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Whether our students’ professional emphases are assessment, intervention , or other professional activities, one of the keys to their growth lies in the expert support and guidance of FSPP’s accomplished faculty.
Through these relationships, students apply their theoretical knowledge, implement clinical techniques, and integrate research findings to enhance their abilities as clinicians. These close mentoring relationships extend beyond the classroom to collaborations on professional presentations and publications.
Additionally, many of our students gain opportunities to work with faculty as teaching or research assistants. These roles can enhance and deepen professional collaborations and also may provide students with stipends or work-study funding.
As a result, FSPP students are poised to gain experiences that will better prepare them to acquire professional licensure, maintain ethical relationships with patients and colleagues, and develop a professional network.
Faculty Expertise
Our faculty specialize in a diverse range of clinical areas, including forensic psychology, trauma, multicultural issues and assessment of children, adolescents, couples and families. Many serve as peer editors of professional journals, maintain private practices, and serve as officers in state, regional and national psychological associations.
Dr. Crystal Collier, Program Director and Professor | Email: ccollier4@nl.edu
Degrees:
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology
Wright State University School of Professional Psychology 2006
Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology University of Kansas 1996
Areas of Expertise:
Diversity
Family Systems
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Women's issues
Spirituality/Religion
Sports Psychology
Biography:
Dr. Crystal S. Collier earned her PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the Wright State University School of Professional Psychology in Dayton, Ohio. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and currently serves as Program Director and Full Professor at the Florida School of Professional Psychology (FSPP) at National Louis University in Tampa, Florida.
Dr. Collier has expertise in the areas of diversity, family and child therapy, mental health, spirituality, professional psychology training, leadership in higher education, women's issues, and youth sports and athlete mental health. She has delivered presentations, workshops, and trainings in academic, professional, and community settings at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Through her teaching, mentorship, scholarship, and service, she has contributed to the professional development of students, faculty, practitioners, and community members. Her theoretical orientation is primarily influenced by assimilative psychodynamic and family systems approaches. Prior to joining National Louis University, she taught at Argosy University Tampa and Wright State University. Her clinical and professional interests include working with diverse populations of children, adolescents, families, parents, women, and athletes.
A dedicated educator, mentor, scholar, and leader, Dr. Collier has contributed extensively to professional psychology education, training, and governance. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA), representing the National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology (NCSPP). In this national role, she contributes to the accreditation and quality assurance of doctoral, internship, and postdoctoral training programs in professional psychology.
Dr. Collier is a Past President of the National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology and a Past Chair of the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Council at National Louis University. She has presented on a wide range of topics related to psychology, higher education, diversity, spirituality, women's issues, youth sports and athlete mental health, leadership, and professional psychology training. Throughout her career, she has mentored and sponsored numerous student poster presentations, research projects, and professional presentations at local, regional, national, and international conferences, supporting the development of future psychologists and scholars.
Her scholarly work includes co-authoring the 2018 book chapter, “Transgressions on Students and Faculty of Color in Higher Education: A Consideration of Potential Strategies.” She also authored the chapter “Black Males and the Courts” in the edited volume Black Males and the Criminal Justice System. Her professional interests include multicultural issues, professional psychology training, spirituality, family systems, women's issues, youth sports and athlete mental health, leadership development, and the advancement of equity and inclusion within higher education and mental health professions.
In 2020, Dr. Collier published the Mental Health Transformation Journal and the Spiritual Mental Health Transformation Journal. These guided journals provide a structured nine-week experience focused on mental health, self-reflection, and personal growth while offering practical tools to help individuals navigate daily life challenges and promote emotional well-being.
Dr. Collier remains committed to advancing the profession of psychology through teaching, mentorship, scholarship, service, leadership, and community engagement while preparing the next generation of psychologists to serve diverse individuals, families, and communities.
Dr. Sharie Fabregas, Assistant Professor | Email: sfabregas@nl.edu
Assessment, Child and Adolescent Assessment and Therapy, Diversity
Biography:
Dr. Sharie Fabregas received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at the Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Tampa, Florida. She has 6 years of teaching experience at a graduate level and currently teaches as an assistant professor at the Florida School of Professional Psychology (FSPP) at NLU.
She has expertise in the areas of assessment, diversity, and child and adolescent evaluation and treatment. She has also received specialized training in the areas of health psychology and neuropsychology. She has experience providing clinical supervision to students in both assessment and psychotherapy and has provided consultation in the area of bilingual assessment. Her theoretical orientation mostly involves evidence-based treatments including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy but also incorporates elements from psychodynamic and interpersonal theory. Her interests include culturally tailored training and education, religion and spirituality in clinical psychology, and treatment approaches incorporating mindfulness and compassion focused interventions.
Dr. Gary Howell, Associate Professor & Director of Practicum Training | Email:ghowell3@nl.edu
Degrees:
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Adler University (2008)
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, University (2004)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Austin College (2000)
Areas of Expertise:
Transgender-affirmative treatment and LGBT-related treatment concerns
Diversity
Forensic psychology
Severe and persistent mental illness and effective treatment modalities
Learning disorders
Biography:
Dr. Howell is a full professor and the Director of Practicum Training at Florida School of Professional Psychology. He has dedicated himself to advocacy and support of the LGBT community for over 20 years now. As an undergraduate student, he found himself on the front lines of HIV prevention work, where he provided community workshops and volunteered at an AIDS Service Organization spanning 7,000 square miles in rural Texas.
For the past several years, he has worked to create a safe space in Tampa for LGBT individuals in need of mental health services. Over the past year, he has made a tremendous mark in his work with the transgender community by providing free group therapy to transgender and gender diverse youth, as well as their parents.
As an openly gay psychologist, educator, and LGBT expert, Dr. Howell strives to shed light on bullying, suicide, and homophobia where possible. He has expanded his practice, the Center for Psychological Growth, in Tampa to make an even larger presence in the LGBT community and set up a non-profit, Institute for LGBT Health and Wellbeing, with an emphasis on training, education, and LGBT research regarding health, wellness, and healthcare disparities. The ultimate goal of the nonprofit is to create a summer retreat or camp for LGBT youth and serve as a conduit for social change.
Dr. Howell is a recipient of the 2016 Florida Diversity Council’s LGBT Leader Award and was an inaugural honoree of the 2016 Tampa Bay Business Journal’s LGBT Voices. His commitment to the LGBT community began during his undergraduate years, where he advocated for HIV awareness on his college campus (Austin College). He truly lives his life according to his favorite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Gandhi.
His passion for social justice was the inspiration for his community psychology course at FSPP and as a mentor, he has brought many students to the forefront of national leadership and advocacy efforts with APA and the Florida Psychological Association (FPA). Dr. Howell leads by example and served as an LGBT representative on the Hillsborough diversity advisory council as an inaugural member who was appointed to two terms (first as a member and ended his term as the vice-chair of the council) and has been nationally recognized as a “Guardian of Psychology” by the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students Advocacy Coordinating Team.
He is a past president, past secretary, and past Diversity Committee chair of FPA, and current chair of the Social Justice Committee. He received the Outstanding Psychologist Award and FPA Early Career Psychologist Award for his contributions to FPA as an ECP and was previously recognized for his contributions to FPA. He has given countless hours of his time to fighting LGBT causes at the local, state, and national levels. He has provided and continues to provide pro bono services to survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting. He spoke before the Tampa City Council on the need for banning conversion (reparative) therapy for LGBT individuals, a ban that was approved unanimously. He is a past-president of APA Division 44 (LGBT). He is a past Florida diversity delegate to the APA Practice Leadership Conference, where he served as the 2018 diversity delegate liaison-elect and the 2019 diversity liaison and diversity subcommittee chair for the APA Committee of State Leaders.
He leads all efforts of FSPP’s involvement in LGBT equality events and his practice participates in pride events as well, and is the faculty advisor to the FSPP Student Psychological Association. He takes a team of graduate students and psychologists each year to ride in the SmartRide to support HIV/AIDS services in Florida. They ride 165 miles from Miami to Key West each November, and 100% of the money raised goes back to Florida HIV/AIDS organizations. They have raised nearly $70,000 as a team since beginning the ride in 2012.
Dr. Christina Brown, Director of Internship Training & Professor of Practice | Email: cbrown95@nl.edu
Degrees:
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Nova Southeastern University 2007 Master of Science in Clinical Psychology Nova Southeastern University 2004 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology New College of Florida 2001
Areas of Expertise:
Interpersonal Trauma
Severe Mental Illness
History of Mental Illness and Diagnosis
Psychology Training & Professional Development
Biography:
Dr. Christina D. Brown is Director of Internship Training and Professor of Practice at the Florida School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University, where she teaches courses in psychopathology, interpersonal trauma, and history and systems. A licensed psychologist in private practice, she specializes in the treatment of interpersonal trauma and complex psychological presentations in women. Dr. Brown earned her B.A. in Psychology from New College of Florida and her M.S. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. She completed both internship and postdoctoral fellowship training at Yale University School of Medicine. Her professional interests center on the intersection of trauma, severe mental illness, clinical training, and the historical development of psychological diagnosis and treatment. As Director of Internship Training, she oversees doctoral internship preparation and professional development for psychology trainees and has contributed to strong internship match outcomes through mentorship, systems development, and training leadership. Dr. Brown has served in leadership roles within the Florida Psychological Association, including Secretary on the Executive Committee, and received the association’s Distinguished Psychologist Award in 2024. She is an active member of the American Psychological Association. Her recent scholarly and professional work has increasingly focused on the history of mental illness, cultural understandings of diagnosis, and the lived experiences of trauma survivors. She regularly reviews conference submissions for national psychology organizations and remains committed to community engagement through domestic violence advocacy and environmental volunteer work.
Memberships
American Psychological Association
Division 2 (Society for the Teaching of Psychology)
Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology)
Division 26 (Society for the History of Psychology)
Division 29 (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy)
Division 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women)
Division 42 (Psychologists in Independent Practice)
Division 56 (Trauma Psychology)
Florida Psychological Association
Cheiron
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
Presentations & Publications
Presentations
Brown, C. D. (2023, September 23). Domestic violence [Conference presentation]. Florida Psychological Association. Virtual.
Brown, C. D. (2022, March 18). From margin to center: Intimate partner violence in diverse communities[Conference presentation]. Florida Psychological Association Regional Conference. Virtual. (2 hr)
Brown, C. D. (2022, January 21). An impossible balance: The detrimental effects of COVID-19 on women.[Conference presentation]. National Council of Schools of Professional Psychology Annual Conference. Virtual.
Publications
Brown, C. D. (Winter 24-25). Passionate minds: Clinical psychology students’ voices on interpersonal trauma. Florida Psychologist, 10.
Brown, C. D. (Fall 2023). Intimate partner violence rates during COVID-19 pandemic. Florida Psychologist, 34-35.
Brown. C. D. (2023). Book review: “A Straight-Talking Introduction to the Causes of Mental Health Problems (2nd Ed.)”. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 24(5), 713–714. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2023.2234535
Other Professional Activities & Publications
Private practice treating women with interpersonal trauma and/or mental illness
Secretary for Florida Psychological Association (2026-2028)
Conference reviewer for APA, Association for Women in Psychology, National Multicultural Summit, and IVAT (Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma)
Conference planning for Florida Psychological Association
Dr. Lisa Costas, Associate Professor Emeritus | Email: lcostas@nl.edu
Degrees:
Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, University of North Texas, 1994
M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of North Texas, 1988
B.S., Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, 1982
Areas of Expertise:
Diversity, Latiné Psychology
Ethics and professional development
Collegiate mental health
Clinical interventions and consultation
Family and couples therapy
Biography:
Dr. Costas earned her doctoral degree in counseling psychology and her master’s degree in clinical psychology at the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, Texas. She has a specialty in couples and family therapy and a minor in school psychology. After serving as a core faculty member at the Florida School of Professional Psychology (FSPP) for 18 years, she is transitioning to emeritus status.
She has served as lead instructor for the couples and families concentration. She teaches in the areas of psychotherapy interventions, ethics, lifespan development, group therapy, and diversity. Prior to joining FSPP, she was a visiting assistant professor in the counselor education master’s program at the University of South Florida (USF). She has also been an adjunct instructor in psychology at the undergraduate level at various institutions in the Tampa Bay area.
Dr. Costas is a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida. She has extensive experience in collegiate mental health, serving as staff psychologist at various local university counseling centers and as director of clinical services at the USF-Tampa counseling center. She has clinical experience working with diverse populations, especially Spanish-speaking Latine individuals and families. She also has experience in group and couples counseling, brief therapy, risk assessment, career counseling, EAPs, and community mental health. She has extensive experience supervising interns at an APA-accredited internship site. Her theoretical orientation is integrative, with an emphasis on CBT, systems theory, EFT, person–centered, and psychodynamic approaches.
Dr. Costas has been actively involved in the Tampa Bay Latiné community. She is an Emeritus Member of the Tampa Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council—having served for 19 years—and a past president and lifetime member of the Hispanic Professional Women’s Association (HPWA), where she developed a mentoring program for Latina students and professionals and continues to serve as a mentor. She is an active member of APA and various APA divisions, as well as the National Psychological Latinx Association (NLPA) and the Sociedad Internacional de Psicología (SIP). She regularly presents on issues related to diversity and Latiné psychology.
Dr. Costas is committed to educating and mentoring culturally competent psychologists. She is also an advocate for education initiatives and services that address the needs of Latine and other underserved communities and ensure the multicultural and language competencies of those who serve them. She is a native of Puerto Rico and has resided in the Tampa area for over 30 years.
Dr. Elizabeth Lane, Assistant Professor | Email: elane3@nl.edu
Degrees:
PhD, Biological Psychology, University of Missouri-St. Louis (2013)
MA, Biological Psychology, University of Missouri-St. Louis (2009)
BA, Psychology, University of Missouri-St. Louis (2007)
Areas of Expertise:
Biological Psychology
Cognitive Aging & Dementia
Neuropsychological Assessment
Research Design
Biography:
Dr. Elizabeth M. Lane is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Florida School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Psychology from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where her research focused on cognitive aging, neuropsychological assessment, and clinical research methods.
Following completion of her doctorate, Dr. Lane completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Memory and Alzheimer's Center. There, she utilized neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging, and advanced research methodologies to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline.
Dr. Lane's research examines modifiable risk factors for cognitive aging and dementia, with particular emphasis on metabolic and vascular contributors to cognitive decline, including insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular health. Her work seeks to identify biomarkers associated with neuropsychological functioning that may provide opportunities for early detection, prevention, and intervention to reduce dementia risk and promote healthy cognitive aging. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, presented at national and international scientific conferences, and received grants and awards supporting her research.
In addition to her scholarship, Dr. Lane teaches courses in neuropsychology, behavioral neuroscience, research methods, and statistics. She is actively involved in mentoring doctoral students and dissertation research, with a particular interest in helping students develop strong scientific reasoning, research literacy, and evidence-based clinical practice skills.
Dr. Lane has also developed innovative educational initiatives exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, cognition, and psychological science. Her recent work examines how AI can be used to enhance teaching, foster critical thinking, and help students better understand human cognitive processes and biases.
Dr. Lane remains engaged with the community through dementia education and advocacy efforts for patients, families, and caregivers. Outside of academia, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, pottery, gardening, and exploring the outdoors with her labradoodle, Moonshadow.
Dr. Marcia E. Pita, Assistant Professor | Email: mpita@nl.edu
Degrees:
Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology George Washington University Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts Psychology Loyola University New Orleans, LA
Areas of Expertise:
Psychological Assessment
Clinical Interventions
Bilingual Assessment and Therapy
Child and Adolescent Assessment and Therapy
Latine Populations
Biography:
Dr. Marcia E. Pita is an Assistant Professor at FSPP. She received her B.A. from Loyola University in New Orleans LA and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. She completed her clinical internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York City and served as Chief Intern. She was a School Psychologist in New York City and Tampa for 33 years. She is Licensed Psychologist in the state of Florida with extensive clinical experience providing diagnostic and therapeutic services to children and adolescents and clinical supervision of school and clinical psychology doctoral level students and post-doctoral trainees in the local school district and continues to supervise individuals for licensure. Before joining as a full-time faculty member at NLU four years ago, Dr. Pita served as an adjunct faculty member for 16 years at FSPP, and Nova Southeastern University-Tampa. Her expertise and interests are in the areas of psychological assessment, bilingual assessment and psychotherapy especially with Latinx populations, supervision and mentoring, and the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents. She is committed to training and mentoring the next generation of psychologist. Her theoretical orientation is primarily psychodynamic object-relations, but heavily influenced by CBT, interpersonal, as well as systems and developmental theories.
She serves as lead instructor for the child and adolescent concentration including teaching child and adolescent development, psychopathology, assessment and therapy courses. She is also the lead instructor of cognitive assessment and objective personality assessment as well as interventions courses. She is also actively involved in the creation of the Bilingual (Spanish) Mental Health Concentration. Dr. Pita serves as faculty sponsor for the Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Student Interest Group and co-sponsor for the Latine Psychology Interest Group and the Child and Adolescent Interest Group. She is a past president and lifetime member of the Tampa’s Hispanic Professional Women’s Association (HPWA), an organization that mentors and supports Latina professionals and students. She is a member of APA as well as various APA divisions, and the National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA). She has also worked with several service organizations. She is Cuban-American and is bilingual and bicultural.
Dr. Julie Williams, Assistant Professor & Associate Director of Training | Email: jwilliams155@nl.edu
Degrees:
Doctor of Psychology Clinical Psychology Florida School of Professional Psychology National Louis University Tampa, FL
Masters of Arts Clinical Psychology Florida School of Professional Psychology National Louis University Tampa, FL
Masters of Science in Education Mental Health Counseling Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH
Masters of Arts Theology Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Springfield, MO
Bachelor of Arts Youth Ministry Central Bible College Springfield, MO
Areas of Expertise:
Psychological Assessment
Forensic and Correctional Psychology
Interpersonal Trauma
Biography:
Dr. Julie Williams is a graduate from the Florida School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University. Before pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology, she worked as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for over 10 years and maintains a private practice. She has experience with assessment and therapy for individuals and couples/families for all ages in a variety of settings including jail and prison, school, college, community mental health, and outpatient private clinics. Her research interests include forensic and correctional psychology, interpersonal trauma, human trafficking, and psychological assessment. Dr. Williams currently serves as the Advisor for the Florida Psychological Association of Graduate Students (FPAGs). In her spare time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, video games, jigsaw puzzles, and playing with her dog, Duncan.
PsyD, Clinical Psychology, Florida School of Professional Psychology (2016)
MA, General Psychology, University of West Florida (2006)
BA, Psychology, University of West Florida (2002)
Areas of Expertise:
Couples and Family Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with adolescents/families and adults
Emotion focused therapy for individuals, couples, and families.
Exposure and Response prevention for OCD
Working with borderline personality disorder, complex trauma, self injury, and suicidal behaviors.
Biography:
Dr. Jennifer Richardson is an Assistant Professor at the Florida School of Professional Psychology (FSPP) at National Louis University, where she teaches graduate-level courses and contributes to the training of doctoral students in clinical psychology.
Dr. Richardson obtained her B.A. and M.A. in Psychology from the University of West Florida and her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Florida School of Professional Psychology. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at Riverbend Community Mental Health in a comprehensive adolescent DBT program in Concord, New Hampshire. She then completed her post-doctoral residency at the Tampa Bay Center for Relational Psychology in Tampa Bay.
Dr. Richardson has worked in a variety of settings including inpatient mental health/crisis stabilization, community mental health, a university based anxiety disorders clinic, and private practice settings. She has supervised post doctoral fellows in private practice within a comprehensive DBT program and has maintained a private practice locally in Tampa Bay for the past 10 years. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, taking long walks with her golden retriever and watching her son play baseball and flag football.
Programs/Classes Taught:
Family and Couples AssessmentAdvanced Practicum Seminar
Family and Couples TherapyDialectical Behavior Therapy
Interventions IEthics
Clinical Interviewing Adult Development
Dr. Mariana Cordova, Assistant Professor| Email: mcordova6@nl.edu
Degrees:
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL 2018 Master of Science in Clinical Psychology Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL 2015
Bachelor of Science in Psychology Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 2013
Areas of Expertise:
Adolescent and Young-Adult Mental Health
Third-Wave Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies
Diversity
Biography:
Dr. Mariana Cordova (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at the Florida School of Professional Psychology (FSPP) at National Louis University, where she teaches graduate-level courses and contributes to the training of doctoral students in clinical psychology.
Dr. Cordova obtained her B.S. in Psychology from Florida State University and her M.S. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and her APA-accredited post-doctoral residency at Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital, with a specialization in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A).
