Miriam Clark, MSN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner/Practice Manager
miclark@lasell.edu
617-243-2216

Jennifer O'Keefe, MSN, ANP-BC
Nurse Practitioner/Practice Manager
jokeefe@lasell.edu
617-243-2077

Monica Powtak
Administrative Assistant
mpowtak@lasell.edu
617-243-2451

Sharon Harrington-Hope, MA, LMHC
Director of Counseling and Clinical Counselor
she, her, hers
sharrington-hope@lasell.edu
617-243-2145

Sharon honors diversity in its variety of forms and is grateful to have the opportunity to know and work with all Lasell students. She strives to create a supportive connection with anyone seeking help as she works to understand the unique strengths and needs of her clients. Her areas of clinical interest include: the experience of first-generation students, integrating multicultural perspectives in counseling, utilizing a trauma-informed lens, and supporting people in recovery from addictive or self-injurious behaviors.  
  
When not in the office (or the telehealth screen) she enjoys spending time with family, biking, walking her dog, and trying new recipes.  

Joanna Garcia, MA, LMHC
Clinical Counselor
she, her, hers
jgarcia2@lasell.edu
617-243-2286

As a clinician of color, Joanna is interested in recognizing the diverse individual and collective experiences and identities of each person. She aims to create and hold space for each student in a way that is culturally responsive and inclusive. Her areas of clinical interest include: intergenerational trauma, BIPOC identity development, domestic violence, racial trauma and stress, mind-body connection, and psychospirituality. 

Outside of work, Joanna enjoys listening and dancing to music, hiking, cooking, trying different cuisines, and exploring different nature landscapes in the US and abroad. 

Adela Hruby, PhD, MPH, MS 
Health Educator and Clinical Counselor
she, her, hers
ahruby@lasell.edu
617-243-2334

Adela believes that life is easier when someone else "gets it." She aims to provide that kind of feeling to students in counseling. She feels it is a privilege to accompany students on their journey of self-discovery and reaching their unique potential. Her areas of clinical interest include: anxiety, grief, eating disorders and hoarding, holistic well-being, and psychospirituality.   

When not in the Counseling Center, you'll find her campaigning for and teaching public health, conducting research, baking in her kitchen, hiking in the Whites, or on her yoga mat. 

Lenora Benson, MSW, LICSW  
Clinical Counselor
she, her, hers
lbenson@lasell.edu
617-243-2054

Lenora is fulfilled when she has the opportunity to help and support diverse groups of students on their journey to self-discovery and healing. She approaches her practice with an open mind and sees the therapeutic relationship as a collaboration and partnership. Lenora wants every person to leave a session feeling a bit more equipped and confident in their own strength and ability to persevere and be resilient through life’s most challenging and complicated moments. Her areas of clinical interest include: intergenerational trauma, racial trauma and stress, substance use disorders, anxiety, and the mind-body connection.

In her free time you can find her creating memories with family and friends, participating in hot yoga, working out, running, getting a massage, or EATING! She will also never turn down a comedy show, poetry slam, or a Beyoncé concert.

Cindy Spertner, MA
Office Manager
she, her, hers
cspertner@lasell.edu
617-243-2181

Cindy has a B.A. in English/Education and a master’s degree in Writing and Publishing. She has worked as a writing instructor and was an editor at Teen Ink magazine for over 12 years. Her professional interests include writing, editing, expressive/art therapy, and empowering students and staff in the Lasell community.  
 
Outside of work, Cindy enjoys spending time with family, baking apple pies, creating new soup recipes, walking in the woods, and working toward her goal of reading 500 novels in her lifetime. 

Our clinical and social work interns are graduate students in mental health counseling or social work, completing their clinical training in the Counseling Center. They conduct individual and group counseling, and facilitate various academic and mental health programs across campus.

Jordan Brown 
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern 
She/her/hers 
JBrown1@lasell.edu 
 
Jordan is in the final year of the master's program in Mental Health Counseling at Boston College. Her clinical interests include womanist, Mujerista, relational- cultural, person-centered, and cognitive behavioral approaches. 
 
 Jordan believes that undivided attention and compassion are powerful tools for healing. She values the humility and bravery in counseling and feels privileged to hear and support people on their journey of self-understanding, healing, and growth.  
 
In her free time, Jordan enjoys listening to music, reading, window shopping, and playing the "Name Every Taylor Swift Song" Sporcle quiz. 
 
 
Milcah Hernandez   
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Intern   
She/her/hers   
Mhernandez1@lasell.edu   

Milcah is in her final year of her dual master’s program in Theology & Ministry and Mental Health Counseling at Boston College. As a first-generation Latina, Milcah hopes to support students who come from similar backgrounds and accompany them on their journey of self-discovery while at Lasell. Her area of interest includes supporting individuals who struggle with anxiety and depression, relationship and familial problems, and anyone who has gone through religious or faith-based trauma. Milcah believes in a relational-cultural, feminist and somatic approach to therapy but is also keen in learning about how to deepen and develop their clinical skills. She believes everyone deserves a space to be listened to and heard to arrive at an important place of self-acceptance.   

In her free time, Milcah enjoys spending time with her loved ones and friends, thrifting around the Boston area and reading a good book, since life is too short to read a bad one.    
 
 
Mahnoor Kazmi 
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Intern 
she/her/hers 
MKazmi@lasell.edu 

Mahnoor is in her final year of the Master’s in Mental Health Counselling program at Boston College. Her clinical interests are rooted in person-centered, relational-cultural, and feminist approaches, but continue to evolve and adapt based on the needs of the client. She strives to create a safe and empowering space for her clients to heal, grow, and become attuned to their authentic selves. She has a firm belief in the potential for change and the power of relationships. As an international student and a person of color, she is specifically interested in exploring the psychosocial impacts of racism, and the unique counseling needs of first-generation students and ethnic-racial minority individuals, both in her clinical and research work. 
 
In her free time, she likes to do yoga, watch reels of cats being hilarious, play board games with friends, and take trips to the mountains. 

Alexis Renko 
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern 
she/her/hers 
ARenko@lasell.edu 
 
Alexis is in her final year of training at Lesley University's graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. She is invested in supporting clients healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, as well as navigating relational stressors and life transitions. She enjoys working with LGBTQ+ clients and clients from all walks of life who are seeking healing and transformation. She believes therapy is a space for empowerment through self-understanding.  
 
In her free time, Alexis enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring New England, attending concerts, trying new restaurants, and snuggling with her Corgi, Josh. 

Jackson Rowley 
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Intern 
He/him/his 
JRowley@lasell.edu 
 
Jackson is in the final year of his master’s program in Mental Health Counseling at Boston College. He is especially interested in identity development and the resolution of fundamental life questions: Who am I? What am I doing here? Why am I doing it? Jackson’s approach to counseling is basically person-centered and exploratory, meaning that he is interested in openly witnessing the development of the client’s story and the relationship, regardless of theoretical expectations. His own understanding of people and change is most influenced, though, by existential, psychodynamic, and humanistic traditions.  
 
In his free time, you can find Jackson biking around the city, dancing between sets at the gym, or parsing through a list of books in a new subject of interest. 

Nina Sachs
Social Work Clinical Intern
She/they
nsachs@lasell.edu

Nina is in her final year of the master’s program in Social Work at Boston College with a focus on clinical mental health and certificate in trauma studies. They are interested in creating spaces for individuals to get curious about their identities, experiences, and relationships. Nina believes that the foundation for this exploration is a therapeutic relationship grounded in safety, authenticity, respect, and openness. Nina works from a relational-cultural, trauma-informed, and humanistic approach and is interested in how the contexts and systems in which people live shape their beliefs and experiences. Nina is passionate about supporting students in the queer community, as well as any person who is navigating challenges of identity, anxiety, life transitions, difficult relationship dynamics or just feeling stuck. She is looking forward to accompanying students through the complexities of life in and out of Lasell and believes each person has the wisdom and compassion within them to find clarity and healing. 

In their free time, Nina likes to cook and bake, spend time with animals (she’ll settle for a FaceTime with the family dog!), watch TV with friends, and explore Boston.