Clinical Crises and Emergencies Research (CCER) Laboratory
CCER Lab Website
Bruce Bongar, Ph.D., ABPP, FACLP, CPsychol, CSci
Calvin Distinguished Professor of Psychology
bbongar@paloaltou.edu and
professorbongar@gmail.com
Admitted 2017
Alumni
Marissa N. Eusebio, PhD.
Marissa is predominantly interested in working with military and veteran populations in various capacities. Her past practicum placements have been at the Neurocognitive Rehabilitation Unit at the Northern California VA working with patients with PTSD and substance abuse disorders and at the San Francisco VA conducting assessments for the Stress and Health Research lab. She studies risk factors for veteran suicide and physical bravery in veterans. Marissa received a B.S. in psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience and behavior from the University of California, San Diego.
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Admitted 2016
Kellylynn Zuni, PhD.
Kellylynn Zuni (Diné/Navajo) of the Black Streak Wood People clan and born of the Two Who Came to Water clan, is a Navy Psychologist. She commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy in 2021. Her research interests include clinical emergencies concerning culture, such as clinical emergencies and crises, including suicidal behavior, reasons for living, and resilience. She assisted in developing a culturally informed Suicide and Crisis Management degree program with a tribal university in her home community. Her dissertation was entitled “Developing Educational Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes) that are Endorsed by Indigenous Mental Health Experts Related to the Assessment of Suicide."
Renata Sargon, PhD.- rsargon@paloaltou.edu
Renata Sargon graduated from the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
from Loyola University Chicago, where she also earned her Master of Education in Community Counseling. While in graduate school, Renata was a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois, where she worked in long term care facilities for individuals diagnosed with severe mental illnesses, and worked as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Director and as a consultant before moving to California. Renata completed her pre-doctoral internship at Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC) this year. Her primary research interests include crisis intervention training for police, the psychology of terrorism, and suicidality. Most recently, Renata has accepted her dream job at San Quentin State Prison. Here she works on an enhanced outpatient programming unit for inmate patients with severe mental illness.
Kristen Vescera, PhD.
Kristen is primarily interested in working with Veterans. Kristen is studying physical bravery with active and Reserve Special Operations Service Members and is heavily involved in promoting PAU student Veteran needs on campus. Kristen received her B.A. from Syracuse University in English and Geography. After spending time as a volunteer coordinator for a U.S. volunteer and travel program in Latin America, she completed a M.A. in Counseling Psychology with special emphasis in school counseling. Shortly after, Kristen enlisted into the U.S. Army Reserves and deployed to Afghanistan in 2012-13. This sparked her passion for working with Veterans and she hopes to continue her work on suicide prevention in active duty and Veteran populations. Her future work aligns with her interests both clinically and in policy/ program development for Veterans.
Kate Maslowski, PhD.
Kate graduated from PAU and completed the Neuropsychology track. Kate completed her internship at the Connecticut VA in West Haven, CT and then accepted a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Long Beach VA in CA starting in the fall. She is also completing her dissertation on right hemisphere functioning and suicide within a veteran population. Kate received her B.S. in Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy and received a commission into the United States Navy. Following eight years as a Surface Warfare Officer, Kate resigned her active-duty commission to pursue a career in clinical psychology. After leaving active duty, Kate received her M.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University. Kate is interested in continuing her career working with veterans and active duty military in neuropsychology and cognitive rehabilitation. Additionally, Kate is a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserves and is currently assigned to the Office of Naval Research.
Admitted 2015
Catherine Hausman, PhD.
Catie graduated from the Trauma emphasis at PAU. Catie completed her internship in the Southwest Consortium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also successfully defended her dissertation on Physical Bravery in the military in the Fall of 2018. For the CCER, Catie has been primarily working with Stanford to develop culturally based suicide screening for primary care, studying physical bravery in military service members and veterans, and training in standards and developing training in suicide risk management. In the past, Catie was involved with the Trauma Student Group and Student Veterans Organization. Catie’s pre-graduate school research experience involved studying suicide prevention in veterans with PTSD with Dr. Herbert Hendin in NYC.
Maryke Harrison, PhD.
Maryke completed their internship at the Portland VA. Maryke has worked as a consultant, developing and evaluating a mental health empowerment program for the Hualapai tribe and served as lead coordinator of a special interest group on risk, resilience, and reasons for living within the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). Maryke is also collaborating with the WHO on developing a manual on national suicide prevention programs across all WHO regions. Maryke is currently completing her dissertation on resilience, reasons for living, minority stress and suicide risk among LGBT individuals. As a member of the PAU community, Maryke served as the president of SECA and WITT.
Tracy Vargo, PhD.
Tracy completed the Neuropsychology Area of Emphasis at PAU. She is completed her pre-doctoral internship in Pediatric Psychology/Pediatric Neuropsychology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She previously completed clinical practica at the Kaiser Redwood City Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Center (MDAC), and Palo Alto VA Memory Clinic as well as supplemental research practica at the Stanford University Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Science Research (CIBSR) and UCSF Laboratory for Educational Neuroscience (BrainLENS). Within the CCER group, Tracy worked on several book chapters on military and veteran suicide and encyclopedia entries about neuropsychological assessment, executive functioning, and chromosomal abnormalities. Outside of CCER, Tracy has also been involved in a number of neuroimaging projects at CIBSR, and she collaborated with Dr. Allan Reiss, Dr. David Hong, and Dr. Megan Klabunde at CIBSR for her dissertation research. She successfully defended her dissertation on X-chromosome dosage effects on visuospatial skills in girls with Turner Syndrome. Outside of psychology, Tracy teaches yoga and enjoys running, hiking, cooking, and playing with her dogs. She is originally from the Bay Area and attended the University of San Diego for her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Biology.
Admitted 2014
James Sottile, PhD.
Jimmie held specific interests in the Trauma Area of Emphasis while attending graduate school at PAU. Jimmie went to the San Diego VA for the 2019-2020 postdoc year. He was admitted to the clinical crises and emergencies research group in the spring of 2014. Jimmie finished his internship at the Loma Linda VA. Last year, and he completed his third external practicum at the West Los Angeles VA. Jimmie has worked on several book chapters, encyclopedia entries, and poster presentations for CCER on military and veteran suicide, as well as the psychology of terrorism. He successfully defended his dissertation research study on motives, consequences, and risk behaviors associated with MDMA use in June 2018. Jimmie collaborated with Dr. Nancy Haug on adapting his dissertation research for publication. He is from Chevy Chase, MD and completed his undergraduate studies at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Outside of psychology, he likes to go on bike rides, hikes, and attend live music events.
Admitted 2013
Dana Lockwood, J.D., Ph.D.
Dana Lockwood graduated from Palo Alto University in 2018 with a PhD in clinical psychology. While at PAU, she was in the joint JD/PhD program and graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2015. She held external practicum placements at Goodwill Wellness Center, Adventist Health Vallejo (formerly, St. Helena Hospital) and the Palo Alto VA. She completed her predoctoral internship at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Vacaville Psychiatric Inpatient Program and stayed-on as a postdoctoral fellow working with the Assessment Consultation Service. Her research areas include lethal means restriction, ethical and legal standards of care, and public policy with regards to behavioral emergencies. Her dissertation is entitled "Firearms law as it relates to suicidal patients: Developing a national legal standard of care for emergency lethal means restriction."