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CAPS Staff (2020 Deprecated)

  • Hue-Sun Ahn, Ph.D. – Licensed Psychologist, Assistant Director
  • Babayemi Aiyegbo, LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Coordinator of Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives
  • Debeka V. Bennett, Ph.D. – Psychologist, Outreach to Special Populations Coordinator
  • Mark J. Forest, Ph.D.  Licensed Psychologist, Director of MHS and AVP for Student Affairs – Health & Wellness
  • Margarita L. Leahy, MA, Ed.S., NCC, LPC, LCADC – Licensed Professional Counselor, Assistant Director
  • Robbin Loonan, MA, DVS, LPC  – Licensed Professional Counselor, Coordinator of Peer Education
  • Rebecca L. Meinke, MD – Consulting Psychiatrist
  • Jonathan A. Murakami, Psy.D. – Licensed Psychologist, Coordinator of Clinical Training
  • Alex Turpin, LCSW, M.Div. – Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Case Manager and Referral Specialist
  • Melody Willoughby, Ph.D. – Licensed Psychologist, Group Coordinator

Academic Year 2021-2022 Training Class

Office Support Staff for the offices of Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services

  • Ms. Grace Flagler, Program Assistant
  • Ms. Pat Hamill, Program Assistant
  • Ms. Chelsea Watson, Professional Services Specialist

Meet Our Counseling Staff

HueSunBHue-Sun Ahn is a licensed psychologist who joined the staff in August 2004 and is currently a co-Assistant Director. Before coming to The College of New Jersey, she was on staff at several university counseling centers in the region. Dr. Ahn  is a 1.5 generation Korean American and is bilingual in Korean. She received her masters and doctoral degrees in counseling psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is licensed as a psychologist in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Dr. Ahn is a member of the Asian American Psychological Association and on the Committee on Multiculturalism of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association.

Her professional areas of interest include issues of body image and eating disorders, acculturation and racial/ethnic identity development, spirituality and religion, and outreach to the campus community regarding psychosocial and wellness issues. Dr. Ahn approaches psychological issues from the perspective that one’s psychological development is affected by one’s personal history and by the current environment.   She enjoys helping individuals and communities identify strengths and resources that promote healthy development.

Babayemi Aiyegbo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who joined MHS in January 2019.  Babayemi currently serves as the Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives for MHS and is also licensed as a Certified Screener.  He received his Master of Social Work degree (MSW) in Client Centered Management from Fordham University.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, he approaches the practice from an ecological perspective with interests that include men’s health, drug policy, and young-adult development.  His past internships have included therapeutic learning, behavioral assistance, and opioid addiction. Babayemi has work experience in crisis intervention, intellectual/developmental disabilities, case management, and school social work.

In his free time, he enjoys creating digital music, traveling, and watching films.

Debeka V. Bennett is an NJ permit psychologist who joined the staff in March 2019. Dr. Bennett currently serves as a Staff Therapist and Outreach Coordinator for Special Populations. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Florida State University in Family & Child Sciences, her master’s degree in Family Therapy at Drexel University, and her doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology at Seton Hall University.

Prior to MHS, Dr. Bennett worked in various settings, including psychiatric and addiction rehabilitation inpatient and outpatient programs, forensic departments, emergency rooms, and schools. She approaches her practice from a psychodynamic and ecological systems theory perspective.

She has a strong interest in racial and cultural identity development, trauma, interpersonal relationships, issues related to masculinity, abuse, issues of diversity and social justice, outreach, and the intersectionality of race, culture, and gender.

Dr. Bennett enjoys traveling, horseback riding, going to the beach, attending art shows, and going to the arcade.

Mark J. Forest joined the staff as Director of Mental Health Services (formerly CAPS) in September of 2014.  In 2017 Dr. Forest became Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs – Health and Wellness, which was made permanent in 2018. Dr. Forest is a NJ and PA Licensed Psychologist with over 28 years experience in university/college mental health services.  Dr. Forest came to TCNJ from Rutgers University, where he worked as the Associate Director for Clinical Training for many years.

Dr. Forest has a strong interest in young adult development, mental health administration, and professional training and supervision in college mental health.  His clinical interests are varied and include affective disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, abuse, serious mental health concerns, relationship issues, LGBTQ concerns and issues of diversity and social justice.

Dr. Forest is a member of the The American Psychological Association (APA), The New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA), The Pennsylvania Psychological Association (PPA), The New Jersey College Counseling Association (NJCCA), and The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD).

Dr. Forest enjoys many outdoor activities including tennis, hiking, camping, kayaking, skiing, and boating.  He also is an avid photographer in his free time.

Leahy, MargaritaMargarita Leahy is a bilingual/bicultural Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC)who joined MHS in 2014 and is now a co-Assistant Director.

Margarita has graduate and post graduate degrees in counseling from Rider University and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with basic training in EMDR.  Prior to working at MHS, Ms. Leahy worked at both a psychiatric facility for inpatient detox, intensive outpatient program (IOP) and an outpatient community clinic.  She has prior experience working for almost a decade in higher education.  Her areas of clinical interest are varied and include Anxiety (OCD, PTSD, Social, Generalized), AD/HD, Substance Use Disorders, Process/Behavioral Addictions, Impulse Control Issues, and Affective Disorders.

Ms. Leahy is a member of The American Counseling Association, National Board for Certified Counselors, New Jersey Association of College Counseling, New Jersey Counselor Association and The Higher Education Case Managers Association.

Outside of her MHS role, Ms. Leahy enjoys her own practice/self care of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness.

LoonanRobbin Loonan is a Licensed Professional Counselor who joined the staff in 2014. Prior to joining the MHS staff, Robbin was the Coordinator of Anti-Violence Initiatives (AVI) here at TCNJ where she led the campus’ efforts to prevent power- based personal violence and provided counseling for victims and survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking. Robbin is a Certified Domestic Violence Specialist who also holds a Certification in Child Maltreatment with a specialty in child sexual abuse.

Before coming to the College, Robbin worked at several NJ domestic violence agencies, the Morris County Child Advocacy Center, Princeton House, and in private practice. Her professional areas of interest include utilizing art and other creative techniques to heal from trauma and loss, family issues, interpersonal relationships, LGBTQ concerns, and issues of diversity/ multicultural sensitivity.

In addition to providing counseling, Robbin coordinates the MHS Peer Education program for the center. She is passionate about working with various student and professional groups on campus to enhance emotional well- being, increase resiliency and coping, and decrease barriers to assistance.

In her free time, Robbin enjoys spending time at the beach and spending time with family and friends.

Rebecca Meinke is a board certified adult, adolescent and child psychiatrist.  Dr. Meinke joined the MHS staff in 2015 as a Consulting Psychiatrist. Prior to joining the MHS team, Dr. Meinke was a staff psychiatrist at the Center for Eating Disorder Care at the University Medical Center of Princeton.  Prior to this, she served as a Staff Psychiatrist for Princeton House Behavioral Health at Moorestown, where she provided assessment and management of youth ages 5 to 18 in psychiatric, dual diagnosis and addiction programs. Previously, she was Medical Director of VisionQuest Pathfinders Residential Facility, focusing on psychiatric services for youth ages 12 to 18.

Dr. Meinke has previous experience with college mental health working for Gallaudet University in Washington, DC during her residency.  Dr. Meinke received her medical degree from Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School (formerly UMDNJ).

Jonathan Murakami is a NJ licensed psychologist who obtained his Psy.D. from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University.  Jonathan joined the staff at MHS in 2017 and is now the Coordinator of Training.  He has worked in higher education providing mental health services to college students for the past several years, most recently at Drew University.  Jonathan brings to the center expertise in working with a variety of mental health concerns common to young adults including adjustment and transitional issues, depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, family struggles, LGBTQ concerns and other social justice issues.

Dr. Murakami currently serves as the Vice President of the New Jersey College Counseling Association.

Dr. Murakami enjoys board games, swimming, reading, and trying his best to cook something edible in the kitchen.

Alex Turpin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who joined the MHS staff in 2018 as the Staff Therapist/Clinical Case Manager and Referral Specialist. Alex holds a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University and a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Prior to working at MHS, Alex worked as a therapist in the Young Adult program at Princeton House and has both clinical and non-clinical experience working in higher education. He operates from multimodal and multicultural perspectives, emphasizing the importance of an individuals health within the broader social environment. Alex’s clinical interests include affective disorders, first-episode psychosis, LGBTQ concerns, anxiety disorders, and religion and spirituality.

Alex is a member of The Higher Education Case Managers Association and the American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work.

Outside of MHS, Alex enjoys live music, reading comic books, and hiking.

Melody Willoughby is a Licensed Psychologist who joined TCNJ in September 2018. Dr. Willoughby currently serves as the group coordinator at MHS. She completed her undergraduate study at Rutger’s University and both her Master’s and Ph.D in Clinical Psychology (Health Emphasis) from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University.

Dr. Willoughby has several years of experience in college mental health; her areas of clinical interest include issues related to interpersonal relationships, family struggles, and working with students from marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+ populations with an emphasis on transgender concerns.

When not at work, Dr. Willoughby can be found at the gym, out for a run, or on the beach. Additional hobbies include eating pizza and ice cream.

 

Contact

Counseling and Prevention Services

Eickhoff Hall, Room 107
The College of New Jersey
P.O. Box 7718
2000 Pennington Rd.
Ewing, NJ 08628

609.771.2247 Tel
609.637.5131 Fax
caps@tcnj.edu

Hours

Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Emergency Care

Medical/Emergency and
After-Hours Care Options

Hours are subject to change.
When TCNJ has an emergency closure, CAPS also closes.

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