Advisory Board Members
McCay Vernon, Ph.D.
Chairman
Dr. McCay Vernon is a psychologist who has attained international prominence as a writer, researcher and documentary film producer on the psychological aspects of Deafness and Deaf-Blindness. Dr. Vernon was the editor of the American Annals of the Deaf for 20 years, author of more than 270 articles and six books, and collaborator in the Michael Reese Hospital's research on Deafness and mental illness. As such, Dr. Vernon has contributed to better programs for Deaf children and adults all over the world.
His years as a teacher, clinician and member of the Deaf community give added depth to his work. Currently he is the chairperson of the Advisory Board of the National Deaf Academy, professor emeritus of psychology at McDaniel College, and a psychologist in private practice.
Alan Cohen, M.D.
Member
Dr. Alan M. Cohen graduated from the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and completed his residency and fellowship in child psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Cornell Medical Center.
Prior to establishing NDA, he served as the founding medical director of Laurel Oaks Hospital, a 120-bed child and adolescent psychiatric facility in Orlando, Fla. While there, Dr. Cohen wrote his first book, "Kids Out of Control" (PIA Press, 1989), hosted a daily radio show, and spoke extensively throughout the country on severe behavioral problems in adolescence.
Dr. Cohen is the founder and previous CEO and medical director of NDA.
Neil Stephen Glickman, Ph.D.
Member
Dr. Glickman has worked in the areas of deaf counseling and education for more than 25 years. Currently he is the unit director for the mental health unit for Deaf people at Westborough State Hospital in Westborough, Mass., a consultant for Advocates Inc. in Framingham, Mass., instructor at the Institute for Social and Rehabilitation Services at Assumption College in Worchester, Mass., and psychologist/psychotherapist in Westborough, Mass.
Dr. Glickman received a B.A. in 19th and 20th century European intellectual history from Cornell University, an M.A. in counseling of the hearing impaired from Gallaudet College, and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from University of Massachusetts. He holds credentials as a licensed psychologist and certified rehabilitation counselor.
Dr. Glickman has held various professional workshops and presentations. He has also written numerous publications on mental health care and rehabilitation for the deaf and hard of hearing, including "Stories and Skills: Strategies for Mental Health Care of Deaf and Hearing Persons with Language and Learning Challenges," set for release in 2008. Dr. Glickman resides in Natick, Mass.
Michael John Gournaris, Ph.D.
Member
Dr. Gournaris, a licensed psychologist and former staff member of NDA, is currently a mental health program administrative supervisor in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing services division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Dr. Gournaris received his B.A. in psychology, an M.A. in mental health counseling, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology, all from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. He currently holds professional credentials as a licensed psychologist, licensed mental health counselor, licensed clinical professional counselor, national certified counselor (NCC), and distance credentialed counselor (DCC).
Dr. Gournaris co-composed a grant proposal to the National Institute of Health in 1998 to support America's first conference in Washington, D.C., that focused exclusively on improving access to appropriate mental health services for the international Deaf communities. He has vast experience in group counseling and has also served as an instructor at Gallaudet University.
Barbara Haskins, M.D.
Member
Barbara Haskins, M.D., is the attending psychiatrist at the Mental Health Center for the Deaf at Western State Hospital in Staunton, Va. She is also associate professor of clinical psychiatric medicine at the University of Virginia. She has held these positions since 1987.
Her main work is the treatment of Deaf adults in an inpatient setting. Dr. Haskins is also coordinator of the American Psychiatric Association Caucus of Psychiatrists Working with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Persons. She is a member of the Advisory Council for the Department of Mental Health in Virginia for mental health services to persons who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing. She has consulted with the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, community service boards, and correctional facilities regarding psychiatric services for Deaf persons.
Dr. Haskins also practices forensic psychiatry. She has published on topics related to psychiatry and Deafness. Dr. Haskins received her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Virginia and her BSN from Georgetown University.
Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, Ed.D.
Member
Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz joined the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in 1970 after working for McDonnell Douglas Corporation as an associate electronics engineer and senior numerical control programmer since 1965. He then worked more than 30 years at NTID in a variety of roles within the RIT/NTID community to support, improve and promote the lives of Deaf students. It was this experience, along with his experience, dedication and enthusiasm that made Dr. Hurwitz the perfect match for the position of dean, to which he was appointed in 1998.
Hurwitz began his NTID career as an educational specialist in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and Technology. He then moved to support department chair for engineering and computer science programs, and was later promoted to director for NTID Support Services, associate dean for Educational Support Services Programs, associate vice president for NTID Outreach and External Affairs, and associate dean for Student Affairs. In addition, Hurwitz served as the director of the Northeast Technical Assistance Center at NTID beginning in 1996. He is currently the National Technical Institute for the Deaf's vice president and dean.
Laurie Lee Johnson, Ph.D.
Member
Laurie Lee Johnson, Ph.D., is a Deaf psychologist in private practice in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. She completed her Ph.D. in educational/counseling psychology and her M.A. in educational psychology/special education at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Johnson specializes in serving the Deaf and Deaf-Blind community by providing psychological assessment and treatment that is culturally appropriate. She has taught and presented internationally on topics related to Deafness and mental health, differential diagnosis, and cultural identity in psychotherapy.
William McCrone, Ed.D., J.D.
Member
Dr. Bill McCrone is a Gallaudet University Professor Emeritus (Department of Counseling) and an attorney. He has a Ph.D. in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Arizona and a law degree from Georgetown University Law School.
From 1995 to 2001 Dr. McCrone was dean of the Gallaudet University School of Education and Human Services. During his 28 years at Gallaudet University, Dr. McCrone has earned the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, as well as all of the top awards of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association. In 1990, Dr. McCrone was Legislative Fellow to U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, then chair of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy and chief sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the TV Decoder Act.
McCrone has served on the board of the American Society for Deaf Children. He is the former counseling coordinator at Tucson's Community Outreach Program for the Deaf. He is certified in addictions counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and mental health counseling. He has published widely on disability law and policy, counseling with Deaf people, addictions counseling with Deaf people, as well as law and ethics in counseling with Deaf people. He lives in Tucson, Ariz.
Diane D. Morton, Ph.D.
Member
Dr. Morton has more than 30 years of experience in a variety of educational settings, working with children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Morton has extensive experience in provision of counseling, mental health and psychological services, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment and service coordination. This experience also includes parent and family counseling and outreach to minority and international populations.
Dr. Morton has a strong history of teaching experience at the college level. She received her B.A. in psychology and an M.S. in educational psychology and counseling from California State University, and a doctor of philosophy in clinical psychology from the Center for Psychological Studies in Albany, Calif.
Currently Dr. Morton is a professor in the department of counseling at Gallaudet University and a psychologist in private practice in the District of Columbia and Maryland. She has written for various publications on mental health and Deafness and is co-editor for the Journal of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (JADARA).
Pam Shaw, Ph.D.
Member
Dr. Shaw is currently the principal of the Alabama School for the Deaf. She has held the position since July 2000. Previously, she worked at the Kansas School for the Deaf for 19 years as a high school English teacher and then as the director of research, curriculum, and staff development.
Dr. Shaw has a B.A. in elementary education, a master's in Deaf education, a Ph.D. in special education, and certification in educational administration. Prior to coming to Alabama, she was active at a national level with several projects related to literacy development for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children.