Administration and Core Faculty

Meet members of the administration and core faculty of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. You can also learn more about the Board of Governors.

Mark Mishek, JD, President

JD, University of Minnesota Law School

BA, University of Minnesota, English

Mark Mishek serves as president of the graduate school as well as the chief executive officer of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Mr. Mishek has lead faculty, students, and staff in far-reaching strategic initiatives that have expanded school facilities and resources, advanced technological innovations, and enhanced academic effectiveness. He is a distinguished lecturer in the graduate school and has also served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law School and the William Mitchell College of Law.

Valerie Slaymaker, PhD, Chief Academic Officer and Provost

PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Clinical Psychology

MA, Mankato State University, Clinical Psychology

BA, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Psychology

Dr. Valerie Slaymaker is a scientist-practitioner who conducts scholastic and clinical research on a variety of addiction-related topics. She has served as the chief academic officer and provost of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies since October 2008. At the graduate school, Dr. Slaymaker has concentrated her efforts on building academic capacity, diversifying the faculty and student body, and implementing advanced technology to improve the educational experience of students. Contact Dr. Valerie Slaymaker.

Roy Kammer, EdD, Dean

EdD, University of South Dakota, Educational Administration, Adult and Higher Education

MA, Mount Marty College, Pastoral Ministries

MA, University of South Dakota, Educational Psychology and Counseling, Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education

BS, University of South Dakota, Allied Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies

Dr. Roy Kammer is an academician with a true passion for integrating student and academic affairs in higher education. His scholarly activity has focused on mission-based provision of collegiate mental health services, outsourcing of collegiate mental health services, collegiate-specific co-occurring disorders, alcohol and other drug policy development and implementation, faculty and staff norms and perceptions of collegiate substance use, and college student behavioral consultation. Dr. Kammer was named the dean of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in July 2013. Prior to his role as the graduate school's dean, Dr. Kammer served as the program director of the Alcohol and Drug Studies Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Contact Dr. Roy Kammer.

Stephen Delisi, MD, DABAM, FASAM, Assistant Dean

Board Certified by American Board of Addiction Medicine

Board Certified by American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Resident, Department of Psychiatry, Rush Medical Center - Chicago

Neuroscience Fellowship - NARSAD - Loyola University - Chicago

MD, Loyola University Medical Center - Chicago, Medicine

BA, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, Biology & Psychology

Dr. Stephen Delisi has previously held positions as associate director of the Psychiatric Residency Program at Rush Medical Center and associate director of the Chicago Board Review Course. He has held faculty positions with Rush Medical Center and more recently with the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Dr. Delisi has co-authored 28 presentations and published abstracts, many of which focus on mindfulness-based treatment. He has also co-authored three publications, two of which are supported by the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD). Prior to joining the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies as the assistant dean, Dr. Delisi served as the midwest regional medical director for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Contact Dr. Stephen Delisi.

La Keita Carter, PsyD, Associate Professor

PsyD, Loyola University Maryland

MS, Loyola University Maryland

BA, Temple University

Dr. La Keita Carter is a licensed psychologist who serves as a core faculty member for the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Carter's clinical interests include co-occurring disorders, diversity factors that present barriers to initiating and/or maintaining treatment, trauma (specifically female rape survivors), relationship difficulties, and women's issues. Her research interests include supervision and training, cultural competence of mental health professionals and trainees, and trauma. Dr. Carter serves as the clinical placement coordinator for online students. In this role, she helps graduate students find clinical placements around the country. Contact Dr. La Keita Carter.

David Chastain, PhD, Assistant Professor

PhD, Capella University- Minneapolis, Counseling

MA, Skidmore College- Saratoga Springs, Addiction Studies

BA, Northeastern Illinois University-Chicago, Social Services for Adolescents

Dr. David Chastain joined the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in July 2014. His research interests include how the experience of grief can impede the onset and duration of recovery; how the experience of solitude interacts with recovery; and whether the risk of suicide associated with antidepressant medications increases when treatment is limited to medication alone. Dr. Chastain has worked in the field of addiction treatment for over 30 years. He has held leadership positions in inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient treatment programs, working with both adolescents and adults. Assistant Professor David Chastain interests include the subject of grief, here is an article he authored on the topic: Grief Competency in Addiction Counseling: The Importance of Processing Your Own Reactions and Fears Related to Death. Contact Dr. David Chastain.

Daniel Frigo, PhD, Professor

PhD, Washington University in St. Louis, Social Work

MSW, Washington University in St. Louis, Social Work

Dr. Daniel Frigo is an academician who trained and practiced as a clinical social worker. He has taught graduate students for 22 years and received three awards for excellence in teaching at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he taught for 20 years. Dr. Frigo's academic and research interests include evidence-based practices in addiction and mental health treatment. He also served as dean of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies from 2010 to 2013. Contact Dr. Daniel Frigo.

Brenda Frye, PhD, Associate Professor

PhD, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, CA, Clinical and Forensic Psychology

MEd, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Education: Youth Development/Leadership

BA, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Psychology/African American Studies

Dr. Brenda Frye joined the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies core faculty in July 2014. Dr. Frye is dedicated to and passionate about bridging the gap between scientific findings and treatment approach and efficacy as well educating and training students and new clinicians. Dr Frye has a strong background in both clinical and forensic psychology with academic and research interests in addictive behaviors, problematic sexual behaviors and effective treatment approaches. Contact Dr. Brenda Frye.

Zachary Hansen, EdD, Assistant Professor

EdD, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN, Counselor Education and Supervision

MS, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN, Counseling Psychology

BS, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN, Psychology

Dr. Zachary Hansen is a counselor educator specializing in addiction counseling and treatment of co-occurring disorders. He serves as a core faculty member of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Dr. Hansen's clinical experience includes adult and adolescent addiction counseling in inpatient and outpatient settings, and outpatient adult mental health counseling. He is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and National Certified Counselor. Contact Dr. Zachary Hansen.

Jorja Jamison, PhD, LP, Assistant Professor

PhD, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, Counseling Psychology

MS, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, Educational Psychology

BA, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Latin Language and Literature

Dr. Jorja Jamison has a PhD in counseling psychology with academic and research interests in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) issues, multicultural counseling, and Latina healthcare services. In her doctoral degree, she led the development and psychometric validation of a disclosure questionnaire for gay and lesbian patients and their healthcare providers. Dr. Jamison joined the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in August 2012. She served as the clinical placement coordinator for 2.5 years. She is a licensed psychologist with the state of Minnesota and has worked in private practice. Contact Dr. Jorja Jamison.

Professor Emerita

Eileen O'Mara, EdD, Professor Emeriti

Adjunct Faculty

Richard Choate, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Lisa Doyle, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Ahmed Eid, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Heather Gallivan, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Sara Giachino, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Phil Hanson, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Thomas Hegblom, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Kathrin Hohenstern, MSW, Adjunct Instructor

Melanie Jacobs, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Courtney Kibble, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Veronica Kirkland, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Sonya Knudson, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Nita Kordonowy, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Gerard Love, EdD, Adjunct Professor

Joseph Nowinski, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Timothy Portinga, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Mark Sanstead, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Ann Schissel, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Laura Schwerin, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Josh Seezs, MSW, Adjunct Instructor

Michael Tkach, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Joshua Thompson, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Tessa Voss, MA, Adjunct Instructor