Education:
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Doctor of Philosophy in Health Administration: Kennedy Western/Warren National University, 2006.
•Master of Science in Psychology in Family/Developmental Psychology: Capella University, 2005.
•Master of Public Administration in Public Personnel Management: Troy State University, 2003.
•Bachelor of Science in Human Behavior: Norwich and Concordia Universities, 2000.
•Associates level certification in Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy: Norwalk College, 1996
Continuing graduate education: 30 credits (3.7 GPA) in a Doctoral Psychology degree program from the APA
accredited Harold Abel School of Psychology at Capella University; 2005.
.
Postgraduate Research and Studies:
•(dissertation) Maternal Support in the Workplace and the Effect on Perinatal Wellness
• Health Education, Environment, and a Baby’s Mind
•Lifespan Development and Maternal/Child Health Administrators
•Research paper; Bonding with Baby- A Multicultural Perspective
•Washington, DC: study proposal on The Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale and Preterm Babies
•Washington, DC: study proposal on Advanced Maternal Age and Infant Mortality
•Washington, DC: study proposal on Early Secure Attachment and Marital Satisfaction
•(Master's thesis) Early Emotional and Psychosocial Support and the Emergence of Mental Health
Problems
•Research paper; A Light from the Shadows: Healthy Parenting from a Traumatic Past
•Research paper; The Development of Violence- Screams from the Womb
•Research paper; Maternal Depression and How it Affects Child Development
•Montreal, Canada: study on Paternal Instinct and Influence
•Montreal, Canada: joint study on Chinese birthing practices in Montreal
•Oklahoma City, OK: SIDS Foundation study on infant mortality and socioeconomic status
•Oklahoma City, OK: case study-Transforming a Day Care Center into a Child Development Center
•(Master's thesis) Infant Mental Health and Public Policy
•Washington, DC: study on Waterbirth and APGAR Scores
•Brattleboro, Vermont: study on Perinatal Psychology and Maternal Influences
Postgraduate Training/Workshops:
• State University of New York; University at Albany School of Public Health- Breastfeeding Grand Rounds
2009; Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response (2009).
Co-Sleeping webinar: speakers- James McKenna, PhD of the University of Notre Dame, Paul Fleiss, MD
and Lysa Parker and Barbara Nicholson, the founders of API (2008)
• State University of New York, University at Albany School of Public Health: Breastfeeding Grand
Rounds 2008- Making Breastfeeding the Norm: Social Marketing (2008)
• ESI International/ The George Washington University Project Management series- Scheduling and Cost
Control, Project Management Applications (2007)
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: 380.664 Reproductive and Perinatal
Epidemiology (2007)
• Johns Hopkins SPH: 380.665.01 Family Planning Policies and Programs (2007)
• Johns Hopkins SPH:380.765.81 Preventing Infant Mortality and Promoting the Health of Women, Infants, and Children (2007)
• Johns Hopkins SPH:410.616 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (2007)
• "Contracting Officer's Representative" Training and Certification course, United States Postal Service,
Headquarters #34Q01-08 (2006)
• Federal Emergency Management Adminstration (FEMA) 'IS-00139 Exercise Design', Training and
Certification course (2006)
• "Pandemic Flu Preparedness: What Every Community Should Know." Public Health Grand Rounds
(September 29, 2006)
• "After Katrina: Building a Better Public Health System for the Future. " Public Health Grand Rounds.
(2006)
• Learning from Katrina: Tough Lessons in Preparedness and Emergency Response."Public Health "
Grand Rounds (2006)
• Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health international congress, (2005)
•CDC, UNC sponsored "Birth Defects Prevention: Realizing the Full Potential of Folic Acid," Public
Health Grand Rounds (2005)
•NICHD sponsored Ruth Eckstein Grunau, PhD, RPsych; lecture "Pain in Preterm Infants:
Development and Effects" (2005)
•NIH/NIMH sponsored Jay Giedd, PhD; lecture on The Teenage Brain (2005)
•New Frontiers for Identifying Young Children’s Social, Emotional & Behavioral Needs, co-
sponsored by NECTAS, ZERO TO THREE, and Georgetown University Child Development Center
•Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness teleconference (2005)
•Johns Hopkins SPH: Family Planning Policies and Programs (2005)
•Johns Hopkins SPH: Statistical Reasoning in Public Health (2005)
•Johns Hopkins SPH: Understanding Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Health (2005)
•University of Washington: Genetics Techniques (2005)
• Planning, Programming, Budgeting, Execution System (PPBES)- governmental budgeting training
program (2004)
•Oklahoma City University School of Law: Lexis Nexis and Westlaw research applications (2003)
•Department of Defense/ Office of the Assitant Secretary of Defense:Primavera scheduling tool(2003)
•Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health international congress, (2003)
•Bruce Perry, MD, PhD; seminar on Early Brain Development(2002)
•SIDS Foundation of OK- Family Services Director Grief and Bereavement training program
•Journey Through Grief series, training program (2002)
• University of Oklahoma Child Development Series, Behavioral and Emotional concentration(2002)
• Understanding and Working Through Postpatum Depression, University of Oklahoma Hospital(2002)
• Baby Blues Support, Midwifery Associates, Oklahoma City, OK (2002)
• Center for Early Childhood Professional Development center director learning series (2002)
•Milestone,llc. PMI class: Managing IT Programs (2001)
•American Society of Public Administrators conference, Newark, NJ, 2000
Clinical Interests:
•Perinatal psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral health
•Infant mental health
•Developmental psychology
•Perinatal psychology
•Maternal/perinatal mental health and public policy
Research Interests:
•Early brain development
•Parent-infant interaction
•Early emotional development
•The psychology of parenthood
•Epidemiology and public health
Additional Certifications:
• "Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care" Certification Course at the National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, MD (2009)
"Breastfeeding Training" Certification Course; University of Virginia School of Medicine (2009)
National Institutes of Health Information Security Awareness (2007)
• WESTAT Protection of Human Subjects training certification (2007)
• "Handling Loss and Grief " course completion certificate (2005)
•"Understanding Depression" course completion certificate (2005)
•Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children "Parenting certification" (2005)
•Bledsoe Foundation "Parenting with Dignity" course completion certificate (2005)
•OU Medical Center "Breastfeeding" course completion certificate (2002)
•SIDS Foundation of Oklahoma, "SIDS Education and Risk Reduction" (2002) course completion
certificate
•EDUCARER course on SIDS (2003)
•LearnWell Resources Alternative Childbirth Educator (2001)
•EDUCARER course on Early Brain Development (2001)
•Department of Defense Antiterrorism Level 1 Awareness (2001)
•National Association of Child Care Professionals "Protecting Children from Infection" (2002)
•James Blackstone- AIDS support and education, course completion certificate (1997)
•TRICARE University course completion certificate (2001)
•Defense Acquisition University (DAU): Acquisitions 101 (2000)
•DAU: Earned Value Management Systems (2001)
•DAU: Scheduling Fundamentals (2001)
•Certification and extensive experience in Microsoft Office products, including: Access, Word,
Excel, Publisher, Project and PowerPoint (1994-present)
• Montclair Police deparment "Child Registry Program" (1992)
Professional Affiliations:
Attachment Parenting International- Professional Associate Member
• American Society of Public Administrators -Professional Member
•Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health- Co-Chair of the Communications and
Development Committee
Birth Options Alliance - board member
•Birthing the Future- advisory board
•International Association of Childbirth Educators
•Global Maternal/Child Health Association
•International Association of Counselors and Therapists
•La Leche League International
•National Association of the Education of Young Children
•World Association of Infant Mental Health
•Founder and Moderator of Perinatal Psychology professional support group
Director of Magic of Motherhood, Maternal/Perinatal mental health and wellness consulting, education
and support services
Recent Publications:
"The Babysitter's Survival Guide" Sterling Publications, ISBN 1402746547 (August 2010).
for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, p. 1-2 (Summer 2007).
• Washington Baby- A Collection of Studies and Research in Maternal/Perinatal Psychology, Health,
and Public Policy, Lulu Publications; ISBN: 1-4116-3995-2 (November 2005).
• Baby Magic for your Magic Baby, Magic of Motherhood distributed by Ash Tree Publications;
ISBN 1-4116-4834-X (October 2005).
• "Prebirth Bonding," in Weed Wanderings with Susun Weed. Volume 5 Number 6.
(June, 2005).
• "Boosting Efficiency and Productivity:The Integrated Dispatch and Receipt (IDR) system" in
NewsLink the newsletter of the USPS (May, 2005)
• "Early Learning" searchwarp.com/swa5698.htm (May, 2005).
• 7th International APPPAH Congress, "Afterglow" on Birth Psychology
•"DC-Child Care subsidies to be cut in nation's capital" commentary on Early Childhood Focus
http://www.earlychildhoodfocus.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2144
website, (2004).
•"Prenatal Influences on Temperament, Personality, and Behavior in Children" on Mommy Guide
http://www.mommyguide.com (March 2004).
•“Birth, Brain and Bonding: The Psychology and Science of Attachment- APPPAH Conference” The
Compleat Mother Magazine, print edition, Minot, ND p. 5-6 (January 2004).
•“Life Inside the Womb,” Nurturing Magazine, Edmonton, Alberta CANADA, p. 8 (2003).
•“Fading Primrose,” http://www.childbirth.com/ website, (2003).
•"Grief: Weathering the storm" http://www.pregnancy.org/article.php?sid=702 (2003).
• SIDS Foundation public relations articles, The Rosebud newsletter, Oklahoma City, OK, (2003).
•“Don't Forget our Children when Tragedy Strikes," The Compleat Mother Magazine, Richmond,
Illinois p. 3-4 (2001).
•“Inspirational Thoughts -Spiritual Birth Counseling," http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/ website,
(1999).
•"Pregnancy-The Magical Link," http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/ website, (1999).
•Lullaby," Share- nationally published newsletter (miscarriage and infant death support group) p.12
(1997).
•"Spiritual Birth Counseling," Awakening Arts newsletter (Massage Therapy Center, PA) p. 1
(1997).
•"Baby Moon," Leylines (Holistic monthly publication, PA) p. 6 (1997).
•"Birth Family," Leylines (Holistic monthly publication, PA) p. 7 (1997).
•"Pre-birth Bonding," Creatively Children’s', New Haven county publication, Ct p.2 (1996).
•"The Circle of Life," Conscious Living (Health and Wellness weekly newspaper, CT) p. 4-5 (1996).
Lecturing and Consulting Appointments:
• "Pregnancy Relaxation Workshop" at Olney Yoga and Wellness, Olney, MD (2009)
"Grief and Loss in Foster Care," workshop for the Sheridan Patterson Center, Baltimore, MD (2009)
Panel speaker on "Pregnancy and Birth" and moderator for the BABY! International in DC Film Festival,
Silver Spring, MD (2009).
Panel speaker on "The Shadow Side of Pregnancy," for Birth Options Alliance, Takoma Park, MD
(2008)
Panel speaker on "Art, Rituals, and Ceremonies in Childbirth," for Birth Options Alliance, Takoma
Park, MD (2007)
APPPAH Representative for the National Summit on America's Children on Capitol Hill (2007)
• Attachment Parenting International of Upper Montgomery County- Guest Speaker on 'Bonding'
• National Institutes of Health “Share the Health”- managed the NICHD table; Wheaton, MD
•Parenting and Child Development, Assisting Young Mothers at the Alternative House; Fairfax, VA.
•Parenting and Child Development, Bryant Alternative High School, Alexandria, VA.
•Buffalo Prenatal/Perinatal Network, Buffalo, NY.
•La Leche League International- Featured Speaker at Leaders meeting; Oklahoma City, OK.
•University Child Care Instructor on Early Cognitive Developmental Exercises; Oklahoma City, OK.
•National Opinion Network, Infant Division consultant; Mt. Vernon, Il.
•Motherhood Maternity, Pregnancy Wellness consultant for employee training; southwest region.
•"Childbirth.org" Guest Speaker for online discussion group on Experiencing a Loss; Online.
•Rodale Book Publishing Co., natural pregnancy consultant, Emmaus, PA.
•Kids Day America guest speaker on pre-birth bonding; Emmaus, PA.
Grant Writing Projects:
•March of Dimes: Healthy Baby Building Blocks- SIDS research and risk reduction project
•Oklahoma Department of Human Services- Childcare Improvement Grant
•University of Oklahoma Public School System: T.A.L.K. (Teachers Advocate Literacy to Kids)
Teaching and Counseling Positions:
• Wise Woman University - online education instructor for 5 courses in The Childbearing Year division;
• "Womb Baby Learning" prebirth bonding and early parenting class featured on:
•Natural Pregnancy and Parenting classes online at Healing Methods - http://www.healing-methods.com/
•Instructor of: Early Mental Health: Womb Baby Learning I, Social Psychology,
Babysitting Basics- A Prep Class for Child Care, Child Development & Psychology I - Prenatal
through Early Childhood, Child Development & Psychology II - Preschool through Elementary,
Childbirth Education and Preparation- Magic of Motherhood Method, Prebirth Bonding and Early
Learning , Relationship Management I- Becoming a Family online at Universal Class
• Parenting and Child Development classes, Assisting Young Mothers at the Alternative House;
Fairfax, VA and Outreach program at the Culmore Teen Center, Falls Church, VA
•"Teens and Tiny Ones" adolescent pregnancy and parenting group, Branford, CT
•Instructor of Nature and Waterplay for Brain Development; Creatively Children’s, North Branford, CT
•Sexuality Counseling and Maternal Wellness; Branford, CT
•Pregnancy Wellness and Childbirth Education; Awakening Arts, Allentown, PA
•Spiritual Birth Counseling; Vitality of the Lehigh Valley Holistic Wellness Center, Emmaus, PA
•Perinatal and Pregnancy Counseling; Marlborough, NH
•Instructor of "Balls and Ramps -National Science Foundation series" at Discovery Zone, North
Bethesda, MD
• Moderator of "Moms' Club" at Discovery Zone, North Bethesda, MD
• Instructor of Infant Cognitive Development and Psychosocial Health; University Childcare;
Oklahoma City, OK
• Pregnancy Counseling and Infant Mental Health, Grand Island, NY
Professional Achievements
•Perinatal Loss Workshop featured on Earth Mama, Angel Baby's Healing Hearts website.
•"Womb Baby Learning" prebirth bonding and early parenting class featured on
•Featured faculty on Healing Methods - http://www.healing-methods.com/
• Quoted in “High-risk pregnancy and foetal diagnosis: your journey” by Stephanie Azri, ISBN: 1853439886
• Quoted in “The College View” http://www.thecollegeview.com/pdfs/march07.pdf
• Quoted in “Hypnosis for a Special Delivery” by Columbia University, NY student Kerry Savage
• Referenced in “A Christian Perspective On Justice For The Fetus” by Gordon Necemer
