Academic Center
Core Faculty Research and Teaching Interests

Laila Aaen  |  Sue Choi Bawale  |  Gretchen Brooke  |  Karen Cardell  
Connie Destito  |  Trevor Dobbs  |  Cheryl Greer-Jarman
Toni Guajardo  | Brenda Ingram  | Betty Jones 
Dino Koutsolioutsos  |  Judy Magee  |  Paige Parker 
Rebecca S. Rojas  |  Tim Sundeen

Laila Aaen, Ph.D.COCE
Email
626.397.1309
Office location: Pasadena

Teaching Interests:
Co-Academic Director of

• Thesis Rescue/Thesis Completion
• Assessment of Life Experience
• Power, Identity, Culture and Society
• Higher Education Development

Education:

Ph.D. The Wright Institute in Berkeley, Psychology
M.A. University of Wisconsin, Sociology
B.A. Carthage College, Sociology

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Sue Choi Bawale
Distance/Online Learning
Email
(619) 683-7406
Office location: San Diego

Teaching Interests:

• Early Childhood Development and Education
• Language and Cross-Cultural Cognition
• Assessment of Life Experience
• Temperament and Sensory Integration Issues

Education:

Ed.D Teachers College, Columbia University, Curriculum & Teaching/Early Childhood Education
M.Ed. Teachers College, Columbia University, Curriculum & Teaching
M.A. Teachers College, Columbia University, Early Childhood Education
B.A. Tufts University, Child Study

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Gretchen Brooke, M.A.
COCE 
Email
(510) 622-8133
Office location: Oakland, Visalia

Teaching Interests:

• Human development
• Teambuilding
• Anti-bias work with children and adults
• Conflict resolution and mediation
• Advocacy for children

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Karen Cardell, M.A.
COCE
Email
(559) 539-0231
Office location: Oakland, Visalia

Teaching Interests:

• Emergent curriculum
• Antibias work/white privilege
• ECE administration
• ECE community issues
• Nontraditional student advising

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Connie Destito, LCSW 
Academic Director, MFT
Email 
(626) 685-2527
Office Location: Eureka 8

Connie is the Academic Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Program at Pacific Oaks College. She has served as the Director for seven years. Formerly she served as the Coordinator of Clinical Training for the MFT Department.

Her teaching career began at California School of Professional Psychology, in Los Angeles. She has taught a variety of courses that integrate cultural perspectives with clinical knowledge and skills.

Education:

M.S.W. University of California, Los Angeles, Social Work
B.A. California State University, Los Angeles, Sociology

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Trevor Dobbs, Ph.D.
MFT
Email
(626) 583-6035
Office Location: Eureka 14

Teaching Interests:

• History and Systems in Psychology Cultural Contexts of Personality
• Development Relational Therapy Clinical Case Study in Research
• Psychology and Spirituality Psychology in Film

Education:

Ph.D. Newport Psychoanalytic Institute
M.A. Fuller Theological Seminary, Marriage and Family Counseling
B.A. Pepperdine University

Publications:

Speidell, T. Editor (2002). Chapter 10, "John Macmurray’s Influence on Object Relations Psychology," in On Being Christian . . . and Human, Wipf & Stock Publishers, Eugene, OR. 

Speidell, T. Editor (2003). Chapter 6, "John Macmurray as a Philosophical Basis for Harry Guntrip's Object Relations Theory," in On Being a Person: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Personality Theories, Wipf & Stock Publishers, Eugene, OR.

Dobbs, Trevor (2007), Faith Theology and Psychoanalysis: The Life and Thought of Harry Guntrip, Princeton Theological Monograph Series, Pickwick Publications, Eugene, OR.

Dobbs, Trevor. (2008). "Transformation in Psychoanalysis and Religion as 'Persons in Relationship': The Influence of John Macmurray." Psychoanalytic Inquiry, Vol. 28, No. 5, 590-598.

Presentations:

Conference Panelist and Presenter: Psychoanalysis and Couples Therapy: A Look Beneath the Surface, Newport Psychoanalytic Institute Spring Conference, February 2004.   

Biofeedback for the MFT,  Pacific Oaks College Continuing Education Workshop, November 21, 2003. 

Psychology and Religion: An Object Relations View, Pacific Oaks College Continuing Education Workshop, September 29, 2001.

Psychotherapy of the Borderline Personality, Pacific Oaks College Continuing Education Course, October 15 –November 19, 1999.

Object Relations Theory and Therapy II: The British School,  Pacific Oaks College Continuing Education Course, February 13 –May 1, 1998.

Object Relations Theory and Therapy I: The American School,  Pacific Oaks College Continuing Education Course, September 18 -November 21, 1997.

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Cheryl Greer-Jarman, MA
Human Development, Pasadena
Email
(626) 397-1364
Advising Letter and Calendar-SU05/FA05

• Diversity Issues (for children and adults)
• Conflict Resolution
• Peace Education
• Developmental Education
• Parent/Family Issues
• Spiritual Development
• Early Childhood Education Critical Thinking
• Models Curriculum Development
• Issues in Aging and Health Care

Education:

M.A. Pacific Oaks College, Human Development
B.A. Pacific Oaks College, Human Development

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Toni Guajardo, Ph.D.
MFT
Email
(626) 397-1345
Office Location: Eureka 16

Teaching Interests:

• Clinical Issues in Latina/o Community Mental Health
• Affect Regulation’s Impact on Children of Color
• Finding Different Modalities in Working with Latino/a Clients
• Psychopharmacology’s Role in Relieving Major Depression
• Emerging Theories of Marriage, Family and Children’s Therapy
• The Use of Hip Hop as Projective Techniques in Working with African American Adolescents in the Inner City
• Ethnic Identity Development

Education:

Ph.D. California School of Professional Psychology
M.S. California State University, Los Angeles, Psychology
B.A. California State University, Los Angeles, Speech Pathology/Audiology

Scholarship:

Latino/a Community Presentations:

• 2003 Channel 52 Spanish Language Television, Domestic Violence in the Latino/a Community
• 2004 Channel 52 Spanish Language Television, Alcohol Abuse in the Latino/a Community
• Various Presentations on Latino/a Family Studies Program, Pasadena, 2003  

APA-Womens Conference 2004  

Chairperson for Thesis Symposium since 2002.

• Focus on critical clinical issues in the Mental Health Community underlined by social justice and diversity.

Thesis submitted for publication to University of California, Irvine. Latino Community Network: 

• Cuento Therapy:  a Non-Traditional Modality with Latino/a Clients     
• Author: Isaac Carreon
• Chair:  Toni Guajardo, PhD.  
• The Psychological Impact of Immigration Process on Salvadoran Children and Adolescents
• Authors:  Sonia Torres & Margarita Fuentes
• Chair:  Toni Guajardo, PhD  

Articles in Process:

• The Efficacy of Non-Traditional Graduate Program on Community Mental Health Services        
• Transformation and Empowerment for Latinas through Non-Traditional Graduate Programs  
• Methamphetamine Use among Young Adults:  Prison versus Treatment  

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Brenda Ingram, MSW, LCSW
MFT
Email
(626) 666.1225
Office Location: Eureka 8
Office hours: Tuesdays 12:00pm-6:00pm

Teaching Interests:

• Impact of trauma and violence on children, adolescents, adults and the helpers
• Cross-cultural Competency in Mental Health Practices
• Mental Health Practices in African American Communities
• Mentoring At-Risk Youth and Foster Children  

Scholarship:

When Stakes Are High: Research-Based Mentoring for Youth with Multiple-Risk Factors,   Regional Training Symposium,  California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, 2003

Mentoring Foster Children and Youth.Training Manual. Children Uniting Nations, 2003

Hidden Trauma in the African American Community, Symposium Pacific Oaks College, 2003

Foster Youth Mentoring Training for Managers,  California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, 2002

Shine the Light on Sexual Assault. Public Awareness Campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, 2002

The Effects on People Who Work with Prisoners,  National Training Conference, Children of Incarcerated Parents, 2001

Teacher Training Project, 2001

Compassion Fatigue A Consequence of Working with Traumatized People,  Nexxus Conference, 2000

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Betty Jones, Ph.D.
Co-Academic Director of COCE
Email
(626) 397-1320
(800) 613-0300
Office location: Pasadena

Teaching Interests:

• Learning through Play
• Emergent Curriculum
• Active Learning for Adults
• Online Learning
• Peacemaking

Education:

Ph.D. University of Southern California, Sociology
M.A.  University of Wisconsin, Child Development
M.A. Whittier College, Sociology
B.A. College of the Pacific, Psychology

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Dino Koutsolioutsos, M.A.
MFT
Email
(626) 583-6036
Office Location: Eureka 7

Education:

M.A. Loyola Marymount University, Counseling Psychology

Teaching Interests:

• Clinical Courses
• Research courses
• MFT Courses
• Many courses of the HD program

Research Interests:

Current Book Project: Pathogenic Elements of Western Society and the Impact of Psychotherapy

• The Development of the American Character
• Psychotherapy as a tool for civic empowerment and social responsibility
• Democracy and the American Nation
• The Personality Disorders across culture and history
• Bereavement and Spirituality
• Spirituality, Ethics and the Psychotherapeutic Process
• Impact of Culture and Society on families and individuals
• Being an underprivileged member in a privileged society
• The various forces of oppression and their impact on human development and mental health
• Feminism
• All aspects of the Immigration experience and the impact on people, families and society
• LGBT: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and families
• Globalization and the American Empire
• The downside and challenges of being born to, or living a privileged life
• The evolution of the American Mental Health System

Scholarship:

Statewide Head Start Training Conference: Panelist presentation: Issues Impacting the Mental Health of Head Start Families. Sacramento, Spring 2002

Pacific Oaks Conference: Latina Families Studies Program. Pasadena: Spring 2001

National Association of Chicanos and Chicanas: Liberation Psychotherapy. Los Angeles, Spring 2003

Pacific Clinics Latino Mental Health Conference:  Liberation Psychotherapy. Los Angeles, May 2003

Latino Behavioral Health Institute: Liberation Psychotherapy. Los Angeles, September 2003.

World Conference of Psychotherapy: The Antisocial Element in the Culture of Psychotherapy. Vienna, Austria, Summer 2003

International Conference of Political Psychology: The Antisocial Element in the Culture of Psychotherapy. Berlin, Germany, Summer 2003  

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Judy Magee, M.A.
Distance/Online Learning
email
(503) 675-1805
(877) 833-7300 (toll-free)
Office location: Portland, OR

Education:

M.A. Pacific Oaks College, Human Development
B.A. University of California, Davis, Psychology

Teaching Interests:

• Online Learning
• Transformative Pedagogy
• Holistic Curriculum Design
• Parent Development and Family Support
• Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Work with Children and Adults
• Civil Rights Movement Education

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Paige L. Parker, M.S., M.A, M.A.
COCE
Email
(510)  622-8132
Office location: Oakland, Visalia

Education:
M.A. California School of Professional Psychology, Clinical Psychology
M.A. Stanford University, Communications
M.S. Bank Street College of Education, Early Childhood Education
B.A. Howard University, Elementary Education

Teaching Interests:

• Racial Identity Development
• Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma
• Spiritual Activism

• Alternative learning practices and environments

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Rebecca S. Rojas, Ph.D.
MFT Interim Academic Director
Email
(626) 397-1339
Office Location: Eureka 6

Teaching Interests:

• Clinical Theories of Child Development
• Psychopathology
• Latina/o History and Culture 
• Ethnicity and Mental Health

Education:

Ph.D. University of Southern California, Counseling Psychology
M.A. Pepperdine University, Psychology
B.A. California State University, Long Beach, Music Therapy

Scholarship:  

Research areas of interest have been gender, culture and psychology.  

Rojas, R. S. and Hovey, J. D. (1998). "An examination of undocumented immigration in a Michigan Sample." Poster presentation at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.  

Rojas, R. S. and Kain, C. (1995).  "The Development of the Attitudes Towards Immigration Scale." Unpublished manuscript.  

Rojas, R. S., Kain, C., & Hovey, J. D. (1995) "Proposition 187 examined."  Poster presentation at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, New York, New York.  

Rojas, R. S. (1994) "The Mexican American Female Worker: Perspectives on Gender and Culture in the Workplace." Poster presentation at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.  

Rojas, R. S. (1994) "The Cultural Bias in the Work Environment Measure." Poster presentation at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.  

Rojas, R. S. (1993) "Acculturation and Work Stressors." Poster presentation at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.  

Publications: Rojas, R. S. (1995). "The Mexican American Female Worker: Perspectives on Gender and Culture in the Workplace." Special Issue, Gender in the  Workplace, Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, Vol. 10, No. 6, 163-178.  

Rojas, R.S. (2000). "Proposition 187 Re-Examined: Attitudes toward Immigration among California Voters," Current Psychology, November issue.

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Tim Sundeen, Ph.D.
Director of Human Development, Pasadena
Email
(626) 432-5563 
Advising Letter and Calendar-SU05/FA05

• Immigration and Identity
• Pacific Rim
• Ethnographic Methods
• Transnationalism and Globalization
• Critical Race Theory
• Urban Anthropology 

Education:

Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Anthropology
M.A. University of California, Los Angeles, Anthropology
B.A. Columbia University, History

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