Alumni Spotlight: Hira Kissana

Hira Kissana, a 2023 graduate of the Wright Institute’s Counseling Psychology Program, was born and raised in Vallejo, California. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Pakistan before their children were born and Hira grew up with very strong family bonds. “I had the greatest parents growing up,” she shared proudly. “My mother and father are my absolute heroes, and my siblings are my best friends.” Hira is the eldest daughter of the family, with one older brother and three younger sisters.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Maria Lamia

“Do the work that gives you the wisdom to ask the right questions,” advised Dr. Mary Lamia, faculty member in the Wright Institute’s Clinical Psychology Program. “Read all you can, discover what others are saying, and do not be afraid to critique it. Being informed is very important to our work.” Throughout her life, Dr. Lamia has demonstrated her steadfast determination in pursuing and sharing knowledge.

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Joshua Coleman

“​​Psychology is a great field and is always growing,” reflected Dr. Joshua Coleman, a 1989 graduate of the Wright Institute’s Clinical Psychology Program. “It’s impossible for us to learn everything that would be good for us to know, but we should try.” Since his time at the Wright Institute, Dr. Coleman has established himself as an expert in the field of family estrangement through his publications, media appearances, and work in private practice.

Congratulations to Lexie Thomas!

Lexie Thomas, a fourth year student in the Wright Institute's Clinical Psychology Program, won the Diversity Poster Award at the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology’s Annual Conference in Scottsdale, AZ last month.

According to the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, "this annual award recognizes the best poster presented at AACN on a diversity-related topic regardless of that individual’s status (e.g., trainee, faculty, etc.). The award winner will be chosen primarily based upon the quality of research and its likelihood to impact the fields of neuropsychology and diversity/multiculturalism."

Congratulations Lexie!

Obituary: Dr. Doris Allen

Dr. Doris Allen, a 1986 graduate of the Wright Institute's Clinical Psychology Program, passed away on June 11th in Oakland, California at the age of 97.

In their article honoring her life, the New York Times described Dr. Allen as "an Army intelligence analyst during the Vietnam War whose warning about the impending attacks in early 1968 by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces that became known as the Tet offensive was ignored by higher-ups."

Read the entire article here.

Congratulations to Mariana Rodriguez!

Mariana Rodriguez, a second year student in the Wright Institute's Clinical Psychology Program, won the Alameda County Psychological Association (ACPA) Graduate Student Dissertation Award this year. The award is "aimed at supporting graduate student dissertation research that promotes Multicultural issues and social justice."

Mariana has earned a cash prize from ACPA and a mention in the CPA Psychologist in the ACPA update blurb. Congratulations Mariana!

WI Graduate in the News

Adam Brown, a 2021 graduate of the Wright Institute's Counseling Psychology program, was featured this week in diaTribe: Making Sense of Diabetes. In the article, Brown discusses his book Bright Spots & Landmines, his plans to open a private practice this summer, and the mental health challenges faced by people with diabetes. Read more here.

Congratulations Dr. Keddy!

Dr. Philip Keddy, Adult Assessment faculty, gave a paper titled "Introversion and Extraversion in the Works of H. Rorschach and C.G. Jung" in a history symposium at the recent Inaugural R-PAS Multimethod Assessment Conference. The conference ran May 16-18, 2024, in Virginia Beach, VA.

Next year's conference will be in Portland, Oregon, easier for us on the West Coast!

WI Graduate in the News

Dr. Joshua Chow, a 2023 graduate of the Wright Institute's Clinical Psychology Program, was featured this week in the Daily Sundial. Dr. Chow is a post-doctoral counselor fellow at California State University, Northridge. In the article, Dr. Chow discusses his upbringing, intersectionality, and the development of his own identity. Read more here.

Faculty Spotlight: Professor Beth Greivel

“I was always interested in psychology, but didn’t give myself permission to follow that interest until after I started volunteering at a hotline,” shared Beth Greivel, a graduate of and current part-time core faculty member in the Wright Institute’s Counseling Psychology Program. “I found that weekly time was a highlight of my week; it was such an honor to talk to people who called in that I decided to make it my career.”

Professor Greivel grew up in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, where she lived with her parents and two older sisters. She attended public schools where both of her parents were teachers and coaches. “My family was active in the community and in our Catholic church,” Professor Greivel reflected. “My parents were married for over 50 years when my mom died and they had very strong values in charity, community, and education.” Her parents clearly passed those values on to their daughter.