Meet Your 2020 Student Leadership Team!
Ethan Bannar, M.S.
Capt, BSC, USAF Chair Captain Ethan Bannar is currently a fourth year Psy.D. student in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver. Ethan graduated with his B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University in 2015 and his M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland in 2017. He was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program in early 2018. His clinical interests include post traumatic growth, neuropsychological assessment, operational psychology, command consultation, and assessment/selection for high-risk occupations. When he is not studying or seeing clients, he enjoys road cycling, fly-fishing, snowboarding, and exploring the wilderness. Captain Bannar is currently completing is residency training with the 59th Medical Wing located at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, TX. |
Alyssa Allen, B.S.
Chair-Select Alyssa Allen is currently a second year Psy.D. student in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver. Alyssa graduated with her B.S. in Psychology from Illinois State University in 2018. Upon graduation, she commissioned into the Colorado National Guard and serves as an Unmanned Aerial Platoon Leader. Her clinical interests include moral injury, assessment and selection, and operational psychology. She is currently gaining clinical experience at the United States Air Force Academy and intends to pursue an Active Duty Army operational psychology. She enjoys spending time with her dog, painting with friends and trying new foods! |
Keen Seong Liew, M.S.
Virtual Projects Officer ENS Keen Seong Liew is a second-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). He received his BS in Psychology with a concentration in linguistics and music from University of the Ozarks in 2010 and MS in Psychology and graduate certificate in Women and Gender Studies from Texas A&M University in 2014. He was commissioned into the US Navy in 2017 and began his training to be a Navy Psychologist at USUHS. His research interests lie within the field of cognitive, health, and clinical psychology. He is currently working with Dr. David Krantz and researching the role of stress and stress markers in the relationship between sleep disorders, traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and physical health among military service members and veterans. |
Sarah Lowell, M.S.
Virtual Projects Officer-Select Sarah Lowell is currently a second-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Fielding Graduate University. She received her BS in Exercise and Sport Science with a concentration in Clinical Exercise Physiology from Fitchburg State University in 2014. She moved to the United Kingdom for graduate school and earned her MSc in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise from the University of Roehampton in 2015. In 2016, she began working as a contractor for the Army conducting mental performance and resilience training to help Soldiers reach their full potential. Sarah recognized the importance and need of Clinical Psychologists and wanted to be able to provide that service to military members. Her interests include post traumatic growth, PTSD, health, and exercise psychology. Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband outdoors, running, hiking, and traveling. |
Leslie Darnell, B.S., B.A.S.
Regional Representative, Eastern Region Leslie is currently attending Nova Southeastern University in pursuit of her a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. She enlisted in the Air Force as a medic, where after some world travel to exotic, sandy locations, she found her passion for psychology. She obtained her BS in psychology from her home town college, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and later received a BAS in Business and Healthcare Administration. At the rank of Master Sergeant, Leslie commissioned as a Health Service Administrator, where it became more and more apparent that she wanted to continue to serve her fellow military members in the realm of clinical psychology. Her research interests are in Trauma, PTSD, and existential loss/anxiety. She hopes to continue to work with both active duty military and veterans as she continues her own 18+ year military career and later in a civilian capacity. When Leslie is not busy with school or research, she enjoys playing the cello and spending time with her husband, Zach and two their two dogs, Lilly and Brak. |
Vanessa Silva, M.A.
Regional Representative, Central Region Vanessa is currently in her 4th year of pursuing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) with a Military Psychology emphasis from Adler University. Vanessa received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from Baylor University in 2008. She later graduated in 2013 with a Master of Arts in Psychology from Houston Baptist University. Vanessa has previously been an executive officer of the Military Psychology Student Organization (MPSO) and Primary Care Student Organization (PCSO). She is also engaged in a research clerkship at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Medical Center that studies transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment for mild and severe TBI, PTSD, and Substance Use in Veterans. Vanessa has also worked in compensation and pension exams for Veterans. She is currently working on her dissertation which is taking a look into how Veterans conceptualize and perceive a "Battle Buddy." In her free time, Vanessa enjoys watching movies and TV shows and playing with her cat, Little Chief (who is named because of her love for the Kansas City Chiefs). |
Jacob Scholl, B.A.
Regional Representative, Western Region Jacob is currently attending Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University in La Mirada, California where he is pursuing his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Biola University in 2017. His research and clinical interests are PTSD, moral injury, exercise, and neuropsychological assessment. Jacob has always had a passion for the military, but due to medical disqualifications he decided if cannot serve, then he wants to make a career serving those who do. With any free time he has, Jacob enjoys cooking and volunteering in the children’s ministry at his church. He also loves anything in the outdoors whether it’s a fire on the beach or a hike in the mountains. |
Previous Leadership
Jourdin Watkins Navarro, M.A.
Lt, MSC, USN Chair, 2019 LT Jourdin Watkins Navarro is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the Psy.D. program at Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ. She received her BA in Psychology from Kansas Wesleyan University in 2014. ENS Navarro was accepted into the U.S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program in 2016, and plans to pursue a career in active duty psychology, with interests in neuropsychology, operational psychology, and program development. She graduated from Officer Development School in Fall 2017 and will begin her pre-doctoral internship at Naval Medical Hospital Portsmouth in Fall 2019. ENS Navarro has a history of clinical experience with veterans in an outpatient rural VA setting, neuropsychological assessment, behavioral health consultation, as well as program development for a non-profit organization. In her free time, LT Navarro enjoys hiking with her husband, playing with her two dogs, reading books (for fun!), and enjoying the Arizona sunshine. |
Afik Faerman, BA
Virtual Projects Officer, 2019 Afik Faerman is a Naval Officer (Cpt.) in the Israeli Navy. Afik holds a BA in multidisciplinary studies from the University of Haifa and a postbaccalaureate in psychology from the Open University of Israel. Today, he studies towards a PhD in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University. When he is not glued to a textbook, he spends time practicing and teaching mindfulness, playing the guitar, and watching the stars. Afik deeply believes in the importance of mental, emotional, and social support to ease the hardships of those who fight for the safety of their family, their community, and their homeland. |
Recognized Campus Representatives/Chapter Networks
Adler School of Professional Psychology
Chicago, IL Shelby Ogden American School of Professional Psychology, Northern Virginia Arlington, VA Katherine "KC" Guevara Orgeron American School of Professional Psychology, Southern California Santa Ana, CA Ball State University Muncie, IN Fabrice Ndzana Biola University La Miranda, CA Rosana Aijian Boston University Boston, MA Tessa Mooney California Lutheran University Oxnard, CA Brian Knoll California School of Professional Psychology, Sacramento Sacramento, CA California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego San Diego, CA Macy Minnocci Carlos Albizu University Doral, FL Clara Thompson Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. Katherine "Katt" Rahill Chatham University Pittsburgh, PA O'Shea Morgan Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Washington D.C. Washington, D.C. Joi Haines Columbia University, Teacher's College New York, NY Natasha Morales-Rivera University of Denver Denver, CO Tana Sharp Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Lauren Johnson East Carolina University Greenville, NC Ashley Griffith Taylor Zurlinden Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara, CA Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL Megan Hart Florida School of Professional Psychology Tampa, FL Alexis Charrys Roy Mitchel Fordham University Bronx, New York City, NY James Park |
George Fox University
Newberg, OR George Washington University Washington, D.C. Howard University Washington, D.C. Maxwell Anderson Illinois School of Professional Psychology Chicago, IL Aaron Keating Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA Athena Jones Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, MD Megan Houk Maureen "Modi" McDonnell Midwestern University, Downers Grove Downers Grove, IL Paula Eddleman Midwestern University, Glendale Glendale, AZ North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC Jessica Morgan Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA Allison Robbins Palo Alto University Palo Alto, CA Katie Carlson Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Philadelphia, PA Shalonda Griffin Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Tristan Patterson University of North Carolina Charlotte, NC Cara Blevins University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND University of Maryland, College Park College Park, MD University of South Alabama Mobile, AL Brook Sims University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS University of Texas, Dallas Dallas, TX Joshua Hoover Utah State University Logan, UT Whitney Livingston Hallie Tannahill Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Daniel Barnhart |
* Please visit the "For Campus Representative" page under "Training and Education" tab to find out how to start a Campus Chapter if your university does not already have a chapter.