Counseling Center Staff
The Counseling Center staff is made up of licensed Clinical Social Workers, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists, and we train interns in social work, counseling, and psychology. We are committed to the emotional, physical and spiritual development of undergraduate and graduate students. All staff and interns have been trained to address a wide range of presenting concerns, though we each have unique clinical interests and specialties.
Director
Sherri Ettinger, PhD, LICSW
Sherri began working in the Simmons Counseling Center in the fall of 2000, initially as a staff social worker. Sherri received her BA in Sociology and Women's Studies at Brandeis University and her MSW and PhD at the Smith College School for Social Work. Prior to joining the staff at Simmons, Sherri worked with teenage parents at Children's Hospital; on a trauma team at Judge Baker Children's Center; and in the Counseling Center at Wheaton College. She was a member of the adjunct faculty at Smith College, School for Social Work, where she taught Clinical Practice and a course on LGBT identities, and served as a Faculty Field Advisor in the Boston area, for many years. Sherri has worked in clinical settings for over three decades and is committed to practicing and teaching from a feminist/social justice/anti-oppressive lens. In addition to providing counseling to Simmons students, Sherri supervises interns, provides consultation to Simmons staff and faculty, and serves on several campus-wide committees, including the CARE Team, the Student Wellbeing Committee, and the President's Advisory Council on Diversity Equity and Inclusion.
Staff Social Worker
Lisa Corrin, EdM, LICSW
Lisa is a graduate of Simmons School of Social Work and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Lisa joined the Counseling Center first as a graduate intern in 2002 and then joined the staff in 2005. Her professional experience includes a leadership role in an educational setting where she provided support to families, faculty and young children. She also has experience with women's health issues and worked with individuals and groups to assist with adjustment to and management of chronic and life threatening illnesses. Lisa offers an integrative approach to help students who struggle with a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, adjustment and identity issues, as well as loss and grief and family and relationship issues.
Staff Social Worker
Jennifer Shiiba, MSW, LICSW
Jenny is a licensed independent clinical social worker and former graduate of the Simmons School of Social Work. She received her B.A. in Women’s Studies and Communicology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Her clinical training includes providing individual, group, and family therapy to children, adolescents, and young adults in school-based, home, hospital and outpatient settings. Jenny is passionate about helping people navigate anxiety, depression, shame, productivity, relationship dynamics, family conflict, complex trauma, substance use and immigration experiences. Her recent work involves providing intensive support to families who have experienced homelessness and other systemic challenges. Her warm, curious and collaborative approach offers an opportunity to foster healthy emotional and reparative attachments to sustain a life of joy, healing, liberation and purpose. She views counseling as a co-created space and uses client reflections to build new narratives for the future. She honors each person's infinite capacity for growth to gain a deeper sense of empathy, resilience, and compassion for themselves and others. Jenny returns to Simmons as a staff member eager to continue her interests in identity development using intersectional feminist theory and social justice frameworks through a culturally-responsive lens. As a counselor, she is interested in unraveling intergenerational trauma and collective legacy burdens. She appreciates exploring decolonized, self-healing processes for all gender identities/expressions and orientations.
Staff Social Worker
Molly Micley, MSW, LCSW
Molly is a graduate of the Boston College School of Social Work. She joined the Counseling Center first as a trainee in 2018-2019 and as part-time staff the following year. Molly has worked in multiple settings ranging from schools to community-based agencies and most recently in group private practice.
As a clinician, Molly primarily aligns with strengths based and relational approaches. She has experience working with clients from a variety of backgrounds who have experienced depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health challenges.
Molly values curiosity, authenticity, and humor as she helps people navigate life's challenges and transitions.
Staff Social Worker
Nimita Iyer, MSW, LCSW
Nimita is a Masters of Social Work student at Boston University. She completed her BA at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. Nimita first joined the Counseling Center as a trainee in 2020. Prior, she spent several years working with adults experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders. Nimita’s orientation is feminist, relational, psychodynamic (insight-oriented), and trauma-informed. She strives to help students feel safe, understood, and empowered in therapy. In her free time, Nimita enjoys yoga, being in nature, reading, and drinking iced chai lattes.
Staff Psychologist
Angela M. Borges, PhD
Angela holds a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. She has done counseling with underrepresented groups since 2007, specializing in the effects of trauma across the lifespan and the psychological impact of societal oppression. She has experience working with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, food and substance addiction issues, and many other mental health challenges. Previously, she worked as a domestic violence victim advocate. She is the co-author of a number of peer-reviewed publications on violence prevention and intervention and the intersection of social justice and mental health issues and has worked as a consultant on these issues with local colleges and agencies. Angela is also a Lead Trainer with Prevention Innovations at the University of New Hampshire, where since 2003 she has helped adapt the Bringing in the Bystander© sexual assault prevention program for more than 35 national and international non-profit organizations, universities, and military organizations.
Administrative Assistant
Nina Williams
Nina is a Simmons alumna and is looking forward to being part of the Simmons Community again. During her time here at Simmons, Nina studied Psychology and Education. She has always been drawn to helping others, and finds that every moment can be a teaching moment. She has worked with diverse and underrepresented populations from teenagers who experienced emotional, neurological, behavioral or learning difficulties to helping inmates of all ages navigate through the most difficult time in their life. She believes that everyone has their own unique journey, and should be honored for where they are at now and how far they have come. After graduating Simmons, Nina worked in the Restaurant Industry. She spent many years managing at the well-known pizza restaurant here in Boston, Area Four. During her time at Area Four she learned to expand her gift of helping others. She developed her own managing style that no only honored herself, but her staff and guests. During her time here at the Counseling Center she hopes to create a safe environment where students can learn, have fun and feel supported throughout their journey with counseling. She has learned to embrace change with grace, positivity and patience and this is a skill she brings to the Simmons Community and Counseling Center. On her free time, she loves to stay active with a Kickboxing or Zumba class, explore the newest restaurants in Boston, and paint while listening to her favorite vinyl records.
Counseling Center Interns
Jenny is a Masters of Social Work student at Salem State University. Jenny earned her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies from the University of New Hampshire. Prior to pursuing her MSW, Jenny worked as the Simmons Counseling Center's Administrative Assistant for several academic years. Her most recent clinical experience includes working as a therapeutic mentor and group leader with adolescents navigating mental health concerns. She has also provided individual counseling to students within a Montessori school setting. Jenny's clinical interests include family dynamics and relationships, life transitions, and identity development. Jenny believes in holding space for humor and warmth in her work with clients. In her free time, Jenny loves to sing, discover new coffee shops, and curate playlists for her loved ones.
Sarah (she/her) is a second year MA student in the counseling program at Boston College. She received her B.A. from Wesleyan University majoring in American Studies as well as Government. Prior to starting her master's, she worked in mental health care legal advocacy for individuals incarcerated in the California state prison system. Sarah is interested in trauma-informed practices, relational-cultural theory, feminist theory, and liberation psychology. Beyond this she is particularly interested in identity as it relates to race, culture, sexuality, and class. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga and figuring out plant-based food recipes.
Marissa Ferreyros is a second-year mental health counseling student at Boston College. Previously, she attended Johns Hopkins University where she studied Cognitive Science and Psychology. During that time, Marissa enjoyed assisting with research studying spatially selective cells of the rodent hippocampal formation. She also enjoyed helping students transition to college, particularly underrepresented groups of students, including low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities. Currently, Marissa is passionate about her work in collaborative community-based research on intimate partner violence. Marissa’s clinical interests center around issues related to interpersonal violence, family dynamics, intergenerational trauma, and disability. In the counseling space, Marissa values social justice frameworks, collaboration, and a supportive environment for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings. In her free time, Marissa enjoys traveling, listening to podcasts, and completing jigsaw puzzles.
Eliza is a second-year social work student at Smith College School for Social Work. She received her BA in Religious Studies at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 2015. Her first-year clinical field placement was at Needham High School, where she did counseling with students managing family and relationship issues, depression, anxiety, grief, self-harm, and identity issues. Eliza strives to build trusting relationships with clients to support them more deeply explore their own feelings, experiences, and histories. In her free time, Eliza loves sharing meals with friends and listening to podcasts.
Alexa Riobueno-Naylor is a 2nd year counseling psychology doctoral student at Boston College, and received her BA in psychology and sociology at Wellesley College. Alexa’s clinical experience and interests include working with adults and young people going through life transitions, individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, and supporting individuals with a history of trauma. Alexa is committed to using social justice-oriented, multicultural approaches in her clinical work and is invested in promoting the wellness of underrepresented student groups. Outside of pursuing her degree, Alexa enjoys running, baking, and spending time with her family.
Sarah Sands is a second-year student at Simmons University in the School of Social Work. In her previous clinical experience she worked with young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, academic challenges, painful relationships, and identity development. Prior to pursuing a Master of Social Work degree, Sarah worked as a researcher and volunteered at the Samaritans Crisis Hotline. Sarah strives to support those deep in crisis as well as those who are looking to address unresolved issues in their lives and those who simply want to explore their thoughts and feelings. Sarah grounds her work in a social-justice perspective that acknowledges the impact of bias and oppression on the individual's ability to thrive. She is dedicated to providing strengths-based, trauma-informed care with a particular interest in using mindfulness to quiet our inner critic.
Emily is a second-year doctoral student inCounseling Psychology at Boston College. She attended Tufts University to receive both her BA in community health and child development and her MA in clinical developmental health and psychology. Prior to her doctoral training, Emily worked with Asian American and Chinese immigrant communities to research and develop community-based mental health interventions. She also volunteered with the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) to facilitate greater community engagement and awareness of sexual violence. From these experiences, Emily has been invested in working with individuals to navigate family and relationship dynamics, sexual health, trauma, identity, race, and culture. She aims to ground her work in collaborative, culturally-sensitive, and social justice-oriented approaches. In her free time, she enjoys fostering rescue dogs, camping, and cooking Chinese food.