Counseling Center Staff

Professional Staff

Welcome to our meet the staff page. All of our professional staff members identify as generalists, meaning they are comfortable working with the concerns common in collegiate mental health, such as anxiety, depression, eating concerns, family and interpersonal relationship concerns, and identity and academic concerns to name a few. We also have some professional staff with more specialized experience as well.

Psychiatry

Administrative Staff

2023–2024 Doctoral Interns

Andrew Wilkins, MS
(He/Him/His)

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change" - Carl Rogers. Andrew loves this quote because it embodies our need for change and growth — and it also acknowledges how essential it is that we grow to become comfortable with who we are through mastery and exploration of our inner world. In his experience, it has been critical that to form a trusting, judgement-free, scientifically-valid, and sacred environment for these transformations to take place. As a caring and trusting team, Andrew will work with you to find meaning in the areas of your life that may have been painful and traumatic. Simultaneously, Andrew will help you also seek to create and maximize the aspects of yourself that you can love.

Andrew Wilkins, MS is a doctoral intern at the Drexel University Counseling Center. He is also a Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate (PsyD) at Chestnut Hill College. Andrew has experience serving as a therapist for individuals, couples, families, and group settings. Additionally, Andrew also has experience as an adjunct professor in Clinical Psychology.

Andrew is a local from the southwest Philadelphia area and often enjoys playing chess in Clark Park, creating new smoothie combinations at Wawa, and arguing about the best cheesesteak spots in the city.

Alyssa Shapiro, MS, LMSW
(She/Her/Hers)

Alyssa Shapiro is a doctoral intern at the Drexel University Counseling Center, completing a one-year internship to earn her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University-Post. She earned her master’s degree in social work at Silberman School of Social Work. Alyssa proudly began her clinical journey as a peer counselor during her undergraduate years, and has since had the opportunity to work in numerous settings including schools, outpatient clinics, private practices, and an inpatient medical hospital.

As a therapist, Alyssa strives to welcome individuals into an accepting, compassionate, and curious environment. In the space, she uses the relationship as a guide for navigating struggles outside of the room. She works from a person-centered lens, whereas she collaborates with each person to find the style and framework that most aligns to their goals and being. She believes that each person knows themselves best and sees the therapy relationship as an opportunity for people to explore how their histories impact their present with compassion and grace. In doing so, Alyssa encourages her clients to be kind to themselves and work towards understanding their reactions to the world, rather than judging them. She strives to treat students with honesty, safety, and respect. Her clinical interests include trauma, emotion regulation, identity development, challenging relationships, and existentialism. She feels honored to be able to witness the self-exploration of those who courageously invite her into their world.

Outside of work, you can find Alyssa taking strolls around the city window shopping, going down rabbit holes of random topics on TikTok, and playing with her sweet, but sassy, dog Lucky.

Yamilet Santiago Dávila, MS
(She/Her/Hers)

Yamilet Santiago Dávila is a doctoral intern at the Drexel University Counseling Center. She is completing her one-year internship to earn her PsyD degree in clinical psychology from Albizu University, San Juan campus, P.R., institution where she also earned her MS in clinical psychology. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she received her BA in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus. Her clinical experiences have included a community mental health center, a non-profit metal health organization, various elementary schools, and a hospital specializing in cancer/oncology.

Yamilet considers therapy to be an experience that is as unique as the people involved in it, filled with useful contradictions. She works toward building a secure space where one might find comfort and challenge, understanding and accountability, tears and laughter, as well as a brief revision of the past to accommodate the desired future. Yamilet seeks to empower students’ genuine selves in an ever-changing world, believing in the healing power of being heard. She practices from a strong emphasis on multiculturalism, self-compassion, validation, humor, and flexibility. Her clinical interests include grief, sexuality, autism in adults, and anxiety. She is available to provide therapy in Spanish/English/anything in-between.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Yamilet enjoys reading fantasy, fiction, and romance novels; writing nonsense that will someday become best-sellers; cooking and eating Puerto Rican dishes; and smiling at any animal that crosses her path.

Ali Perez, MA
(She/Her/Hers)

Ali Perez is a doctoral intern at the Drexel University Counseling Center. She is also a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at La Salle University. She has earned her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from La Salle University and her BA in Psychology from St. John’s University. Ali has prior experience conducting individual and group therapy in college counseling and community mental health settings.

Ali is passionate about creating an accepting and nonjudgmental environment to foster strong relationships with her students. She believes that a strong therapeutic relationship allows students to freely express their emotions in order to grow in meaningful ways. Ali acknowledges that all students have unique needs based on their distinctive histories, intersecting identities, and the systems in which they operate. To this end, she approaches her work with each student by collaboratively identifying their inherent individual strengths that will help them in their journey towards freedom from pain and suffering. Ali’s interests include identity development, interpersonal relationships, and navigating strong emotions.

Outside of work, Ali can be found cooking a new recipe, playing fetch with her dog, and taking long walks on sunny days.

2023–2024 Psychology Externs

Carla Capone, MS

(She/Her/Hers)

Ashton Boal, MS

(She/Her/Hers)

Olivia Romano, MS

She/Her/Hers)

Christiana Ogunsami, MS

(She/Her/Hers)