Staff

Riddhi Sandil, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Practice and Program Coordinator of the Ed.M. Program in Psychological Counseling at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Sandil received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa in 2008 and has been continually licensed as a Psychologist since 2009. Dr. Sandil's scholarly interests are influenced by multiculturalism and social advocacy. Her research and clinical interests include minority stress, LGBTQ issues in counseling, counseling expectations of South Asian populations and complex trauma and its impact on women's well being. Additionally, Dr. Sandil serves on the boards of the Association of Women, Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council, and is the co-found of the Sexuality, Women and Gender Project.

As Co-Director of the Winter Roundtable, Dr. Sandil is excited to continue with the social justice commitment of the field of Counseling Psychology!

Gregory J. Payton, Ph.D. is a Lecturer in the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology of Teachers College, Columbia University.  Dr. Payton received his Master of Education degree from Harvard University in Human Development and Psychology and completed his doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University in Counseling Psychology.  Dr. Payton’s clinical, teaching and research interests include the following: Identity development, Risk and Resiliency within LGBTQ populations; HIV/AIDS Stigma and Access to Care; Health Disparities among Marginalized Populations; Multicultural Competency; and Evidence-Based Practice. Additionally, Dr. Payton has written on issues of substance abuse, harm reduction and gay/lesbian parenting.  Dr. Payton is also a licensed psychologist in private practice in New York City.   

As Co-Director of the Winter Roundtable, Dr. Payton is excited to connect scholars, practitioners and students in the fields of education and psychology while advancing the values of multicultural competency and social justice.  

Aaron Samuel Breslow is a fourth year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Teachers College. He carries with him ten years of experience in HIV prevention and care, as well as a fierce passion for social justice grounded in queer theory, feminism, and anti-racist ally activism. Aaron's work is an intersection of his research interests in HIV criminalization, minority stress, and community-led psychosocial intervention. He is currently fulfilling a clinical externship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Ongoing projects Aaron contributes to include investigations of: transgender minority stress and resilience; HIV/AIDS microaggressions; queer men’s Grindr use and subsequent body shame and internalized racism; and womanist-identified men of color in Counseling Psychology.

As Co-Coordinator of the Winter Roundtable, Aaron is excited to continue the push for intersectional research and activism in Counseling Psychology.

 

Kenya Crawford, is a masters student in Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Kenya received her Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with minors in Psychology, Sexuality, and Gender Studies from the Pennsylvania State University. Furthermore, Kenya is a research assistant in the Stigma, Identity, and Intersectionality lab conducting research on racism within LGBTQ communities and heterosexism in communities of color. In addition to this position, Kenya interns at the Kull Initiative for Psychotherapy and serves as the Co-Director for the Sexuality, Women, and Gender Project.

As the Co-Coordinator for the Winter Roundtable, Kenya hopes to bridge the gap between scholarly discourse within academic institutions and community activists. As leaders in the fields of psychology and education our collaboration has the potential to further the work regarding multicultural competence.

Elizabeth (Liz) Geiger. Is a third year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Teachers College. She earned an M.A. & Ed.M from Teachers College in Mental Health Counseling and earned a BA from Muhlenberg College with a major in Psychology and a minor in Women's Studies. Most of her work, both clinical and academic, is shaped largely through Feminist, Multicultural, and Queer Theory. Liz’s research interests focus broadly on the life experiences of marginalized groups within a Minority Stress framework. She is particularly interested in research working with survivors of sexual and relational violence, individuals with learning disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community. Clinically, Liz has worked in college counseling, community mental health, and hospitals settings working with diverse populations.

As a co-coordinator of the Winter Roundtable, Liz is excited to provide a space for social justice and multiculturally oriented professionals and students to unite, inspire one another, and promote change.

 

Becca Semel is a third year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She earned an M.S.Ed from the University of Pennsylvania in Counseling and Mental Health Services, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan. Becca is a member of the Social Cognition and Career Lab at TC. Her research interests include career development, cognition and motivation, Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), and child/adolescent development, all with diverse populations. Clinically, Becca has worked in community mental health, a middle school, and in college counseling, and hopes to continue working with adolescents in the future.

As a co-coordinator of the Winter Roundtable, Becca is excited to work with an incredible team to bring this special conference to life and hopes to engage as many students and clinicians as possible in the unique social justice work that happens during the WRT.