Next Gen Clin

NextGenClin Logo

A Pathway to a PhD in Clinical Psychology for students with demonstrated financial need.

The UNCG Clinical Program is excited by the opportunity to offer need-based scholarships to a number of qualified applicants and current students who are accepted into our Next Gen Clin program.

Currently funded by Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) from 2020-2025, these scholarships make the dream of obtaining a Ph.D. a reality by providing graduate students with demonstrated financial need the supports necessary to pursue the highest degree in Clinical Psychology. The program targets an important barrier to graduate education in clinical psychology for diverse populations as it provides significant financial support to ensure these barriers do not prevent enrollment. By reducing barriers to entry, the grant will have the potential of diversifying the socio-economic background of the workforce.

In addition to addressing financial need, the program also addresses critical workforce development needs by expanding the pool of candidates who are able to afford and thrive in graduate school. Our Next Gen Clin program offers in-depth training in working with underserved populations through a combination of didactic and  experiential programming, close relationships with a UNCG Faculty Mentor and links students with alumni mentors currently working with underserved populations and within integrated-care settings.

Program Description

  • The Next Gen Clin Program was developed due to receipt of HRSA funding to support our ongoing efforts to recruit, prepare and retain talented, economically and ethnically diverse, and motivated graduate students for careers in meeting current and future work force development needs targeted broadly at reducing barriers to care for underserved populations.
  • The program is designed for doctoral students in Clinical Psychology who intend to pursue a career addressing this workforce need.
  • This program provides an extensive menu of opportunities for instruction, supervision, mentorship and professional development.
  • The fellowship covers the Cost of Attendance at UNCG depending on demonstrated financial need. This scholarship may be received concurrent with funds from a teaching or research assistantship if the assistantship work is consistent with enhancing workforce development.
  • A series of workshops will be offered which enhance the program’s curriculum and practicum opportunities
  • Scholarships may be extended beyond 1 year
  • Students from historically underrepresented groups in Clinical Psychology, including racial and ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities, are encouraged to apply for these scholarship funds.

Eligibility FAQs

What are the requirements for receiving a scholarship?

Requirements for this federally-funded program permit scholarships to be awarded to any full-time student who is an eligible individual as defined by the statute in Section 737(d)(2) of the PHS Act.  The definition of “eligible individual” means an individual who: (A) is from a disadvantaged background; (B) has a financial need for a scholarship; and (C) is enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) at an eligible health professions or nursing school as a full-time student in a program leading to a degree in a health profession or nursing.  

A student receiving support from grant funds must be a citizen or national of the United States, or a lawful permanent resident of the United States, or a foreign national having in his/her possession a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States, or a non-citizen national. 

Program-specific guidelines for criterion A are met by either of the program-specific guidelines: 1) substantial financial need  (family or individual if they are independent from family) demonstrated by income that does not exceed 200% of HHS poverty guidelines or 2) experience within an educational environment that may have hindered growth potential and demonstrated financial need (e.g. First Generation college student)

How are the scholarship amounts determined?

The scholarship amount is based on demonstrated financial need and covers the estimated Cost of Attendance (which incudes tuition expenses for which you are billed, housing expenses, which include food and housing, transportation, and additional expenses, such as books and travel).

How many Next Gen Clin Fellows were sponsored in 2020-2021?

We provided scholarships to 10 graduate students., including two incoming first year students.

What was the average award amount Next Gen Clin Fellows for 2020-2021?

The average award for 9 months was $21,700.

Program Requirements: 

  • Next Gen Clin Scholars are required to fulfill both instructional and supervised pedagogical experiences. Details of these experiences will be discussed with the student’s UNCG NGC Mentor
  • Next Gen Clin Scholars meet monthly with UNCG NGC Mentors
  • Next Gen Clin Scholars meet quarterly with NGC Alumni Mentors to facilitate professional development and answer questions from individuals working win the field.
  • Proof of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application and completion of short Application form will be required upon admission to the program.  Please complete the FAFSA application process as soon as possible and prior to matriculation, when possible.
  • Full Time Status must be maintained
  • Scholars must apply for an NPI number to assist in outcome tracking.

Faculty Mentors

Susan Phillips Keane
Susan Phillips Keane

Principal Investigator

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Rosemery
Rosemery Nelson Gray

Co-Investigator

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Julia Mendez Smith
Julia Mendez Smith

Co-Investigator

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Gabriela Livas Stein
Gabriela Livas Stein

Co-Investigator

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Alumni Mentors

Dr. Jennifer Smith Adams

Jennifer Smith Adams, Ph.D. is the Clinical Director for the Telemental Health Program for the North Texas VA System. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 2008. She has a completed extensive training in various forms of assessment ranging from violence risk to comprehensive ADHD evaluations. She completed her formal internship at the Federal Bureau of Prisons and then worked for 7 years as a licensed clinical psychologist, working with severely mentally ill inmates in the Bureau’s Nationally recognized, Step Down Program. Her career took a turn in 2014 and led her to a position with the Veteran’s Administration allowing her to combine her training in psychology with her love of technology. Since that time she has become well-known in the VA system for piloting innovative programs using technology to reach veterans in rural areas suffering from PTSD and other mental health conditions. She has helped lead the Dallas VA system to become #1 in the Nation with the most video visits for veterans being seen for MH treatment. She is eager to continue to apply her passion for technology to find ways to reduce stigma and reach individuals needing mental health care.

Dr. Nneka Alexander

Dr. Alexander completed her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She obtained specific pediatric training through completion of internship at the University of Florida and fellowship at Emory University. She currently serves as the pediatric psychologist for the cardiac service line at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Her clinical responsibilities include providing psychological support to families hospitalized on the cardiac unit. She also conducts outpatient neurodevelopmental assessments for infants and toddlers with congenital heart disease through the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program.  Dr. Alexander’s research interests focus on parenting and emotion regulation in children with chronic illness. She is board certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Dr. Jason Boye

Dr. Jason Boye

Dr. Jason E. Boye is a pediatric psychologist, practicing in two areas — weight management and primary care. He is a member of the Physician informatics Team, and is a clinical assistant professor at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Carolina Clancy

Dr. Clancy was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the Catholic University of Buenos Aires.  She obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and completed her psychology internship at the Durham VA.   She currently works full time at the Durham VA, where she is the Clinical Psychology Fellowship Training Director.  She is also the local Evidence Based Psychotherapy Coordinator and a VA Cognitive Processing Therapy Trainer and Consultant.  In her clinical time, she provides evidence-based assessments and psychotherapy services in the Trauma Recovery Program.  She is board certified in Clinical Psychology and serves as a VA ABPP ambassador, encouraging and supporting staff pursuing board certification in clinical psychology.   In her multiple roles, she has been fortunate to have the opportunity to supervise and mentor others both in VA and outside VA, which is something she is truly passionate about.  She enjoys working with Veterans and psychology trainees and loves it when she is able to use her Spanish at work. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, playing with her dog, spending time outdoors, cooking, reading, traveling, and hanging out with family and friends.

Ali Cupito

Dr. Alexandra “Ali” Cupito

Alexandra “Ali” Cupito, Ph.D., LP, HSP is a behavioral health specialist. She is excited to join Burlington Pediatrics and expand the behavioral and mental health program. Dr. Cupito is particularly interested in the intersection of physical, behavioral and emotional health and health promotion and prevention. She is passionate about working with children and adolescents with coping with chronic illnesses. Dr. Cupito works with families and medical providers to support health behavioral and lifestyle changes for patients with chronic pain, asthma, diabetes and GI disorders. Dr. Cupito provides a variety of services including behavioral assessment and treatment of sleep difficulties, ADHD, defiant behavior, anxiety, depression, encopresis, and anger. She was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. She received her BA in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill and her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from UNC Greensboro. She completed her predoctoral clinical internship specializing in pediatric integrated behavioral health and neuropsychology at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Cupito received additional postdoctoral training in pediatric integrated care at UNC Children’s Hospital. Dr. Cupito and her husband have two children and a Goldendoodle. They live in Elon, NC and enjoy running and spending time with friends and family. 

Ariana Hoet

Dr. Ariana Hoet

Dr. Ariana Hoet is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The Ohio State University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina- Greensboro. She completed her residency at The University of Colorado School of Medicine and a post-doctoral fellowship at Akron Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hoet currently works in Pediatric Primary Care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital where she serves a primarily Latino and Somali immigrant population at Westside Primary Care. She is also involved in Latino community efforts, both personally and as a professional, as she herself is an immigrant from Maracaibo, Venezuela. 

Nadia Huq

Dr. Nadia Huq

Nadia Huq, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and Instructor of Medical Psychology in Psychiatry at Columbia University. She is currently working for the School-Based Mental Health Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center providing clinical services for children and families in an underserved low-income community. Her research interests include acculturation conflict, ethnic identity development and psychological adjustment among Latino youth. She earned her B.A. in Brain, Behavior, & Cognitive Science at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and her M.A. and Ph.D in Clinical Psychology at UNCG. She completed her pre-doctoral clinical psychology internship at Children’s National Health System in Washington D.C. and her post-doctoral fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center.

Rachael Kelleher and son

Dr. Rachael Kelleher

My name is Rachael Kelleher and as an UNCG Psychology Clinic alum, I was a student of Dr. Keane where I earned my master’s and doctorate in clinical psychology. I also have a Master of Science from Penn State University in Human Development and Family Studies.  Interestingly, I have strong research training and experience in child development, but when it comes to clinical application of psychological treatments, I very much enjoy working with adults, especially with Veterans. 

During my graduate year before internship, I was fortunate enough to hold a practicum with the Durham VAMC at the Primary Care Mental Health Integrated clinic that provides co-located, collaborative care to Veterans in a primary care setting.   Afterward, I had a very enriching internship experience at the Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Consortium (MHSPC) that allowed for rotational experience at the Truman VA and University of Missouri Department of Health Psychology.  Notably, I started the internship year pregnant and had my son in December. MHSPC provided a supportive environment that promoted my clinical skill building across different areas of practice including general outpatient and inpatient residential care as well as more specialized training with PTSD and substance use, neuropsychology, and geropsychology rotations.  Regarding the challenges of work life balance, it should be noted that it was possible (though not easy!) to have a baby, navigate internship, and defend my dissertation.

I am currently a staff psychologist with the Kernersville VA, an extension of the Salisbury VAMC Mental Health team. I’ve been with the Kernersville VA  for a year and a half as a generalist psychologist within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) which is comprised of teams of providers across disciplines (psychiatry, psychology, clinical pharmacy, social work, nursing, primary care, peer support specialists, and schedulers) to tailor care to Veterans. I also have certified training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for the treatment of PTSD and I am currently training in Mindful Self-Compassion and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback therapy. Moreover, I am currently seeking out experience within the VA to help provide therapy for Veterans who suffer from race-based trauma. I very much enjoy working for the Kernersville VA and have a varied and intellectually challenging case load among the Veterans I serve.

Dr. Catherine Majestic

Photo of Dr. Catherine Majestic

Catherine Majestic, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Duke University.  She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Dr. Majestic completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at the Durham VA Medical Center, and postdoctoral fellowship in health psychology at Duke University Medical Center.  Dr. Majestic currently serves as a clinical supervisor for medical psychology interns in Duke University’s clinical psychology internship.  She also maintains a clinical practice through the Duke Cancer Center and Duke Private Diagnostic Clinic.  Dr. Majestic has particular interest and expertise in behavioral symptom management, evidence-based treatment of trauma, depression, and anxiety, and helping patients and caregivers cope with the physical and psychological demands of chronic illness.  Dr. Majestic is also a member of the Duke Pain Prevention and Treatment Research Program.  In this role, she serves as the lead clinical interventionist on several large-scale grants providing behavioral pain management skills to cancer patients within the Duke Cancer Center’s main campus and underserved rural clinics across the state of North Carolina.  Dr. Majestic is co-chair of the Duke Supportive Care and Survivorship Center’s Inclusive Action Committee dedicated to reducing patient barriers, increasing patient quality of care, and educating Center staff and faculty around issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Juan Prandoni

Dr. Juan Prandoni

Juan Prandoni was born in Argentina and moved to Winston-Salem when he was 10. He did undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill and then entered UNC-Greensboro’s Clinical Psychology PhD program after taking some time off to backpack through Patagonia and live in NYC. He has a strong ethnic identity as an Argentine, so he has been militant about maintaining his Spanish language, using it during his clinical work.

When Juan was 18, he did an internship in the child and adolescent inpatient unit at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, which pushed him toward wanting to work with more severe mental pathologies. This experience also made him want to shoot for a PhD. Before coming to El Futuro, Juan completed his predoctoral internship at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth NJ. In his free time, Juan enjoys playing and watching soccer — he’s a huge Liverpool fan — backpacking, and hanging out with his cats, Francis and Clara.

Sara Propst

Dr. Sara Propst

Sara Propst, Ph.D. is a Behavioral Health Consultant and licensed clinical psychologist at Cherokee Health Systems in Seymour, TN. Dr. Propst is the Director of Behavioral Health Education and Training and is involved in workforce development as the training director of CHS’s APA-accredited clinical psychology internship and APPIC-approved postdoctoral fellowship programs. She supervises trainees at multiple levels including postdoctoral fellows, clinical psychology interns, and graduate level practicum students. Additionally, she is also an adjunct faculty member at Meharry Medical College where she oversees the family medicine and psychiatry residents in their CHS rotations for their Rural Training Track. Dr. Propst also consults with other primary care agencies as they seek to integrate their practices and train behavioral health providers to work in primary care. She is currently involved in a multi-layer partnership with the nutrition department at the University of Tennessee which includes the grant funded initiative Prevention Plus through the National Institute of Health, as well as the development of a new graduate training program that places nutrition students in the clinical setting. Dr. Propst is passionate about integrated health care as a way to ensure patient access to quality behavioral health services despite potential barriers. She earned her degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2011 and has been with Cherokee Health Systems since that time.

Alex Thibeault

Dr. Alex Thibeault

Dr. Alex Thibeault is a licensed psychologist with Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, CA, where he performs organ transplant assessment and clinical services with patients from a wide variety of backgrounds as well as consultation with medical providers. He also works as an instructional faculty member and private practice provider. Dr. Thibeault received a PhD in clinical psychology from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a Diplomate of the American Board of School Neuropsychology (ABSNP). He has certifications in individual therapy, family and couples therapy, and psychological assessment through Veterans Health Administration, The Gottman Institute, and California Community Colleges. He completed doctoral internship at New Mexico Veterans Affairs and postdoctoral fellowship at University of California, San Diego. Dr. Thibeault draws from experience in evidence-based mental health, research and program development, cooperative partnership, leadership development and performance enhancement capacities across a variety of setting such as hospitals, community health centers, public and private schools, university counseling centers, and leadership development organizations. Dr. Thibeault also has an MAEd with an emphasis in Teaching from Alliant International University. As a former clear-credentialed educator, he integrates principles of pedagogy and andragogy, cultural humility, group dynamics, and positive psychology into his professional practice. When not in office, Dr. Thibeault enjoys family, friends, and any outdoor activity under the SoCal sun.

Photo of Dr. Wendy Ward

Dr. Wendy Ward

Dr. Wendy Ward is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor with tenure in the UAMS College of Medicine.  She serves UAMS as both the Director of Interprofessional Faculty Development and Associate Provost for Faculty.  She serves all five colleges, the Graduate School, and Academic Affairs faculty in these two roles, including recruitment, onboarding, faculty development, mentoring, promotion, professional wellness, leadership development, retirement transitioning, and emeriti engagement.  Her expertise is in integrated care models and collaborative practice, team-based telehealth, behavioral medicine, faculty affairs, and faculty development. For the UAMS IPE office she trains new facilitators to support the UAMS IPE Student Curriculum.

Diana Westerberg

Dr. Diana Westerberg

Diana Westerberg, Ph.D., earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from Washington University in St. Louis.  She completed her pre-doctoral clinical internship at Boston Children’s Hospital and her postdoctoral fellowship at Brown Medical School in the Early Childhood track.  Dr. Westerberg has always had a passion for working in underserved communities.  Clinically, she works to implement evidence based treatments with children, adolescents, and their families in a culturally appropriate way.  As a therapist and consultant, she has worked to integrate BH services in a variety of settings: inpatient and outpatient medical centers, education centers, and community programs.  Her research examines family level stress and child development (physiological and social-emotional) in the context of culturally diverse families from low-income backgrounds.  Dr. Westerberg started working at Lynn Community Health Center in 2017 as a staff psychologist in the pediatric department and at a school based health center.  Last year she took over the role of Director of Psychology Training, overseeing an APA Internship Program and an advanced practicum placement in collaboration with William James College.  In addition to her work at LCHC, she is co-chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Massachusetts Psychological Association.