Faculty

Program Director, Margaret Carlock-Russo, M.A., ATR-BC, LCAT
Margaret is the current Director and Internship Coordinator of the Graduate Creative Arts Therapy Program at Hofstra University. She has been in the field for more than 16 years and has created several art therapy programs during that time. Although Margaret has experience working in a variety of settings, her passion lies in working with children with special needs and their families. Her research focuses on the integration of art therapy into the public school environment. Margaret has been an active member of the New York Art Therapy Association since 2000. She has served on the board as recording secretary, treasurer and most recently president. Ms Carlock-Russo currently sits on the NYATA Advisory Board. Ms. Carlock-Russo is also an active member of the American Art Therapy Association and is currently serving as Government Affairs Committee Chair.

Associate Professor, Joan Bloomgarden, Ph.D., ATR-BC, LCAT
Joan Bloomgarden, PhD, LCAT, ATR-BC, MHC, CGC has served Hofstra University for over 20 years.  In the Creative Arts Therapy program she was Internship Coordinator, Program Director, student adviser and is a full–time faculty member writing and teaching a variety of courses.   Dr. Bloomgarden also holds NYS licenses in creative arts therapy, mental health counseling, art education and elementary education.  Informed by her diverse background work experience in her licensed areas, she has published and presented nationally and internationally.  Her main interest area is the subject of creativity, which is the foundation of art therapy, personal achievement and necessary life skills.   Dr. Bloomgarden has developed a unique course on Creativity which she offers in a usual class setting and as an online course.   To add to the strength of the Hofstra program, Dr. Bloomgarden, when serving as Director for a period of 10 years, organized the annual Hofstra Art Therapy Conference that is held on the Hofstra campus.  She brought current interests, activities and new learning to the entire local art therapy community.  Dr. Bloomgarden hosted well-known keynote speakers and organized workshops to support experiential learning. 

Dr. Bloomgarden is an advocate for social justice and has been active in the American Art Therapy Association and held a position on the Art Therapy Credentials Board. She was on the Journal of Art Therapy Review Board and is currently completing her second term on the Ethics Committee of AATA.  Dr. Bloomgarden belongs to and supports the New York Art Therapy Association having been one of the founders of the Long Island group when art therapy held a small presence in NY.

Associate Professor, Deborah Elkis-Abuhoff, PhD., ATR-BC, LCAT
Deborah Elkis-Abuhoff, Ph.D., ATR-BC, LCAT is an Associate Professor teaching in the Creative Arts Therapy graduate program. Holding both Creative Arts Therapy (LCAT) and Psychology licenses in NYS, and a Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC). She also holds her teacher certification in Art Education (K-12), as well as Graphic Arts, Photography and Printing. Her research interests bring together behavioral medicine and creative/medical art therapy. This allows her to bring diverse, up-to-date information to students. Her recent research projects connect art therapy with individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and also those diagnosed with cancer. She and her research team have published in peer-reviewed journals, and have presented to national and international audiences, including the World Parkinson Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, where she was an invited featured speaker. Dr. Elkis-Abuhoff’s diverse experiences include medical geriatric, psychiatric, child, adolescent and family populations. Dr. Elkis-Abuhoff holds an appointment to the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. She is a member of the Internal Review Boards (IRB) at both Hofstra University and South Oaks Hospital. Dr. Elkis-Abuhoff is active in the professional community, sitting on the review board for Art Therapy: The Journal of the American Art therapy Association, is an active member of the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) sitting on the Credentials Committee. She also sits on both the Research and Ethics committees for The Society of Arts in Healthcare. She holds memberships in the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), New York Art Therapy Association (NYATA), Society of Arts in Healthcare (SAH) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Adjunct Faculty:

Viven Abrams, LCAT, ATR-BC (alumna) is an art therapist and Dual Diagnosis Program Coordinator at South Oaks Hospital, as well as a faculty member at Hofstra University. Ms. Abrams's areas of special interest include working with addicted mentally ill patients and with people who have experienced trauma, grief and loss. Ms. Abrams supervises interns, graduates and has a limited private practice.

Joan Alpers, MSP, LCAT, ATR-BC, CCLS is the Coordinator of the Child Life Program at Schneider Children’s Hospital of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.  With over 20 years of experience, Joan has given numerous presentations and in-services to the Child Life Community, the Art Therapy Community, and the Allied Health Community.  In addition, she holds graduate faculty level appointments and maintains a private practice as an art therapist.

Susan Antelis, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, BCIA-C, EEGC, LMHC is an artist, a musician, a Board Certified, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Board Certified Biofeedback Professional & Therapist in Private Practice. Susan personally trained with the originator of the technique, Seena Frost, earning the title of “SoulCollage™ facilitator”. You can visit some of Susan’s SoulCollage™ cards on the website: www.soulcollage.com in the Gallery.

Joanna Cutolo, M.A., LCAT, ATR-BC, CTRS (alumna) has worked with geriatric populations for over 15 years.  Johanna is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and has presented workshops about art therapy to the New York State and Long Island Therapeutic Recreation Associations.  Johanna serves as an adjunct professor in art therapy at Hofstra University and as an art therapy consultant to the Gurwin Geriatric Center in Commack, New York.

Michelle Anne Hololob MS, ATR-BC, LCAT (alumna) is a Creative Arts Therapist currently working in Inpatient Psychiatry at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. There, Michelle supervises CAT Interns from various school programs, supervises Graduates working towards Licensure and is a part of the Hospital Faculty that educates Medical Students and Psychiatric PGYII Residents about Art Therapy. Michelle has had experience in Outpatient and Inpatient settings, and has worked with individuals dealing with chronic and acute mental illness. She is currently the Student Liaison Board Member of the New York Art Therapy Association.

Elyse A. Miller, MA, LCAT, ATR-BC, CLL, is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Hofstra University, in the Creative Arts Therapy Graduate Program. She also teaches at Bramson Ort College in the Business and Psychology departments. She has worked at Sid Jacobson JCC, as the Director of Youth Services and Co-Director of Summer Streeters Day Camp. She has worked in the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Rehabilitation in the North Shore- Long Island Jewish Health System. Ms. Miller received her undergraduate degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology and C.W. Post College and her Masters Degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University. Currently, she maintains a private practice as well lectures on many topics to schools districts, camps along with companies’ staff development. Her clinical experience includes working with children, adolescents and adults; both in and out patient psychiatric settings; medically ill and chemically addicted; foster care; eating disorders; bullying; family and couple therapy; trauma; child abuse; bereavement; Autism Spectrum Disorders. She also supervises professionals toward their ATR, LCAT and BC. Ms. Miller is also a Certified Laughter Leader with The World Laughter Tour, Inc. and uses humor and laughter in her Art Therapy practice.

Elyse A. Miller, M.A., ATR-BC, LCAT currently works in the psychiatry and psychiatric rehabilitation departments at the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, and as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and her master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University. She currently maintains a private practice in Massapequa Park, New York. She works with children, adolescents and adults, both individuals and families, in the areas of depression, trauma, bereavement, eating disorders and divorce, and supervises professionals toward their ATR.

Louise Montello, Ph.D. is a Certified Music Therapist/Psychoanalyst, clinical research scientist in the Department of Psychology at New York University, and founder/director of the Creative Arts Therapy Certificate Program at New School University, where she has been teaching for many years. She is also Associate Editor of the International Journal of Arts.
Dorit Netzer, Ph.D.,ATR-BC,LCAT (alumna) received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts, a Master of Arts in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University, and a doctorate from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. She is an art therapist in private practice www.creative-encounters.us and an associate adjunct faculty at Hofstra University and the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. Dr. Netzer specializes in the use of mental imagery and creative expression in the contexts of conflict, illness, and personal development. She may be reached via email

Sherry Reiter, Ph.D. is a clinical social worker and creative arts therapist specializing in poetry therapy and drama therapy. She was on the steering committee of both The National Association for Drama Therapy and The National Association for Poetry Therapy. Past President of NAPT, and The National  Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy, she was the recipient of The Pioneer Award from NAPT in 2005 for her visionary work in the field.

Sheryl Stern, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, LMFT (alumna) is a licensed Creative Arts Therapist, and Marriage and Family Therapist. She has a private practice in Roslyn, New York www. Long Island Psychiatric.com  and is an adjunct faculty member at Hofstra University. Her contributions as an art therapist have been viewed in Metropolitan Museums, as well as throughout the United States. Her work has also appeared in publications of The NYU Child Study Center, magazine entries and journal articles. Sheryl has appeared on television broadcasts, and radio programs addressing anxiety, infertility and the relationship with food and the family. She melds art therapy with marriage and family therapy when divorce, bullying and conflicting parenting styles threaten relationships. 

Lisa Wisel, ADTR is a Gestalt therapist and a dance and movement therapist. She has worked with children in a psychiatric setting and with geriatric populations. She is currently in private practice.