Class Notes

Joseph J. Monaco, MSW ’73, LCSW-R, is in private practice at Western New York Psychotherapy Services in Orchard Park, N.Y. He is also an alumni mentor for a current UB student.

Bob Boneberg, MSW ’76, is senior campaign and policy counsel at Freedom United where he works to end the exception in the 13th Amendment, which permits people in prison to be made slaves.

Nancy Morrison, MSW ’76, BSW ’74, is now retired and living in Florida. She spent over 43 years working for Crisis Services and Kaleida Health in Buffalo.

Ellen Fink-Samnick, MSW ’83, attained a doctorate in behavioral health from Cummings Graduate Institute of Behavioral Health Studies, specializing in health equity, integrated care, quality, leadership and trauma-informed practices in primary care.

Annette Zaccari, MSW ’83, has a private practice, Zaccari Counseling Services, and serves as an adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz.

Ellen Rugg, MSW ’87, practices psychotherapy and clinical supervision in private practice in Seattle, Wash.

Diane Pesch-Savatteri, MSW ’89, is the president of the Concordia Foundation in Buffalo.

Donna Sherman, MSW ’94, is the women veteran program manager at the Bay Pines VA Health Care System, in St. Petersburg, Fla., where there are over 10,000 women veterans enrolled. Her focus is on ensuring high-quality, gender-specific health care services and promoting understanding of trailblazing women veterans and their needs.

Mary Kay Diakite, MSW ’96, is a student assistance program coordinator/EAP training coordinator with Clinical Associates of the Southern Tier in Corning, N.Y.

Khristopher Decker, MSW ’98, is vice president of behavioral health at Evergreen Health, overseeing mental health, substance use and harm reduction services. Decker also is a part-time field liaison for the UB School of Social Work and serves on boards for GLYS WNY and the UB Psychological Services Center.

Nelson Mar, JD/MSW ’98, is a senior staff attorney and education law specialist at Bronx Legal Services in New York. Recently, Mar served as co-chair of the education subcommittee for the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Racism, Social Equity and the Law. The task force’s report, released in January, examined how structural racism creates injustices and inequality for New Yorkers.

Marcy Abramsky, MSW ’99, LCSW, is a sole practitioner at a thriving teletherapy and coaching practice in New York State. She uses her background in solution-focused brief therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, school social work administration, telehealth and other areas to support adolescents, young adults, parents and caregivers.

William Korthals, MSW ’00, is the suicide prevention coordinator and mobile mental health specialist for the Charleston VAMC in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Last year, he completed his Lean Green Belt certification, focusing on suicide screening and helping the system to improve its suicide prevention metrics to over 95%.

Kristi P. Smith, MSW ’01, has been in private practice for over 11 years in Williamsville, N.Y. She provides counseling for teens, individuals, couples, and families using a solution-focused talk therapy approach.

Bettymarie Sullivan, MSW ’02, is a school social worker with the Kenmore Tonawanda School District in Kenmore, N.Y. She is proud to share that her daughter will be graduating with her MSW next year.

Jodi McKay, MSW ’03, is a crisis services program manager with the Niagara County Department of Mental Health in New York State.

Laurel Stephens, MSW ’03, LCSW-R, retired from the New York State Office of Mental Health in 2022 and moved to North Carolina. They plan to work part-time as a telehealth therapist.

Penny L. Drag, MSW ’04, offers private practice with Tranquil Waters Counseling in Hamburg, N.Y.

Wendy Varricchio-Fletcher, MSW ’05, celebrated her 11th year at the VA in Syracuse, N.Y. As a veteran justice outreach specialist, she works with veterans involved in the criminal justice system to assess mental health and substance use needs and advocate for treatment over incarceration.

Deanne Christopher, MSW ’08, LCSW, is a school social worker at Syracuse City School District in Syracuse, N.Y.

Ryann Hartmayer-Marks, MSW ’08, is a private practice therapist in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Yvonne DuBois, MSW ’09, is the chief equity and inclusion officer at Child and Family Services in Buffalo. She leads all education and initiatives to advance equity and inclusion throughout the agency and the Falk School.

Kristina Markert, MSW ’09, was promoted to clinical director of the adult partial hospitalization program at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y.

Teresa A. Machocha, MSW ’09, is a program coordinator with the Women’s Respite Program, a nonprofit that hosts complimentary retreats to help relieve stress and provide relaxation for mothers with low-income women with cancer, grandmothers raising grandchildren, and mothers raising children on the autism spectrum.

Andrea Russell, MSW ’09, is a school social worker with Buffalo Public Schools.

Mary Cwiklinski, MSW ’10, is a school social worker in the Williamsville School District in Williamsville, N.Y.

Caryn Domzalski MSW ’10, maintains a private practice and recently began a new position as assistant director of clinical services at Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y.

Deborah Pierce-Tate, MSW ’10, teaches courses for the UB College of Arts and Sciences Department of Africana and American Studies, including “Black Child in America” and “Health Problems in the Black Community.”

Elaine Rinfrette, PhD ’10, was awarded Scholar of the Year from Edinboro University and retired from academia in May 2022. She now spends time as a Buffalo Zoo docent, traveling and playing bridge.

Veronica Golden, MSW ’11, is a school social worker with the Buffalo Public Schools.

Shirley Wright, MSW ’11, is a clinical supervisor with Oak Orchard Health in Brockport, N.Y., started her own part-time private practice in 2020.

Keyla Fisk, MSW ’12, is an inpatient psychiatry and emergency department social work supervisor with the VA Western New York Healthcare System.

Samantha Baldo, MSW ’13, is a social worker in the long-term care program at the Visiting Nursing Association of WNY.

Karen Williams, MSW ’13, LCSW-R, CASAC, a therapist at Daemen University in Buffalo, N.Y. They also opened a virtual private practice in 2023 specializing in working with therapists and healthcare providers.

Jill Baszczynski, MSW ’14, has presented at the National Association of Counsel for Children’s 45th Law Conference. Additionally, she works for the New York State Child Welfare Court Improvement Project and serves as an adjunct professor at Daemen University, teaching social work courses related to child welfare policy.

Bradley Hamm, MSW ’14, opened his own practice, A Peace of My Mind Licensed Clinical Social Work, after seven years in the nonprofit mental health space. He also continues to run a dialectical behavior therapy group for adults.

Alyssa Pepe-Johnson, MSW ’14, LCSW, owns a private practice in West Seneca, N.Y.

Molly Wolf, PhD ’14, MSW ’07, was recently promoted to full professor at PennWest University. Recent publications include papers in the European Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, the Journal of Women and Aging, and the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse.

Keith Mitchell, MSW ’15, is an EOP counselor at SUNY Canton in Canton, N.Y.

Timothy Shaughnessy, MSW ’15, joined Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center as an outpatient mental health therapist.

Dawn St. John, MSW ’16, is a licensing specialist at Devereux Advanced Behavior Health in Fort Myers, Fla.

Sara Andrew, MSW ’17, works at the VA Western New York Healthcare System as a social worker on the patient-aligned care team (primary care) in Buffalo.

Stacee Muolo, MSW ’17, LCSW, is a behavioral health specialist with the special education department of the Perry Central School District after spending five years with the Genesee Valley BOCES Intensive Therapeutic Program.

Karen Aris, MSW ’18, has worked for Erie County Social Services HEAP program for 21 years in Buffalo.

Danielle Dylik, MSW ’18, is the director of family support at Buffalo Creek Academy Charter.

Abbie Burd, MSW ’19, is a behavioral health specialist with Highmark Health in Buffalo.

Aurora Couch, MSW ’19, is a dialysis social worker with U.S. Renal Care in Rochester, N.Y.

Sarah Huerta Well, MSW ’19, was promoted to assistant director of initial services in UB's Accessibility Resources Office.

Estella Johnson, MSW ’19, is the vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion with Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic in Charlotte, N.C.

Mariah Mann, MSW ’19, is a behavioral health clinician with Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Buffalo.

Amanda Mohler, MSW ’19, has loved spending the last four years as a school social worker at Orchard Park High School in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Sam Vaughn, MSW ’19, was named to Buffalo Business First’s 2023 30 Under 30. He is the program director for BestSelf Behavioral Health’s Child Advocacy Center and a DBT clinician with the Counseling Center Group of New York.

Kandis LeBaron, MSW ’20, LMSW, is an integrated substance use and mental health counselor working with adults and children at Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene in Jamestown, N.Y. She is certified in accelerated resolution therapy and parent child interactive therapy.

Carmann Acquesta, MSW ’21, was promoted to foster care supervisor at Seamen’s Society for Children and Families. She resides in Staten Island, N.Y.

Julia Carey, MSW ’21, is a clinical social worker at MarinHealth Medical Center in California.

Kimberly Foster, MSW ’21, is the manager of social work and financial case management at Highland Hospital in Rochester, N.Y.

Courtney Gabamonte, MSW ’21, is an essential care social worker with Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo.

Briona Luthart, MSW ’21, is a school social worker at Lackawanna City School District Middle and High Schools, in Lackawanna, N.Y.

Cassidy Malough, MBA/MSW ’21, was named a 2023 Buffalo Business First 30 Under 30 winner. She is senior manager of program delivery at Goodwill WNY in Buffalo.

Cameron McLeod, MSW ’21, is a social worker at the Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in the Southern Tier of New York.

Emily McDougall, MSW ’21, is a psychiatric case manager with ECMC’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program in Buffalo.

Julianne Reese, MSW ’21, is a nephrology social worker at Fresenius Medical Care in Akron, Ohio. She is actively working toward earning her independent licensure.

Katherine Wilson, MSW ’21, works as a mental health counselor with BestSelf Behavioral Health in Buffalo.

Caitlin Bearss, MSW ’22, is a clinical therapist with Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority’s Outpatient Therapy Department in Traverse City, Mich.

Breanna Coach, MSW ’22, is an academic advising assistant at Stony Brook University in New York State.

Alexa Colletti, MSW ’22, is a school-based social worker at Family Service of the Chautauqua Region in New York State.

Jessica Gonzalez, MSW ’22, earned her LMSW in 2023 and is a school counselor with Gateway-Longview Lynde Day School in Buffalo, N.Y.

Jessica Lynn Lipka, MSW ’22, LMSW, was promoted to senior counselor II at Horizon Health Services in Buffalo.

Elizabeth Pokoj, MSW ’22, works as an adolescent psychiatric case manager in the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo.

Sarah Elizabeth Spurling, MSW ’22, is a clinician with Catholic Charities’ Monsignor Carr Institute in Buffalo.