Counseling Staff
All counseling staff are psychologists trained as generalists with experience specific to university mental health. Doctoral training required to become a psychologist is extensive across areas of mental health concerns, interpersonal/family concerns, as well as issues pertaining to diverse groups and social justice. Please also read our Diversity & Inclusion Statement.
Dianne Aguero-Trotter, Ph.D.
Director
Education and Training: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Pre-doctoral internship with the NJ Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Interest Areas: Depression, suicide prevention, grief/loss, family of origin issues, eating disorders, first generation and acculturation issues, supervision and training. Fluent in Spanish.
Priti Shah, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Education and Training: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. Pre-doctoral Internship at University of Massachusetts Amherst, Counseling and Assessment Services. Postdoctoral Fellowship at Boston College, University Counseling Services.
Interest Areas: Trauma and loss, family/intergenerational violence, family of origin and relationship concerns, multicultural issues, microaggressions, acculturation and migration concerns, supervision and training.
Mary E. Kelly, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Outreach & Prevention
Education and Training: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Seton Hall University. Pre-doctoral internship at the VA NJ Healthcare System. Post-doctoral fellowship at Rutgers Health Services - CAPS.
Interest Areas: Anxiety, mindfulness/meditation, trauma, grief and loss, integrated health care, suicide prevention, and the psychology of gender.
Julie DiMatteo, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist/Referral Coordinator
Education and Training:Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Pre-doctoral internship at Northwell Health-Zucker Hillside Hospital. Post-doctoral fellowship at CBT/DBT Associates.
Interest Areas: Anxiety, depression, and emotion dysregulation, Autism Spectrum Disorder in college students, women’s mental health and trauma.
John Machalaba, Psy. D.
Staff Psychologist, IHS Campus
Education and Training: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University. Pre-doctoral internship at University of Rochester’s University Counseling Center. Post-doctoral fellowship at St. Joseph's University, Counseling and Psychological Services.
Interest Areas: Relationship and interpersonal difficulties, depression, anxiety, trauma, diversity and sexuality concerns, identity development, men's issues, and psychotherapy theory and training.
Rodea Montgomery, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist/Group Coordinator
Education and Training: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology from College of Saint Elizabeth. Pre-doctoral internship at Seton Hall University, Counseling and Psychological Services. Post-doctoral fellowship Drew University, Counseling and Psychological Services.
Interest Areas: Depression, anxiety, interpersonal difficulties, grief and loss, and identity development.
Chris Clemons, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
Education and Training: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University. Pre-doctoral Internship at VA NJ Healthcare System.
Interest Areas: Multicultural identity, complex and transgenerational trauma, interpersonal and relational issues, and mood disorders.
Kristina Vande Vrede, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist, Seton Hall Law School and South Orange Campus
Education and Training: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. Pre-doctoral internship with Youth Consultation Services in East Orange.
Interest Areas: Anxiety and life transitions, depression, perinatal mental health, religiosity and mental health, women’s issues, and interpersonal relationships.
Kathleen Prendergast, APN, Psychiatry
Consultant in Psychiatry
Education and Training: M.S. Nursing, Rutgers University, Board Certified Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Joyce Cito
Department Secretary, South Orange Campus
CAPS is also training center and we work with advanced doctoral students training to be psychologists, who are part of our team. Meet our current doctoral trainees:
Simon Miller, M.A. (pictured left)
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student
Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy
Seton Hall University
Marina Oganesova, M.A. (pictured center)
Doctoral Student / Adjunct Professor
Nathan Weiss Graduate College
Kean University
Pattric Davis, M.A. (pictured right)
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student
Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy
Seton Hall University