Science representative
Dominique Chao, PsyD, Chair
Dominique Chao, PsyD, LP, (she, her, hers) is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. She carries dual appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She specializes in supporting patients with central nervous system injuries and illnesses. She completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Denver with a predoctoral internship at the Palo Alta Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Following her internship, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan in rehabilitation psychology and neuropsychology. Having moved from Thailand to the U.S. when she was 18, she has a strong passion for diverse, equitable, inclusive and belonging-based mentorship and supervision.
Elizabeth M. (Lizzy) Stuart, PhD, (she, her, hers) is a clinical psychologist licensed in California and currently a pediatric neuropsychologist for Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, California. Stuart earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, where her research focused on neuropsychological late effects in pediatric cancer survivors. In addition to her clinical work, she is an active researcher and mentor. Her current projects include leveraging artificial intelligence and virtual reality to enhance neuropsychological assessment and cognitive remediation. Stuart is passionate about equity and inclusion and is eager to use her role to represent early career psychologists in the field.
Clifton Berwise, PhD, (he, him, his) is a clinical psychologist who is licensed in the state of Delaware. He is currently a clinical strategy manager for digital content at Modern Health, a digital mental health company and an adjunct professor at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania. Prior to his role in digital mental health, he was a staff psychologist at the University of Delaware’s Center for Counseling and Student Development, where he provided individual and group therapeutic services for undergraduate and graduate students, while also supervising predoctoral interns and leading seminars for postdoctoral fellows. He earned his PhD in clinical psychology with a specialization in multicultural psychology in 2019 from the University of Rhode Island. He is the current divisions representative for APA’s Committee on Early Career Psychologists. His areas of expertise include treating emerging young adults with life transitions, addictions treatment for individuals and their families, addressing the psychological impacts of discrimination in Black populations, and digital mental health.
Ecclesia Savage, PhD, CPCS, LPC, NCC, (she, her, hers) is a practicing psychologist with a diverse background in counseling psychology, mental health counseling, and psychotherapy. In her current role as a staff psychologist at the Veterans Health Administration, Savage has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing evidence-based treatments to veterans in a primary healthcare setting utilizing approaches such as CBT, DBT, and ACT. She collaborates effectively with interdisciplinary teams and ensures affirming care for veterans in the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, as the owner and psychotherapist of Anchored Counseling LLC, she offers brief and long-term therapy, utilizing evidence-based treatment protocols for individuals experiencing PTSD, depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms.
Johanna M. deLeyer-Tiarks PhD, is an assistant professor and core faculty in the school-clinical child psychology PsyD and school psychology PhD programs at Pace University. She directs the Center for Education and Intervention Research. She earned her PhD in educational psychology at the University of Connecticut and holds dual master's degrees in both educational psychology and community psychology. deLeyer-Tiarks’s research centers on the development and investigation of evidence based interventions to promote positive behavioral, academic, social-emotional, and physical health outcomes. She is particularly interested in mind-body health and self-modeling interventions. Her other current research interests include the identification and remediation of academic disparities experienced by LGBTQ students during the high school to college transition period and psychometrics.
Ayoub Bouguettaya, PhD, is a social psychologist in Los Angeles. He holds a position as a research associate at Monash University, and also works at Meta. Bouguettaya earned his PhD in social health psychology from Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. He previously worked as a project scientist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an assistant professor of social psychology and social neuroscience at the University of Birmingham, UK. His research explores the social psychology of artificial intelligence, psychopathology, and health. He uses behavioral science to enact changes across a wide variety of fields. Alongside his professional work, he values student mentorship and public engagement.
Francesca Folio, PsyD, (she/her) is a primary care mental health integration psychologist at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida, and serves as an adjunct professor at National Louis University in Tampa. She earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Folio completed her predoctoral internship with the Centerstone Consortium at Winter Haven Hospital and her postdoctoral fellowship in health psychology at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital.