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.

Joseph Lee, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer

Joseph Lee, MD, serves as the president of the graduate school and as the president and chief executive officer of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Dr. Lee has extensive experience in addiction treatment for youth and families from across the country and abroad, providing him an unparalleled perspective on emerging drug trends, co-occurring mental health conditions, and the ever-changing culture of addiction. A triple-board certified physician, Lee completed his fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry from John Hopkins Hospital, his adult psychiatry residency at Duke University Hospital, and his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Substance Abuse Committee. He is also the author of Recovering My Kid: Parenting Young Adults in Treatment and Beyond, which provides a candid, helpful guide for parents in times of crisis. Contact Dr. Joseph Lee.

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.

Kevin Doyle, EdD, Dean

EdD, University of Virginia, Counselor Education and Supervision

EdS, James Madison University, Counseling Psychology

BA, The College of William and Mary, American Studies

Dr. Kevin Doyle is a counselor educator and higher education administrator who was named the dean of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in January 2021. His career has included over 35 years as a licensed professional counselor, clinical supervisor, and non-profit executive. Prior to joining Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, he was a professor in the counselor education program at Longwood University (Farmville, VA), where he also served as chair of the Department of Education and Counseling. He has served multiple terms as a member of counselor licensing boards and has been highly active in the collegiate recovery movement. He has published widely in counseling professional journals and other publications.
Contact Dr. Kevin Doyle. 

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.

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, Associate 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.

Janys M. Murphy Rising, PhD, LMHC, Associate Professor

PhD, Oregon State University, Counselor Education (CACREP accredited)

MA, Saint Martin’s University, Counseling Psychology, Community Mental Health

BA, The Evergreen State College, Social Work and Social Psychology

Dr. Janys Murphy Rising has a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, completing her doctorate dissertation on qualitative case study on a yoga-based intervention for counselors with compassion fatigue in 2013. Dr. Murphy Rising joined the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in September 2020. She has nearly a decade of experience teaching in graduate programs, and seventeen years as a dually licensed professional. Her teaching interests include Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness in clinical practice, and increasing counselor self-efficacy. She resides in Washington state where she is also an approved clinical supervisor. Contact Dr. Janys Murphy Rising.

Michael Schmit, PhD, Assistant Professor

PhD, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX, Counselor Education, CACREP-Accredited

MA, University of Louisiana, Monroe, LA, Substance Abuse Counseling, CACREP-Accredited

BS, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, Biology with psychology minor

Dr. Michael Schmit holds a PhD in Counselor Education and completed his doctorate dissertation on Integrated Behavioral and Primary Healthcare: Comparing the Effectiveness of Treatment Modalities on Holistic Client Functioning. Dr. Schmit's education and research areas of expertise include research methods and quantitative statistics, counseling outcomes research, integrated care treatment, and addictions. As a core faculty member of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, he is committed to educating and inspiring the next generation of addiction and mental health counselors. Dr. Schmit is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas. Contact Dr. Michael Schmit.

Professor Emerita

Eileen O'Mara, EdD, Professor Emeriti

Research Faculty

Kate Gliske, PhD, Assistant Professor

Quyen Ngo, PhD, Associate Professor

Adjunct Faculty

Fabio Besú, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Dustin Brockberg, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Richard Choate, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Janelle Cox, EdD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Steve Delisi, MD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Lisa Doyle, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Princess Drake, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor 

Ahmed Eid, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Thomas Hegblom, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Bill Hoffman III, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Kathrin Hohenstern, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Melissa Kane, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Sonya Knudson, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Gerard Love, EdD, Adjunct Professor

Marcy Mears, MSW, Adjunct Instructor

Melanie Moonstone, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Joseph Nowinski, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Mitchel Paulson, MS, Adjunct Instructor

Sharon Rohde, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Mark Sanstead, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Josh Seezs, MSW, Adjunct Instructor

Britta Svihel, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Damir Utrzan, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Tessa Voss, MA, Adjunct Instructor

Linda Wondrasch, PsyD, Adjunct Assistant Professor