Meet Our Staff
We are staffed by professionally trained counselors.
- We have expertise and experience in working with college students.
- We take a holistic approach to each student, and value each person's unique identity.
- We welcome and respect diversity in all its forms, including racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds, sexual orientation and gender identity, mental and physical ability, language, age, spiritual belief, and socioeconomic status.
Counseling Staff
Julie S. Ross, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist and Director of CMHS
Additional Roles: Oversight of Counseling and Mental Health Service; liaison to Dean of Student Affairs Office, TUPD, and others; mental health consultant to various campus committees including Common Concerns and TTAM.
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Mental health and development across the lifespan; mental health issues impacting first-generation college students; loss and grief; life transitions; relationships; family and cultural issues
Theoretical Orientation: Relational/cultural/developmental background; treatment approaches tailored to each student and situation (may include insight-oriented work, elements of CBT,etc.)
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Linda Shane Escoll, Psy.D., Ed.M.
Staff Psychologist and Associate Director
Additional Roles: Liaison Program coordinator, Liaison to Residential Life, Ex College, Athletics; Advisor to Ears for Peers
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: College and graduate student mental health issues including anxiety and depression, impact of sociocultural context, relationship concerns, coping with loss, family issues
Theoretical Orientation: relational, psychodynamic, developmental, practical
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Marilyn Downs, Ph.D.
Staff Clinician and Director of Outreach
Additional roles: Director of CMHS Group Program; facilitate the Survivors Support Group and the Returning Student Group; oversight of CMHS outreach programs for students, faculty and staff; research related to campus mental health; liaison to Active Minds, and ASE Undergraduate and Graduate Faculty; member of CMHS team supporting race dialogues.
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: growing up with adversity (trauma, neglect, poverty, mental illness or addiction); sexual assault and interpersonal violence; enhancing relational skills; and managing mental illness. Marilyn is interested in how social class, gender, and culture influence identity and experiences, and is especially attentive to enhancing the capacities for reflection, emotional expression and authenticity in relationships.
Theoretical Orientation: Eclectic and flexible, blending psychodynamic, relational, skills development and mindfulness-based strategies, depending on client needs and interests.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Julie B. Jampel, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist and Director of Training
Additional Roles: Continuing Education Director, liaison to the StAAR Center and liaison to the Fletcher School
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Developmental issues of late adolescents and young adults, coping with disabilities, family conflict, relationship concerns, loss
Approaches to Treatment: Having a space for honest communication and reflection about oneself and one's life can lead to growth and change. My approach emphasizes creating that space to facilitate problem-solving, to generate insight and understanding of one's struggles, and to know oneself as well as possible.
Personal Interests: Taking long walks, reading fiction, talking and laughing with friends and family.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Candyce Burke Auguste, Psy.D.
Staff Clinician
Additional Roles: Leading The Oasis Student Group, Co-liaison to The Africana Center, Liaison for Residential Life
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Women’s issues, intersectionality and identity development, working with minority students, mental health concerns impacting 1st generation college students, trauma informed care, resilience, spirituality and religious issues
Theoretical Orientation: Strengths-based integrative approach factoring in important elements of a multi-cultural context. Person-centered work where the therapeutic relationship is valued as a tool for change. Background and training in humanistic approaches, CBT skills, DBT, ACT, and mindfulness.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Jennifer Granquist, LMHC
Urgent Care Specialist/Staff Clinician
Additional Roles: Liaison to Career Center and Residential Life.
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: My primary interest is making mental health resources, knowledge and skills for navigating life accessible to everyone, especially in times of crisis. Areas of interest and expertise include crisis intervention and risk assessment, trauma-informed care and response, grief, emerging adult mental health, first generation student experience and adjustment, identity development, interpersonal concerns, adjustment and life transitions. I am interested in supporting students in developing resiliency skills to support self efficacy and advocacy. I am also trained in Expressive Arts Therapy and Koru Mindfulness.
Approaches to Treatment: My approach is collaborative, relational, person-centered, and strength-based. I integrate self-compassion, mindfulness, knowledge of neuroscience and cognitive behavioral therapy including DBT and ACT into practice. Students often leave our sessions with skills for prioritizing mental well-being and bouncing back from life stressors.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
James Kane, LCSW
Care Manager/Staff Clinician
Additional Roles: Liaison to Residential Life
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Substance use; Grief and bereavement; Family and relationship difficulties; Depression and anxiety; Working with LGBTQ+ students; Students who are adjusting to life transitions/navigating academic barriers.
Theoretical Orientation: Collaborative and relational; Solution-focused approach; Motivational interviewing; Helping to empower the student.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: he/him/his
Jennifer Lawrence, LICSW
Staff Social Worker
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: College student mental health, suicide prevention and intervention, LGBTQ and identity, relationship issues, adjustment issues, depression and anxiety, grief and bereavement, trauma
Theoretical Orientation: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic, person-centered approach, improving distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Sevan Makhoulian, Ph.D.
Sam Nathan, PsyD
Xuhua Qin, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist and Multicultural Specialist
Additional Roles: Facilitator of the Connection: international student discussion group and for the Coping with Loss group, liaison to the International Center, presenter to workshops of “Decoding U.S. Culture,” “Lost in Translation,” “Secrets to Intercultural Friendship,” “Light at the end of Tunnel”
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: College student mental health; identity development and confusion; coping strategies to manage distress; working with international students, Asian American, immigrants and refugee, and non-traditional and minority students; cross-cultural adjustment, negotiation, balancing, and integration; interpersonal relationships; family of origin issues; grief and loss; sexual orientation; depression and anxiety
Theoretical Orientation: Integrative, person-centered, multicultural approach, CBT, mindfulness
Language(s) Spoken: Mandarin (Chinese), English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Sophie Ricks, LICSW
Erica Schonman, MPH, CHES
Deborah Siegel, Ph.D.
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Thelma Terrero, LICSW
Megan Tucker, Psy.D.
Staff Clinician
Additional Roles: Trans Care Team; LGBT Center liaison; Residential Life liaison; Facilitator of Trans at Tufts group and Self-Compassion workshops
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: I am a queer, white, femme (cis-ish) woman who specializes in working with queer, trans, and gender nonbinary students. I enjoy working with marginalized students to explore identity and process struggles related to privilege, power, and oppression, as well as being a generalist clinician for most concerns such as depression, anxiety, relationships, and trauma.
Approaches to Treatment: I approach treatment through lenses of gender affirmation, (fat) body liberation, anti-racism, and the belief that all students are worthy of love, belonging, and acceptance through self-compassion and ‘leaning into’ vulnerability. My treatment model focuses on 25-minute follow-up appointments to allow for wholehearted attention on what is most important to you, as well as to allow for greater flexibility during busy times when students need to reschedule or be seen more frequently.
Language Spoken: English
Andrew Yuen, Psy.D.
Staff Clinician
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: I help students manage concerns with anxiety, depression, emerging adulthood, relationship conflicts, grief & loss, family of origin issues, men’s issues, and more. I have a specific interest in working with international students, first-generation students, and graduate students. I enjoy helping people explore their identities (gender and sexuality, racial and ethnic, cultural, etc.).
Theoretical Orientation: I am a generalist clinician who draws from Person-Centered/Humanistic, Interpersonal, ACT, and DBT theories. I prioritize creating a safe, warm, and non-judgmental therapeutic space. I strive to be culturally informed in my work with all my students. My style emphasizes authenticity, compassion, and collaboration. I help students build coping skills and harness their existing strengths.
Personal Interests: I am interested in running, photography, and learning to cook vegan-friendly versions of my favorite recipes. I enjoy reading both American and world history, and science fiction. My favorite video game series are the original Mass Effect trilogy, Fire Emblem, and Legend of Zelda.
Languages Spoken: English
Aditi Ahlawat, Ph.D.
Post Doctoral Fellow
Additional Roles: Training for Ears for Peers, Outreach
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Trauma, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, relationship difficulties, family of origin related concerns, sexual orientation and gender identity development, working with international students and students of color.
Approaches to Treatment: I aspire to create a safe and welcoming space for my clients to examine their concerns openly and comfortably. My approach emphasizes a feminist-multicultural perspective to explore our identities and life experiences to facilitate a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationships. I also provide group psychotherapy and use interpersonal process and emotion focused interventions in my clinical work.
Personal Interests: Hiking and playing with my two dogs; reading fiction; cooking; traveling and spending time with my family.
Language(s) Spoken: English, Hindi and Urdu
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Melissa Morrison, LMHC, Psy.D.
Post Doctoral Fellow
Additional Roles: Training for Ears for Peers, Outreach
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: College, graduate, and non-traditional student mental health, stress, coping strategies, anxiety, identity development, LGBTQ+ identity development, sexual identity development, trauma, interpersonal relationships, and supporting those who are distrustful of counseling or have had negative experiences with mental health treatment.
Approaches to Treatment: My style is warm, collaborative, and transparent. I take an active role in session, utilize strengths-based and empowerment approaches, and tailor my style to each client. I believe that clients are their own experts and that it’s my job to identify areas of growth while also offering skills that may help manage distress. The techniques that most inform my practice are derived from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Humanistic Therapy.
Personal Interests: Baking desserts, time spent alone in the very early morning of the day, learning how to run, and my two Russian blue cats who keep me on my toes
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Damon Pryor, LMHC, Psy.D.
Post Doctoral Fellow
Additional Roles: Co-Facilitator for OASIS Student Group, Training for Ears for Peers, Outreach
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: African and Caribbean Mental Health, Multicultural Issues, Identity Development, Global Well-being, Trauma, Grief/Coping, and Transracial Adoption
Approaches to Treatment: I define my theoretical orientation as being a generalist. Additionally, I feel that working with people therapeutically is about meeting them where they are and joining with them to find their destination. They hold the answers within, and it is my job to help them locate, identify and utilize those answers to reduce their struggles.
Personal Interests: Sports, music, performance, cooking, comedy and more
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Prescribing Staff
Zara Konarski, PMHCNS, BC
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, Board Certified
Primary Role: Diagnostic assessment and evaluation for medication treatment; ongoing assessment and management of medication for a range of mental health problems; psychoeducation related to mental health problems, medications, and other treatments; consultation/support for students in crisis
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Developmental issues of late adolescence/early adulthood; concerns around emerging/evolving aspects of identity development and their various intersections for college-aged students and beyond; working with individuals that have been impacted by trauma; addressing family and relational concerns and the impact of this on mental health; and working with students that identify as LGBTQ+.
Theoretical Orientation: Relational and integrative approach to address biological, psychological, and social aspects of health and wellness, integrating skills-based and mindfulness work.
Language(s) Spoken: EnglishAngl
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Susan Mahoney, PMHCNS – BC
Adult Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, Board Certified
Primary Role: Diagnostic assessment and evaluation for medication treatment; ongoing assessment and management of medication for a range of mental health problems; education related to mental health problems, medications, and other treatments; consultation/support for students in crisis
Clinical Interests and Areas of Expertise: Developmental issues of late adolescence/early adulthood and the influence of social class and culture on the student’s experience; students who have experienced trauma/sexual assault, coping with both physical and mental health problems
Theoretical Orientation: Eclectic, integrating bio/psycho/social, relational, and mindfulness based approaches to treatment
Language(s) Spoken: English
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Priya Sehgal (Bio Coming Soon!)
Administrative Staff
Angel
Angel is an energetic pug/beagle mix who loves playing tug, taking long naps, and playing at the beach. She works with her human mom, Megan Tucker and visits Tufts CMHS on Thursdays.