Meet the Team

Lara

Lara Hilton

Director

Credentials: Ph.D. in research psychology (Claremont), Master of Public Health (UCLA)

Professional Affiliations: Employee Assistance Professionals Association, American Public Health Association, American Evaluation Association, International Coaching Federation

Expertise: Behavioral science, program evaluation, mind/body medicine research, clinical administration, strategic initiatives, executive coaching, meditation, work-life balance

Interests: Family, foodie, meditation, reading, sailing

Julie Chobdee

Associate Director
Health & Well-being Program

Credentials: Master of Public Health (UCLA), Bachelor of Science (UCLA), Professional Designation in human resources (UCLA)

Professional Affiliations: University Health & Wellness Summit Planning Committee, Building Healthy Academic Communities, University of California Healthy Campus Network Advisory Team, American College Health Association

Expertise: Healthy campus strategies, worksite wellness, health promotion and education, faculty/staff health and well-being in higher education

Interests: Exercise, live music

Cindy Ryan-Headshot

Cynthia (Cindy) Ryan

Associate Director
Clinical Services

Credentials: Ph.D. in clinical psychology with emphasis in organization development, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified employee assistance professional, certified professional coach

Professional Affiliations: Employee Assistance Professionals Association, International Coaching Federation

Expertise: Clinical assessment and the use of cognitive behavioral therapeutic approaches, crisis intervention assessment and response, executive coaching, training in stress management, self-care, civility in the workplace, mindful well-being, work-life balance

Interests: Family time, art, writing

Jessica Ayala

Jessica Ayala

Employee Assistance Professional

Credentials: Master of Social Work (USC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Professional Affiliations: Employee Assistance Professionals Association, National Association of Social Workers

Expertise: Mindfulness and energy psychology, maternal/child issues (PPD), meditation and work-life balance, case management, crisis intervention

Interests: Neuroscience, meditation, hot yoga, HITT workouts

Tom Badzey

Employee Assistance Professional

Credentials: Master of Clinical Psychology (Child Studies Specialization), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Professional Affiliations: Employee Assistance Professionals Association, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

Expertise: Relationship issues, crisis intervention, grief and loss, substance use/abuse, life transitions, mindfulness, parenting, child and adolescent issues

Interests: Sports, music, cooking, meditation

Ebony Watson

Employee Assistance Professional

Credentials: Bachelor of Science in Social Work (VUU), Bachelor of Arts in Criminology Criminal Justice (VUU), Master of Social Work (UMICH), Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Professional Affiliations: International Association Employee Assistance Professional, National Association of Social Workers

Expertise: Artistic expression, morning routines, diversity and inclusion, exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, strengths-based perspective, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, sudden adjustments, lack of self-esteem, women’s empowerment coaching

Interests: Music, walking, baking cupcakes, spa days, beaches, shopping sprees, seafood, quality time with family and friends, traveling to various countries to experience cultural diversity

Susan L. Ritchey

Susan L. Ritchey

Office Manager

Credentials: Bachelor of Science in business administration (CSLB)

Expertise: Business administration and management, human resources, finance

Languages: English, Spanish

Interests: Family, writing poetry, dance, cooking, traveling

Suzanne Huynh

Suzzane Huynh

Health & Well-being Program Coordinator

Credentials: Bachelor of Science in health sciences, health promotion, and disease prevention (CSUF)

Expertise: Health promotion and strategy, project coordination, clinical administration

Interests: Baking, reading, journaling, family 

Karla Sifuentes

Communications & Marketing Coordinator

Credentials: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (USC)

Expertise: Marketing strategy, health communication, social media management

Interests: Nature, hiking, reading

Luis Canton

Sr. Health & Well-being Specialist

Credentials: Master of Public Health candidate (OHSU), Master of Education (USC)

Expertise: Quantitative and qualitative data analysis, program evaluation, health and well-being in higher education

Interests: Family, foodie, baking

Julieta Alas

WorkWell Intern

Credentials: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Occidental College), Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (USC)

Expertise: Acceptance and commitment therapy, culturally attuned care, LGBTQ+, generalized and social anxiety, depression, relationship issues, crisis intervention, stress management, life transitions

Interests: Movies, foodie, concerts 

Lara Hilton

Lara Hilton

Director

Credentials: Ph.D. in research psychology (Claremont), Master of Public Health (UCLA)

Professional Affiliations: Employee Assistance Professionals Association, American Public Health Association, American Evaluation Association, International Coaching Federation

Expertise: Behavioral science, program evaluation, mind/body medicine research, clinical administration, strategic initiatives, executive coaching, meditation, work-life balance

Interests: Family, foodie, meditation, reading, sailing

Susan L Huddleston

Susan L. Ritchey

Office Manager

Credentials: Bachelor of Science in business administration (CSLB)

Expertise: Business administration and management, human resources, finance

Languages: English, Spanish

Interests: Family, writing poetry, dance, cooking, traveling

Cynthia M Ryan

Cynthia (Cindy) Ryan

University Park Campus (UPC) Program Manager

Credentials: Ph.D. in clinical psychology with emphasis in organization development, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified employee assistance professional, certified professional coach

Professional Affiliations: Employee Assistance Professionals Association, International Coaching Federation

Expertise: Clinical assessment and the use of cognitive behavioral therapeutic approaches, crisis intervention assessment and response, executive coaching, training in stress management, self-care, civility in the workplace, mindful well-being, work-life balance

Interests: Family time, art, writing

Angela Diblasi

Angela DiBlasi

Health Sciences Campus (HSC) Program Manager

Credentials: Master of Social Work: industrial social work specialty (USC)licensed clinical social worker (California Board of Behavioral Sciences), professional certified coach (International Coaching Federation), basic and advanced critical incident stress management (Psychological First Aid)

Professional Affiliations: International Employee Assistance Professionals Association, National Association of Social Workers, Society of Clinical Social Work, International Coaching Federation

Expertise: Solution-focused brief counseling: human behavior in the workplace, workplace relationships, work-life balance, change and transition, grief and loss, eldercare. Leader consultation: threat assessment, performance improvement, communication, critical and traumatic incidents in the workplace, employee mental health, substance abuse issues. Executive coaching: Strength based coaching, helping leaders succeed in their leadership roles

Interests: Family, friends, Pilates, hiking, walking, reading, outdoor concerts

Linda Snouffer

Linda Snouffer

Employee Assistance Professional

Credentials: Master of Social Work (USC), licensed clinical social worker, certified employee assistance professional, professional certified coach, coach supervisor

Professional Affiliations: Employee Assistance Professionals Association (Los Angeles and National), International Association of Employee Assistance Professionals, Employee Assistance Roundtable, Certified Employee Assistance Professionals Association, National and Local Association of Social Workers, International Coach Federation (Global, Los Angeles, and South Florida Chapters), European Mentoring and Coaching Council, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, Certified Employee Assistance Professionals Association, USC Women in Management

Expertise: Executive coaching, supervision of coaches, counseling, management consultations, critical incidents and crisis management, trauma, grief and loss, mindfulness, work-life balance, attachment, civility

Interests: Family, yoga, Pilates, travel, cooking, flower arranging, lifelong learning

Jessica Ayala

Jessica Ayala

Employee Assistance Professional

Credentials: Master of Social Work (USC), licensed clinical social worker

Professional Affiliations: Employee Assistance Professionals Association, National Association of Social Workers

Expertise: Mindfulness and energy psychology, maternal/child issues (PPD), meditation and work-life balance, case management, crisis intervention

Interests: Neuroscience, meditation, hot yoga, HITT workouts

James Nicholas

James Nicholas

Associate Clinical Social Worker

Credentials: Master of Social Work (USC), J.D. in law (Northwestern)

Professional Affiliations: American Bar Association, National Association of Social Workers, United States Association of Body Psychotherapists, Association of Bodynamic Psychology

Expertise: Psychodynamic therapy, emotional regulation, conflict resolution

Languages: English, Greek, Spanish

Interests: Family, baseball, tango

Julie Chobdee

Julie Chobdee

Health & Well-being Program Manager

Credentials: Master of Public Health (UCLA), Bachelor of Science (UCLA), Professional Designation in human resources (UCLA)

Professional Affiliations: University Health & Wellness Summit Planning Committee, Building Healthy Academic Communities, University of California Healthy Campus Network Advisory Team, American College Health Association

Expertise: Healthy campus strategies, worksite wellness, health promotion and education, faculty/staff health and well-being in higher education

Interests: Exercise, live music

Suzanne Huynh

Suzzane Huynh

Health & Well-being Program Coordinator

Credentials: Bachelor of Science in health sciences, health promotion, and disease prevention (CSUF)

Expertise: Health promotion and strategy, project coordination, clinical administration

Interests: Baking, reading, journaling, family