Meet The Staff

Director of Student Health and Counseling.

Dr. Paul Furtaw, Psy.D. 

Dr. Furtaw has been affiliated with SHAC since January 2004, becoming a full time employee in September 2004, and assuming the Director role in July 2006.  In addition to his administrative and clinical responsibilities, he is coordinator of substance abuse programming.  He is a licensed Psychologist and earned his doctorate from Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, with additional training in Organizational Psychology and Program Evaluation.  Dr. Furtaw has worked in a variety of human service settings over the past 19 years including college counseling (multiple campuses of Rutgers University), developmental disorders (the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Developmental Disorders Program), and psychiatric settings (the State of New Jersey Psychiatric Hospital in Trenton, Tompkins Community Hospital in Ithaca, NY, and Harvard Medical School-Cambridge Hospital Day Treatment Services).  His current professional interests include college counseling and university-based program consultation, with a special emphasis on health psychology and behavioral medicine.

Dr. Karen Levinson, Ph.D. 

Coordinator of Graduate Training

Dr. Levinson has been affiliated with SHAC since January 2004, becoming a full time employee in August 2004.  She works as a staff psychologist and coordinates the graduate student training program which is staffed by practicum students.  Dr. Levinson earned her degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Delaware, and is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania.   She has worked in a variety of settings including college counseling (University of Delaware and Temple University), Friends Hospital, and community mental health centers (Northwestern Human Services and Community Council For Mental Health and Mental Retardation).

Dr. Daniel Dengel, Ph.D.

Dan is a Staff Psychologist and has been at SHAC since the Fall of 2006. He received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. In addition, he has a Masters Degree in Counseling (with an emphasis in Student Development) as well as Professional Counselor licensure in Pennsylvania. Most recently, Dan completed a full-time, year-long internship at The Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center. During his tenure at Temple University, he helped to coordinate the Campus Alcohol and Substance Awareness Program (CASA) which included a peer educator/outreach component, and spent time as a practicum student at The University of Pennsylvania Counseling and Psychological Services. In addition, he has developed original outreach programs in a variety of domains, including academic readiness, residence life concerns, and sexual identity. Dan's professional interests include college student development, LGBT issues, grief and loss, building self-esteem, and brief therapy.

Alissa Brown, Psy.D.

Alissa is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at SHAC. She received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. In addition, she has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. Alissa recently completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Rochester counseling center. In addition to university counseling, she has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient mental health, medical and psychiatric hospitals, public schools, and private practice. Alissa’s areas of interest include anxiety, body image and eating disorders, interpersonal relationships, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as campus outreach and consultation.

Georgette Shay, Administrative Coordinator of Student Health and Counseling. 

Georgette began working at USP in the Human Resources department and joined SHAC in August 2006. Georgette earned her bachelors degree in administration and has extensive experience in accounting, organization, and office management. She enjoys doing volunteer work in her free time.

Dr. Ralph Fishkin, D.O., Consulting Psychiatrist.

Dr. Fishkin is a graduate of PCP&S (1962) and PCOM (1966), and trained in Psychiatry at Hahnemann University (1973). His subsequent postgraduate education includes training in Family Therapy (Family Institute of Philadelphia) and Psychoanalysis (Phila Association ofr Psychoanalysis). Dr Fishkin is certified in Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis and is currently a Faculty member of the Institute of the Psychoanalytic Center of Phila and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Fishkin maintains a private practice of psychiatry and psychoanalysis in Philadelphia.

Alison Seponara

Alison is currently working towards her M.A. in Clinical/Counseling Psychology at Chestnut Hill College. Since 2003, Alison has participated in volunteer work at the Nello Center for Loss and Bereavement where she works as a facilitator for bereaved children and their families. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, with a minor in Psychology, from Drexel University in 2004. Alison’s professional interests include depression associated with bereavement, eating disorders, and woman’s health issues.

Robin Marks

Robin Marks is a second year Master's Degree student in the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate Program in Professional Counseling. She received her Bachelor's Degree from American University in an interdisciplinary study, Communications, Law, Economics, and Government. Her clinical interests are in career decision making, as well as psychological adjustment to transition processes.

Elaine Liu

Elaine is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania who is working towards her M.Phil.Ed. in Professional Counseling and Psychology. In 2003, she earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology and American Culture (with a specific concentration in Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies) from the University of Michigan. Elaine comes to USP with clinical interests in multicultural counseling, Asian and Asian/Pacific Islander American issues, and topics related to anxiety and stress.