Meet the Staff

Dr. Rose was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and attended undergraduate college at Yeshiva University in Manhattan. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio. His graduate research explored the relationship between emotional distress and religious or spiritual lifestyles. In 2010 he returned to New York and completed a clinical internship at the Stony Brook University Counseling and Psychological Services. A year later, Dr. Rose pursued further specialization in university mental health by completing a post-doctoral residency at Princeton University Health Services. Between 2012 and 2016, Dr. Rose was a staff psychologist at the Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center. While at Johns Hopkins he served as coordinator of website and online media initiatives. Dr. Rose's professional interest include contemporary psychoanalysis, psychology of religious belief and practice, and mindfulness meditation. He is licensed as a psychologist in both New York and New Jersey.
Dr. Melissa Shuman Zarin earned her B.A. in Psychology and Drama from Kenyon College, her MA/Ed.M. in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College Columbia University, and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University. Prior to joining Stevens, she worked at Wolf Mehlman Psychological Associates providing therapy to adults and college bound adolescents. For many years, she worked for the Activity and Human Performance Center providing individual therapy and court ordered psychological evaluations for adult and adolescent clients involved with the NJ Division for Youth and Family Services (DYFS). She also worked on-site as a Staff Psychologist at Apostle House Shelter in Newark, NJ providing individual therapy, group therapy, and advocacy to women residents and their children. Before that she worked for the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center as their Staff Psychologist. In addition, she has worked as an Adjunct Professor for both Montclair State University and Union County College teaching a variety of classes including Ethics, Group Counseling, and Supervision. Dr. Zarin is a New Jersey Licensed Counseling Psychologist (#4750), and also licensed as a psychologist in New York State (#021236).
Dr. Ying Xiong was born and raised in Chengdu, China. She came to the United States and obtained her B.A. in Psychology and Economics from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois. In graduate school, she had been conducting research to explore cross-cultural differences in decision-making and depressive symptomology.

Throughout her clinical training, Dr. Xiong completed externships at University of Chicago, University of Illinois in Chicago, and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. She completed an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at AHRC NYC with children and adults with various developmental disabilities. She then worked as a staff and supervising psychologist at AHRC NYC prior to joining Stevens.

Dr. Ying Xiong is licensed as a psychologist in both New York and New Jersey. Dr. Xiong is bilingual in Mandarin and English.
Lauren Poleyeff Psy.D., LCSW received her doctorate degree in school psychology at Rutgers University in May, 2015. Dr. Poleyeff completed her psychology internship at Stevens Institute of Technology’s Student Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). She previously completed her psychology externships at the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and at the Valley Road elementary schools in Clark, NJ. Throughout her training, she also provided individual and family therapy at Rutgers psychological clinic.

In addition to being a licensed psychologist in the state of New Jersey, Dr. Poleyeff is also a licensed clinical social worker and has over a decade of experience working with children and families in various clinical settings. Prior to returning to graduate school, she provided counseling services at a child an adolescent outpatient clinic through the Jewish Family Services – MetroWest. In addition, Dr. Poleyeff facilitated parent support groups at a school based early intervention program run through the ARC of Essex County. She also worked in foster care and preventive service programs throughout New York City. Her professional interests include relational issues, identity concerns, family of origin issues, support for students with autism spectrum disorders, and acculturation issues. During her internship at CAPS, Dr. Poleyeff co-facilitated a relational process group. She also facilitated a support group for international students and a group for building social confidence.
Diane Sosa is a Staff Therapist at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). She obtained her Bachelor’s degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University and later obtained her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health and Wellness at New York University. Ms. Sosa is part of the National Board of Certified Counselors. Her previous work included working in a community clinic in their psychiatric department for 6 years working with an underrepresented population dealing with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, behavioral modification and socioeconomic problems. She also privately practices psychotherapy and is an adjunct Psychology Professor at FDU. She enjoys working with individuals to help overcome a range of psychological and emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, motivation, health psychology and improve their social-emotional development.
Juliet Procopio is a licensed clinical social worker and a psychotherapist/substance abuse counselor at CAPS. Juliet received her Bachelors Degree in Social Work and Sociology at Seton Hall University. She then received her Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work at Columbia University with a concentration in Mental Health. Juliet has a wide range of experience with individuals experiencing mental health issues and substance abuse in community mental health centers. She has worked with individuals with depression, anxiety, trauma, adjustment issues, family dilemmas, drug use, and alcohol use. Juliet aims to create an environment where people feel safe and comfortable to explore and grow. She is an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall University in the Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Department.
Paula Sands is from Ann Arbor, Michigan and attended undergrad at Albion College. She is completing her Psy.D. at the University of Hartford, and just completed her APA accredited predoctoral internship at the University of Memphis in Tennessee. She previously worked at Wesleyan University and with children and adolescents in school and inpatient settings. Her clinical interests include working with anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, and supporting students as they balance school and life. She aims to create a safe and supportive environment, utilizing a social justice lens, that allows students to learn about themselves and grow.
Dr. Daniel Bascara is a part-time Staff Psychiatrist at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). He is Board-Eligible, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Board-Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine and is licensed to practice in New Jersey. Presently, he is also employed with Hoboken University Medical Center and Mental Health Clinic of Passaic. He has extensive experience in working with the late adolescence and young adulthood population.
Dr. Shah is a board certified adult psychiatrist with over 18 years of experience diagnosing and treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions.

Dr. Shah obtained her medical degree from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-SOM and completed her residency training in adult psychiatry at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Prior to her work at Stevens, Dr. Shah served as the staff psychiatrist at Montclair State University and was in private practice. She currently also provides telepsychiatry services at Harmony Bay Wellness Center.

Dr. Shah is devoted to providing psychiatric care to stigmatized communities. During her psychiatry residency training at Robert Wood Johnson she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and traveled to India to deliver care to underserved patients struggling with serious psychiatric conditions. Also, prior to medical school she volunteered abroad at a tribal medical facility providing services to those that could not afford medical/psychiatric care. She currently provides volunteer psychiatric services to first line responders struggling with mental health issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jacqueline Douglas is from Annapolis, Maryland and is completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina and received a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychological Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. Throughout her training, she has provided individual and group therapy to undergraduate students at the University of Maryland, Brooklyn College, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has also worked at inpatient and outpatient mental health clinics providing individual therapy, group skills trainings, couples counseling, and psychological assessment to diverse youth and adult populations. Her clinical interests include sports performance and resilience, emotion regulation issues, mindfulness, relationship functioning, adjustment issues, motivation issues, identity development, substance use, and aggression.

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