PRESENTATIONS:

 

Recent Professional Presentations:

 

• Manhattan JCC/Whole Being Institute Positive Psychology Hour - August 24, 2021

  • Destination Resilience: The Value of Persistance Through Life's Storms

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• APA Symposia (2021) - Virtual APA - August 12-14, 2021

  • Program Title: Religious Identity in Migrant Communities: Reflection on Cultural Competence, Health, and Resilience​

    • Position/Role: Symposium Co-Chair and Presenter/1st Author Representing APA Division 17 SIG on Religious/Spiritual Issues in Counseling Psychology (as SIG Chair).​

    • Symposium Presentation Entitled:

      • Migrant Coptic Orthodox Christians: Challenges and Strengths in Maintaining Mental Health in the Diaspora​

    • Also CHAIRED TWO poster/dialogue sessions in conjunction with this symposium in both Division 17 and Division 36 Hospitality Suites

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• APA Symposia (2019) Chicago, Illinois – August 8-11, 2019

  • Program Title: Spirituality and Well-Being: Implications from and for Religious and Spiritual Practices

    • Position/Role: Symposium Co-Chair and Presenter/1st Author representing APA Division 17 SIG on Religious/Spiritual Issues in Counseling Psychology (as SIG Chair).

    • Also CHAIRED TWO poster/dialogue sessions in conjunction with this symposium in both Division 17 and Division 36 Hospitality Suites

 

• Symposium Chair and Presenter at the APA Division 36 Mid-Year Conference – Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio – April 5, 2019

  • “Promoting Mental Health: The Development of Religious Identity in Religious Migrant Communities”

 

• Presenting at Lead Like a Girl – A Leadership Conference for “Risk-Taker and Change Maker” Girls in 5th to 12th Grade – April 6, 2019 – Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart – Princeton, New Jersey

  • Presenting on Resilience – “Success Through Self: The Strength, Balance, and Resilience Within.”

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Invited Presentations:

 

• Over 35 professional talks given at regional, national, and international psychology conferences

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• Speaker at over 180 talks at several Coptic Orthodox Churches/Programs in NJ, NY, OH, PA, FL, VA, WI, CA, WA, and Canada – on Topics related to Resilience, Religion/Spirituality, and Mental Health

  • Example of over 180 talks given between 2005-PRESENT:

    • Speaker at the St. Mary of East Brunswick NJ Coptic Orthodox Family Convention – February 24, 2019 – Presented on Introduction to Mental Health and How to See Help

    • The Stigma of Psychology and Mental Illness: Debunking the Myths – St. John Chrysostom Fellowship Graduate Seminar at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church – East Brunswick, NJ – July 18, 2008

 

• Panelist at Coptic Women Fellowship Conference 2019 – Hyatt Regency – Morristown NJ – Presented on Spiritual and Psychological Resilience and Well-Being– October 19, 2019

 

• Speaker at the Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education – Rockland Community College, Suffern, NY – Presented on The Essence of Resilience – to Docents of the Museum and Café Europa Volunteers – November 2, 2018.

 

• Speaker at Coptic Women Fellowship Conference 2018 – Hyatt Regency – Morristown NJ – Presented on Spiritual and Psychological Resilience – October 20, 2018

 

• Speaker at Felician University – Lodi NJ – Presented on Religion, Spirituality, Resilience, and Cultural Implications in the Practice of Psychology (Culture, Religion, and Spirituality: Implications on Psychological Practice – The Case of Coptic Christians and Holocaust Survivors) – May 23, 2018.

 

• Speaker at the Rockland/Nyack NY Jewish Community Center to Survivors of the Holocaust – March 14, 2018

  • The Essence of Resilience: A Phenomenological Inquiry into the Gerotranscendent Experiences of Holocaust Survivors

 

• Speaker at Haven House Senior Housing – During VITALity Mental Health Fair – September 24, 2016

  • Speaking on Spirituality, Resilience, and Aging

 

• Speaker at SJPA Diversity Grand Rounds – Religious/Spiritual Consideration in a Diversity Case – March 13, 2015

 

• Speaker at the 2015 Ohio School Social Work Association Conference – February 27, 2015

  • Presentation Title: Fundamentals and Application of Positive Psychology and Resilience: Keys to Thriving

 

• Speaker at 4th Annual Southern Coptic Orthodox Diocese Archangel Raphael Ministry Special Needs Convention – July 23-27, 2014

  • Presentation Title: Spiritual and Psychological Resilience: The key to thriving through challenging circumstances

 

• SJPA Diversity Grand Rounds – March 2014

  • Presentation Title: A Religious/Spiritual Examination of Marquis Thomas: A Unique Contributor to Diversity and Resilience

 

• Akron Area Professional Psychologists – AAPP – April 26, 2013

  • Presentation Title: Understanding the Complexity of Resilience and Utilizing it in Professional Practice

 

• Ohio Psychological Association Board of Directors Retreat – September 7-8, 2012

  • Presentation Title: OPA Board: Addressing Diversity and Inclusion

 

• Cleveland Psychological Association Diversity Training Program – June 6, 2011 –

  • Presentation Title: Coptic Orthodox Christianity: Decreasing Psychological and Therapeutic Stigma in One Minority Faith (Attendees Obtained 1.5 CE credits)

 

• Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center (Columbus, OH – Veterans Administration) Mental Health Fair – June 8, 2011

  • Presentation Title: Landing on Your Feet: Understanding and Applying Resilience to Veterans

 

Other Conference Presentations:

 

• APA Symposia (2018) – San Francisco, California – August 9-12, 2018

  • Program Title: Cultural and Religious Diversity Across Divisions – Reaching Out and Becoming More Inclusive

    • Position/Role: Symposium Co-Chair and Presenter/1st Author representing APA Division 17 SIG on Religious/Spiritual Issues in Counseling Psychology (as SIG Chair).

  • Program Title: Religious and Spiritual Practices – Implications and Benefits for Well-Being, Growth, and Resilience

    • Position/Role: Symposium Co-Chair and Presenter/1st Author

      • Presentation: Individual and Congregational Religious Practice: A Case for Coptic Orthodox Christian Resilience

 

• Also CHAIRED TWO poster/dialogue sessions in conjunction with this symposium in both Division 17 and Division 36 Hospitality Suites

• Also participating in a Division 17 Sponsored Community Engagement Project – To volunteer at La Casa de Las Madres – a 24/7/365 Domestic Violence Crisis and Prevention Center.

 

• 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology (IPPA 2017) – Montreal, Quebec, CANADA – July 13-16, 2017 – Round Table Presentation – Religion and Spirituality: An Examination into Character Strengths and Resilience  

 

• APA Symposium (2017) – Washington DC, USA – August 3-6, 2017 - For Joint Division 17 SIG on Religious/Spiritual Issues in Counseling Psychology and Division 36 Programming

  • Position: Co-Chair and Discussant

    • Program Title: Campus Activism – Counseling, Spirituality, Sexual Assault, Black Lives Matter, and Love is Love

 

• Also CHAIRED TWO poster/dialogue sessions in conjunction with this symposium in both Division 17 and Division 36 Hospitality Suites

• Also participated in a Division 17 Sponsored Community Engagement Project – Facilitated break out sessions on Compassion Fatigue for helping professionals at Whitman Walker Health. This is a community health center with expertise in LGBT and HIV/AIDS.

 

• APA Symposium (2016) – Denver, Colorado – August 4-7, 2016 - For joint Division 17 SIG on Religious/Spiritual Issues in Counseling Psychology and Division 36 Programming

  • Position: Symposium Co-Chair and Presenter

    • Program Title: Religion and Spirituality as Character Strengths: Implications for Research, Practice, and Teaching

    • Presentation Title: Coptic Orthodox Christianity: A Source of Religious, Spiritual, and Cultural Strength for 2000 Years.

 

• APA Symposium (2016) – Denver, Colorado – August 4-7, 2016 - Division 36 Programming

  • Position: Discussant

    • Program Title: Assessing Spirituality in a Diversified World – Mainstream, Other, and Nonreligious Views.

  • Also CHAIRED TWO poster/dialogue sessions in conjunction with this symposium in both Division 17 and Division 36 Hospitality Suites

 

• 4th World Congress on Positive Psychology (IPPA 2015) – Orlando, Florida – June 25-28, 2015 – Poster Presentation – Coptic Orthodox Christians: A Resilient and Meaningful Tradition 2,000 Years in the Making

 

• APA Symposium (2015) – Toronto Canada – August 6-9, 2015 - For joint Division 17 SIG on Religious/Spiritual Issues in Counseling Psychology and Division 36 Programming

  • Position: Symposium Co-Chair and Presenter

    • Program Title: Increasing Supervisor Competence in Religious and Spiritual Issues

    • Presentation Title: Enhancing Supervisor Competence in Multicultural Religion/Spirituality: A Coptic Christian Example.

 

• APA 2014 – Washington DC – August 7-10, 2014– Symposium – For joint Division 17 SIG on Religious/Spiritual Issues in Counseling Psychology and Division 36 Programming

  • Position: Symposium Co-Chair and Presenter

    • Program Title: Religion and Spirituality: Key Components in Positive Psychology Character Strengths and Values

    • Presentation Title: Religion and Spirituality: Key contributors to enhancing resilience.

 

• Also CHAIRED TWO poster/dialogue sessions in conjunction with this symposium in both Division 17 and Division 36 Hospitality Suites

 

• ADEC (Association for Death Education and Counseling) 2014 – Baltimore MD – April 2014  

  • Program Title: Resiliency vis-à-vis spirituality at the end-of-life

 

• APA Symposium (2012) – Orlando Florida – Symposium – For joint Division 17 SIG on Religious/Spiritual Issues in Counseling Psychology and Division 36 Programming

  • Position: Symposium Co-Chair and Presenter

    • PROGRAM TITLE: Religious and Spiritual Interventions: Implications for Practice, Research, and Training.

    • PRESENTATION TITLE: Intervention in One Minority Religious Group: Coptic Orthodox Christians.

 

• Chaired TWO poster/dialogue sessions in conjunction with this symposium in both Division 17 and Division 36 Hospitality Suites

 

• Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) Conference Symposium – Newark OH – October 26-28, 2011

  • Position: Chair and Presenter

  • Presentation Title: Deceasing Psychological and Therapeutic Stigma in Religious/Spiritual Minority Faith Populations (Attendees Obtained 3 CE credits)

 

• Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) Conference Symposium – Newark OH – October 26-28, 2011

  • Position: Chair and Presenter

  • Presentation Title: Utilizing Positive Psychology to Enhance Lifespan Career Development and Thriving Among Diverse Populations. (Attendees Obtained 2 CE credits)

 

• Orange Library – Cleveland Ohio – Part of OPA Committee on Social Responsibility Outreach – April 20, 2011

  • Presentation Title:  Managing Stress During Difficult Times

 

• Ohio Psychological Association Union of Psychology and Spirituality Retreat – Feb. 11-12, 2011

  • Presentation Title: Coptic Orthodox Christianity: One Example of the Relationship between Religion/Spirituality and Resilience (Attendees Obtained 3 CE credits)

 

• APA Symposium (2009) – Toronto, Ontario Canada August 6-9, 2009:

  • Program Title: Spirituality: An Essential Component of Resilience Despite Personal Loss or Terminal Illness

  • Position: Symposium CO-CHAIR and PRESENTER

  • Presentation Title: Religion and Spirituality: Key Factors in the Development of Resilience

 

• APA Symposium (2008) – Boston, MA August 14-17, 2008:

  • Program Title:  Resilience in Spiritual Communities Despite Stigma, Abuse, and Restriction

  • Position: Symposium  CO-CHAIR and PRESENTER

  • Presentation Title: Coptic Orthodox Christianity: Resilience 2,000 Years in the Making

 

• APA Symposium (2008) – Boston, MA August 14-17, 2008:

  • Program Title:  Resilience Among, and Empowerment of, Under Discussed Cultural Groups

  • Position: PRESENTER

  • Presentation Title: Holocaust Survivors as Gold Standard Exemplars of Resilience

 

• Religion and Spirituality: Key Factors in the Development of Resilience–Religion and Spirituality Workshop – The University of Akron – May 9, 2008

 

• Gold Standard Resilience in Holocaust Survivors – Short Workshop Presentation for Ohio Psychology Internship – June 15, 2007 – Based on preliminary dissertation research

 

• Resilience as a Value:  Promoting the Ability to “Bounce Back” Through Therapy – Workshop Presentation – at Summit Psychological Associates, Inc. for Ohio Psychology Internship –  June 8, 2007 – Promoting Resilience as Value in Adults and Children using Agaibi & Wilson (2005) Model of Resilience

 

• Student Success Seminar: Managing Stress Effectively – Outlook Presentations – October 19, 2005 & March 8, 2006 (Fall 2005 and Spring 2006)

 

• Introduction: The Psychology and Education of Serving – Presented to St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Seven Hills, OH as part of the Pre-servants Preparation Lecture Series.  February 25, 2005.