JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences Academic Leadership Team

Alvin McLean, Jr., Ph.D.

Dean, School of Psychology and Social Sciences

Alvin McLean, Jr., Ph.D.

Dean, School of Psychology and Social Sciences

Alvin McLean, Jr., Ph.D. received his doctorate in Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology the University of Wisconsin and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. McLean was on the faculty of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine for 7 years where he conducted research in the neuropsychological and psychosocial recovery of persons with brain and spinal cord injury. He also conducted neuropharmacological research on the use of cholinergic agonists to treat memory problems after brain injury. His interest in the treatment of catastrophic injury and disease led him to leave academia and help develop the company Paradigm Health Corporation, where he served as Senior Vice President for Product Development for 20 years. After retiring from corporate healthcare, he joined the faculty of National University System where he now serves as Dean of the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences.

Asha Sutton, PhD, LMFT

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Social and Behavioral Sciences

[email protected]
928-541-8197

Asha Sutton, PhD, LMFT

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Social and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Asha B. Sutton, LMFT, is an experienced professor specializing in distance-based teaching and training of MFT students and graduates. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the states of Illinois and Michigan, as well as an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor. As the Chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Sciences, she provided administrative support to program administrators, staff, and students enrolled in masters and doctoral marriage and family therapy programs. In her current role as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division, Dr. Sutton provides leadership support to six mental health programs in the fields of social work, clinical mental health, counseling psychology, and marriage and family therapy. Dr. Sutton has served on the Elections Council for AAMFT and currently serves on AAMFT’s Ethics Committee. She approaches her work using a cultural informed framework. Dr. Sutton seeks to provide meaningful leadership which allows for the conceptualization and analysis of contemporary challenges in a manner that promotes necessary evolution while acknowledging and incorporating concepts of diversity, social justice, racial equity, and belonging.

Bettina Shapira, Ph.D

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Psychology, JFK School of Psychology and Social and Behavioral Sciences

[email protected]

Bettina Shapira, Ph.D

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Psychology, JFK School of Psychology and Social and Behavioral Sciences

Bettina Shapira is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences. Prior to being named Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Shapira was the Chair of the Department of Psychology. Dr. Shapira has over nineteen years of teaching and research experience. Her main scholarly interests relate to diagnosing and to treating elimination disorders and best practices in teaching psychology. The focus of her research in teaching in psychology focuses on two areas: creating a sense of presence teaching in an online environment and best practices in supporting dissertating students. She has authored or co-authored several peer-reviewed articles or book chapters and she has more than 25 presentations and invited lectures and several entries in The Sage Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she plays pickle ball, enjoys traveling, and skiing. Dr. Shapira earned her Ph.D. in Professional Counseling from Capella University. In addition, Dr. Shapira earned a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education, from Northern Arizona University, a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University, and her Undergraduate Degree is from the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel in Germany.

Peter D. Bradley, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT-S

Associate Dean of Students, JFK School of Psychology & Social Sciences

[email protected]
928-541-8240

Peter D. Bradley, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT-S

Associate Dean of Students , JFK School of Psychology & Social Sciences

Dr. Peter D. Bradley is the Associate Dean of the JFK School of Psychology & Social Sciences at National University (NU), where he has worked since 2010. He played a key role in making NU the first virtual university to achieve COAMFTE accreditation for both Master’s and Doctoral programs in Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT). Dr. Bradley began at NU as the Director of Clinical Training in the MFT Program. In 2013, he transitioned to the Office of the Provost/Legal Affairs as the University Ombudsman, a role he held until 2017, when he became the Associate Dean. His academic career includes positions as Full Professor and Director of Graduate Psychology at LeTourneau University, Associate Professor and Program Administrator of MFT at Northcentral University, and Assistant Professor of MFT at Texas Woman’s University and Abilene Christian University. He has also taught at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, CA. With nearly 30 years of experience as a practicing therapist, Dr. Bradley has directed several outpatient mental health clinics and non-profit centers. He is deeply involved in professional ethics and regulation, having served on the Arkansas State Licensure Board and as Chair of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT) Ethics Committee, Judicial Committee and Ethics Revision Taskforce. He has held various leadership roles in the AAMFT, Texas Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (TAMFT) and the Association for Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). Dr. Bradley has published numerous articles in journals related to MFT and higher education, covering topics such as professional ethics, regulation, and sex therapy. He has presented nationally and internationally on these subjects for organizations including the AAMFT, TAMFT, US Distance Learning Association and the Online Learning Consortium.

Timothy Ford, MA, LMFT

Associate Dean of Operations, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences

[email protected]
925-969-3125

Timothy Ford, MA, LMFT

Associate Dean of Operations, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences

Timothy Ford is Associate Dean of Operations for the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences, with oversight of the Office of Professional Training, Academic Operations, the Whole Person Center, community services and other school operational functions. Mr. Ford is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of California. He received both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in counseling psychology at National University. He has over 25 years of experience in managerial and executive leadership roles in customer service operations management at private sector companies including FedEx and Yahoo, as well as within the mental health field. Prior to joining the university, Mr. Ford was the clinical program director for residential treatment and Medi-Cal funded school-based mental health programs in the Bay Area, as well as a therapist in private practice since 2009. Mr. Ford joined John F. Kennedy University (JFKU) in 2017, serving as Director of Clinical Operations for JFKU’s Community Counseling Centers and Executive Director of the Office of Clinical Training for the College of Psychology. With the closure of JFKU at the end of 2020, Mr. Ford transitioned to National University, serving as Executive Director of the JFK School of Psychology until assuming the role of Associate Dean for the expanded JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences in 2022. As a clinical supervisor for over a decade, Mr. Ford is dedicated to training and developing new therapists to meet the demands of the continuously changing mental health profession, especially for historically underserved populations. The mission for Mr. Ford and his team is to champion student success through practical application of NU’s Whole Person Philosophy throughout school operations. As a leader, Mr. Ford is a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and he served as an inaugural member of NU’s Social Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (S-JEDI) committee.

Yulia Watters, PhD, LMFT

Director of Curriculum Development, JFK School of Psychology and Social and Behavioral Sciences

[email protected]

Yulia Watters, PhD, LMFT

Director of Curriculum Development, JFK School of Psychology and Social and Behavioral Sciences

In the past 11 years and presently, Dr. Yulia Watters serves as a Director of Curriculum Development first at Northcentral University and now at the JFK School of Psychology and Social and Behavioral Sciences at National University. Dr. Watters holds a master’s and a doctoral degree in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University with a specialization in Medical Family Therapy and master’s degree In Instructional Design from Northcentral University. Dr. Watters is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Delaware and Florida. Dr. Watters published extensively in the Journal of Family Psychotherapy, SAGE Research Methods Cases, Annals of Behavioral Science and Medical Education, and International Journal of Transgenderism. Her first book, Hypnobirth: Theories and practices for healthcare providers was published by Rowman and Littlefield. Her co-edited volume with Dr. Darren Adamson, Foundational concepts and models of Family Therapy: An Introduction for online learning, was published by Routledge. Dr. Watters is also a renowned speaker, and presented at the AAMFT Systemic Conference, AAMFT Leadership Institute, as well International Family Therapy Congress in Portugal, Thailand and Scottland. Dr. Watters is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and actively engaged in training the new generation of MFTs by teaching clinical courses at National University in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. She is an AAMFT Clinical Member and served as a COAMFTE Commissionaire during the pandemic of COVID-19. Dr. Watters is also actively engaged in research. Her last contribution was on the AAMFT awarded grant aimed to explore the impact of telehealth on family therapy.

Elaine Willerton, PhD, LMFT

Director of Assessment and Accreditation, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences

[email protected]

Elaine Willerton, PhD, LMFT

Director of Assessment and Accreditation, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences

Dr. Willerton is a seasoned educator, researcher, and clinician committed to student-centered service and inclusive education. She currently serves as the Director of Assessment and Accreditation, where she leads and supports assessment efforts across all academic programs, ensuring compliance with regional and programmatic accreditation standards. Dr. Willerton is deeply passionate about making education accessible and equitable for all learners. She has shared her research nationally and internationally on topics including ambiguous loss, metacognition, Universal Design for Learning, academic integrity, and more. A lifelong learner, she completed the WSCUC Assessment Leadership Academy in 2019 and recently participated in her state’s Partners in Policymaking program, further deepening her advocacy for individuals with disabilities and policy change.

Cassandra Lettenberger-Klein, PhD, LMFT

Senior Director of Clinical Training, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences

[email protected]

Cassandra Lettenberger-Klein, PhD, LMFT

Senior Director of Clinical Training, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences

Dr. Cassandra Lettenberger-Klein (Dr. LK) oversees the Office of Professional Training. Dr. LK received her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy (MFT) from Purdue University and her doctorate degree in MFT from Florida State University. Prior to working as the Senior Director of Clinical Training, Dr. LK was the Director of MFT Clinical Training at Northcentral University. Dr. LK has held various roles in academia since 2010, including faculty, supervisor, and director. She has also practiced since 2010 and still maintains a small caseload. Dr. LK endeavors to support all those involved in the professional training process with a focus on efficiency, consistency, and accuracy. She is passionate about empowering students to understand and direct their educational experience so that they have the skills needed to achieve their professional goals.

Tiffany Cruncleton, MEd, MIS, PMP

Associate Director of Academic Project Management and Operations, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences

[email protected]

Tiffany Cruncleton, MEd, MIS, PMP

Associate Director of Academic Project Management and Operations, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences

Tiffany Cruncleton leads Project Management for the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences. In addition to her project management role, she contributes to grant management, strategic planning, data analysis, and reporting to support financial, staffing, community services, and other operational initiatives. She is an active member of the NU AI Council, serves on the Staff Operations Subcommittee of the AAC, and participates in the College Analysts group, where she helps bridge connections between departments and enhance accountability and continuous improvement. Tiffany is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in information science. She recently earned her Master of Education (MEd) in Leadership in Higher Education from National University. With a diverse background spanning programming, analytics, marketing, and writing, she brings a unique interdisciplinary approach to her work. Beyond her professional role, she is committed to community service, volunteering with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) in San Francisco and San Francisco Parks and Recreation—where she enjoys getting her hands dirty and refreshing her spirit through outdoor work.