Ohio Psychological Association

OPAGS Board

Chair: Nicole Bosse, Xavier University
Nicole is third year clinical psychology doctoral student at Xavier University. She obtained her B.A. in psychology, graduating Magna Cum Laude with departmental honors from the University of Cincinnati. In addition, she obtained her M.A. in clinical psychology at the University of Dayton. Nicole's research interests include eating disorders, self-esteem, depression, malingering and response bias and personality. Her master’s thesis looked at how certain family factors and personality characteristics moderate body image and thin-ideal internalization and was presented at the 2008 Mid-Western Psychological Association. She has had experience working with male adolescent sex offenders in a residential setting, adults in residential treatment for substance abuse, public school students in a school-based psychological center, a college/community psychological center and serving as an advocate for rape victims on campus. In addition, she works as a research coordinator at Cincinnati Children's Hospital on a maternal depression NIMH grant, which has produced a publication and numerous conference presentations. She is currently graduate student affiliate of APA and serves as Xavier's APAGS Vice President of Communications.

Past-Chair: Trevor J. Petersen, Ohio University
Trevor Petersen, M.S., is a fourth year clinical psychology graduate student at Ohio University. His experience includes undergraduate teaching as well as clinical work with diverse populations at varied settings including a residential treatment center, clinical boarding school, elementary school, departmental clinic, and college counseling center. His research interests range from psychosocial predictors of substance use severity and treatment outcomes among adolescents, to increasing college students’ stress management skills. He has actively presented his work at state and national conferences. Trevor is a graduate student affiliate of APA, APA Division 12, ABCT and MHEDIC. He currently serves on the graduate representative committee of his department, the Ohio University President’s Advisory Council for Campus Safety, and the Ohio University Graduate Student Senate. Trevor is motivated to serve on the OPAGS executive board in order to become more active in promoting awareness of important issues in psychology and advocating for the betterment of the field on the state and national level. He would also like to help increase resources for and collaboration among psychology graduate students in Ohio. Trevor firmly believes that the graduate student voice is vital in shaping the psychology of tomorrow.

Chair Elect: Marka Kompa, MS, MBA, PhD Candidate (ABD)

Ms. Kompa is a Psychology Resident who has provided psychotherapy and psychometric services to clients in Columbus, Ohio and surrounding areas; she has worked in private practice and as an independent contractor. Areas of expertise include psychological assessment and diagnosis, forensic evaluation and treatment, chronic pain management, treatment of mood disorders, depression and anxiety, and evaluation and treatment of psychological conditions secondary to physical injury. Additionally, Marka spent 10 years working in management for a leading telecommunications company, where she served in a sales and business planning role throughout two mergers. This experience has been of substantial value for clients with vocational rehabilitation and goal-setting needs, as well as role identification and career assessment. Her therapy orientation is a cognitive-behavioral one. She uses autogenic training, behavior modification, catharsis, cognitive restructuring, and reframing techniques. Her personal interests include developmental psychology and adolescent well-being. Currently, she is in the process of researching the potential validation of a personally constructed paradigm, which she created to be an aid for life-planning and establishing purpose among adolescence. This study was constructed as her thesis and is being researched as her dissertation. Marka is a graduate student affiliate of the Ohio Psychological Association and is an associate of the American Psychological Association. Marka’s interest for serving in the chair-elect position is to be actively engaged as a leader for current initiatives, as well as an engaged seeker of potential improvements among OPAGS. Additionally, she is interested in being an advocate for sustaining effective communication and collaboration among the psychological field. Furthermore, she is interested in promoting awareness of issues, regulations and protocol among psychology graduates and professionals in an effective and efficient manner-to contribute to the success of OPAGS.

Diversity Chair: Angela Harris, Wright State University
Angela Harris is a full-time doctoral student at Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology (SOPP) in Dayton. Her personal interests and research include, but are not limited to: racial identity, bi-racial identity development, leadership development, and minority students both at historically black colleges/universities and predominantly white institutions. Angela’s dissertation title is “Group Attachment in Students of Color and its Impact on Retention at Colleges and Universities.” Angela remains active in SOPP both inside and outside of the classroom. Her leadership includes the following: Co-President of the African American Women in Professional Psychology (AAWIPP), 2009-10; Chair, AAWIPP Annual Poetry and Talent Event, 2010; Committee Member, SOPP Diversity Inclusion Committee, 2009-10; Diversity Committee, SOPP Student Government, 2009-10; Mistress of Ceremonies, AAWIPP Rites of Passage, 2009. Angela also is active in numerous organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA), Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) and the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi). She is a member of APA’s Division 45 and 49 and recently performed a poem about Carl Jung at the 2009 OPA conference in Columbus. Angela’s long-term goals include, but are not limited to: working in a university counseling center, teaching, training, consultation and group work.

Continuing Education Chair: Craig Spiel, Ohio University
Mr. Spiel is a 2nd year clinical psychology graduate student at Ohio University and is currently a graduate assistant for the Challenging Horizons Program (CHP). His research interests include the development and evaluation of effective interventions and accommodations for adolescents with ADHD in schools, as well as interventions that include family components for youth and adolescents with ADHD. Craig earned his B.S. in Psychology, graduating Cum Laude from Brigham Young University in 2009. Before coming to Ohio University, Craig worked as a Case Manager for adults with serious and persistent mental illness.

Advocacy Chair: Ashley Murray, Wright State University
Ms. Murray is a second year doctoral student at Wright State University School of Professional Psychology. Throughout her experience in her doctoral program she has developed the skills of a competent leader and collaborative team member. She has also been given the opportunity to explore various settings, which has fostered my interest in areas of women and children who are at risk for maltreatment Her t raining has also helped her to better incorporate the effects of diversity variables into the many issues that arise in our society. She believes that it is critical that we begin to integrate diversity issues into advocacy efforts, since issues of oppression and societal norms can have significant impacts on the lives of these individuals. She is running for Advocacy Chair of OPAGS because of her passion for advocacy and developing a standard that incorporates individuals in power stand beside those suffering, instead of speaking for them. She believes that she can bring a spirit into the organization that offers a new perspective on what advocacy means, and how we as an organization and a community can come together to make change. She believes this would be a powerful experience and would enhance her development as a professional. The opportunity would also allow her to learn federal and legislative efforts in the area of advocacy so she will be able to carry these skills into her future opportunities.

Social Responsibility Chair: Amy Saling Untied, Xavier University
Ms. Untied earned her bachelor's degree from Ohio University where she majored in sociology/criminology and psychology. She is currently a fourth year graduate student at Xavier University in the clinical psychology doctoral program. Her research focuses on issues relevant to women and violence against women specifically.

Communications Chair - Vacant