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Meet the CSDC Professional & Support Staff
- Jill Christensen
- Melissa "Meli" Leilani Devencenzi, Psy.D.
- Allison Drazba
- Elysse Eaton
- Jesse Hutchison, Ph.D.
- Patrick Jichaku, Ph.D.
- Alexander Khaddouma, Ph.D.
- Tommie Laba, Ph.D.
- Stephanie Lee
- Grace Mellor
- Talaivosa "Ate" Moala
- Linda Nahulu, M.D.
- Trystin Nakayama
- Julie Nishihira, Psy.D.
- Lorie Okada
- Grace Peabody
- Allyson M. Tanouye, Ph.D.
- Emma Turton
- Kayla Uyeda, LMHC
- Tyler Yoshinaga
Jill Christensen
Position: Practicum Trainee
Education: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Hawaii Pacific University, Current;
B.A. in Psychology and Communications - Journalism, University of Washington
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2025
Professional Interests: Cognitive behavioral therapy, depression, body image concerns, substance use, anger management, identity issues, familial conflict, dialectical behavior therapy, emerging adult mental health, self-compassion.
Melissa "Meli" Leilani Devencenzi, Psy.D.
Position: Licensed Psychologist; Coordinator of Outreach
Education: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology, Springfield College;
M.S. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, California Baptist University;
B.S. in Psychology, Chaminade University of Honolulu;
A.S. in Criminology/Criminal Justice, Chaminade University of Honolulu
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2024
Professional Interests: Indigenous Mental Health and Healing; Native Hawaiian Mental Health; life transitions; multicultural/diversity issues; identity development and intersectionality (e.g., gender, sexuality, culture, political, religious); relationship health; existential concerns; faith and cultural crisis/transitions.
Elysse Eaton
Position: Doctoral Psychology Intern
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2025
Professional Interests: Family/interpersonal relationships and functioning; life transitions and identity development; multicultural and diversity related concerns; religion and spirituality.
Jesse Hutchison, Ph.D.
Position: Licensed Psychologist; Co-Coordinator of Peer Fellow Program
Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, American University, 2014;
M.A. in Psychology, American University, 2012;
A.B. in Psychology and English, Cornell University, 2006.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2022; also 2013-2015
Professional Interests: Individual and group psychotherapy; Psychodynamic, insight-oriented, and integrative therapies; boundaries and self-care.
Patrick Jichaku, Ph.D.
Position: Licensed Psychologist
Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1994;
M.A. in Clinical Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, 1987;
B.A., University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 1981.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2009
Professional Interests: Individual, group, and couple & family counseling and psychotherapy; crisis counseling; mindfulness meditation and its psychological applications; person-centered cultural psychology; personality assessment.
Alexander Khaddouma, Ph.D.
Position: Licensed Psychologist; Coordinator of Clinical Services
Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2018;
M.A. in Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2014;
B.A. in Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2011.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2017
Professional Interests: Romantic relationship health; couple therapy; family therapy; young adult psychological health.
Tommie Laba, Ph.D.
Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow
Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2023;
M.A. in Clinical Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2020;
B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Sociology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2014.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2022
Professional Interests: Cognitive behavioral therapy; anxiety; depression; stress management and promotion of self-care; multicultural and diversity related concerns; women's issues.
Stephanie Lee, M.Ed.
Position: Coordinator of Testing; Case Manager; Co-Coordinator of Staff Development
Education: M.Ed. in Educational Foundations, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2020;
B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Religion,
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2006.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2018
Professional Interests: Student affairs; student development; gender issues; personality types; cultural identity
Grace Mellor
Position: Practicum Trainee
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara Minor in Applied Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2025
Professional Interests: Cognitive behavioral therapy; dialectical behavior therapy; acceptance and commitment therapy; mindfulness; self-care; anxiety; depression; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); emerging adult mental health.
Talaivosa "Ate" Moala, MPH
Position: Student Support Specialist
Education: Master of Public Health, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2022;
B.A. in Political Science and Biology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2013 and 2016.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2008
Linda Nahulu, M.D.
Position: Psychiatrist
Education: M.D., University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, JABSOM, 1987.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2009
Professional Interests: Native Hawaiian Mental Health, Suicide; Suicidal-Related Behaviors and Prevention relating to Indigenous Pacific Islander in the United States.
Trystin Nakayama, M.Ed.
Position: Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the Director
Education: M.Ed. in Educational Administration, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2021;
B.A. in Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2009.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2013
Julie Nishihira, Psy.D.
Position: Licensed Psychologist; Co-Coordinator of Peer Fellow Program; Co-Coordinator of Staff Development
Education: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Argosy University, 2017;
M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Argosy University, 2011;
B.A. in Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at West Oʻahu, 2004.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2016
Professional Interests: Humanistic therapy; transitional/life issues; anxiety; self-esteem; career counseling; self-care
Lorie Okada
Position: Practicum Trainee
Education: M.A. in Clinical Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, current;
B.A. in Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2018,
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2025
Professional Interests: Student development; career counseling; multicultural/diversity identity; adjustment/transitions issues, Cognitive behavioral therapy.
Grace Peabody, M.A., LMHCA
Position: Doctoral Psychology Intern
Education: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology, Northwest University, Current;
M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Northwest University, 2024;
B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Education Studies, Minor in Study of Religion, University of California, Los Angeles, 2020.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2025
Professional Interests: Narrative Therapy; Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), anxiety and anxiety-related issues; self-esteem; multicultural/diversity-related concerns; identity development; women’s issues; personal and professional adjustment/transitions; family/interpersonal relationship concerns; self-care; self-compassion.
Allyson M. Tanouye, Ph.D.
Position: Director and Chief Psychologist; Interim Coordinator of Training, Coordinator of Counselor-in-Residence Program, and Coordinator of Post-Doctoral Training
Education: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1990;
M.Ed. in Counselor Education, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa;
B.S. in Human Development, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 1991
Professional Interests: Training and supervision; multicultural diversity; career life development; self-esteem in women.
Emma Turton, M.S.
Position: Doctoral Psychology Intern
Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Current;
M.S. in Psychological Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2024;
B.S. in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, 2021.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2025
Professional Interests: Cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, anxiety and stress management, depression, body image concerns, family and interpersonal relationship concerns, life transitions and identity development, mindfulness, and self-compassion
Kayla Uyeda, LMHC
Position: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Education: B.A. in Psychology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 2017;
M.S.
in Counseling Psychology, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 2020.
Affiliated with CSDC since: 2025
Professional Interests: Trauma-informed care; multicultural and racial identity, expressive arts therapy, holistic, mindfulness, and somatic-based approaches, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), internal family systems (IFS),
Counseling and Student Development Center (CSDC)
Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services
Room 312
Phone: (808) 956-7927
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CSDC Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Appointments begin at 8:30 a.m, and last appointment at 3:30 pm.
Urgent or crisis services are available daily 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. hours. (view map)
(For crises / emergencies after hours, click here)
Our Staff
CSDC services are provided by well-trained professionals in various areas. The center is staffed by licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, post-doctoral level counselors, and testing specialists, as well as pre-doctoral intern and practicum counselors.
Furthermore, the center's administration is managed by a receptionist and student assistants.