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President: Silvia Mazzula, Ph.D
Dr. Silvia L. Mazzula is assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the Department of Psychology. She received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University (BS and MA, The College of New Jersey; MPhil, Columbia University) and completed her formal clinical training at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey-UBHC Newark Campus. Dr. Mazzula’s research interests focus on multicultural competencies in research and practice and mental health/health disparities among Latino/a-Americans. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, predominantly servicing underserved and underrepresented populations. Dr. Mazzula is a native of Uruguay, residing in Morris County . She has been a Member of LPANJ since 2009 and served as Member at Large and editor of the LPANJ Bulletin.
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Past President: Aileen Torres, Ph.D
Dr. Aileen Torres is currently the Associate Director of Clinical Services at Youth Consultation Services (YCS). Dr. Torres represents LPANJ on New Jersey’s, Department of Children and Families, Advisory Group on Child Abuse and Neglect Mental Health Evaluation. Dr. Torres, a licensed clinical psychologist in NJ and Puerto Rico, is also in private practice in Montclair where she specializes in psychological assessments, mainly for immigration purposes. Her clinical and research interests include multicultural competency, bilingual assessment, sexual abuse, trauma and other clinical issues specific to Latino families in the United States.
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President Elect: Enmanuel Mercedes, MA
Enmanuel Mercedes is a doctoral candidate of Seton Hall University’s Counseling Psychology program. He completed his predoctoral internship training at the Department of Veterans Affairs-NY Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus. He is on course to completing his dissertation titled Diversity Among Latino/a College Student and its Impact on Student Organization Involvement. Enmanuel is currently working full-time as a level I psychologist at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center- NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. Enmanuel has been an active member of LPANJ since 2005 and has served as Treasurer and Member-at-Large in the past. Enmanuel is a native of the Dominican Republic and a resident of Newark, NJ since 1990.
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Treasurer: Dr. Sueli Petry, Ph.D
Dr. Sueli Petry is a psychologist and family therapist. She is on the faculty of The Multicultural Family Institute in Highland Park and UMDNJ in Newark, where she provides training in family therapy and cultural issues for mental health professionals. In her clinical practice, she works with children, adolescents and families at UMDNJ in Newark and private practice in Highland Park. Many of her clients are Latino immigrants. She has published on Brazilian families, bereavement issues for Latinos, and genograms. She is a co-author, with Monica McGoldrick of Genograms: Assessment and Interventions (3rd Edition, 2008).
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Secretary: Dr. Daniel Cruz, Ph.D
Dr. Daniel Cruz is a recent graduate of Seton Hall University’s Counseling Psychology program. He completed his predoctoral internship training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Child and Adolescent Services. Prior to his doctoral and internship training experiences, Dr. Cruz achieved a master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from Rutgers University. His dissertation and research interests include health disparities, physiological and health related issues related to race-related stress in Latino and African-American communities, and trauma. He currently serves as Board Secretary and has served other roles in LPANJ which includes Member-at-Large and coordinator of student programming.
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Member at Large: Dr. Frances A. Melendez, Ph.D
Dr. Frances A. Melendez is a licensed clinical psychologist in the State of New York. She is a graduate of the College of Staten Island and received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Graduate School of the City University of New York. Dr. Meléndez has extensive and ground breaking clinical experience working with adults and children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. Her career has put her in the forefront of HIV/AIDS mental health issues and her work has been the focus of a New York Times article, a documentary and several media interviews. Dr. Meléndez has introduced long and short-term therapy to at-risk populations that have traditionally refused mental health services. As the Associate Director of the Rehabilitation Medicine/Traumatic Brain Injury Program at Bellevue Hospital she led a pain management and monolingual women’s self-empowerment group, developed and implemented staff training programs, in addition to administering neuropsychological assessments. Dr. Meléndez is an active presenter at regional and national psychology conferences. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the National Latino Psychology Association for Hispanic Mental Health Professionals, American Mental Health Counselors Association, NYMHCA and NYSPA, where she also sits on their executive committee on addiction. Dr. Meléndez joined the College of Staten Island/CUNY as Deputy Director of the Masters of Arts in Mental Health Counseling Program May 17, 2010.
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Member at Large: Daniel Jose Gaztambide, PsyM, MA
Daniel Jose Gaztambide is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology, Rutgers University. He received a masters degree in psychiatry and religion in 2009 from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University, where he was exposed to Latin American Liberation Psychology as a social justice framework for clinical and community psychology. Reflecting this background, his writing and clinical work focuses on spirituality and resilience, addressing microaggressions in psychotherapy, trauma and substance abuse in ethnic minority communities, psychotherapy integration, and bilingual therapy and supervision. Daniel is a fellow of APA's Minority Fellowship Program, through which he engages in public policy work related to trauma-informed care with marginalized communities. He has served as a student coordinator for the GSAPP-Rutgers Committee on Diversity, and is a former chair of the Hispanic Organization of Professional Psychology Students (HOPPs).
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