Clinicians and Staff

Mirelva Colon, LMHC, CASAC

Mirelva was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is a bilingual NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a NYS Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Marist College. Her interests include multicultural counseling, student-athlete concerns, and first generation college students. She also enjoys tennis, hiking, and yoga.

Larry Cerecedes, PhD

Larry is a licensed clinical psychologist whose therapy interests include multicultural concerns, family-of-origin issues, first generation college students, and working with students having adjustment challenges. He graduated summa cum laude from California Polytechnic University, Pomona CA, and obtained his doctorate degree from The California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in Los Angeles. His other interests include the teaching and training of new counselors, kayaking, and eating the delicious Mexican-American food he grew up on. 

Owen Gelfond, LMHC Intern

[email protected]

Owen Gelfond is an Intern at the counseling center currently studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Marist College. He was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts before moving to the Hudson Valley to study psychology. He describes himself as an enthusiastic and down to earth person. His hobbies include hiking, biking, and mixed martial arts. Owen has experience working at a substance abuse clinic and helping underprivileged youth in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Jillian Goralewski, LMHC Intern

[email protected]

Jillian Goralewski (she/her) is a Mental Health Counseling Intern from Marist College in Poughkeepsie. She has experience interning at an outpatient substance use facility and worked as a resident assistant (RA) in her undergraduate studies, which sparked her interest in working with college students. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, playing sports, hanging out with her cats, and spending time with family and friends.

 

Laura MacDonald, PsyD

Laura is a New York State licensed psychologist. She has lived and worked in the Hudson Valley for the past 16 years. She has worked at Bard since January 2009, and has a small private practice. Laura graduated from Bard with a BA in Psychology and went on for a MSEd and PsyD from Pace University in New York City.  Laura has worked with clients ranging in age from toddler to geriatric, but loves best doing therapy with adolescents and adults.

Sherry Ou-Yang, LCSW

Sherry was born in Taiwan and raised in Hawaii. She received her BA in International Relations from Boston University, MA in International Affairs from the New School, and her MSW from New York University. Sherry's clinical experience includes working with children and families, supporting survivors of trauma, and teaching skills to create lives worth living.  Her interests include travel, food, and good writing.  On a typical night, you'll find her eating ice cream and watching The Great British Bake-Off.

V Lawson, LMSW

V Lawson is a queer, Black, genderfluid licensed master social worker who has come to this field through curiosity, questioning, and a deep desire to understand our systems and cultures and how they interact with our doing, being, and becoming. They graduated from Mount Saint Mary College with a Bachelors in Psychology, and did their graduate work at Columbia University School of Social Work, graduating with a Masters in Social Work. They are currently learning and drawing from both colonized and ancestral knowledge, theories, and therapeutic modalities including, somatic experiencing, CBT, nature, herbalism, critical race theory, and emergent strategy. They are dedicated to supporting individuals and groups in addressing psychological, emotional, behavioral and/or social challenges that affect their quality of life which can include trauma, depression, and anxiety.

Casey O'Neil, MHC-LP

Casey is a Mental Health Counselor currently working toward licensure in New York State. She received her Bachelors Degree in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services from SUNY New Paltz. She received her Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marist College. Casey’s clinical experience has centered around working with children and teens who struggle with a variety of mental health concerns. She is looking forward to utilizing her knowledge and experience at Bard to create a safe space for students.
When not at work Casey enjoys the outdoors, reading, and spending time with loved ones. 

Jenny Meyer Colman, MD, Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Colman received her medical degree from Columbia University, and earned her BA from Harvard University.

Ilyse Simon, RD, CDN, Consulting Nutritionist

Gordon, Certified Therapy Dog

Gordon is a Scottish Terrier living his best life in Kingston, NY. He was born in August 2018 and rescued in October 2018. He lives with 3 other dogs, 2 cats and 4 humans. He thinks Bard students are the BEST. He loves his job as a therapy dog and wears his Alliance of Therapy Dogs tag with pride. His hobbies are bothering the cats, snuggling, chewing pencils and playing with his Bard besties Lavinia and Luke.

Clara Mixco, Office Manager

Clara Mixco is originally from El Salvador and she has lived in the Hudson Valley area since 2002. Clara went to Dutchess Community College and before coming to Bard she worked for more than ten years in the Hospitality Industry where she held different managerial positions. Outside of work Clara enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking and camping with family and friends.

Jonathan Aldebot, Administrative Assistant

Jonathan (he/him/his) is originally from NYC and has lived in the Hudson Valley area since 2004. Jonathan went to both Fordham University and transferred to the University at Buffalo where he earned his B.F.A. in Communications with a concentration in film/media studies. Prior to working at Bard, Jonathan had the opportunity to work within different fields including independent film start-ups, media and corporate insurance industries. Outside of work Jonathan enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, dabbling in video, photography and listening to his vinyl collection which consists mostly of film scores and soundtracks, reading and watching movies.