Faculty

Ellen Bratslavsky, Ph.D.

Ellen Bratslavsky is a full-time psychology professor at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus. She holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and a B.A. in psychology from Case Western Reserve University. Her areas of focus while in graduate school were self-control and self-esteem.

After receiving her degree, Bratslavsky taught at The Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll University and Ursuline College. She joined Tri-C in 2004, and has taught General Psychology, Honors General Psychology, Lifespan Development, Introduction to Aging, Psychology of Personality and Social Psychology.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and son, reading, watching movies, and baking.

ESS 2115
216-987-2312
ellen.bratslavsky@tri-c.edu

Kate Catanese, Ph.D.

Kate Catanese is a full-time psychology professor at Tri-C’s Western Campus. She holds a Ph.D. in experimental social psychology from Case Western Reserve University, and undergraduate degrees in sociology and psychology from John Carroll University.

Since joining Tri-C in 2006, Catanese has taught courses including General Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Psychology of Human Sexuality, Lifespan Development and Child Psychology. She previously taught at Case Western Reserve University, Florida State University and Saint Leo University. Her specific area of expertise is social psychology of the self and belongingness.

Catanese is involved with the Carol S. Franklin Social Science Speakers Series, the Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies certificate program advising board, and numerous Faculty Senate and AAUP committees. She is also former principal investigator and co-director of an NIH Bridges to the Baccalaureate grant.  

She lives in Cleveland with her spouse and their child. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, conducting genealogical research and learning Italian.

WSS G 226B
216-987-5491
kate.catanese@tri-c.edu

Alan Gerding, M.A.

Alan Gerding is a full-time psychology professor at Tri-C’s Metro campus. He holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from East Carolina University and a B.A. in psychology from Case Western Reserve University. His area of focus while in graduate school were adult clinical therapy and neuropsychology.

Most of Gerding’s clinical experience has been in the North Carolina prison system, providing therapy to inmates, most of which were serving a life sentence. He joined Tri-C in 2007 and has taught General Psychology, Lifespan Development, Adolescent Psychology, Psychology of Personality, and Social Psychology.

In his free time, he runs a tabletop board game company and enjoys the company of his wife and dogs.

MLA 108C
216-987-4563
alan.gerding@tri-c.edu

Nahla Harik-Williams, Ph.D.

Nahla Harik-Williams has been teaching at Cuyahoga Community College since 2000, and has also taught at John Carroll University and the University of Akron. A Clevelander for many years, she earned a B.A. in psychology from Case Western Reserve University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Akron. 

At the Western Campus, Harik-Williams regularly teaches General Psychology and Psychopathology. Other classes include Psychology of Personality and Cross-Cultural Competence for Healthcare Providers. She regularly presents to the Psychology Club. Harik-Williams is an enthusiastic presenter and has lectured on various topics related to psychology, clinical work, diversity and multiculturalism, the education of college students and technology in the classroom at Tri-C, other colleges, national conferences and to organizations in the community. 

She has several years of clinical experience working with college students at university counseling centers and in private practice, where she specialized in the treatment of eating disorders. Her areas of clinical expertise include issues of immigrants and international students, college students in general, treatment of anxiety, women’s issues, and eating and body-image concerns.

Her hobbies include reading, gardening, cooking, traveling and music. She performed with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for several years, but recently, hobbies have taken a back seat to her three young children.

WLA 224
216-987-5038
nahla.harik-williams@tri-c.edu

Courtney Kelley, Ph.D.

Courtney Kelley has been teaching at Cuyahoga Community College since 2009 and is currently a full-time psychology professor at the Eastern Campus. She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Bowling Green State University and received her B.A. in Psychology from Wittenberg University. While in graduate school, her areas of research included child and adolescent aggression and prosocial behavior, child and adolescent body image, eating attitudes and eating behavior, and academic motivation.

Kelley regularly teaches General Psychology, Child Development, Lifespan Development, Honors Lifespan Development and Psychology of Human Sexuality. She takes pride in bringing enthusiasm into the classroom and strives to create an active learning experience for students.

When she is not at school, Kelley spends time with her spouse, three children and rescued Golden Retriever. She thoroughly enjoys doing yoga, listening to true crime podcasts (Criminal is the best), watching a good Netflix series, and eating Dr. Bratslavsky’s baked masterpieces.

ESS 2329
216-987-2663
Courtney.Kelley@tri-c.edu

Julia Krevans, Ph.D.

Julia Krevans has been teaching full-time at Cuyahoga Community College since 1994. Courses taught at the Western Campus include Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences, Honors General Psychology, General Psychology, Honors Child Growth and Development, Child Growth and Development, Life Span Development, Psychology of Personality, and Abnormal Psychology.

Krevans earned a B.A. in Psychology, magna cum laude, from The University of Michigan; a M.A. in Psychology from Case Western Reserve University; and a Ph.D. in Psychology from The Ohio State University, with a concentration in Developmental Psychology.

At Tri-C, Krevans serves as the Faculty Co-Advisor to the Psychology Club and Psi Beta community college psychology honor society, the Director of the Institute for Economic Mobility, a Founding Steering Committee member of the Robert L. Lewis Academy of Scholars, Co-chair of the Ohio Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, a Member of Tri-C IRB, a Civitas Research Group member, and on the Student Success Committee.

Krevans’ interests include reading good fiction, social commentary and the news, home improvement projects, and planning and taking road trips along the East Coast to visit family.

WLA B220
216-987-5187
Julia.Krevans@tri-c.edu

Jessica McLaughlin, Ph.D.

Jessica McLaughlin is excited to have joined Tri-C's Metro Campus faculty in 2019! Dr. McLaughlin received her B.A. from Grinnell College, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Wayne State University. 

While living in the Detroit area, she specialized in assessing and diagnosing children from low-income families. She then worked as an adjunct professor in Ohio before joining Montgomery College in Maryland as an assistant professor in 2014. During her five years at Montgomery College, she was the faculty adviser for the Psychology Club, helped psychology faculty incorporate open educational resources into their classes, and completed the Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship. 

McLaughlin is passionate about incorporating social justice issues into her classroom, with an emphasis on mental illness stigma, and also engaging students in service learning by partnering with local elementary schools.


MLA 118G
216-987-4521
Jessica.McLaughlin@tri-c.edu

Michelle Nicopolis, Ph.D., LPCC

Michelle Nicopolis, professor of psychology, has been at Tri-C since 2006. At Western Campus, Dr. Nic teaches General Psychology, Psychopathology, and Cross Cultural Competency for Healthcare Providers. Outside the classroom, Dr. Nic is the faculty co-advisor to Western Campus' Psychology Club and the Psi Beta community college psychology honor society, a founding and active member of the Help Is Here initiative (mental wellness & suicide prevention), and a proud member of the Black American Council (BAC) and Sexual Orientation and Gender Equality (SOGE) Council. Previously, Dr. Nic coordinated the Safe Zone program (LGBTQ+ education) and was faculty advisor to Lambda GSA.

An Ohio licensed psychologist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Dr. Nic earned a Ph.D. in urban education and counseling (Cleveland State University), an M.A. in counseling and social psychology from Ball State University, a B.A. in communication, exercise/sport science and psychology from Hiram College, and a professional certificate in nutrition for optimal health, wellness and sports from Thomas Edison State University. 

Leisure time is spent with family, friends, and dog Lucy; volunteering (Make-A-Wish, Ronald McDonald House, and more); traveling; exercising; going to concerts; baking; working jigsaw puzzles; and listening to '80s music.

WSS G 226E
216-987-5208
michelle.nicopolis@tri-c.edu

David Paulik, Ph.D., MAM

David Paulik, assistant professor of psychology, has taught at the Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College since 2022. Dr. Paulik earned a Ph.D. in developmental and learning sciences (educational psychology) from the University of Cincinnati. He also holds a M.A. in Ministry (MAM) from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, an M.A. in educational psychology from Kent State University, and a B.S. in biology with minors in chemistry and psychology from Kent State University.

David’s teaching portfolio includes General Psychology, Life Span Development, Personality, Educational Psychology, and Quantitative/Research Methods. As an educational psychologist, David’s research interests include student selection of learning strategies during self-regulated study and explores factors affecting learning, including memory processes and motivation. David is an active member of professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA), APA Division 15 (Educational Psychology), APA Division 36 (Psychology of Religion and Spirituality), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and the Ohio Chapter of the National Organization for Student Success (NOSS-OH).

In his free time, David enjoys being with family and friends, good food, catching up on political affairs, and spoiling the best dog, Milo.

SLT 227F
216-987-5868
David.Paulik@tri-c.edu

Stacey Souther, M.A.

Stacey S. Souther is a professor of psychology at the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College. She earned her master's degree in developmental psychology at The University of Toledo and undergraduate degrees in biology and psychology from Heidelberg University. She has been teaching psychology at Tri-C since 2004, including General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child Growth and Development, Adolescent Psychology, Honors Child Growth and Development, and the First Year Success Seminar. Previously, she taught psychology at Heidelberg University, The University of Toledo and Owens Community College. Her areas of expertise are in cognitive development in infants and children, specifically language and perceptual skills. Currently, Professor Souther is pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational and Professional Practice, specializing in critical pedagogy.

Souther is actively engaged in a number of initiatives at Tri-C, including as the eastern campus psychology coordinator and the collegewide faculty development coordinator, serving on a number of College committees. She is an ambassador and conference reviewer for the Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching, president of the Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges, president-elect for the Ohio Chapter of the National Organization of Student Success, on the editorial board of the Scholarly Teacher and belongs to the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, a division of the American Psychological Association.

In her free time, Souther enjoys reading, puzzles, running, hiking, and spending time with her husband (Mark), daughter (Keely), and three cats (Milo, Prince, and Apollo).

ESS 2322
216-987-2523
stacey.souther@tri-c.edu

Bhavna Thakkar, Ph.D.

Bhavna M. Thakkar is an associate professor of psychology at the Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College. Thakkar earned her Ph.D. in social psychology at the University of Bombay, a certification from Stanford University, and completed her undergraduate degrees in psychology and the Sanskrit language, the oldest language in the world.

She became a full-time lecturer at Tri-C in 2010 and was hired as a tenure stream faculty member in 2013. Thakkar teaches General Psychology, Lifespan Development, Social Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Child Growth and Development, Multicultural Health Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology. Her areas of expertise are in social, personality, health, lifespan development and positive psychology.

She is a member of the Human Resource Committee, CADRE (Curriculum Committee), student and faculty mentoring programs, Learning for Life, and the Library Committee. She is also engaged in research at Baldwin Wallace University and Stanford University, and is a member of the Ohio Psychology Society and the International Education Organization. Thakkar can speak and write in eleven languages and loves teaching psychology at Tri-C.

SLT 225B
216-987-5803
bhavnathakkar@tri-c.edu