Featured Experts
The Academy of Lifelong Learning has gathered some of the top experts in their fields to provide their insights and to answer your questions.
Tiffany Beason, PhD
Dr. Beason is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a licensed clinical and community psychologist at the National Center for School Mental Health.
Lisa Berlin, PhD, MS
Lisa Berlin is a professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Her research focuses on early child-parent attachment as well as programs and policies to support early parenting, especially among low-income families.
Margo Candelaria, PhD
Margo Candelaria, PhD, is the Co-director of the Parent, Infant, and Early Childhood Program at The Institute for Innovation and Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social Work overseeing all research and evaluation efforts for the team.
Kay Connors, LCSW-C
Kay is a clinical social worker specializing in working with families and young children dealing with traumatic stress. She trains providers in infant and early childhood mental health core competencies and evidence-based practices, including Child-Parent Psychotherapy.
Dana Cunningham, PhD
Dana L. Cunningham is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Program Director of the Prince George’s School Mental Health Initiative which is affiliated with the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry.
Chris D’Adamo, PhD
Chris D’Adamo is a medical research scientist with expertise in the synergistic effects of healthy lifestyle, environmental exposures, and genetics on human health and wellness.
Vineet Dhar, BDS., MDS, MFDSRCS (Glasgow), FDSRCS (Eng.), PhD
Prof. Dhar is a board-certified pediatric dentist serving as clinical professor and department chair of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry and graduate program director of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
Leigh Goodmark, JD
Leigh Goodmark is the Marjorie Cook Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Frances King Carey School of Law.
Sharon A. Hoover, PhD
Sharon A. Hoover is a licensed clinical psychologist and a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and co-director of the National Center for School Mental Health.
Lauren M. Hynicka, PharmD, BCPS, RYT-200
Dr. Hynicka is an associate professor of pharmacotherapy at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Brenda Jones Harden, PhD
Brenda Jones Harden is the Alison Richman Professor for Children and Families, at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She directs the Prevention and Early Adversity Research Laboratory.
Katherine Marconi, PhD, MS
Katherine Marconi, PhD, MS, is a Senior Lecturer in the UMB Graduate School. She serves as Director of the Implementation and Dissemination Science Certificate and teaches in the Global Health Systems program.
Marlene Matarese, PhD, MSW
Marlene Matarese has over 20 years of experience working at the individual, county, state, and national levels.
Mutiat Tolu Onigbanjo, MD, FAAP
Dr. Onigbanjo's area of focus includes providing general pediatric care to children from birth through young adulthood, caring for newborns in the newborn nursery, and teaching medical students and pediatric residents.
Ngozi Osuagwu, DNP, CRNP, PNP, FN
Ngozi Osuagwu, DNP, CRNP, PNP, FNP is a dual-certified Family and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She cares for individuals across the lifespan, from newborns to geriatric patients.
Cindy Schaeffer, PhD
Cindy Schaeffer is a child clinical psychologist and researcher who specializes in issues related to adolescent and young adult development.
Kate Sweeney Wasserman, MSW
Kate Sweeney Wasserman, MSW, is the Co-Director of the Parent, Infant and Early Childhood Program at The Institute for Innovation and Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social Work where she oversees program and policy work for the Institute's early childhood projects.
Angela Weeks, DBA
Angela Weeks brings extensive national experience creating, implementing, and evaluating programs and initiatives that improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people and communities.
Michelle Zabel, MSS
Michelle Zabel, an assistant dean and director of The Institute for Innovation & Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, has over 30 years of experience working in child- and family-serving systems in both public and private sectors across the country.