PSYC STUDENTS: Connect with industry professionals working in your field of interest. The Department of Psychology and the Feller Center has developed the Network to give UMD undergraduate psychology students direct access to alumni working in related fields. Read more about the 2024-2025 PSYC Career Influencers Network below.

We will welcome the Network to campus to meet you at events, programs, or during class. Feel free to reach out directly to them via Terrapins Connect as well. 

Questions ? Contact the Feller Center at bsoscareers@umd.edu

Jessi Collins, LCSW-C

Psychotherapist / Licensed Clinical Social Worker  |  Jessi Collins Therapy, LLC

• Educational background: B.A. Psychology, UMD and Master's of Clinical Social Work (MSW), University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work
• Field of Work: Clinical, Counseling/Mental Health, Healthcare Professions, Private Practice
• Contact me on Terrapins Connect

For the past 15 years, I have provided individual therapy for adults age 18 and older. I work with clients struggling with grief and loss (both death and non-death losses), anxiety, depression, stress and anger management, setting and maintaining boundaries, and feelings of low self-worth. I also have experience counseling current and former athletes, adults with ADHD/Executive Function Disorder history, and provide as-needed expert consulting for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Prior to opening my solo private practice in 2018, I worked for a shared group practice, a community outpatient mental health clinic, and a nursing home facility. I have been a Maryland Board Approved Clinical Supervisor since 2014 and love helping other therapists fine-tune their skills and achieve advanced licensure.

Zenab Raheem Abubakari 

Management Analyst | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)- Federal Management Systems (FMS)

• Educational background: BS Psychology '21; MPS, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, UMD '23
• Field of Work: Healthcare, Management Consulting, Human Resources
• Contact me on Terrapins Connect

Originally, Zenab started her career at Georgetown University working in clinical research. Notable projects Zenab was apart of at Georgetown University include the following: the Development of a culturally targeted chatbot to inform living kidney donor candidates of African ancestry about APOL1 genetic testing: a mixed methods study, and AstraZeneca AZD7442 Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety Evaluation in Pediatrics. Now, Zenab is exploring her interest in the process of understanding the process of acquiring federal grant awards for training, research, and interventions through work at SAMHSA. Zenab's duties include reviewing grant applications for non-profit organizations to ensure compliance of Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO)/Funding Opportunity Announcements, Federal and HHS regulation for programs that provide resources for behavioral health, treatment, and addiction prevention. She also reviews Federal Financial Reports to ensure accurate grantee reporting of expenditures, cash receipts, cash disbursements, and federal share for Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) grant recipients. Lastly, she utilizes her UMD Industrial Organizational Psychology MPS training to recommend data-driven interventions, such as her development of surveys to evaluate current onboarding training practices at FMS through survey development, R programming, and thematic analysis to improve training.

Isabel Wilder '22

Doctoral Student, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS) Program | University of Maryland, College Park
Former Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Post-Baccalaureate Fellow at National Institute of Health | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

• Educational background: B.A. Psychology & Medical Anthropology;  Incoming NACS graduate student fall '24
• Field of Work:  Clinical Counseling/Mental Health, Data Analytics/Science, Research, Psychology, Neuroscience
• Contact me on Terrapins Connect

I am a proud Terp alum who led a somewhat untraditional path through college. I transferred schools, became a parent, and switched gears career-wise. With enormous support and encouragement, I graduated in the top 2% and began a full-time position at NIH. I am thrilled to be returning to UMD in the fall of 2024 as a Flagship Fellow in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS) doctoral program. My ability to navigate the postbacc job market and grad school applications was aided enormously by informal and formal mentorship opportunities. I am very eager to provide support for others and give back to this incredible community!

Matthew Hailemariam '22

People Analytics Analyst | Texas Instruments

• Educational background: B.A. Psychology;   M.A. Industrial-Organizational Psychology, George Mason University
• Field of Work:  Data Analytics/Science, IO Psychology
• Contact me on Terrapins Connect

I am currently a people analytics analyst at Texas Instruments, where I use social science research methods to help improve the employee experience here. I graduated from UMD in 2022 with a B.A. in psychology, and went on to receive an M.A. in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology from George Mason University in 2024. During my time at UMD, I was involved with several research experiences/internships, at places like Dr. Wessel’s Identity Management Lab, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. During graduate school, I have worked in more applied settings conducting I-O research, in companies such as Navy Federal Credit Union and Blue Origin. I also focused my coursework around statistics and research in my degrees as well.

Tracy Owusu

Forensic Interview Specialist   |  Homeland Security Investigations- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Educational background: BS Family Science & CCJS (UMD), MA Forensic Psychology- Argosy University
• Field of work: Children Services/Youth Program, Federal Government, Forensic Psychology
• Contact me on Terrapins Connect

Tracy Owusu has over eighteen years experience working with child victims/ witnesses and vulnerable adults of abuse, trauma and violence in the District of Columbia. She has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Family Science and Criminology/ Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland College Park where she was a College Park Scholars in the Advocacy for Children Curriculum. Tracy has her Masters of Arts Degree in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University. Ms. Owusu currently gathers as many facts as possible about allegations of abuse in a non-leading and child friendly manner that causes no further harm or trauma to the victim; as a Child Forensic Interview Specialist. Tracy also has experience preparing children for court who have to testify in criminal matters and has served as a Victim Advocate in Sexual Offense and Domestic Violence cases. Ms. Owusu has also assisted adult victims and next-of-kin with Post-Conviction cases for criminal matters in Washington, D.C. 

Michaela Henderson, MS, LCMHCA, NCC

Psychotherapist |  Lotus Counseling & Wellness, PLLC (Founder and Owner)

• Educational background: B.A. Psychology (2020); UNCG, MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2022)
• Field of Work:  Counseling/Mental Health, Private Practice
• Contact me on Terrapins Connect

Michaela is a psychotherapist licensed in North Carolina. She is passionate about mental health wellness, and values creating a safe, open, and nonjudgmental space for all clients. Michaela founded Lotus Counseling and Wellness, PLLC in 2024. Through her business she offers psychoeducational workshops and other speaking engagements at universities, workplaces, and similar settings. Michaela also works full-time as psychotherapist, providing counseling services throughout North Carolina.

Hayley Kantziper, MS, SHRM-CP

 Director of Strategic Initiatives |  Kennedy Krieger Institute

• Educational background: B.A. Psychology (2013); M.S. Health Science Administration, Towson University (2016); graduate-level coursework in industrial/organizational psychology from UMBC (2022-present)
• Professional certifications or licensures: SHRM-CP (SHRM); Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in the Workplace (USF); Compassionate Leadership (MHEI); Mental Health First Aid (EveryMind)
• Field of Work:  Healthcare Professions, Human Resources, IO Psychology
• Contact me on Terrapins Connect

Hayley Kantziper, M.S., SHRM-CP, serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Kennedy Krieger is a non-profit internationally recognized for improving the lives of tens of thousands of children, adolescents, and adults with neurological, rehabilitative, and developmental needs through inpatient and day hospital programs, outpatient clinics, home and community services, education, and research. Hayley plays a crucial role in organizational and leadership development initiatives through tactical guidance, policy development, data gathering/analysis, and intentional infusion of equitable practices and approaches into all initiatives. Hayley’s extensive expertise in human resources, coaching and consulting, policy development, training, and organizational development, coupled with her strong leadership skills, instills confidence in her ability to work closely with leadership to identify and implement programs that foster employee engagement and development and enhance Kennedy Krieger’s reputation in the community. Hayley is on the Building Leaders Inside and Out (BLIO) leadership team and is proud to develop and implement internal and external mentorship programs for maximum impact. Hayley is passionate about promoting compassion and civility in all operations and regularly conducts training on these subjects. Hayley also mentors undergraduate and graduate students and has engaged in this work for several years.

Anthony Sartori

Executive Director & Founder |   Evolving Minds

• Educational background: B.A. Psychology (2018)
• Professional certifications or licensures: Professional National Speaker for Active Minds & Weave: The Social Fabric Project of the Aspen Institute Two-Year Mindfulness Meditation and Teacher Certification Program
• Field of Work:  Business Services, Human Resources, IO Psychology, Workplace Mental Health & Well-being 
• Contact me on Terrapins Connect

In March 2020, Anthony founded Evolving Minds, a mental health nonprofit with the mission to create a culture of care. Anthony has developed innovative workplace mental health programs that center social connection, community, and organizational culture; essential ingredients of a healthy workplace. He has trained over 1,500 program graduates across industries, from nonprofits, to public education, philanthropy, retail, government, and universities. His programs have demonstrated compelling impact – including an over 30% reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, a 57% reduction in absenteeism (employee call outs) and an 83% increase in empathy.

Anthony is a national professional speaker with Active Minds, one of the country's leading mental health nonprofits, and with Weave: The Social Fabric Project by the Aspen Institute. Recently, he spoke on a LinkedIn Presents podcast, The Anxious Achiever, and at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia's 2024 Shape of the Region Conference. His work has been featured in Mental Health America’s Workplace Mental Health Toolkit. Anthony has been honored by the Maryland Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism, awarded the Baltimore Weaver Award by the Aspen Institute, received the Rising Terp Alumni Excellence Award by the University of Maryland, and was showcased in the Change the World Exhibit by the Do Good Institute. Anthony holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland and is a graduate of a two-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.

Are you a PSYC Alumni interested in volunteering for the Network? Read more.