Meet the Team!
Michelle G. Mullen, MS, CRC, CPRP is the developer of HYPE and Principle Investigator of the NIDILRR funded Promoting Careers Among Transition-Age Youth and Young Adults with Psychiatric Conditions. She is with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and was formerly an Assistant Professor for the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers University and the Director of CSPR. She received her Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with a specialization in Psychiatric Rehabilitation from Boston University and intends to complete her PhD in Social Welfare from the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Michelle has lead multiple research and development projects evaluating the effectiveness of various interventions for college students with psychiatric conditions. Her current interests and studies focus on standardizing services supporting college students with mental health conditions (e.g. Supported Education); evaluating the effectiveness of various educational supports; testing a cognitive remediation intervention for college students; and evaluating the services that are effective for young people to develop meaningful, long-term careers. Michelle has developed of career services, by blending SE & SEd, in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. She has also assisted in developing first episode psychosis programs in various states. Michelle is a seasoned consultant who has provided training and technical assistance to organizations, institutions of higher education, counties, states, and other countries on career services, psychiatric rehabilitation, service design, program development, and systems change.
Amy Banko, MS, CPRP is a contributor to the HYPE manual and a HYPE trainer. She is a Faculty Instructor at the Integrated Employment Institute (IEI) within the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers University. Here she provides Supported Employment (SE) and Supported Education (SEd) training/technical assistance to programs serving individuals with mental health conditions throughout New Jersey. Amy obtained both her Bachelor’s degree is Psychiatric Rehabilitation and her Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Rutgers University. Prior to joining the HYPE team, Amy accumulated over ten years’ experiences providing direct SE/SEd services in addition to supervising one of New Jersey’s innovative community-based Career Service programs serving those with mental health conditions.
Maryann Davis, PhD is a Co-Investigator on the HYPE project. She is also a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and director of the Systems and Psychosocial Advances Research Center (SPARC), and of the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ACR). Dr. Davis is an internationally recognized expert of services for transition age youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions. Her work also emphasizes the development of evidence-based interventions that improve this population’s transition into adulthood.
Dr. Marsha Langer Ellison, PhD is a Co-Director of the HYPE project. Dr. Ellison is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Currently she serves as a Deputy Director for the Learning and Working During the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ACR) funded by the federal National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. The Transitions ACR conducts research on interventions that speed the recovery and community integration of youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions. Dr. Ellison was a co-Director of a contract with the federal office of the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation on the state of practice in supported education. She is also developing supported education services for Veterans at the Social and Community Reintegration Research Program at the Bedford MA Veterans Hospital.
Marcela Hayes, B.S., B.A., is a Research Project Director for the HYPE project. She also works at the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ACR) at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Her research interests include: mental health service systems for young adults and adapting and testing supported employment and education models to improve the mental and behavioral health of individuals across their lifespan. She is also interested in researching and understanding the implications for mindfulness practice and training for all ages.
Katie Holloway, B.A., is a Research Assistant for the HYPE project. After struggling with her own mental health diagnoses since she was a teenager, she was inspired to study Psychology so that she could help other young people experiencing similar difficulties. Katie recently graduated from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and is currently pursuing her PhD in School Counseling. When she’s not working, Katie enjoys spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews, her fiancé Stephen, and their dog Jelly Bean.
Sean Karyczak is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He received a double major in his undergraduate studies in Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Kean University joint program. He works on several supported education research projects promoting education and vocational goals for individuals with severe mental illness. Sean’s other research interest includes the impact of exercise and wellness on the lives of those living with a mental health diagnosis. In his free time he enjoys playing hockey and mountain biking.
Kathryn Sabella, PhD (candidate) is the Principal Investigator for the HYPE Feasibility Pilot. She is also a Project Director at the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ACR). Kathryn is a PhD candidate in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her research and teaching interests are in sociology of mental health with a particular emphasis on mental illness during young adulthood, public perceptions of mental illness, and mental health disparities. Kathryn’s dissertation aims to provide a longitudinal understanding of the employment and educational activities of youth and young adults with mental health conditions by interviewing young adults (ages 25-30), including young parents, who have experienced a life disruption (e.g., hospitalization, leave of absence from school) due to their mental health condition.
Brittany Stone, MS, CRC, CPRP is a HYPE trainer and a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers University where she is also a PhD student studying Counselor Education and Supervision. As part of the implementation team, she supports new HYPE specialists in developing competencies to engage and assist young people in developing and achieving career goals. In addition to her work on HYPE, she provides training and technical assistance on career services (Supported Employment and Supported Education), first episode psychosis, campus-based accessibility services, and psychiatric rehabilitation. Prior to joining the department, Brittany worked in community mental health providing support to adults and young adults in several program modalities. Her experience as a practitioner lead to her interest in shaping and informing practice especially around access and completion of postsecondary education for people with mental health conditions.
Rachel Stone, B.A., is a Research Coordinator for the HYPE project. She also works for the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ACR), part of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In this role she supports research activities that improve education and employment outcomes for young adults with mental health conditions. Rachel has her B.A. in Sociology from Clark University, with a concentration in Law and Society.
Judy L. Thompson, PhD is a Co-Investigator on the HYPE project. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, School of Health Related Professions, at Rutgers University. Dr. Thompson received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburg in 2006. Through her work with the Center for the Study and Promotion of Recovery (CSPR), she aims to contribute to the development and evaluation of interventions that improve functional outcomes, particularly in the areas of work and school, among individuals with mental health conditions.