Finding Voice – Listening to Others
Leadership and Authority in Groups & Systems
A Group Relations Conference
Scroll down to see full conference staff.
Howard A. Friedman
Director
Bio
Howard A. Friedman, Ph.D., is a psychologist, in private practice of psychotherapy & organizational consultation. He serves as an adjunct instructor at New York University, Dept. of Applied Psychology. He is a member of the LGBT Study Group at the William Alanson White Institute, and of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society. Howard worked in the New York City public schools for 32 years, where he helped start a school and worked as a teacher, school psychologist, and school change facilitator. He is President of the NY Center for the Study of Groups, an affiliate of the A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems (AKRI) and is a Fellow of AKRI. Howard and his wife have two adult children and live in Manhattan.
Laurie Nisco
Associate Director
Bio
Laurie Nisco, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist working in independent practice in New York City and Westchester, NY. She has been involved with group relations work since graduate school at Teachers College, Columbia University in 1988. She has been a member of AKRI and the New York Center since 1997, and has served on the Board of the NY Center in the roles of Secretary and President. She has directed and served on the consulting staff of numerous group relations conferences. She has taught courses in group dynamics and has worked as an executive coach conducting leadership trainings. She resides in Westchester with her husband and two children.
Leslie Migliaccio
Administrator
Bio
Ms. Leslie Migliaccio is a doctoral student in the Applied Organizational Psychology program at Hofstra University where she researches diversity and inclusion. She is particularly curious about the role of white allies in the workplace. Since attending her first group relations conference as a master’s student in the Social-Organizational Psychology program at Teacher’s College, Leslie has engaged in several roles with the broader group relations community and is an active member of the New York Center for the Study of Groups. Leslie is currently completing her coaching certification through the Coaches Training Institute. In practice, she provides leadership development coaching to senior executives, emerging leaders, graduate students, and social justice advocates.
Andres Bernal
Associate Administrator
Bio
Andres Bernal, MA is an Adjunct Professor of Urban Studies at Queens College and a Doctoral student of Public and Urban Policy at The New School for Public Engagement. His research focuses on the intersections of solidarity economy initiatives, social movements, and public policy. Andres is an independent leadership development coach and consultant as well as a New York City based social activist, organizer, and political advisor including work on the Alexandria Ocasio Cortez for Congress campaign. He is the founder of the New Society Institute, a progressive think tank dedicated to the theory and practice of social transformation. Andres is an immigrant to the United States from Bogota, Colombia.
Frank Marrocco
Consultant
Bio
Frank Marrocco, Ph.D., is a Clinical psychologist/psychoanalyst. Private clinical & organizational consultating practice, NYC. Board Member, the AK Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems; Former Vice President, the New York Center for the Study of Groups, Organizations & Social Systems; Faculty & Supervisor of Psychotherapy, the William Alanson White Institute, NYC. Adjunct Clinical Professor, Long Island University, Brooklyn Center.
Andrea Fraser
Consultant
Bio
Andrea Fraser is an artist and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studio and Chair of the Department of Art at the University of California Los Angeles. She serves on the boards of Working Artists and the Greater Economy; the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles; and Grex, West Coast Affiliate of the A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems (AKRI). She is a Member and Consultant Candidate of AKRI.
Isabelle Reiniger
Consultant
Bio
Isabelle Reiniger, LCSW, Psychotherapy and Consulting Practice, Evanston and Chicago, IL; Adjunct Faculty, Loyola University, Chicago; Associate, AKRI; Associate Member and Secretary, CCSGO , Chicago, IL.
Jonathan Rust
Consultant Advanced Candidate
Bio
Jonathan Rust, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling-State University of New York at New Paltz; Coordinator of Masters of School Counseling Program; Associate of The New York Center for the Study of Groups, Organizations and Social Systems; NYS Licensed Psychologist.
Ellen Short
Consultant
Bio
Dr. Ellen L. Short is Chairperson and Associate Professor of Graduate Counseling Programs in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology for the School of Education at LIU Brooklyn. Her areas of specialization in teaching, scholarly research and publishing are: Group dynamics focusing on race, ethnicity, gender and culture, multicultural assessment of intelligence tests and social justice/multicultural counseling. Dr. Short has spent two decades working in the field of group relations and has served as a consultant at group relations conferences in the United States and internationally. She has also directed group relations conferences at Teachers College, Columbia University, and New York University. She is the author of multiple publications, including “Racial and Cultural Dynamics in Group and Organizational Life. Crossing Boundaries,” published by Sage in 2010. Dr. Short’s latest book is “Talking about Structural Inequalities in Everyday Life: New Politics of Race in Groups, Organizations, and Social Systems,” published by Information Age Publishing in 2016.
Robert Whitehouse
Consultant Advanced Candidate
Bio
Robert “RC” holds a Masters Degree in Social-Organizational Psychology from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. He is currently VP of Talent for North America at MiQ digital, a leading marketing intelligence firm, where he works closely with senior and executive leadership to ensure that the people experience – from coaching to long-term development – is the best in the industry. RC has also been an adjunct lecturer for the Brooklyn College graduate program in school counseling, teaching “Group Dynamics and Leadership: Theories and Practice.” He was formerly secretary for the NY Center for the Study of Groups and Organizational Systems from 2016-2017. He actively integrates group dynamics principles into all of his work.