Faculty

Dr. Leyla Pérez-Gualdrón is an associate professor of the Department of Counseling Psychology at USF. She holds a licensure in psychology from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas, Venezuela. During her training in Venezuela, she provided mental health services and counseling in a variety of settings, including inner city schools K-12. She has a master's degree and a PhD in counseling psychology from Boston College. She has conducted group interventions in school settings such as a...

Dr. Murrieta earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Oregon State University. Her research and professional interests include advocacy and counseling undocumented students, first-generation students, multicultural counseling, as well as school counselor education. Professor Murrieta is credentialed as a school counselor in California and Nevada, with over 10 years of school counseling experience.

Christine Yeh is professor of counseling psychology at the USF School of Education, and recently completed a 5-year term as co-director of the USF Center for Research, Artistic, and Scholarly Excellence (CRASE). Her research and service focuses primarily on developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally responsive school and community based programs for historically targeted communities.

Professor Yeh has received numerous grants and fellowships to support her research including a 5-year...

Ling Busche received double undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, then went on to earn a Masters of Arts in School Counseling at the University of San Francisco. As a product of public school herself, she was passionate about pursuing a career in the school system.

Over the past 13 years, she has worked in different roles within the educational arena. She started out as an elementary school teacher, then pursued the world of after...

A New York City native, Jeanmarie has lived in the Bay Area for almost thirty years. She holds both a BA and MA in Psychology and is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist. Jeanmarie has worked in a variety of mental health settings primarily focusing on adolescents, young adults, adults and families. She is currently in private practice in Palo Alto.

In addition to private practice and teaching, Jeanmarie has a keen interest and practice in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self...

Mariana Chavez-Picazo is a native of San Francisco and a product of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) public school system. She received a bachelor of arts in liberal studies at San Francisco State University and a master’s degree of arts/PPS credential in counseling psychology from the School of Education at the University of San Francisco. Prior to counseling, she worked in youth development for five years providing programs to youth ages 6-18 in the areas of health education...

Patty Garay, MFT, is an adjunct professor at the San Francisco campus. She is a licensed therapist of 28 years who has worked in a variety of settings: public schools, community mental health and private practice. She has been teaching at USF for the past 20 years. She teaches in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program and the School Counseling Program. Her courses include: Group Counseling, Theory and Practice, Parent and Child Therapy, Psychopathology, Life Transitions, Cross Cultural...

Zeyda is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Raza Studies and Sociology from San Francisco State University. She received her Master's of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco and focused on the School Counseling and Clinical Counseling dual track. Zeyda was trained as a community organizer through Center for Third World Organizing in Oakland and has utilized those skills to support youth and families to navigate systemic...

Hamaseh Kianfar is an adjunct professor at the San Francisco campus. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of California Davis, a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco, and a Doctoral degree in Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco.

Professor Kianfar has worked with the adult criminal justice system, the psychiatric emergency unit, and in community mental...

Mrs. Karolyn K. Palmer is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#38766) and a Credentialed School Counselor. She currently is a School Counselor at Monte Vista High School in Danville, California and is a psychotherapist at Lafayette Family Counseling. She focuses her private practice on providing children, adolescents, and adults individual, family, and group psychotherapy. In her nineteen years of professional experience, she has gained specialized knowledge and training in the areas of...

Miguel Pimentel was born in Puruaran, Michoacán, Mexico but immigrated to the United States when he was 11 years old. He is a proud product of the Hayward Unified School District (HUDS) public school system. Miguel is a credentialed PPS, CWA, and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Ethnic Studies and Spanish from California State University, East Bay. He received his Master's of Arts in Education/Counseling and Student Personnel from San Jose State...