Meet the Staff
Our staff consists of full-time licensed professions who specialize in college student issues. We also are a major training facility for advanced doctoral students in psychology which greatly helps us serve UNT students. Each of these students is closely supervised and trained in order to ensure you the best service we can provide. The Student Counseling Center professional staff includes:
Judy McConnell, Ph.D.
Director, Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr. McConnell received her Master and Ph.D. at Texas A&M University. She has 20 plus years of experience working with college students. She has been at UNT for 8+ years. She teaches a graduate level vocational counseling practicum, and supervises doctoral and masters psychology students. Her areas of interests include Jungian psychology, development of college students, women's issues, career counseling, and training and supervision.
Tim Lane, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Psychologist, and Asst. Professor of Psychology. B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University. He has been with UNT since 1989, he has 25+ years in the mental health field. He works with the DAEAC committee focusing on educating and reducing problematic alcohol/drug use on campus. Practice and research specializations include: young adult counseling and development, integrative therapy, couples counseling, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, chemical use/abuse counseling, diagnostic paradigms, and supervision. Consulting with faculty and staff.
Karen Cogan, Ph.D.
Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology. Certified sport psychology consultant. She serves as Coordinator of Practicum and Outreach Services for the Center for Sport Psychology. She has a BA and MS from the University of California at Los Angeles; Ph.D. at Ohio State University. She has been with Counseling and Testing Services since 1992 with many years experience treating College Students. Research and practice interests: Sport Psychology-Performance Enhancement, Team Dynamics, Anxiety Control, Women's issues/Gender issues especially adults molested as children (AMAC), Sexual Assault, and treatment of Eating Disorders.
Pamela Flint, Ph.D.
Psychologist and Asst. Professor of Psychology. B.A.from University of Texas-Dallas, she has a MS and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from UNT. She has been with Counseling and Testing Services since 1997. In addition, Dr. Flint brings many years of experience in allied professions to our Center. She is certified for animal assisted therapy with her dog named Roxie. She is a member of APA. Her professional interests include animal assisted therapy, psychopharmacology, adult children of alcoholics, couples therapy, and suicide prevention.
Martin Gieda, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, National Certified Counselor and Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Development, and Higher Education. Dr. Gieda received graduate degrees from Columbia University, NY and The Pennsylvania State University. He interned at the Bronx VA Medical Center and the University of Maryland's Counseling Center. Professional memberships include the American Psychological Association and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Dr. Gieda completed extramural training and clinical supervision at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research. He is a Certified Cognitive Therapist with the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Special interests are in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.
John Hipple, Ph.D.
John Hipple, Ph.D., LPC has been at the Counseling Center since 1977. For the most part Dr. Hipple is a generalist, in that he works with students who present a wide range of social and emotional problems. His current special area of interest rests in the Performing Arts. Musicians experiencing performance anxiety and generalized career stress find him to be helpful.
LaSandra Ward, Ph.D.
Psychologist. Dr. Ward is a native east coaster and joined Counseling and Testing Services in 2003. She earned her BA at the University of Maryland, College Park, her MA at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and her Ph.D. at West Virginia University. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, and her practice and research interests include career development, identity development, and theory-based research.
Jennifer King, Ph.D.
Psychologist, B.A., M.S. and Ph.D. from UNT in Counseling Psychology. She interned and worked for two years at Texas Tech University Counseling Center. Professional interests: Couples counseling, grief, anxiety problems, identity issues, sexual assault prevention/recovery, care giving issues, eating disorders.