a Graduate Assistant and Mentor for the McNair Scholars program in the Office of Minority Student Affairs, provided support for students in underrepresented and low-income communities that want to pursue a PhD degree. I am also a Teaching Assistant for EPSY 202: Exploring Cultural Diversity, a course focusing looking at topics through a social justice lens.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my daughter, family, binge watching shows, cooking, being outdoors and spending times with friends.
- Email: cwaight2@illinois.edu