FRIENDS
Stephanie B. BenjaminStephanie B. Benjamin earned her bachelor’s degree in art history and art studio at Tulane University in New Orleans and continued her education at Northwestern University, studying psychology and biology. She is working on her master’s degree in counseling psychology and art therapy at The Adler School of Professional Psychology, and through her internship at The Center for Global Initiatives she is working to help ameliorate inequalities in global healthcare. She is currently applying to PhD programs in cognitive psychology to pursue her research interest in sensory perception and she plans on being a professor one day.
Donald Bernovich IIOriginally from North Pekin, Illinois, Donald has traveled and worked in a number of different locations. For the past five years he lived in Rapid City, South Dakota where he worked as a Work-Life Consultant at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Prior to this he lived in Malaysia were he worked as a volunteer English instructor and a counselor for a year. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Benedictine University in 1997 and his Masters of Science degree from Capella University in psychology in 2005. Donald is currently a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology located in Chicago, Illinois.
Annie Khan, MA
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Annie Khan migrated to Toronto, Canada in 1994. She completed her undergraduate degree at The University of Toronto in Neuroscience and Psychology. She earned her Master's of Arts in Counseling Psychology at The Adler School of Professional Psychology and is currently working on her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She worked at the Center for Global Initiatives as a contributing author on the New Humanitarian book project. Her interests include humanitarian work, international research, and diversity issues.
Valeria Levit
Valeria Levit was born in Ukraine and grew up in the Crimean Peninsula. Growing up in the family of doctors, Valeria was heading for a route of excellence in education and was accepted into an academy for musically talented children at the age of seven. At the age of thirteen, she transferred to the Medical Lyceum, preparing to study medical and biological sciences with the goal to attend medical school. However, after finishing one year at Lyceum, Valeria immigrated with her family to Chicago, Illinois. Valeria was on the Deans' list each semester at Loyola and graduated with major in psychology and minor in pre-medicine. During her undergraduate studies, Valeria volunteered at a hospital and several not-for-profit organizations. It did not take her long to realize that she has a passion for studying the human mind. In 2007, Valeria was accepted to the Adler School of Professional Psychology.
During her first year in the graduate school, Valeria fulfilled her community service practicum at the Center for Global Initiatives, which is dedicated to fighting health disparities in various communities around the world. At the age of twenty-two, Valeria is a second year student at Adler and is greatly interested in the mind/body aspect of psychology. Valeria is a member of Golden Key Honors Society and American Psychological Association. Currently she resides in Morton Grove, Illinois with her family.
Thomas J. McCaffrey, MBA
Mr. McCaffrey is a seasoned business executive with broad-based experience in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, consumer marketing and business development. Additionally, he has been active in serving a wide variety of not for profit organizations, including academic institutions, community-based organizations, environmental groups and cultural centers. Recently, he has assumed a leadership position in a major national addiction recovery organization. His involvement in the not-for-profit arena has spanned a number of key functional roles, including fund-raising, endowment policies, strategic planning and infrastructure management. He has been a Partner with Mckinsey and Company, a Managing Director with Merrill Lynch, and a Corporate Senior Vice-President at both First Chicago and Exelon Corporations. Additionally, he has served on the Board of the Yale Alumni Association, Metropolitan Family Services, The Hazelden Foundation, the FRAC Committee of the Commercial Club and the Harvard Business School Alumni Forum. He is an avid outdoorsman, and is an active supporter of a number of environmental groups, including the Defenders of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy. He has, as well, been integrally involved in the reintroduction of wolves into their native habitat in the United States. A former rancher, he has served on the Board of the National Cowboy Cultural Association and has been a supporter of The Western Heritage Museum and the Smithsonian American Indian Museum. He is an avid outdoorsman, and enjoys mountain climbing, white water canoeing, and horseback riding. He has eight children, and currently lives in the Chicago area, where he is working on a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. He is a graduate of Yale University and the Harvard Business School.
Myron Panchuck, MA
Myron Panchuk completed his B.S. degree in psychology and philosophy at Loyola University of Chicago in 1976. In 1982 he was ordained to the priesthood for the Chicago Diocese of Ukrainian Catholics and has actively served this community for over twenty years. His professional work includes designing and facilitating retreats and conferences for clergy and laity, professional development, conflict resolution and social advocacy. He is a co-founder and member of Starving For Color, a humanitarian organization which provides baby formula for orphans in Ukraine. Myron is currently a M.A. in counseling graduate student at the Adler School of Professional Psychology and assisted Dr. Chris Stout at the Center for Global Initiatives with the authorship and editing of The New Humanitarians series. He is also a member of Chicago Sister Cities International. He intends to continue his studies and pursue a doctorate in depth psychology.
Ralph Musicant, JDMr. Musicant, is a Harvard Law School (1971) graduate who has founded and operated start-up companies in a variety of industries, ranging from coal mining, comic book and cigar magazine publishing, to a computerized multiple listing service for commercial office space and a behavioral health company offering telephone counseling by licensed therapists.
Mr. Musicant is currently Managing Director of Ideas and Methods Incorporated, a Chicago-based business consulting and acquisition firm. Mr. Musicant's academic career includes an appointment as the Martin C. Remer Visiting Distinguished Professor of Finance (1976) at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Most recently, he was an invited speaker at a Colloquium on E-therapy presented by the Institute of Cybermedicine at Harvard Medical School.
Kira Redig
Kira Redig graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, earning her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design. She is combing her interests in psychology and emotional expression of art by working on her master’s degree in counseling psychology and art therapy, at the Adler School for Professional Psychology. Through Kira’s community service practicum she is working to publicize the efforts of the Center. In the future, she plans to pursue her interest in practicing art therapy with at risk adolescents.
Jillian Richardson
Jillian Richardson graduated from Illinois State University in Bloomington, Illinois, earning her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. She is combing her interest in psychology and experience with terminal patients by working on her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with a focus in Primary Care, at the Adler School for Professional Psychology. Through Jillian’s community service practicum she is working to publicize the efforts of the Center. In the future, she plans to pursue her interest in practicing death, dying, and bereavement therapy with terminally ill patients.
Dan Roller, PsyD
Dan Roller, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist with a specialization in Human Behavior/Performance and Business Psychology. He is a results-oriented entrepreneur with expertise in education, business operations, and management consulting. Dr. Roller serves as an independent consultant to a variety of professional services firms and clients across industries and has extensive experience improving the development, communications, and productivity of Global 1000 and Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, Dr. Roller has an impressive record of accomplishments in school counseling, with responsibilities that included teaching, counseling, athletic coaching,
directing standardized testing programs, group presentations, and active participation in various work teams and boards. He has worked with all grade levels and has designed at taught courses at the graduate level. Dr. Roller is the recipient of multiple awards.
Patrick SavaianoPatrick Savaiano is currently enrolled in the doctoral (PsyD.) program at the Adler School of Professional Psychology (ASPP) in Chicago, IL. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2004 with a B.A. in History and Spanish, and has since worked in marketing, real estate, and as a musician. During the summer of 2003, Patrick had the rewarding experience of traveling to Costa Rica by himself to work with Habitat for Humanity. This and similar experiences led Patrick to an interest in the social sciences and helping professions.While he still works hard as a musician, Patrick decided in 2006 to pursue a career in clinical psychology. In the fall of 2007, as part of ASPP’s Community Service Practicum, Patrick worked under Dr. Chris E. Stout at the Center for Global Initiatives (CGI). He became an integral member of a team of students and professionals that ultimately put together a book project entitled The New Humanitarans: Innovations, Inspirations, and Blueprints for Visionaries. In the future, Patrick plans to support Dr. Stout and CGI’s efforts to help the less fortunate and underserved populations throughout the world.
Carleen L. Schreder, JDCarleen is an attorney and one of the founders of Levin & Schreder, Ltd., which was formed in 1988. She received her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1982 and graduated from Lake Forest College in 1979. Her practice is focused in the areas of estate tax and income tax planning for individuals and businesses. In addition to her legal work, Ms. Schreder is active in community organizations. She was recognized for her community work by the Chicago Bar Foundation, which awarded her the 1988 Maurice Weigle Award as an Outstanding Young Lawyer. She is currently a board member of Chicago Foundation for Women and is a past board member and officer of Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers and Chicago Abused Women Coalition.
Ms. Schreder is an author and presenter on topics related to tax planning, including an article on Illinois estate tax apportionment which appeared in the Illinois Bar Journal in June 2007, and a presentation on the same topic at the Chicago Bar Association Probate Practice Committee in November 2007.
Vicka Vanderspek
Originally from Ann Arbor, MI, Vicka Vanderspek graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a BSc in Psychology and is currently working on a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Through her community service practicum at The Center for Global Initiatives she is working as an integral member of the CGI team, developing fundraising opportunities, exploring the creative and technical aspects of turning The New Humanitarians into a documentary film, and promoting CGI's mission to increase access to healthcare and decrease global health disparities, one patient at a time. Vicka's professional interests include global health and psychopathology, and hopes to someday practice, teach, and research psychology while continuing to take part in global humanitarian work.
Laura WelchLaura is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Arts Administration. Her earliest work involved fundraising with American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin; serving as Public Relations Director with The Peninsula Players in Door County, Wisconsin; and, as the Annual Fund Manager with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra where her team raised over $7.5 million.
Her desire to be more socially active led Laura to create the Development Department for The Family Resource Center, a child abuse agency in St. Louis where she initiated a capital campaign for a new building. She moved on to be Director of Development for the Women’s Self Help Center, a counseling center for abused women also in St. Louis and was asked to establish the Annual Giving and Special Events arm of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation in Corvallis, Oregon.
Laura has volunteered extensively including serving as Chair of the Corvallis Arts Center Board of Directors, consulting on the Capital Campaign for the Majestic Theatre also in Oregon and as Chair of The Benefit of Hope for the American Cancer Society of DuPage County.
Ms. Welch is now home with her two children and husband in Naperville and continues her exciting work on a volunteer basis with the Center for Global Initiatives.
