Donna N. McNelis, Ph.D., CPRP
Director

Donna N. McNelis, Ph.D., CPRP, began her career as a clinical specialist in a state psychiatric hospital. Over the past 20 years, she has worked with children and adolescents, adult addiction recovery services, and specialized groups such as persons with mental illness and mental retardation. She developed one of the first programs for dually-diagnosed adolescents in the mid-Atlantic region. Her current faculty appointments are complemented by years of direct clinical practice. She is presently the Director of Behavioral Healthcare Education, Department of Psychiatry, at Drexel University College of Medicine. This program is designed to offer professional interdisciplinary continuing education, and staff development and consultation to providers and practitioners across the nation. Dr. McNelis's current interests include managed behavioral health care, outcome measures, mental illness and mental retardation, psychopharmacology for non-medical practitioners, child-focused issues and program management. 
 
Taylor B. Anderson, MSW, LSW, CPRP
Associate Director

Taylor B. Anderson, MSW, LSW, is a clinical social worker who has worked for over 30 years with children, families, couples, groups, individuals, and persons with developmental disabilities, with serious and persistent mental illness and with substance abuse. She was the executive director of a mental-health center for six years, managed a N.I.M.H. multi-year grant teaching upper management to create and use cost-outcome mental-health data, and has consulted in a number of states. She continues a small private practice and her interests include outcome and quality measurement and CQI for service programs. She chairs an annual conference on co-occurring mental and substance abuse use disorders. 
 
Carol Auerbach, M.A.

Carol J. Auerbach, M.A., is a movement therapist who has worked in substance abuse treatment for 11 years. She began her career at Eagleville (Pa.) Hospital as an adjunctive therapist and supervisor, and went on to become the Director of Intensive Outpatient and Partial Drug and Alcohol programs at a community mental-health center. Her specialty areas are adventure-based counseling, program development and brief therapy. Ms. Auerbach's current interests include solution-focused brief therapy, co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse, and the body-mind connection. 
 
Margaret Benner, Ph.D., A.P.N., B.C.

Margaret Benner, Ph.D., A.P.N., B.C., is a certified adult psychiatric clinical nurse specialist who has worked over 25 years in the field of adult mental health/mental illness in a variety of clinical settings. Additionally, she has an extensive background in education and is a published author. Most of her clinical experience has been with the seriously and persistently mentally ill, including those with a dual diagnosis of substance abuse. Dr. Benner has utilized various treatment modalities in the course of her career, including individual group, and family therapies, and is licensed to prescribe medication. Her special interest areas include: psychogeriatrics, legal and ethical issues in the delivery of mental health care, and psychopharmacology. 
 
Veronica O. Bowlan, M.S.W., L.S.W.

Veronica Bowlan, M.S.W., L.S.W., is a licensed clinical social worker, family therapist and a certified practitioner in psychodrama and group therapy. She has experience in mental health, child welfare, eating disorders and working with adolescents in a number of settings. Her professional experience also includes developing training for professionals in working with sexual abuse issues, developing family support groups and working with groups and families. She is a member of the Family Institute of Philadelphia and adjunct faculty member in several graduate programs in the Philadelphia area. 
 
Veronica Carey, M.H.S., C.P.R.P.

Veronica Carey, MHS, C.P.R.P., is a faculty member of Drexel University College of Medicine, Behavioral Healthcare Education, a consultant to the Pennsylvania Department Office of Public Welfare of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and a member of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Rehabilitation Training Advisory Committee. She has worked within the mental health field for 15 years. Her professional experience includes service as the former Director of a psychosocial rehabilitation program and Director of a site-based psychiatric rehabilitation program utilizing the clubhouse model. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member in the College of Human Services at Springfield College in Wilmington, Delaware. Ms. Carey has co-chaired the statewide Drop-In Center Conference for the past two years and has mentored Pennsylvania service providers with technical assistance and RFP (request for proposal) submissions regarding psychiatric rehabilitation planning and programs. The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal published a book review authored by Ms. Carey in the fall of 2004. 

Anita Kinsley, M.A.

 Anita Kinsley, M.A., began her career supervising residential programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. She was the case management director of a large service area, then a program specialist for a Pennsylvania County Office of Mental Health, where she initiated the County's Child and Adolescent Service System Program and the Children's Intensive Case Management Program. She has gained expertise in multisystems service development and delivery through her positions within county and regional entities. Her interests include advocacy for those seriously and mentally ill, and seriously emotionally disturbed children, adolescents and their families.

Pasquale Russoniello, M.A., M.F.A.

Pasquale Russoniello, M.A., a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania, joined the BHE faculty at Drexel University College of Medicine in September, 1999, bringing with him over 25 years of experience working in community behavioral health services as well as in a private psychotherapy practice. Through direct service, supervisory, and administrative positions, Mr. Russoniello has worked with diverse population, including persons with mental disorders, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and dual diagnoses, such as MISA or MH/MR. Areas of professional interest include effective supervision and team-building; psychiatric rehabilitation; cognitive therapy treatment of depression and anxiety and assessment, treatment of depression and anxiety and assessment, treatment planning and outcome-based measures.

Brenda J.Weaver, M.A.

Brenda J. Weaver, M.A., is a native of Philadelphia, PA. Ms. Weaver has dedicated nearly 30 years to the field of community mental health. Her primary professional objective is to promote productive collaborations between individuals living with serious mental illness, their families, service providers and the communities in which they live. To this end, Ms. Weaver specializes in the application of engagement, psychoeducation, program planning and community resource development. During her career, she was a research associate for the UCLA/VA Schizophrenia Clinical Research & Treatment Center and a skills trainer using the R.P. Liberman model. Ms. Weaver's current responsibilities as a faculty member of Drexel University College of Medicine, Behavioral Healthcare Education include providing consultation to the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services-Cultural Competence Advisory Committee and co-chairing the training subcommittee. Additional areas of expertise include recovery and rehabilitation and case management orientation.