Dr. Sally Turner, Counseling Center Director
Sally Turner, Ed.D, NCC, CASAC graduated May 1996 Doctor of Education, Counseling and Psychology in Education from the University of South Dakota. In addition, she holds a Master of Arts, Educational Psychology and Counseling from the University of South Dakota (Aug. 1993), Bachelor of Science, Applied Health with major in Alcohol and Drug Studies from the University of South Dakota (May 1991), and an Associate of Arts, Nursing from the University of South Dakota (May 1970).
After working many years as a registered nurse, Sally completed a counseling internship at The Wellness Center, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the Student Counseling Center at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota. Following her internship, she worked one year as a dual diagnosis counselor at the Student Counseling Center at the University of South Dakota.
During her counseling career, Sally worked for several years in private practice providing individual, couples, and family mental health counseling to children, adolescents, and adults. Concurrently, Sally taught as an adjunct faculty at the University of South Dakota in Alcohol and Drug Studies and Educational Psychology Departments.
Sally has worked extensively with issues of abuse, trauma, substance misuse, depression, and anxiety. While working at SUNY Fredonia she has been one of the principle investigators of a Department of Justice grant to reduce violent crimes against women on campus.
Dr. Sally Turner is a Registered Nurse (RN) in South Dakota, a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), and a New York State Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC).
Dr. Sally Turner is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American College Counseling Association (ACCA), the American College Health Association (ACHA), and the New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA).
During her career, Sally has been honored as the Knapp Scholarship Recipient (1995), Outstanding Doctoral Graduate, Division of Counseling and Psychology, University of South Dakota (1996), and received the 2000 Howard B. Smith Distinguished Service Award by the South Dakota Mental Health Counselors Association. In 2008 she was presented the SUNY Fredonia President's Award for Excellence for significant contributions to the campus community.
Sally has two grown children and one granddaughter. She enjoys throwing pottery, reading, bird feeding, cooking, and gardening.
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Dr. Leanna White, Senior Counselor
Leanna S. White, Ph.D, NCC has been with the Counseling Center since 1986. She's a graduate of the University of Missouri - Columbia's masters and doctoral programs in Counseling Psychology. She grew up in Western Pennsylvania and earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh. She originally came to SUNY Fredonia in 1981 to teach in the Psychology Department, and she has taught such courses as Intro to Psychology, Human Sexuality, and Intro to Counseling.
Leanna has worked extensively with issues related to sexual abuse, sexual assault, and acquaintance rape. To address prevention of violence, she originated S.T.E.P.S., SUNY-Fredonia's peer education group. Leanna also has strong interests in working with people on family issues, sexual identity concerns, spiritual development, and grief and loss issues. She intiated the Safe Zone Committee to raise awareness on campus about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender concerns. She loves working with college students because of the opportunities for self-discovery that come with the college experience.
More recently, Leanna, along with Jana McDermott of the Salvation Army's Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence program, started the campus organization AWARE, which offers students the opportunity to take part on campus in a 40 hour training program which certifies them as advocates able to respond to sexual assault and domestic violence victims in local hospital emergency rooms. The group also provides educational programming on campus.
Leanna enjoys sharing her home with the youngest of three daughters and with two cats and one dog. She looks forward to visits from her oldest, an assistant manager of an Ann Taylor store in Richmond, and her middle daughter, a college student. She enjoys walking and s-l-o-w running, gardening, reading, and enjoying the outdoors in all of Western New York's seasons. Right now she is exploring mindfulness meditation and its applications to counseling, particularly in Steven Hayes' "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy".
Would you like to try an innovative approach to decision making or personal growth? Leanna White has been certified in the use of an engaging system for self-exploration which uses colors and symbols to provide insight and provoke discussion. To learn more, please go to: http://maricreativeresources.com/whatismari.htm
To participate, please schedule a session with Leanna by calling 673-3424. Be sure to indicate at the time of your call that you are interested in doing the MARI.
*Please note that if you are having suicidal thoughts or are dealing with serious depression or anxiety, it is best to make a traditional intake appointment first. It is important for you and your counselor to address those concerns directly and quickly. You are welcome to try the MARI later, once you have dealt successfully with those issues.
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Dr. Tracy L. Stenger, Counseling Center Assistant Director
Tracy L. Stenger, Ph.D., NCC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and an alum of SUNY Fredonia. She has been serving as a counselor at SUNY College at Fredonia since Fall of 1998. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct professor in the Psychology Department since fall of 1999. Tracy completed her master's in Counseling Psychology at Ball State University in 1998 and her Ph.D. in Counselor Education at the University at Buffalo in 2007. Prior to pursuing her master's, Tracy worked two years as a teacher of English in Japan, spent one year in Malaysia working for the US embassy as an instructor at the Sungei Besi Vietnamese Refugee Camp and as a Bi-national Fulbright Commission Student Advisor. She completed an internship at Pendleton Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison in Indiana in 1998. During a sabbatical during the fall 2002 semester, Tracy worked as the mental health professional for the Institute of Shipboard Education Semester at Sea program, sailing the globe with 650 university students.
Since coming to Fredonia, Tracy initially focused on substance abuse services, implementing the Fredonia CARES program. She spear-headed the now annual Campus-Wide Donation Drive and helped the SFCC outreach program by coordinating the Don't Cancel That Class program. Tracy is currently focusing efforts on suicide prevention/intervention.
Tracy is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), American Counseling Association (ACA), the American College Counseling Association (ACCA), the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA).
Outside the office, Tracy spends time with her husband and son. She enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, flying, and exercising. Her research interests include: impact of mobilization and deployment on soldiers, suicide prevention and intervention, effective counseling, and college student development.
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Jeffrey Janicki, Counselor
Jeffrey Janicki, M.S., NCC, LMHC, has been serving as a full time counselor at SUNY College at Fredonia since the Fall of 2000. He began his Fredonia career in 1998 as a Residence Hall Director. Jeff currently serves as the advisor to Panhellenic and S.T.E.P.S. (Students Teaching Equals Positive Sexuality) peer education group. In addition, Jeff facilitates group work to address high risk substance use behaviors and men's issues.
Jeff's current professional interests involve utilizing Motivational Coaching Strategies and Positive Psychology Research to address developmental identity concerns related to Emerging Adulthood. Positive Psychology research offers a unique perspective on college student development theory. Character Strength and Virtue theory is particularly useful in assisting students address academic concerns, career/major uncertainty; minimize risks associated with alcohol/substance use behaviors; and improve intra/interpersonal satisfaction, mood and self-concept/purposeful living.
Jeff received his Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Gannon University (1998) and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from SUNY College at Geneseo (1994). His work experience includes serving as the Assistant Director of the Powell Campus Center at Alfred University, the Greek Life Advisor at Gannon University, a Psychotherapist at Lake Erie Counseling Associates, and the Chautuaqua Institution College Club Director.
Jeff is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American College Counseling Association (ACCA), and the New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA). He is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in NYS.
Jeff spends his time away from Fredonia with his wife and two sons. He enjoys camping, hiking, playing/coaching hockey and serving as a volunteer firefighter.
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Therese Blind, Counselor
Therese M. Blind, M.S.Ed., part-time Counselor, joined the SUNY Fredonia State College Counseling Center in the fall of 2011. Therese’s vast counseling background is primarily with students in a school setting, including the last 8 ½ years as a School Counselor. After obtaining her Master of Science in Counseling Education, she moved to New Jersey, where she worked as a 9-12 School Counselor at Bridgewater-Raritan High School for two years. After returning to the Western New York area, she worked for a year as a Mental Health Therapist at Baker Victory Day Treatment Services. In this setting, Therese worked with students from the age of 6 through 18. She returned to the high school setting, working at Mount Mercy Academy. During her four years at Mt. Mercy, she worked specifically with seniors, guiding them through the college application process, as well as academic, career, and personal concerns. She became Chairperson of the Counseling Department in 2007. Therese joined the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda UFSD in 2009, working as a long term substitute School Counselor for 2 ½ years. She began her term at Herbert Hoover Middle School and then joined the Kenmore East High School Counseling Center.
In addition, Therese has worked in the Admissions Office at St. Bonaventure University, where she began as an Admissions Counselors and was promoted to Assistant Director of Admissions. During that time, she traveled to the New England area to recruit students, as well as guide them through the college application process.
Therese received both her Master of Science in Education, Counseling (2001) & Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (1998) from St. Bonaventure University. During her undergraduate education, Therese studied abroad in Ireland, studying at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. She has also had the opportunity to travel to Spain and France and hopes to someday travel to other areas in Europe.
Therese is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA). In addition to that, she has had membership in the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC) and National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
Therese resides in Hamburg, where she spends her time at with her husband and son. She enjoys walking and swimming, as well as spending time with her family.
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Julie Hoen Bezek, Coordinator of
Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention (SAVP)
Julie Hoen Bezek, MA, has been at the Counseling Center since 2005 serving as the coordinator of Campus Education Awareness, Support and Effect (CEASE), the violence prevention - victim services program. In 2009 the CEASE Office expanded to include to alcohol and other drug prevention services. Julie coordinates outreach and advocacy services in the areas substance abuse and violence prevention, including Fredonia CARES and ADEPT. Julie serves as advisor Students Teaching Equals Positive Sexuality (STEPS).
Julie is a member of the Chautauqua County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the American College Health Association (ACHA), and the New York State College Prevention Project (NYSCPP).
Julie received her Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from SUNY Fredonia. She has previously worked in health promotion, residence life, and first-year programs.[ Back To Top ]
Marie Wysocki, Secretary
Marie Wysocki serves as the secretary for the Counseling Center since May 2000. Marie graduated from Erie Community College in 1977 with an Associate Degree. She has worked in state service for over 25 years.
Before coming to Fredonia, she worked for SUNY Buffalo, Department of Medicine. Marie is married and has two children. Her hobbies are interior decorating, painting, and gardening.
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Dr. Abassi and Kyle Wiktor
Psychiatric services at the SFCC will be provided by a new provider this year. Former clients of Dr. McAlevey with concerns regarding medication refills should contact the counseling center directly at 673-3424.
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