Jim Azar, Director

Jim Azar is the director of the Center for Counseling and Student Development and the co-director of the training program.

He came to Roger Williams University in July 1990 after serving as a staff psychologist at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Northampton, MA.

He has a master's degree in experimental psychology and a doctorate degree in counseling psychology from Michigan State University.

His professional interests include health and sports psychology, philosophical psychology, developing systematic approaches to issues such as sexual assault, eating disorders and suicide prevention, training and supervision, spirituality, couples counseling, and psychotherapy from a Buddhist perspective.

His hobbies include long-distance running, yoga, visiting baseball parks and diners and cooking. He is a licensed psychologist in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Carolyn Dennett,  Assistant Director

Carolyn Dennett is a licensed psychologist.  She received a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and a M.S. in Counseling and Human Development from the University of Rochester.

Prior to coming to RWU, she worked as a clinician at the Bridgewater State College Counseling Center.  Her training experiences include working at community clinics, college counseling centers and in hospital emergency rooms providing crisis interventions.

Her professional interests include women’s issues pertaining to growth and development, couples and relationship counseling, and program development.  In her free time, she enjoys going for long walks and spending time with friends and family.

Jim Woodruff

Jim Woodruff is a licensed psychologist and co-director of training. He received his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of North Texas, his M.A. in clinical psychology from Central Michigan University, and his B.A. in sociology from the University of Vermont.

Prior to coming to RWU in 1986, he had worked at several mental health clinics and at a VA medical center where he primarily treated Vietnam veterans suffering from PTSD. His professional interests include the process of change, relationship issues, men's issues, and training and supervision. Jim enjoys golfing, fishing, friends, and humor.

Romelyn Valdez Woodruff

Romelyn Valdez Woodruff is a board certified Clinical Specialist in Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing and a licensed Mental Health Counselor. She received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Central Michigan University and her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Vermont.

She came to RWU in 1986 from Northampton, MA where she was a psychotherapist at Smith College Counseling Services. She has had clinical positions in community mental health centers and inpatient psychiatric settings. Her professional interests include healing and the process of change from an Eastern philosophical and spiritual perspective, cross-cultural counseling (bi-racial, multi-ethnic, LGBTA), women's issues, relationship issues, and mind-body psychotherapy.

Her personal interests include studies in spirituality, meditation, reading, and spending time with her husband and children. She has been an adjunct faculty in the Holistic Counseling Master's program at Salve Regina University since 1997.

Nancy Hood

Nancy Hood is a licensed clinical social worker with an MSW from Boston College and a Bachelor's degree in music from Boston University. She has received training in Psychosynthesis and Spiritual Psychology from the Concord Institute and in EMDR (Level II).

She came to Roger Williams University in 1980 having worked for Family Services. For ten years she taught a Women's Issues course as an adjunct faculty member for the Social and Health Services program at Roger Williams University.

Her professional interests include trauma work, bereavement and performance enhancement. Most of all she appreciates the opportunity to help others connect to a deeper sense of self. Her additional interests are music and social justice.

Rebecca Gillis

Rebecca Gillis is a post-doctorate fellow at the Roger Williams University Counseling Center.  She received both her M.S. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University in Portland, Oregon, and a B.A. in Psychology from Seattle University.

Rebecca has previous experience as a psychotherapist in an outpatient substance abuse facility, K-12 school for the severely and emotionally disturbed, psychosocial rehabilitation program, non-profit integrative health center for HIV+ and GLBT individuals, as well as outpatient county and community mental health facilities.  Her professional interests include mindfulness-informed psychotherapy, interpersonal patterns and issues, Gestalt psychology, anxiety disorders, GLBT issues, life transitions, and multiculturalism (issues of diversity & cultural implications for therapy, experience of immigration, biculturalism, racial identity development, role race & culture play in ones life).  She finds it especially rewarding to work collaboratively with individuals in order to promote insight and growth as well as to better understand their relational strengths and challenges.  

In her free time, Rebecca enjoys outdoor activities, snowboarding, yoga, music, meditation, time with friends and family, trips to the park with her pugs, and good food.    

Marge Welsh

Marge Welsh is a post-doctorate fellow at the Roger Williams University Counseling Center. She earned a Psy.D. in clinical psychology at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She received her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and a Master’s degree in Recreation Management Services from Springfield College, in Springfield, MA.

Her former experience includes eight years working with traumatic brain injury and neuro-behavioral rehabilitative services in long term care settings.  She has also worked with a variety of clients at a community mental health center and completed clinical training at two adult inpatient mental health hospitals.

Marge’s professional interests include mindfulness based psychotherapy, GLBT issues, substance abuse treatment, systems work, and psychological testing.  Her personal interests include cycling, golfing, archery, reading, and family time at the beach.

Stefanie Lava

Stefanie Lava is a psychology intern at the Roger Williams University Counseling Center.  She is a fourth year Psy.D. student in clinical psychology at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and earned her B.A. in psychology and journalism from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Stefanie has previously worked as a psychotherapist in a middle school and on an adult inpatient mental health unit.  Her professional interests include attachment and relationship issues.  Stefanie enjoys spending time with her friends and family, traveling, reading, and indulging in good food.

Nate Johnson

Nate Johnson is a psychology intern at the Roger Williams University Counseling Center.  He is a third year Psy.D. student in clinical psychology at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and earned his Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Nate has previously worked in a residential treatment program for teenage girls, a pastoral counseling agency and a psychiatric hospital for older adults.  His professional interests include group therapy, family therapy, addiction and aging issues.  His personal interests include sailing, kayaking and travel.