Program Highlights

Anthony Ferrer has been running his own business since he was nine years old. However, the inspiration for Magic by Anthony Events initially came from his grandparents.

“When I was four years old, my grandmother would bring me to the ‘magic corner’ in our house,” explains Ferrer, a first-year doctoral student in SEU’s psychology program. “I’d stand with my face toward the wall, say a specific phrase and candy would pop out of the corner!”

Awestruck by the sudden appearance of sweet treats, Ferrer developed a love for magic. Years later, when he realized that his grandmother was just throwing the candy into the corner, his fascination with the art of illusion didn’t fade. In fact, it strengthened.

“Magic is all about entertainment and giving someone else the opportunity to smile,” says Ferrer. “Sometimes we just need a break in our day and magic takes you out of yourself.”

Earlier this year, Ferrer became a board member for the non-profit organization, Magical Healing. Its purpose: to transform children into confident performers and empower them to uplift vulnerable populations through the wonderment of magic. Ferrer, who struggled with anxiety growing up, has seen the organization benefit timid children firsthand.

“I was that quiet kid standing in the back of the room and magic changed everything for me. By teaching this skill to kids, we’re allowing them to develop their own voice and medium for expression in the world,” says Ferrer. “Then these kids give back to the community by entertaining veterans, hospitalized children, seniors and struggling families. That’s the real magic.”

Simone Robinson, '19, moved 1,575 miles away from home after recognizing the value of an education from Saint Elizabeth University. Originally from the island of Jamaica, Simone was enamored by SEU's reputation for academic success and commitment to inclusivity.

"I always speak about my love for the diversity at SEU," remarks Simone, who is an ambassador for the University and frequently gives tours to prospective students and their parents. "I make sure everyone knows that if they attend SEU, then they will be accepted regardless of class, color or creed."

Embracing all people has always been an integral part of SEU's history. In October, SEU earned a ranking of "Best Ethnic Diversity" colleges by U.S. News & World Report. The annual "Best Colleges" list includes SEU as one of the top 15 most ethnically diverse in the "Regional Universities – North", making it one of only three private New Jersey schools in that category.

Most recently, Simone joined The Solidarity Project: DiverSEU. This program, based on Everyday Democracy's publication "Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation", fosters conversations about racism, stereotypes, prejudice and colorism.

"It's important to broaden one's awareness about these issues and strive to always meet the highest level of dignity and respect for everyone involved," says Simone.

In addition to DiverSEU, Simone is deeply involved in just about every facet of the University. She's a member of the tennis team, works as a writing tutor in SEU's Academic Success Center, as a student assistant in the Office of Health Services and is a mentor for students in both the Honors Program and FASTRAK. Comparable to an educational boot camp, FASTRAK begins prior to SEU's formal Orientation and aims to better prepare freshmen for the rigors of college.

This semester, Simone also became an Independent College Fund of New Jersey (ICFNJ) scholar and was awarded a grant to conduct research.

As a first-generation college student, Simone truly understands the value of a liberal arts education. She firmly believes that this type of education enables students to communicate effectively, challenge antiquated thoughts patterns and stimulate a love for learning.

"Coming from a little island, it is easy to lose hope with regards to finding a sound career," says Simone. "But studying at SEU has opened my eyes to unlimited possibilities."

Upon graduating Simone plans to earn her master's in counseling psychology from SEU.

Morristown, N.J. (December 15, 2020) – Denyse Woods has successfully defended her dissertation at Saint Elizabeth University to earn a Psy.D. degree in Counseling Psychology.

As she started the program, being a newlywed and new mother, Dr. Woods wanted to focus on the social inequities in our society today. She was especially motivated by the experiences of marginalized populations and mental health disparities. Saint Elizabeth University’s counseling psychology program was a good fit for Dr. Woods because of their strong emphasis on social justice and multiculturalism.

For her dissertation, An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Public Attitudes Toward the Forensic Population and the U.S. Criminal Justice System, Dr. Woods examined attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions to generate knowledge that can be disseminated and used to influence laws and policies that affect the justice system and forensic population to encourage better outcomes. This will help provide her with a strong voice and platform to advocate for vulnerable individuals.

Dr. Woods is currently working with clients impacted by significant histories of trauma. She conducts therapy sessions and forensic psychological evaluations for the purpose of recommending services that benefit emotional and behavioral functioning. Dr. Woods seeks to empower all of her clients through the development of skills and techniques to improve their overall mental health.

Among all of her other accomplishments, Dr. Woods is also an adjunct professor at SEU. She likes teaching introduction to counseling because of the different activities they were able to do and the collaborative environment it provided. “I would strongly urge students to consider SEU’s doctorate program because of the support from faculty and classmates with the cohort model and the emphasis on social justice,” Dr. Woods says. “Good self-care and support from family and friends make it easier to complete the program.”

From earning her master’s degree at Saint Elizabeth University through to her doctorate, Dr. Woods has left her mark on SEU and will continue to affect change as she continues her important work.

Morristown, NJ (November 25, 2020) – Dr. Meredith Gondo has successfully defended her dissertation at Saint Elizabeth University to earn a Psy.D. degree in Counseling Psychology.

As an individual who has an extremely strong interest in social justice, fighting against the stigma of mental health in America, and working with underrepresented populations, Gondo was drawn to those aspects in the SEU counseling psychology program. Her experience through the program allowed her the opportunity to work with the elderly, whom she plans to work with and advocate for in the future.

For her dissertation, "A Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model of Chronic Pain in Adults", Gondo focused on chronic pain and the factors in life and spirituality that influence how pain is experienced. Using the biopsychosocial model, she was able to conceptualize pain and find evidence that spirituality did influence pain experience for some individuals. Gondo has suggested a biopsychosocial-spiritual model would be useful for clients to navigate through their chronic pain conditions.

Gondo hopes that psychologists can become more involved in the treatment of health conditions. She sees this happening by the growing practice of therapists promoting positive lifestyle choices, educating and supporting both patients and caregivers, all while addressing mental health concerns. Gondo has stated, "offering non-medical treatments for health conditions is one way to potentially reduce reliance on medications and perhaps encourage behaviors which might lead to improvements in health outcomes."

With so much physical and psychological challenges happening in our world today, her contribution to the field and to her clients will be most needed and welcomed.