The 37th Annual Teachers College Winter Roundtable

Dr. Cruz is a bilingual Licensed Psychologist and Diversity/Social Justice Consultant in the Denton/Dallas/Fort Worth area. She is currently Associate Director and Director of Training at Texas Woman’s University Counseling & Psychological Services. Additionally, she provides private consultation and trainings for institutions, businesses, and individuals who aim to improve their perspectives and inclusion within their organizations. Dr. Cruz completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Florida International University in Miami, Florida and received her doctoral degree from the Center for Psychological Studies at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is a diversity and gender specialist, with particular specialty in LGBTQ populations and racial/ethnic minorities. Dr. Cruz’s professional interests include social justice training, teaching/mentorship, the psychology of gender, identity issues, multicultural psychology, cultural/spiritual development, existential theory and the impact of the stigma of psychotherapy.

MacArthur Award winner Lisa Delpit is the recently retired Felton G. Clark Professor of Education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The author of Other People’s Children and “Multiplication Is for White People,” and co-editor (with Joanne Kilgour Dowdy) of The Skin That We Speak (all published by The New Press), she lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Delpit is editor of a new work, "Teaching When the World Is on Fire," which speaks to the contentious world today and the necessary conversations we all must have about it. 

Sam Johnson, PhD, is a former chair of the Psychology Department at Baruch College, a counseling psychologist, and professor of Psychology. He sits on the President's Cabinet as the chair of the Baruch College Faculty Senate. His research and teaching interests are in culturally competent clinical training and applied psychological training for intercultural competence. His academic career spans over 40 years of service at many institutions, most recently at Teachers College Columbia University. While at Teachers College, Dr. Johnson pioneered multicultural curriculum development for professional psychologists at Columbia University. He is the founder of the Teachers College Winter Roundtable on Cross-Cultural Psychology and Education, the longest-running professional conference devoted to issues of diversity. 

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.

Charlene Araba Bernasko is a diasporic Ghanaian Torontonian, currently a second year international student pursuing her Masters Degree in both Education and Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University.

She is an African feminist, anti-violence advocate, community educator, and equity and social justice advocate. She completed her undergraduate degree double majoring in Global Studies and Women Studies and further pursued her Social Services Worker program, graduating with honors and becoming a registered social service worker with the Ontario College of Social Service Workers and Social Workers. Charlene is a lifelong learner, and with a decade of experience working with multiple community groups in the Greater Toronto Area on the impact of violence in the community and with survivors of violence and marginalized and vulnerable population groups has allowed her to further explore the ways in which education and the arts is a transformative tool and means of social justice making.

As a co-coordinator of the Winter Roundtable, Charlene is excited to be a part of a scholarly platform that brings together a community of learners and educators in discussing, sharing and learning from each other while simultaneously encouraging each other in the various ways in which we continue to RISE UP in working towards systemic and social change.