Southwestern College Alumni

Welcome to the Southwestern College Alumni page.  Enjoy catching up with our graduates who are working to transform consciousness through the helping professions.  Please visit the Alumni Lounge to find alumni profiles, photo gallery and useful resources.  Learn how you can support Southwestern College to make a difference in the world by visiting our Donations page.  Your contributions to Southwestern College are tax-deductible.

Alumni Updates

08 Brian Miller and his wife welcomed their first child, Sebastian, last summer to their home in Albuquerque, NM. Brian is quite busy with a private massage therapy practice; a private counseling practice; subcontract counseling for drug and alcohol addiction clients and, in addition, he is a Certified Problem Gambling Counselor working with at-risk adolescents. Brian is finishing a 2-yr certification process in order to provide Somatic Transformation, which uses the latest research in neurobiology and trauma treatment. www.koipondcounseling.com Photography and travel round out his life.

Rachael Patoray returned to Oregon and is now an Outpatient Therapist with Albertina Kerr, where she had completed her internship. Rachael works with 3 different programs, ages 3 to 5 in an early intervention program, ages 6 and up, as well as adolescents to age 18, often seeing them in their homes.

Lily Rossman greets from Sonoma, CA, where she lives with her two daughters and life partner, Jonny. Her internship (new counselors in CA are interns) is at the Lomi Psychotherapy Clinic in Santa Rosa. She enjoys being a part of a great community of new therapists and is happy that it specializes in Somatic therapy - somatic trainings every week, mindfulness meditation, couples, group, etc. She feels continual growth, both in learning and as a therapist.

Sara Skowronski moved to Maui last fall.  She and her husband have opened North Shore Arts & Healing Center: www.northshorearts-healingcenter.org They are also enjoying the richness of parenthood with their daughter, Isabelle.

07 Susan Arones moved to S. California in Nov. 2008, after living in the Princeton NJ area for two years.  During that time, she conducted seven internships, graduated from SWC, worked as a counselor at a domestic violence agency and served as Treasurer of the NJ Art Therapy Association. Susan’s focus in now to obtain licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), to find employment or volunteer employment, to develop a professional network with other counselors, and to enjoy the sun and surf.  Susan offered to share knowledge about navigating California's challenging licensure waters with faculty members, alumni and students.   

Nicholas Brown is still working as a therapist at The Life Link in Santa Fe, where he also teaches Anger Management and Core Addictions Treatment classes. In addition, he taught Eco-psychology at College of Santa Fe in 2008 and is now teaching English at Santa Fe Community College in the Developmental Studies Program.

Keadron Finn resides in Santa Fe, NM.  She is a therapist for the New Mexico Center for Christian Counseling in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Wish her luck as she is studying for her last board exam, which will be this summer.  Keadron is looking forward to receiving her licensure. 

Wendy Goodman graduated in the Masters in Counseling program and recently received licensure as a Substance Abuse Counselor (LADAC).  Her main work is at Equest Counseling Center in Pojoaque, NM which offers creative approaches to counseling. Wendy leads groups and individual therapy in substance abuse, court mandated situations, relationships, abuse, and grief and loss. In addition, she is a counselor through Youthworks in the Santa Fe Public Schools where she teaches life skill classes, and gives individual and group therapy.

Ishwari Sollohub has a private practice in Santa Fe’s South Capitol district, seeing adults and couples. She also facilitates an adult grief group at Gerard's House, a grief center for children and their families. In addition, Ishwari offers pet loss support groups. She recently made a presentation on Straw Into Gold: Grief as a Window into Personal Transformation, at the 2009 conference of NM Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling (NMASERVIC). 

Darrell "Spence"  Spencer works as a therapist with at-risk youth and their families at Casa Mia Ranch in Silver City, NM, which specializes in equine-assisted and adventure-based experiential therapy.

Michelle Taylor is a therapist at the Utah Health and Human Rights Project, in Salt Lake City, UT.  She will be living and working at a silent meditation retreat center in Italy for 3 months beginning in August.

Dawn Woodring lives in Albuquerque, NM where she is a Trauma Consultant at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, on the UNM campus.  Dawn works primarily with survivors of homicide, providing individual and group support.  

06 Carrie May Ezell now lives in Chattanooga, TN.  She is President of the TN Art Therapy Association and is building her own private practice, Expressive Art Therapy Consulting.  Carrie works for ProFamily and provides therapy in client’s homes.  In October the TNATA will be holding their 1st Art Therapy Conference ever to be held in Chattanooga. www.onlinetata.org

Laura Michaels is in the process of moving to Philadelphia from Ilfeld, NM where she’s been living.

Andrea (Kaplan) Perez is with Jane Addams Hull House in Island Lake, IL (just outside of Chicago.  She works with children between ages 4 and 12 who are in foster care with sibling groups of 4 or more. A grant enabled them to hire Andrea to develop an Expressive Art Therapy program, which she could not pass up! Her son is now four years old and, last summer, Andrea married and now has an eight year old daughter as well.  She has expanded her jewelry business to the Internet www.DreamScapesbyap.com She misses Santa Fe like CRAZY!

Misty N. Peterson and her family are currently living in Asheville, NC.  Misty recently earned her LPC in North Carolina, and is now working as a therapist.  Misty and her husband Scott are the proud parents of a beautiful 3 year old son, Rio.  Both she and her husband work at CooperRiis, supporting adults with mental illness, through a recovery oriented approach that addresses spirit, mind and body.

Heartsong Turnbull and Joshua Farmer were married September 20, 2008. They’re living in Oklahoma City and both work at Eagle Ridge Institute as counselors. Their daughter, Harper, is now two years old and very fun!

05 Denise Brown has been an Art Therapist for Kansas City Hospice for a little over three years, working with patients of all ages and also in bereavement.  All of the KCH counselors organize an annual grief weekend/camp in the fall that helps many families in the area work with their losses. As part of this experience, Denise facilitates a family art therapy session that contributes to family communication and expression.  With her cat, Pumpkin, she continues to live in Overland Park, Kansas near her "grown-up" children.  Denise is also learning a variety of healing modes and has plans to develop a space to practice.

Christy Davis is happy to share that she is getting married this June in Maine.  She continues her work in Bellevue Hospital's Emergency Department in New York City while also building a steadily growing private practice in a great space in the West Village.

Barbara Ann DeLuca would like to announce that, in December 2008, she celebrated her one-year work anniversary at the New Mexico Women’s Correctional Facility in Grants, NM. 

Rosemary Eads moved to the Denver area and is now working in a private practice at the Women's Wellness Center in Parker, Colorado. She specializes in trauma release using EMDR, EFT, Gestalt Therapy and Hypnotherapy. She also travels to Santa Fe monthly to see clients at Santa Fe Sage Counseling Center.

Joyce Erickson is a creative therapist at a hospital in Hartford, CT. She works with groups comprised of children and adolescents, ages 6-18. Joyce is a Reiki Master, a certified pastoral counselor and she is working personally with a shaman.  She is interested in alternative healing methods and plans to pursue those areas of study. 

Kelly McDowell is partnering in a Santa Fe, NM spa, Tranquility, that features Floatation Tanks (promotes relaxation). Kelly relayed how the bodywork she does is greatly informed by her education at SWC. She continues to be involved in dance, movement, the inversion swing and also has begun learning trapeze. On another note, Kelly continues to evolve and work on herself and enjoy her two talented, beautiful children who are now 13 and 16.

Lorrie Ogren is currently working full time on wonderful horse ranch called 'Ride To Pride' in Las Vegas, NM.  She is also a practitioner of Art, Play and Equine Therapy with children ages 3-13. Lorrie is also learning to ride horses and utilize them in therapy with the kids. She will be getting her LPCC this summer. 

Heather (Rhodes) Aviles has started working in private practice with Rago and Associates in Naperville Il. as their Art Therapist. She and her husband enjoy every minute of parenting Frankie (5) and twins Amber (1 1/2) and Bailey (1 1/2).  A new baby boy is due in July. Heather is very excited to work in the field as an art therapist and feels blessed to work with one of the leading doctors (Maria Rago) in the eating disorder field.

Lucas Rowley is a mental health therapist at a tribal health corporation in Alaska. He finds art therapy in Alaska is very exciting as there are only a handful of art therapists. Lucas’ focus has been on using spiritual/cultural aspects of counseling with working with Alaskan Native clients, and he attributes this to the studies and direction he took at Southwestern College. Lucas recently presented a workshop at the 2008 AATA conference on the Native American calendar stick, focusing on art making and indigenous knowledge. On a family note, his son Aiden is now 41/2 and very healthy. They have a new daughter, born in 2008, named Audrey Slana Dawson-Parker. 

04 Margo Churchill lives in Santa Fe, working with individuals with developmental disabilities.  She loves her work and invites the opportunity to get together with alumni and classmates.

Beatriz “Trixie” Pujol has been working as a volunteer in Kitui, Kenya since Nov. 2008 with VSO, Volunteer Services Overseas, www.vsocan.org She is a program advisor at a hostel housing over 100 children with vision impairments (ages 4 into early 20’s). They are integrated into two local primary schools. There is also a nursery/early mobility program where the kids first attend. Trixie is thrilled to be living in Africa, fulfilling a life long dream to live and work there.  Blessings are felt along with the many trials. She sends out regular updates and eventually hopes to start a blog.

Jenna Viscaya resides in Albuquerque, working as a Behavior Support Consultant with persons with developmental disabilities, seeing private psychotherapy clients (specializing in young adults), and doing theater (currently doing a Lorca children's play at the Vortex). She leads poetry groups through the UNM Arts-in-Medicine program at the University Psychiatric Center and has just published a poem. Her 21 year-old daughter is in London studying Anthropology (and the empty nest is just fine). Jenna is studying modern psychoanalytic theories at UNM with Jeff Katzman and is in Jungian analysis.

03 Jennifer Albright, MA, ATR, LPC/MHSP added her most recent licensure in February. Living in Memphis, TN with her 2 dogs (both rescue pups) and working with a variety of organizations, she divides her time between the YCAP/ YMCA program, providing art therapy for at risk boys; Friends for Life, an art therapy group for adults living with HIV/AIDs; Transformation Center, groups/ individuals with women with eating disorders; CMHC, groups/ individuals with adults with chronic mental illness; Dixon Gallery and Gardens, running art therapy groups with Exceptional Foundation--clients with developmental disabilities, beginning a teen program.  In her spare time, Jennifer is still creating artwork.

Karen Kral, LPCC, and Mark Lersch, LPCC, are enjoying life in Santa Fe, NM.  Karen has a private practice and also offers five-day intensive workshops called Inner Bonding. Clients worldwide learn to connect with their spiritual guidance and with the voice and feelings of the child within, helping them learn to deeply love themselves (www.innerbonding.com). Mark is the Clinical Manager for Santa Fe's newest Intensive Outpatient Program for addiction recovery, Focus on Recovery and works with former SWC instructor Liz Cervio. In addition, Mark has a private practice, with clients who have trauma and/or addictions. On a personal note, Mark earned his Blackbelt degree in Aikido in 2008. 

Mary Ellen O'Leary was voted Member Counselor of the Year (2009) by New Mexico Association for Spirituality, Ethics and Religious Values in Counseling for her service on the NMASERVIC Board. She is currently participating on the state level in the ongoing development of integrating spiritual elements into counseling, a project of the American Counseling Association. She is in private practice in Albuquerque, using somatic based psychotherapy as the foundation to her work. She is also teaching Spiritual Protection for counselors, bodyworkers, teachers and anyone who works with people. www.insidetherapy.com

Claudia M. Phillips has made Santa Fe her home since 1986 and graduated from SWC in June of 2003. She now serves the greater Santa Fe community as a licensed agent with New York Life Insurance and Annuity Company. 

Niccole Toral (03 alum) and her partner, Tod DiCecco, (05 alum) are living in Santa Fe, NM. Niccole is a Project Director at Santa Clara Indian Pueblo for a program called Strengthening Native Families. It delivers substance abuse and mental illness prevention, treatment and aftercare services to the pueblo of Santa Clara. Niccole's program incorporates Cultural Mentors, the keepers of tradition who impart knowledge to help the village strengthen their cultural ties for restoring balance. Tod is in private practice. He and Niccole are also in the process of forming a group practice called Earth Spirit Awakenings, focusing on earth based ceremonies, indigenous healing, and traditional counseling services. In addition, Tod is a micaceous clay potter, creating hand-built pieces used for cookware. 

Sherry (Thompson) Tripodi and her husband welcomed their second son, Francesco, in March of 2008.  They live in Santa Fe, NM where Sherry is currently staying home to raise their boys.

02 Lon Rankin has an article in the June issue of Natural Awakenings (see page 24). 

01 Chad Reznicek is currently an Assistant Administrator at Rancho Valmora in Sapello, NM. Johanna (Buckley) Reznicek is a Clinical Supervisor at Team Builders Counseling services. Chad and Johanna currently have 2 children, Aliya (age 3) and Tarek (4 months). They continue to grow in their professional fields and help teach others.

00 Judy Branham graduated with a Grief Certificate and still lives in Albuquerque.  She is now a Social Worker in the inpatient geriatric psych unit at Lovelace Medical Center.

97 Denise Elizabeth Stone now lives in beautiful La Grande, Oregon, since her husband retired. Their kids are grown and on their own and she enjoys two granddaughters and 6 step-grandsons. Denise is now a full time artist getting quite a bit of local interest. Her psychology background is very present in her art: www.therowdygoddess.com Jumping into art was a big goal as she continues to study, paint, and explore her artist voice. Denise’s painting, shown here, is entitled, Sometimes She Dreamed of Flying.

Marcia Wolff has published a book of poems, Frictions Becoming Pearl: a Slow Awakening. Marcia lives primarily in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and recently had a showing of her collage paintings and a book signing of her poetry. Marcia holds an intention to inspire through beauty and focus on feminine energy. She is very excited about the new SWC by-line, which focuses on Transforming Consciousness through Education. This summer Marcia will be attending a conference in Vidrassco, Italy on the Sacred Feminine and the Black Madonna.

94 David Riedesel returned to the Land of Enchantment in December 2008, moving to Albuquerque. His wife and 8 year old daughter will join him in August. Until then, David has a close relationship with Southwest Airlines. He has recently begun working at The Attachment Healing Center in Albuquerque, working with kids 3 - 18 and their families. Attachment issues are gaining more recognition and David is impressed with the depth of understanding and the degree of success the center is having. In closing, David shared his continuing commitment to expanding consciousness.

Ulla Pedersen, as the Founder and Director of Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary, shared that she frequently gives thanks for her education at Southwestern College. The strong curriculum and excellent teachers were a great preparation for her work in senior animal care and the challenging situations behind the scenes. Ulla says she couldn't have done this without Southwestern College!  www.kindredspiritsnm.org

Paul Romano and his family live in southwestern Virginia.  Paul has just released a children’s book entitled, My Friend Within, with a central image that emerged in the Archetypal Theory course while at SWC. In addition to establishing a publishing company and working as a counselor in a variety of settings, Paul credited his SWC experience as instrumental in awakening creative abilities and the willingness to live for his vision – creating artwork for his children’s book, developing effective counseling-like group and individual activities and facilitating meaningful discussions between children and adults.

89 Connie Cory fondly recalled that her primary teachers were Robert Waterman, Marylou Butler, and Katherine Ninos. Since graduating and moving back to Denver, Connie has been in private practice as a mental health counselor for the past 18 years. She loves her work, plans to continue 'forever', and is grateful for an education that taught her a transformational model which she’s intuitively used both personally and professionally. Most of her referrals are from current and former clients who say she 'works differently' than many therapists. That she attributes to SWC and her teachers, knowing that grads do become 'change agents' in the world.  

88 Stuart Cline, LPCC, LPAT, LADAC, graduated in art therapy. Stuart, his wife and two children (ages 4 and 18 months) recently moved into their first house in Albuquerque. Life is really good and, over a year ago, Stuart became a Behavioral Health Counselor at Presbyterian Kaseman hospital, working in the Adult Intensive outpatient program for chemical dependency. Stuart is also trained as an acu-detox specialist (using acupuncture needles to assist with chemical dependency detox in a treatment setting). He also has a private practice, specializing in treatment of compulsive gambling.

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