Our Staff

The Furman Counseling Center staff is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and interns in these fields.   As a group, we represent a wide variety of professional interests and specializations, including multicultural issues, wellness, sexual identity, women's issues, eating disorders, and social justice. All of us are committed to providing services in ways that recognize, respect, and value the diversity of Barnard students.

Click on a name or scroll down for a short biography.

Mary Commerford, Ph.D., Director
Julia Sheehy, Ph.D., Associate Director
Hilary Colenso, Ph.D
Elizabeth Hantman, M.D.
Giselle Harrington, M.Ed.
Joseph Reynoso, Ph.D.
Forbes Singer, Ph.D
Yoko Takebayashi, Ph.D.
                                                                                         Karen Winkler, Ph.D.,RN

Post Doctoral Fellow:
Afiya Mangum,
M.S.

Doctoral Intern:
Emily Bly, M.S.

Doctoral Externs:
Rashidah Bowen, M.Ed.                                                                                         Brenda Mejia, M.A.                                                                                                 Tasha Prosper, M.A.                                                                                            
Jessica Whitney, M.Ed.

Social Work Intern:
Sarah Ward, B.A.

Office Coordinator/Admin. Asst.
Norinda del Fierro, B.A.

Receptionist/Admin.Asst.
Cachaundra Tarvin


Mary Commerford, Ph.D., Director, Furman Counseling Center
mcommerf@barnard.edu

Education History:

  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, Fordham University

  • M.Dir. Ministry, Yale University Divinity School

  • A.B. Theology, Philosophy, University of Notre Dame

Professional Interest and Specialties:

  • Eating Disorders
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Spirituality/Religion
  • Women and Young Adult concerns

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Julia Sheehy, Ph.D., Associate Director, Furman Counseling Center
jsheehy@barnard.edu

Professional Interest and Specialties:

  • Coordinator of Barnard's Eating Disorders Treatment Team
  • Director of the Counseling Center's training program

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Hilary Colenso, Ph.D., Director of the Alcohol and Substance Awareness Program
hcolenso@barnard.edu

Education History:

  • Ph.D. New York University
  • M.Sc. University of Oxford, England
  • B.A. University of Leicester, England

Professional Interest and Specialties:

  • Interested in a broad range of women’s psychological and relationship issues including the loss and transitions, affective disorders, substance use, trauma and abuse.

Research Interests:

  • Women’s Substance Abuse and Treatment
  • Works in the Counseling Center

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Giselle Harrington, M.A., Ed.M.
 

Education History:

  • Teachers College M.A. English Education
  • Ed.M. Counseling

Professional Interest and Specialties:

  • Specialty in issues of loss and bereavement, coordinated group "Coping and Loss" for 15 years
  • Interested in issues of diversity and cultural implications for therapy
  • Member of Eating Disorders Treatment team from a psycho-educational perspective

Research Interests:

  • Interested in the mind and body connection and how our mental state affects the body and vice-versa

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Joseph Reynoso, Ph.D., Staff Psychologist, Furman Counseling Center
jreynoso@barnard.edu

Education History:

  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York

  • B.A. English/Psychology, Rutgers University

Professional Interests:

  • Romantic relationships

  • Development difficulties of emerging adulthood

  • Applied psychoanalytic studies (film, literature, sports)

Research Interests:

  • Personality disorders treatment

  • Interpersonal effects of ADHD

  • Applying psychodynamic principles to working with underserved populations

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Forbes Singer, Ph.D
msinger@barnard.edu

Education History:

  • Ph.D, Clinical Psychology, Graduate Center at the City University of New York

  • M.Ed., Human Development and Psychology, Harvard University Graduate School of Education

  • M.B.A., Harvard Business School

  • B.A, English Literature, Wellesley College

Professional Interests:

  • Gender and sexuality: the coming out process, lesbian identity development, intimacy patterns in lesbian relationships

  • Cultural diversity issues: the experience of immigration, biculturalism and racial identity development

  • The psychological effects of trauma

  • Psychoanalysis

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Yoko Takebayashi, Ph.D.
ytakebayashi@barnard.edu

Education History:

  • Ph.D. Adelphi University

  • M.A. Adelphi University

  • B.A. Michigan State University

Interest and Specialties:

  • Psychology of race and culture

  • Asian American mental health

  • Trauma

  • Severe psychopathology

  • Liaison and clinical advisor for the Rape Crisis Anti-Violence Support Center

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  Barnard College
3009 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Furman Counseling Center
Tel: 212-854-2092
First Floor Hewitt Hall
Fax: 212-854-8727