Part-time Instructors

2026 Fall Semester

Select an instructor below to view their biography.

• Megan Crow-Brauer, M.A., M.B.A.
• Diahna Davis, Psy.S., NCSP
• Brooke Dulka, Ph.D.
• Jazmine Gainer, M.A.
• Traci Jo Harmon, Ph.D.
• James Jordan, M.A.
• Kristi Ninnemann, Ph.D., MPH, M.A., LPC
• Michele Nosala, M.A.
• David Paulik, M.A., M.A.M.
• Brittany Pope
• Marisa Rayford, LPCC
• Maria Rowlett, M.A.
• Ogena Saied, M.S.
• Nichole Saunders, Ph.D.
• Jaime L. Shuster, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A.
• Stephen Slane, Ph.D.

Megan Crow-Brauer, M.A., M.B.A.

Megan Crow-Brauer received her B.A. in Journalism from Ohio Wesleyan University and her M.B.A. from Cleveland State University. After working in nonprofit communications and program management, she decided to pursue a career in industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology. She subsequently earned a B.A. in Psychology from Cleveland State University and an M.A. in I/O Psychology from the University of Akron, where she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in I/O Psychology.

Her primary research interests include reproductive life stages in a work context, work-based stereotypes of gendered ageism, and intersectional discrimination based on age and gender. Megan has taught courses including Introduction to Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Lifespan Development, Psychology of Adulthood and Aging, and Psychology of Women and Gender.

She currently serves as a part-time instructor at Cleveland State University, John Carroll University, and Lorain County Community College. In addition to being passionate about education and mentoring students, Megan is a proud mental health advocate and queer ally.

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Diahna Davis, Psy.S., NCSP

Diahna Davis, Psy.S., NCSP, is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist who has served students in Euclid City Schools since 2014 and currently works with 11th- and 12th-grade students at Euclid High School. In this role, she conducts comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations, interprets cognitive, academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and adaptive assessments, and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to develop evidence-based recommendations that support students' educational and mental health needs.

In addition to her work in the schools, Ms. Davis has served as a therapist in Beachwood, Ohio, since March 2024, providing individual counseling, treatment planning, and evidence-based interventions for children, adolescents, and young adults experiencing a variety of emotional and behavioral concerns.

Ms. Davis has a passion for teaching and mentoring future professionals. Her instructional experience includes serving as a Literary Circle Instructor at Cleveland State University, where she provided academic coaching and institutional support services, mentored students, prepared lesson plans, and facilitated class discussions centered on assigned reading materials. She has also served as an instructor for the Making a Difference Consulting Agency, the Upward Bound Program, and the MUREP Aerospace Academy at Cuyahoga Community College.

Since 2019, she has supervised, taught, and mentored graduate-level school psychology practicum students and interns, providing training in psychoeducational assessment, report writing, ethical practice, consultation, and evidence-based interventions.

She earned an Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure in 2018, a Specialist in School Psychology (Psy.S.) in 2014, and an M.A. in Psychology in 2013 from Cleveland State University, as well as a B.A. in Psychology from Wheaton College in 2010. Her professional interests include psychological assessment, intellectual and personality testing, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, social-emotional functioning, and evidence-based intervention.

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Brooke Dulka, Ph.D.

Brooke Dulka, Ph.D., is a behavioral neuroscientist, science communicator, and educator with more than a decade of experience in research and academic publishing. She also has extensive professional experience translating emerging research as a medical writer and science journalist.

She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Kent State University and a Ph.D. in Experimental Biological Psychology from the University of Tennessee. Her research has focused on the neural circuitry of stress resilience and the molecular basis of memory.

As an educator, Dr. Dulka is committed to accessible and interactive learning environments that foster critical thinking, encourage curiosity, and empower inquiry. She is particularly interested in helping students develop the skills to evaluate evidence and communicate scientific ideas effectively. She also emphasizes the responsible conduct of research and ethics in experimental settings.

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Jazmine Gainer, M.A.

Jazmine Gainer, M.A., is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) with a passion for teaching, research, and clinical practice. She earned her B.S. in Public Health from Bowling Green State University and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Applied Research from Capella University.

Jazmine has experience providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of clinical settings. Her clinical interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional regulation, and evidence-based interventions. In addition to her clinical work, she has served as a research coordinator and has experience mentoring graduate students and supporting psychology education.

Her current dissertation examines emotional regulation as a predictor of father involvement among first-time Black fathers, reflecting her commitment to advancing culturally informed psychological research.

As an instructor at Cleveland State University, Jazmine is dedicated to creating an engaging, supportive, and inclusive learning environment. She encourages students to think critically, connect psychological concepts to real-world experiences, and develop the knowledge and skills needed for success in their academic and professional careers.

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Traci Jo Harmon, Ph.D.

t.j.harmon52@csuohio.edu

Dr. Harmon has been teaching for over five years. Most people call her TJ. She graduated from Cleveland State University with her B.S. in Psychology and went on to Tiffin, John Carroll, and Liberty University to continue her educational journey. She earned a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice.

She loves teaching at Cleveland State and also teaches at Lorain County Community College. Dr. Harmon's teaching philosophy is to impart the knowledge needed for a psychology career while also sending students out to be more compassionate, kind, and understanding of others.

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James Jordan, M.A.

j.jordan94@csuohio.edu

Mr. Jordan's primary focus is teaching. He obtained his undergraduate degree at Youngstown State University and completed his graduate studies in psychology at Ball State University. His research interest is mental illness in individuals with intellectual disabilities. He also has more than 30 years of clinical experience in this field.

Mr. Jordan enjoys teaching a wide variety of psychology courses including Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Human Sexuality, Careers in Psychology, Quantitative Methods in Psychology, and Research Methods. He has taught Clinical Assessment and Research Methods in the Graduate Counseling Program at John Carroll University and teaches a variety of courses at Lorain County Community College, where he has been a professor for 30 years.

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Kristi Ninnemann, Ph.D., MPH, M.A., LPC

k.ninnemann@csuohio.edu

Dr. Kristi Ninnemann, Ph.D., MPH, M.A., LPC, is a part-time psychology instructor at Cleveland State University, where she teaches psychopharmacology. She also serves as the Postvention Program Manager at NAMI Greater Cleveland, leading the LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors), which provides immediate and ongoing support to individuals and families impacted by suicide.

A Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Ninnemann's work has spanned crisis intervention, community mental health, behavioral health research, suicide postvention, and higher education. She also serves as adjunct faculty in the Department of Social Medicine at Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Cleveland Campus.

Dr. Ninnemann earned both her Master of Public Health and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. Her MPH thesis explored individuals' experiences with long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications, while her doctoral dissertation examined how individuals with treatment-resistant depression experience hope and envision their futures while receiving ketamine therapy.

Across her clinical, research, and teaching roles, Dr. Ninnemann's scholarly interests include psychiatric anthropology, psychopharmacology, qualitative health research, suicide postvention, and patient-centered mental health care.

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Michele Nosala, M.A.

Michele Nosala earned her bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Louisiana State University in 2014. The following year, she moved to Los Angeles to attend Phillips Graduate University, where she earned her master's degree in Psychology with specializations in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy.

She completed her practicum in community mental health serving the Skid Row community in Los Angeles. After completing her graduate program, Michele moved to Eugene, Oregon, where she continued working in community mental health with unhoused youth before transitioning to in-school therapy with elementary and high school students.

In 2020, Michele returned to her home state of Louisiana and established a life-coaching practice. She also helped operate an international export business with her family and managed its operations for five years.

After relocating to Cleveland, Michele began working as a private investigator in 2025 while continuing her life-coaching practice and seeking opportunities to return to the psychology field. She joined Cleveland State University as a part-time psychology instructor in 2026.

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David Paulik, M.A., M.A.M.

d.paulik@csuohio.edu

David has been a part-time instructor in the Department of Psychology at Cleveland State University since 2021. He has taught personality and methods courses for the department. David is also a full-time professor at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, where he teaches a variety of courses including General Psychology, Development, Educational Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and Behavioral Statistics.

David is an educational psychologist by training with broad interests in student learning, including strategies that promote meaningful learning, cognitive factors that regulate the learning process, and motivational factors aimed at encouraging students to use effective strategies.

David earned an M.A. in Educational Psychology from Kent State University, an M.A. in Ministry from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and a B.S. in Molecular Biology with minors in Chemistry and Psychology from Kent State University.

David is passionate about teaching and helping students achieve their long- and short-term academic and professional goals.

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Brittany Pope

Biography pending.

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Marisa Rayford, LPCC

Marisa Rayford, LPCC, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio and Colorado, founder of Restorative Oasis Counseling & Wellness, and a clinician with extensive experience spanning community mental health, crisis intervention, case management, and private practice.

Throughout her career, she has worked with diverse populations across the Greater Cleveland area, supporting individuals and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, systemic barriers, and complex mental health needs.

Marisa's clinical work emphasizes a holistic, trauma-informed approach that recognizes the relationship among mental, emotional, physical, and environmental factors that influence overall wellness.

Before launching her private practice, Marisa worked in community mental health settings serving children, families, and underserved populations, where she combined counseling, advocacy, and case management to help clients address barriers affecting their quality of life and long-term well-being.

A self-described "educator at heart," Marisa is deeply passionate about psychoeducation and making mental health concepts approachable, engaging, and actionable. She is excited to bring her clinical expertise, real-world experience, and passion for teaching into higher education.

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Maria Rowlett, M.A.

m.rowlett@csuohio.edu

Maria earned her M.A. in Consumer-Industrial Research from Cleveland State University in 1993. She has served as a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Cleveland State University for more than 18 years, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Statistics, Research Methods, and Evaluating Psychological Research.

Recognized for her excellence in teaching, she has consistently received outstanding student evaluations and was honored with the Department of Psychology's Part-Time Teaching Award in both 2020 and 2026.

Maria's scholarly interests center on quantitative methods, research design, and the application of statistical analysis in the behavioral sciences. She is co-author, with Stephen Slane, of A Comprehensive but Brief Introduction to Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences (Kendall Hunt Publishing).

A dedicated mentor, Maria has advised and supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate students in the development of research projects, journal manuscripts, master's theses, and doctoral dissertations.

In addition to her academic work, Maria is an experienced research consultant with expertise in survey and questionnaire design, research methodology, statistical analysis, data interpretation, and technical report writing.

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Ogena Saied, M.S.

o.saied@csuohio.edu

Ogena Saied is a part-time psychology instructor at Cleveland State University. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from John Carroll University and her M.S. in Clinical Research from New York University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Health Sciences at Faulkner University, where her research focuses on improving patient outcomes through clinical research.

Ogena is passionate about helping students connect psychological theory to real-world applications. Alongside her teaching, she has worked in clinical research since 2017, contributing to studies that advance evidence-based healthcare. Her professional interests include psychology, clinical research, and healthcare education.

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Nichole Saunders, Ph.D.

n.e.saunders@csuohio.edu

Biography pending.

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Jaime L. Shuster, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A.

j.l.shuster@csuohio.edu

Office Hours: By appointment via Zoom or Teams

Dr. Jaime Shuster received her B.A. in Psychology from Kent State University in 2008 and her M.A. in Experimental Psychology from Cleveland State University in 2011. She returned to Kent State University to earn an M.P.H. in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy Management in 2012 and a Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy Management in 2018.

Her research interests include traumatic brain injury, sleep deprivation, distracted driving, injury prevention, and the public policy governing these public health issues.

Dr. Shuster has been teaching for more than a decade and has served as an adjunct instructor in psychology, statistics, research methods, and public health for several local colleges and universities. She has also consulted for the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio State Patrol as a legislative policy writer and has served as a subject matter expert in psychology, statistics, research methods, and health curriculum development.

During the COVID response, Dr. Shuster served as a Senior Epidemiologist for the CDC Foundation on projects involving the Ohio Department of Health and New York State Department of Health.

Dr. Shuster currently serves as Research Director of Operations for the Cleveland Clinic Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine division and oversees orthopaedic research on a global level.

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Stephen Slane, Ph.D.

s.slane@csuohio.edu

Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology

Areas of Interest/Specialization: Social Psychology, Statistics, and Research Design

Research Interests: Time perception and behavior

Education

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ph.D. in Psychology
• Idaho State University, B.S. and M.S. in Experimental Psychology

Selected Cleveland State University Leadership Positions

• Interim Director, School of Health Sciences
• Interim Director, School of Social Work
• Associate Dean for Faculty, College of Science
• Interim Chair, Department of Speech and Hearing, 2005-2006
• Interim Chair, Department of Health Sciences, 2003-2006
• Chairperson, Department of Psychology, 1988-1995

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Rosman, J., Slane, S., Dery, B., Vogelbaum, M., Cohen-Gadol, A., & Couldwell, W. (2013). Is there a shortage of neurosurgeons in the United States? Neurosurgery, 73(2), 354-366.
• Sikand, K., Slane, S., & Shukla, G. (2009). Intrinsic expression of host genes and introns miRNAs in prostate carcinoma cells. Cancer Cell International, 9, 21.
• Rakos, R., Steyer, K., Skala, S., & Slane, S. (2008). Belief in free will: Measurement and conceptualization innovations. Behavior & Social Issues, 17, 22-30