2026 Collegiate Recovery Conference at SJU

Ethel Atefoe, MA, MPhil, LPC, NCC (she/Her)

Substance Use Specialist, Rutgers University-Newark

Ethel Atefoe, MA, MPhil, LPC, NCC, is a dedicated mental health professional, clinician, and educator with a strong interest in treating substance use and co-occurring disorders. She is currently a Doctoral (PhD) candidate in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Counseling / Counselor Education & Supervision at the School of Health Professions (SHP), Rutgers University.

Ethel serves as a Substance Use Specialist on the Alcohol and Other Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) at Rutgers University-Newark, where she provides clinical assessments, individual and group therapy, and coordinates community-based recovery support services. Her diverse clinical background spans inpatient and community settings, including delivering acute psychiatric care and dual-diagnosis interventions at Summit Oaks Hospital and practicing as a clinical psychologist internationally (Ghana).

In addition to her clinical practice, Ethel brings a strong research and academic foundation to her work, having previously served as a University Lecturer in introductory psychology and behavioral health. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kean University and a Master of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from the University of Ghana. Her blended background in clinical practice, teaching, and recovery supports provides a rich, ethically grounded perspective on recovery supports, harm reduction, and institutional strategies for individuals facing complex, co-occurring challenges.

Session: Harm Reduction practice among individuals with co-occurring disorders: Ethical and institutional considerations

Dr. Danielle Bacibianco, B.A., M.S.Ed., M.A., Ph.D. (She/Her)

Adjunct Professor of English and Women and Gender Studies, Independent Scholar, Kean University

Danielle “Dani” Bacibianco (she/her) teaches writing, rhetoric, and women and gender studies courses at Kean University. Dani’s dissertation, Queerstory of Recovery: Literacy and Survival in AA, received the 2022 Conference on College Composition and Communication Lavender Rhetorics Award for Excellence in Queer Scholarship Dissertation. Danielle’s other projects include “From Voices from Rock Bottom to Queerstories of Recovery: Queering Addiction Recovery Rhetoric and Community Literacy, ” in Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric, “Queerstory of Recovery: Coming Out in Church Basements, Coming to Do Autoethnography” in Writers: Craft and Context, vol. 5, no. 1, 2024, and “Alcoholics Anonymous and Its Homosexual Imagination” in “The Homosexual Imagination: A Fifty-Year Retrospective,” College English, July 2024 issue. Aside, as part of her autoethnographic activism, Dani continues to advocate for community-based practices in public rhetoric, queer recovery literacy, collegiate recovery studies, and addiction/substance use recovery studies through her courses, playwriting and directing theatre productions, as well as her storytelling podcast Queerstories of Recovery: Voices from the Margin, and the online initiative Sober Academics on Discord, which she co-founded.

Email: drbacibianco@gmail.com 

Bluesky: @drprofb 

Website: https://drdaniellebacibianco.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmbacibianco/

Session: The Story of the University: Addiction, Language, and Institutional Praxis in Building Recovery-Friendly Campus Ecologies

Katie Bean, M.Ed. (She/Her)

Author / Advocate / Educator, Katie Bean Wellness Consulting

With 18 years of experience in higher education, Katie Bean has spent her career supporting students and has learned that to make a significant and sustainable impact, one must utilize systems-based approaches. As the Director of Health Promotion at Ursinus College, she led the strategy to become a certified Recovery-Friendly Workplace and adopt the Okanagan Charter, an institutional commitment to enhancing well-being. Katie has presented at local, regional, national, and international conferences on building recovery-friendly communities and best practices related to substance education. She also creates customized programs as a consultant and trainer through Katie Bean Wellness Consulting, which she started in 2017. Her first book is out now - Fragile Thoughts: A Healing Memoir.

Session: Systems-Based Approaches for Supporting Recovery

A. Michael Blanche MSS, LCSW (He/Him)

Co-Founder, Chief Clinical Officer, Ethos Treatment

A. Michael Blanche, LCSW brings over two decades of experience in delivering direct clinical treatment for individuals grappling with dual diagnoses of addiction and other psychological issues. His expertise spans all levels of care in addiction and mental health treatment, and he has successfully established and supervised residential and outpatient programs across the Philadelphia Metropolitan area.

Michael is a recognized authority in prevention, specializing in middle and high school prevention talks, as well as staff development. Michael is known for his insightful workshops offering Continuing Education Units (CEUs) on various topics, including the impact of technology, process addiction, complex trauma, and young adult substance abuse. His reputation extends to working with complex individuals and their families during challenging times, aiding in determining the appropriate level of care or suitable placement.

Session: Finding Balance in Times of Stress: Clinical Strategies to Avoid Burnout

Adele Bradley, Peer Recovery Coach (She/Her)

Collegiate Recovery Graduate Assistant, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern, The College of New Jersey

I believe the arts and creative expression can reach areas of the mind and soul that talking may not. This phenomenon, along with my own healing art experiences and life in recovery are what inspired the Nourish to Flourish group. My approach to peer support and counseling is using both psychological science and unbounded art activities to provide a supportive, compassionate, and brave space. I have provided care to children, adolescents, young adults, and adults and have worked in the field since 2020. My experience includes substance use/addiction recovery, crisis intervention, eating disorders, mood disorders such as anxiety/depression, and other mental health or life challenges. I have my Bachelor’s in Human Services with a Minor in Psychology and have worked for a suicide prevention nonprofit, two peer recovery programs, inpatient eating disorder treatment, and youth partial hospitalization program. Lastly, I have facilitated this support group for 2 years and it has been an incredibly meaningful experience that I am excited to share!

Session: Nourish to Flourish: Connecting Arts and Hearts for Peer Recovery Support

Kate Oliver Clark, MPA (She/Her)

Project Director, The Phoenix 

Kate Oliver Clark, MPA, is a strategist, program builder, and cross-sector collaborator with over 20 years of experience advancing innovative initiatives in public health, aging, mental health, substance use, and community development. Known for her ability to connect people and ideas, she has led high-impact programs, shaped policy, and guided organizations through strategic change.

As the founder of Tenth Street Consulting, Kate advises mission-driven organizations on strategy, program development, grantmaking, and growth. For The Phoenix, she leads an opioid settlement-funded expansion into Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, building community partnerships, recruiting volunteers, and expanding free, recovery-focused programming centered on social connection and wellness.

Additionally, Kate serves as Program Director for READY Communities, PA, a statewide funding collaborative supporting community-based initiatives for older adults and people living with dementia. She also advises Elevyst on organizational growth and initiatives to improve first responder responses to substance use disorders.

Previously, Kate was Chief of Staff and Partnerships Lead at The Kennedy Forum, working with former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy on national mental health and substance use policy reform. Her background includes leadership roles at Drexel University, Thomas Jefferson University, the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, and the City of Syracuse.

Kate holds a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and completed the Health and Aging Policy Fellowship, during which she consulted for the U.S. Surgeon General and HHS Region III. A Fulbright Scholar fluent in Spanish, she remains deeply committed to building healthier, more connected communities.

Session: The Phoenix Model: Reimagining Recovery Through Movement and Community

Aimee Della Porta, LCSW (She/Her)

Therapist / Clinical Advisor to the Collegiate Recovery Program, Saint Joseph’s University

Aimee Della Porta is a proud social worker, former Jesuit Volunteer and Philadelphia area native. Prior to coming to SJU in 2021, she had spent most of her career working with people experiencing homelessness. Aimee works in the Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) in addition to being a therapist in CAPS. In both roles, she seeks to develop authentic relationships to support students in navigating all aspects of their college experience.

Session: If You Build It: Using Recovery Capital & Stages of Change to Reach Students

Ryan DiMeglio, MSW, LCSW, LCADC (He/Him)

Assistant Professor/Co-Director, Addiction Counselor Training Certificate Program, School of Social Work, Rutgers University

Ryan DiMeglio, LCSW, LCADC is an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Addiction Counselor Training Certificate Program at the Rutgers School of Social Work. Mr. DiMeglio focuses on the education of MSW students in preparation for careers in clinical practice treating addictive disorders, including gambling. Mr. DiMeglio is also a Ph.D. student at Rutgers and his research focuses on gambling, substance use disorders, addictive behaviors, and clinical treatment interventions.

Session: Hidden in Plain Sight: Gambling and Gaps in Collegiate Recovery Support—Insights from Greek Life

Tina Green, MFT, LPC, LCADC, ACS (She/Her)

Mental Health and Substance Use Counselor, Rowan University

Tina Green is a Mental Health and Substance Use Counselor at Rowan University’s Wellness Center. She earned a Master of Family Therapy Degree from Drexel University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor.

Tina is committed to supporting and mentoring college students by establishing program affiliations with Rowan College of South Jersey and Camden County College’s Alcohol and Drug Counseling Certification programs to make Rowan’s Wellness Center an internship site for their undergraduate students. In 2026, she received the Neurodiversity Campus Inclusion Award from Rowan University’s Disability Student Union for her contribution to Center for Neurodiversity. She also served as a 2026 professional mentor for the Dr. Harley E. Flack Student Mentoring Program which provides students with academic, personal, and professional support during their undergraduate career at Rowan. Prior to collegiate counseling, she provided clinical services in co-occurring community mental health, residential services, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs.

Session: Adult Children of Families Impacted by Addiction: Creating Safe Spaces and Potential Allies in Collegiate Recovery

Samantha Henhaffer, MS, NCPRSS

Academic Support Coordinator, SOAR Navigator, Rowan University

Samantha Henhaffer is an Academic Support Coordinator and SOAR Navigator at Rowan University. A proud Rowan alum, Sam earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in English and Elementary Education with a minor in French from Rowan University, and later completed a Master’s degree in Human Services from Wilmington University. She is also a National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) through NAADAC.

In her dual role at Rowan, Sam supports students navigating academic and personal challenges through individualized support and campus resource connections. Through SOAR (Students Organized to Affirm Recovery), Rowan’s Collegiate Recovery Program, she provides one-on-one recovery support, educates students and faculty on harm reduction, and collaborates with campus and community partners to create recovery-focused programming, stigma reduction initiatives, and substance-free events. As both a person in long-term recovery and a person impacted by familial addiction, Sam is passionate about creating supportive spaces for students navigating recovery, family challenges, and healing within collegiate settings.

Session: Adult Children of Families Impacted by Addiction: Creating Safe Spaces and Potential Allies in Collegiate Recovery

Bryce Massey (He/Him)

Student Ambassador, Brown University / Undergraduate Representative, ARHE

Bryce Massey is a rising senior at Brown University whose work in recovery advocacy is rooted in his own lived experience. Bryce is particularly interested in topics of stigma and how this shapes the ways people do – and do not – discuss things. He brings a personal and public health-oriented perspective to his work across campus, state, and national levels.

During his medical leave from Brown, Bryce worked as a case manager at a young men's recovery residence in Nashville, TN. He currently serves as Student Ambassador to the Donovan Program at Brown, a cohort member of the Collegiate Recovery Leadership Academy (CRLA), an appointed member of the Rhode Island Recovery Advocacy Workgroup at RICARES, and a member of the national Board of Directors of the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE). In 2026, Bryce was named ARHE's Collegiate Recovery Student of the Year.

At Brown, Bryce facilitates peer support programming and leads harm reduction initiatives through the Donovan Program. He facilitates a weekly group, “Connections,” and is involved in Donovan Program event planning such as the Harm Reduction Film Fest. He is committed to combining public health pragmatism with community-driven dialogue. He is guided in part by the words of his mentor, Dr. Lindsay Garcia: "everyone is recovering from something." Bryce believes recovery should be accessible to all, not just those with the privilege of finding it.

Session: “Connections” Preventative Methods and Transferable Mentalities: Practicing Grounding Skills and Vulnerability in a Peer-Environment

Bevin McSorley, LSW (SHe/Her)

Collegiate Recovery & Prevention Education Specialist, Saint Joseph’s University

Bevin McSorley, MSS, LSW, is a social worker and private practice therapist specializing in adolescents and young adults navigating substance use disorders. She currently serves at Saint Joseph’s University, where she divides her time between the Collegiate Recovery Program and Prevention Education, supporting students in building sustainable recovery and promoting campus-wide wellness initiatives.

Session: If You Build It: Using Recovery Capital & Stages of Change to Reach Students

Charlie Nolan (He/Him)

Community Health Specialist, Savage Sisters Recovery

Charlie Nolan is the Community Healthcare Specialist for Savage Sisters Recovery. His role includes providing wound care for program participants, conducting street outreach, and delivering harm reduction education to the broader community. As someone with lived experience, Charlie is passionate about working directly with people who use drugs and deeply committed to advocating for their dignity, safety, and rights.

Session: Drug Supply Changes and Modern Overdose Reversal

Lia Nower, J.D., Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor, Associate Dean for Research, Director, Rutgers University

Lia Nower, J.D., Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor, Associate Dean for Research, and Director of the Center for Gambling Studies. A clinician and attorney, her research focuses on online gambling and sports wagering; gambling and video gaming among emerging adults; AI/machine learning approaches to responsible gambling, and etiology and treatment of problem gambling. A senior editor for the journal Addiction, she has received both the Research (2019) and the Lifetime Research Award (2022) from the National Council on Problem Gambling and the Board of Trustees Award for Research (2022) from Rutgers University.

Session: Hidden in Plain Sight: Gambling and Gaps in Collegiate Recovery Support—Insights from Greek Life

Lida M. Pascual LCSW, LCADC (She/Her/Ella)

Director of the Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program/Assistant Director of the Counseling Center, Rutgers University-Newark

Lida M. Pascual is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC), and Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) with more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health, collegiate recovery, and substance use treatment. She currently serves as the Director of the Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and Assistant Director of the Counseling Center at Rutgers University–Newark Counseling Center, where she leads campus recovery initiatives, clinical supervision, outreach programming, and early intervention efforts focused on student wellness, harm reduction, and recovery support.

Lida has extensive experience working with young adults, marginalized communities, and individuals with co-occurring disorders and complex trauma. She is trained in evidence-based practices including CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and trauma-informed care. A bilingual clinician (Spanish/English), she is passionate about expanding access to recovery support in higher education and fostering inclusive, wellness-centered campus communities.

Session: Harm Reduction practice among individuals with co-occurring disorders: Ethical and institutional considerations

Kiara Pittman (She/Her)

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Kiara Pittman is originally from Colorado Springs, CO, but traded snowy winters for sunshine and beach days—and hasn’t looked back since. She has been working in the mental health field since 2010, supporting a wide range of individuals across diverse backgrounds and settings, including in-home services, outpatient care, and substance use treatment programs.

In her current role as an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) counselor, Kiara is passionate about helping college students better understand their relationship with substances while developing healthier, more sustainable coping strategies. Kiara strives to create a space where students feel heard, supported, and empowered to make meaningful changes. She brings a balance of clinical expertise, authenticity, and relatability to her work, helping students navigate both the challenges and growth that come with this stage of life.

When she’s not supporting students, you can probably find her deep into a Netflix binge, telling herself “just one more episode”… and meaning at least three.

Session: Secure Enough to Stay Sober: Attachment-Informed Care on College Campuses

Eric Rodriguez, LMSW, CAADC

Corporate Director, Caron Treatment Centers

Eric serves as Corporate Resource Director at Caron Treatment Centers, where he leads initiatives focused on education, training, professional development, and relationship management within corporate and organizational settings. He brings a unique combination of clinical expertise, corporate experience, and a passion for education, with a background spanning substance use treatment, mental health, and behavioral healthcare. Eric is known for delivering impactful presentations that translate complex behavioral health topics into accessible, actionable conversations for professional audiences.

Since joining Caron in 2017 as a therapist in the Men’s Program, Eric has held progressive leadership roles across clinical, educational, and development departments. He later transitioned into a lead clinical role within Caron’s Executive Program, where he provided individual, group, and family therapy while also supporting milieu operations. In 2021, he moved into a director’s role within Caron’s Education Department before transitioning into a similar leadership role within Business Development. Eric has advanced training in co-occurring disorders and is certified in cognitive processing therapy for trauma.

Prior to Caron, Eric worked with heart and vascular transplant patients, providing psychosocial assessments, family support, and discharge planning. Earlier in his career, he also gained experience in sales and marketing within the telecommunications industry. His diverse professional background allows him to bridge clinical insight and lived experience with business strategy.

Eric is a licensed clinical social worker in Pennsylvania and holds a certification in advanced addiction and drug counseling. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work from Millersville University.

Session: Cannabis in Today’s Landscape: Clinical, Cultural, and Treatment Implications

Jackie F. Stanmyre MSW, PhD

Asst Director, Center for Gambling Studies, Rutgers University School of Social Work  

Dr. Jackie Stanmyre is an Assistant Research Professor and the Assistant Director at the Center for Gambling Studies. Her research focuses on understanding gambling risk among disproportionately affected populations, including, for example, emerging adults, athletes and coaches, and members of Greek life; analyzing sports wagering and online gambling play-by-play data; and supervising the use of sophisticated analytic techniques to inform policy decision-making.

Session: Hidden in Plain Sight: Gambling and Gaps in Collegiate Recovery Support—Insights from Greek Life

Eric Van Eck, BS, CPRS

Recovery & Prevention Coordinator, The College of New Jersey Collegiate Recovery Program

Eric has been a Certified Peer Recovery Coach since 2019. Starting his work at the Center for Prevention and Counseling in Sussex County, he worked under both the OORP and STAR programs. His next move was in 2022, when he became the Coordinator of the Collegiate Recovery Program at The College of New Jersey, which is also his Alma Matter. After failing out of the institution in 2012, he returned as a student in recovery in 2017 and graduated in 2018 with a BS in Public Health. Eric is a devoted Catholic, recently celebrated his 1st wedding anniversary, and welcomed his first child into the world this Summer. They say, "Recovery has benefits," and Eric is definitely grateful for how good recovery has been to him.

Session: Nourish to Flourish: Connecting Arts and Hearts for Peer Recovery Support 

Phil Waibel, MSW, LSW, ICGC-I (He/Him)

Therapist, Ethos Treatment

Phil is a Licensed Social Worker and Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor, holding a Master’s in Social Work from Widener University and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Penn State University.

His clinical work is shaped by both formal training, and lived experience with addiction and recovery.

Phil has worked across a range of settings, from criminal justice reform—where he spearheaded Delaware County’s Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative—to higher education, serving as a Collegiate Recovery Counselor at Cabrini University.

However, he feels most at home in the group therapy room. For nearly five years, he has facilitated Intensive Outpatient groups focused on substance use disorders and gambling disorder.

Currently, Phil practices at Ethos Treatment, where he leads the Gambling Disorder Specialty Track. In recent years, his work has increasingly focused on how social media, technology, and online gambling environments are shaping the mental health of young adults.

Session: The Hidden Crisis: Gambling Addiction, Brain Science, and What Counselors Need to Know

Mairead Young (she/her)

Assistant Director, Student Support & Well-being, Saint Joseph's University

Mairead Young has worked in education in Philadelphia since 2020, beginning in the School District of Philadelphia before transitioning to higher education in 2022. She joined Saint Joseph’s University in Residence Life and now serves as Assistant Director of Student Support and Well-being.

In her role, Mairead supports students through harm reduction education, individual and group support, and wellness-oriented programming. She is passionate about helping students explore their relationships with substances in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment. Through her work supporting SJU’s Collegiate Recovery Program, she focuses on meeting students where they are and strengthening campus systems that support student well-being and recovery.

Session: If You Build It: Using Recovery Capital & Stages of Change to Reach Students

8:30AM-9AM

Registration & Light Breakfast 

8:50AM 

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Sponsor Spotlight 

Introduction of Keynote Speaker

9:00AM

Morning Keynote: 

KEVIN HILL, M.D., M.H.S, Addiction Psychiatrist |
Leading Clinical Expert on Cannabis Science, Policy, & Treatment 

10:30AM

BREAKOUT SESSION #1  

• The Story of the University: Addiction, Language, and Institutional Praxis in Building Recovery-Friendly Campus Ecologies (Room:  Mandeville Hall 103)
• "Connections" The Role of Peer-to-Peer, Socially-Modeled Recovery Spaces (Room:  Mandeville Hall 105)
• Hidden in Plain Sight: Gambling and Gaps in Collegiate Recovery Support - Insights from Greek Life (Room:  Mandeville Hall 107)
• Finding Balance in Times of Stress: Clinical strategies to avoid burnout (Room:  Mandeville Hall 111)
• The Phoenix Model: Reimagining Recovery Through Movement and Community (Room:  Mandeville Hall 210)

11:30AM

BREAKOUT SESSION #2 

• Secure Enough to Stay Sober: Attachment-Informed Care on College Campuses (Room:  Mandeville Hall 103)
• Cannabis in Today’s Landscape: Clinical, Cultural, and Treatment Implications (Room:  Mandeville Hall 105)
• Systems-Based Approaches for Supporting Recovery (Room:  Mandeville Hall 107)
• Adult Children of Families Impacted by Addiction: Creating Safe Spaces and Potential Allies in Collegiate Recovery (Room:  Mandeville Hall 111)
• If You Build It: Using Recovery Capital & Stages of Change to Reach Students (Room:  Mandeville Hall 210)
   

12:30PM

Networking Lunch

1:20PM

Sponsor Spotlight 

Introduction of Student Scholarship Recipient

Iced Coffee Available

Afternoon Keynote:  

DR. NICOLE LOYD, Executive Vice President for University Life, Chief Operating Officer, and Dean of Students, Moravian University

"Understanding Well-Being for the Gen Z & Gen Alpha Students Showing Up at Your Door"

2:50PM

BREAKOUT SESSION #3 

• Harm Reduction practice among individuals with co-occurring disorders: Ethical and institutional considerations.
  (Room: Mandeville Hall 103)
• The Hidden Crisis: Gambling Addiction, Brain Science, and What Counselors Need to Know (Room: Mandeville Hall 105)
• Nourish to Flourish: Connecting Arts and Hearts for Peer Recovery Support (Room:  Mandeville Hall 107)
• Drug Supply Changes and Modern Overdose Reversal (Room: Mandeville Hall 111)
   

3:45PM - 4:15PM

Closing Wellness Mini Sessions Available

• All Recovery Meeting
• Yin Yoga
• Guided Ignatian Examen