The Counseling Center

Faculty

Meet the Staff

Learn more about the team at The Counseling Center at Merrimack College.

EMERGENCIES

On Campus: Call campus police at 978-837-5911.

Off Campus: Call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.

Sarah Dionne
Director, The Counseling Center
Justin Goldstein
Mental Health Clinician, The Counseling Center
Marianne Specker
Mental Health Clinician, The Counseling Center
Katie Tavares ’11, MEd’17
Practice Manager, The Counseling Center

<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5009-bring-on-the-merrimack-college-marching-band"><h3>Bring on the Merrimack College Marching Band</h3></a> <p>Merrimack has launched its inaugural marching band to accompany the College’s Division I athletic program. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg" alt="The Merrimack College Marching Band launched with 40 members and plans to grow to around 100 members who will provide entertainment at Merrimack’s Division I sports events." loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22912_attathumbnail.rev.1631543145.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5137-elie-ata-12-addresses-merrimack-community-at-fall"><h3>Elie Ata ’12 Addresses Merrimack Community at Fall 2021 Academic Convocation</h3></a> <p>Merrimack hosted its first in-person convocation ceremony since fall 2019 on Thursday, Sept. 2, at Duane Stadium. Students and faculty gathered to welcome the Class of 2025, address the rising Class of 2022 and officially commence the beginning of a new academic year. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22912_attathumbnail.rev.1631543145.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22912_attathumbnail.rev.1631543145.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22912_attathumbnail.rev.1631543145.jpg" alt="Dr. Elie Ata ’12 spoke at convocation and encouraged students to welcome change and embrace change in their own lives and communities. " loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5015-obrien-foundation-invests-12m-to-provide-full"><h3>O’Brien Foundation Invests $1.2M to Provide Full Scholarships to Lynn Students</h3></a> <p>A gift from the James W. O’Brien Foundation will fund full tuition, room and board at Merrimack for Lynn scholars. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.jpg" alt=" The scholarship program will begin this fall and support a select number of students over a 5-year period. " loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1920,1080/ignore_cropper/1/22979_CoachRelease.jpg.rev.1632399558.png'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5141-warriors-return-from-players-to-head-coaches"><h3>Warriors Return, From Players to Head Coaches</h3></a> <p>Merrimack College has named Brian Murphy ’03 and Jen Fox Sargent ’09 as head coaches of the baseball and women’s lacrosse programs respectively, as announced by Director of Athletics <a href="https://merrimackathletics.com/staff-directory/jeremy-gibson/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeremy Gibson</a>. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1920,1080/ignore_cropper/1/22979_CoachRelease.jpg.rev.1632399558.png 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1920,1080/ignore_cropper/1/22979_CoachRelease.jpg.rev.1632399558.png" alt="Former Merrimack athletes return as head coaches of the baseball team and the women’s lacrosse team. " loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22916_Rankings_Web.rev.1631547229.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5138-merrimacks-rank-increases-in-us-news-world"><h3>Merrimack’s Rank Increases in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges List</h3></a> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Merrimack College continued its steady climb in the <a href="https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/merrimack-college-2120" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings this year,</a> leaping to 34th from 45th on the 2022 list released Monday, Sept. 13.</span> </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22916_Rankings_Web.rev.1631547229.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22916_Rankings_Web.rev.1631547229.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22916_Rankings_Web.rev.1631547229.jpg" alt="Merrimack College is #34 in U.S. News & World Reports regional rankings." loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22693_Leena_Twitter_Web.rev.1621968068.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5082-merrimack-health-sciences-professor-receives-nih"><h3>Merrimack Health Sciences Professor Receives NIH Grant</h3></a> <p>Assistant Professor <a href="/live/profiles/1885-leena-bharath">Leena Bharath</a>, who teaches in the School of Health Sciences, has received $434,000 in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The awarded R15 grant will stretch over three years and is intended to support the training of undergraduate students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22693_Leena_Twitter_Web.rev.1621968068.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22693_Leena_Twitter_Web.rev.1621968068.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22693_Leena_Twitter_Web.rev.1621968068.jpg" alt="Assistant Professor Leena Bharath receives $434,000 in a grant from the National Institutes of Health." loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5045-new-partnership-brings-dei-to-high-school-students"><h3>New Partnership Brings DEI to High School Students</h3></a> <p>Be the CAUSE (Catalyst for Advocacy and Unified Student Empowerment) is a new community partnership between Merrimack and Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts which aims to bring diversity awareness training to high school students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.jpg" alt="The first workshop of Be the CAUSE shared resources, interactive exercises and focused on broadening student awareness by stressing intersectionality." loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="https://www.merrimack.edu/about/offices_services/communications/notable-quotable/"><h3>See What Our Talented Faculty Have Been Up To</h3></a> <p>Merrimack professors across all disciplines have been winning awards, publishing papers, participating in academic panels and workshops, and featured in the media. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.jpg" alt="Merrimack College logo with shield" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22752_gallo1.rev.1623789210.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5100-mens-basketball-coach-joe-gallo-receives-number-of"><h3>Men’s Basketball Coach Joe Gallo Receives Number of Awards</h3></a> <p>Merrimack College men’s basketball coach Joe Gallo is recognized with many honors after an incredible 2019-2020 season. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22752_gallo1.rev.1623789210.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22752_gallo1.rev.1623789210.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22752_gallo1.rev.1623789210.jpg" alt="Coach Joe Gallo has been recognized for a stunning 2019-2020 basketball season." loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4947-merrimack-college-awarded-nsf-grant-for-machs"><h3>Merrimack College Awarded NSF Grant for MACHS Scholars Program</h3></a> <p>Merrimack secures NSF grant for new STEM program to support high-achieving, low-income students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg" alt="Principal Investigator Dr. Rickey Caldwell, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4948-merrimack-offers-new-global-pandemics-course-about"><h3>Merrimack Offers New Global Pandemics Course About COVID-19</h3></a> <p>Merrimack’s new course Global Pandemics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of COVID-19 offers students the opportunity to examine COVID-19 through the lens of multiple fields of study and practice. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.jpg" alt="Students in Global Pandemics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of COVID-19 will learn about the economics of pandemics, post-pandemic recoveries and more. " loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4940-alumni-fast-five-with-nurse-lauren-maher-16"><h3>Alumni Fast Five with Nurse Lauren Maher ’16</h3></a> <p>In this week’s edition of “Fast Five: Quick Q&As with Members of the Merrimack Community,” we talk to alumnus Lauren Maher ’16. Lauren shares her path to becoming a nurse, how Merrimack influenced her career choice and how she’d like to come back and share her knowledge with current nursing students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.jpg" alt="Merrimack alumnus and nurse Lauren Maher '16 advises students to know they don't have to have it all figured out while they are in college." loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22925_pha1.rev.1632435746.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5140-merrimack-mens-lacrosse-lends-helping-hand-to"><h3>Merrimack Men’s Lacrosse Lends Helping Hand to Project Home Again</h3></a> <p>On Saturday, Sept. 11, the <a href="https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/mens-lacrosse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Merrimack College men’s lacrosse team</a> spent the day helping <a href="https://www.phama.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Home Again</a> (PHA), a non-profit organization that provides low-income families in need with new and gently used household goods. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22925_pha1.rev.1632435746.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22925_pha1.rev.1632435746.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22925_pha1.rev.1632435746.jpg" alt="The Merrimack men’s lacrosse team helped Project Home Again move their warehouse from Lawrence to Andover." loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4921-faculty-fast-five-with-janet-ierardi"><h3>Faculty Fast Five with Janet Ierardi</h3></a> <p>In this week’s edition of “Fast Five: Quick Q&As with Members of the Merrimack Community,” we talk to obstetrics nurse and associate clinical professor of nursing Janet Ierardi who teaches in the <a href="/nursing">nursing program at Merrimack</a>. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg" alt="The first in her family to attend college, Janet Ierardi has been teaching nursing for more than 15 years and tells her students to "squeeze every drop out of learning."" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div></div></div></div></div></section>

Faculty

Meet the Staff

EMERGENCIES

Sarah Dionne

Justin Goldstein

Marianne Specker

Katie Tavares ’11, MEd’17

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