Our Directors and Affiliates

Tom Nochajski and Sue Green.

Tom Nochajski (former co-director) and Sue Green in Parker Hall, South Campus.

The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC) is supported and guided by our team of talented directors and affiliates, who possess an array of skills and expertise that translate to informed, cutting edge research rooted in real-world impact and best and current practices.

The ITTIC Team

Susan A. Green

Susan Green, clinical professor, UB School of Social Work.

Susan A. Green, LCSW, is a clinical professor at the UB School of Social Work. She is certified as an EMDR therapist and certified in Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Susan teaches or has taught courses in social work interventions with children, adults, families, groups and communities; trauma theory and treatment; risk and resilience; and diversity. She is committed to the integration of theory with practice as she combines full-time teaching and training with clinical practice. Susan has been working with various groups and individuals for more than 20 years as both a special educator and social worker.

Samantha Koury

Samantha Koury.

Samantha is the co-director at ITTIC, as well as a trainer and consultant on various projects. She is a graduate of the UB School of Social Work and a current EdD doctoral student at Marymount University. Samantha has many years of experience working with staff in different agencies, organizations and systems to become more trauma-informed in their work. She is passionate about trauma-informed leadership, workforce wellness and helping organizations and systems plan for, implement and sustain trauma-informed culture change. 

Megan Koury

Megan Koury.

Megan is a project/office manager and trainer at ITTIC and an adjunct professor in the UB School of Social Work, teaching Violence in the Family. She is a graduate of the UB School of Architecture and Planning, specializing in community and neighborhood planning. Megan's interest focuses on the effects of historical and institutional trauma and how they play out at the city, community and individual level. One day, Megan hopes to see how trauma-informed cities can help fight against the adverse effects of trauma and adverse community environments. 

Maureen Hammett

Maureen Hammett.

Maureen serves as a part-time administrative consultant with ITTIC and is the owner/manager of Hammett Leadership Development LLC, a leadership coaching and consultancy firm. In addition, Maureen serves as a performance coach and consultant for Triad Academic Search. Her current portfolio of part-time work and coaching/consulting engagements comes after retirement from the full-time world of work. Most recently, Maureen served as the vice dean and chief of staff for the UB School of Social Work, a position she held for more than seven years. She holds three degrees from Buffalo State University and certifications in leadership coaching and Hogan assessments. 

Maryam Ameen

Maryam Ameen.

Maryam is a project associate at ITTIC, where she is engaged with both evaluation and training. Before joining the team, she worked in mental health/substance abuse for several years, where she supported adults with SPMI and a history of homelessness to navigate the mental health and public assistance systems. She received her MSW from UB's School of Social Work and is interested in assisting organizations in implementing a trauma-informed approach as a first step in supporting wider systems to do the same. Ameen is also interested in the evaluation and research behind such implementation.

Jangmin Kim

Dr. Jangmin Kim.

Jangmin Kim, PhD, is an assistant professor in the UB School of Social Work. He joined the ITTIC team in the spring 2023 as a research consultant. His research interests center around macro practice, working with organizations and communities, particularly within child welfare and other systems of care for children, youth and families. Drawing from a social justice perspective, his recent research focuses on the development of trauma-informed organizations to address workers' secondary traumatic stress and enhance their safety and well-being. In addition, his interests extend to building trauma-informed collaboration that brings multiple systems together to promote system changes and provide effective services that improve the well-being of children, youth and families who have experienced historical trauma and oppression.

A Special Thanks

Thomas H. Nochajski (ITTIC Co-Director from 2012-2021)

Photo of Thomas H. Nochajski.

Thomas Nochajski is a retired research professor from the UB School of Social Work. He has over 30 years of research experience and has been a principal investigator or co-PI on several NIH- and foundation-funded grants. His work focuses on all aspects of prevention of alcohol and drug problems (primary, secondary and tertiary), including how mental health and other behavioral risk factors influence treatment and prevention outcomes. Nochajski also has experience with instrument development around screening and assessment issues for various groups. He has engaged in numerous evaluations of existing programs, including drug courts, mental health programs, drinking driver programs, substance use treatment and other types of programs for criminal justice groups. His most recent work focuses on trauma and trauma-informed care.

ITTIC Partners and Affiliates