Counseling Center Staff
Teri L Grayson, MSW, LICSW (she/her/hers)
Clinical Social Worker and Director
Teri is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who received a B.A. in Sociology from UMass Amherst and a Master of Social Work with certification in Urban Leadership from Simmons University. She uses strength-based modalities to support students dealing with life stressors, anxiety, depression, and other issues that may be impacting their wellbeing.
As an African American woman who grew up in the Greater Boston area, Teri personally understands the importance of acknowledging and supporting issues of diversity and culture. Knowing the importance of seeing oneself reflected, she has been intentional in serving the communities where she grew up, spending a majority of her career providing community-based mental health services. She has been working in college mental health for the past six years and has a small private practice.
When not working, Teri enjoys traveling, participating in a book club (although she rarely reads the books), and spending time with her husband, son, and dog Ruby
Bill DeFranc, PhD
Psychologist and Assistant Director
Bill is a doctoral-level psychologist whose professional interests managing mood disorders; anger management; gender role socialization, and male psychological development; and training and supervision of graduate students in psychology.
At the Counseling Center, Bill uses a goal-oriented and strengths based approach to counseling so student clients can measure their progress in therapy. He utilizes various therapeutic techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for a range of issues such as depression and anxiety.
Bill enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, and going to the beach in the summer.
Rachel Blumberg, LICSW, MSW, (she/her/hers)
Clinical Social Worker
Rachel is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a M.S.W from University of California, Berkeley School of Social Work, and a BA from Connecticut College. Rachel has a background working in various settings with children, young adults, and families in the child welfare system in CA and in various hospital social work settings here in Boston. In her current position, Rachel provides individual and group therapy, consultation, crisis services as well as training and outreach. Rachel employs a strengths-based approach and works to help students recognize and build upon their own existing supports, coping skills, and resilience in order to manage during challenging times.
Rachel identifies as a white, cisgender female and strives to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds and identities. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys hiking, cooking, and chasing after her dog.
Zeljka Mileusnic, Psy.D. (she/her/hers)
Staff Psychologist
Zeljka is a clinical psychologist with a passion for helping clients navigate challenges such as anxiety disorders, grief, relationship dynamics, dreams, and spirituality. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative, strengths-focused, and guided by relational, developmental, and social justice principles. Zeljka is dedicated to creating a supportive, affirming space where clients feel truly seen, heard, and valued.
She tailors her approach to meet each individual’s unique needs and has experience leading anxiety management groups and facilitating support spaces for international students.
Beyond her professional work, Zeljka finds joy in nature and loves taking long walks in all kinds of weather. She’s an avid reader of books across diverse fields and treasures trips to her home country of Croatia, where much of her family resides.
Anna Yerang Lee, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Staff Psychologist
Anna is a staff psychologist who received her degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston University. She has a special interest in working with emerging and young adults with marginalized identities including race, ethnicity, abilities/disabilities, gender, sexuality, religion, and socioeconomic status. Anna’s therapeutic approach includes cognitive behavioral, humanistic, and feminist theories as well as social justice approach. She identifies as a Korean cisgender woman with disabilities. She would be happy to speak Korean in sessions with students who prefers to speak the language.
Prior to coming to University of Massachusetts in Boston, she worked in other college counseling settings, such as Counseling, Health, & Wellness at Suffolk University and University Counseling Services at Boston College. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, eating Korean food, and watching Bluey with her little ones.
Allyson Gormley, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker
Allyson is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a MSW from Boston University and BA from University or Rhode Island. Allyson brings her prior experience working within a medical setting where she supported individuals coping with complex medical conditions, trauma history, substance use and mental health. She has a special interest in women’s health, anxiety, and grief work. Allyson utilizes a cognitive behavioral approach in her individual work with clients. She is a strengths-based clinician who is excited to work with the students of UMB.
On her days off, Allyson enjoys anything outside (even in the cold) and being with her boys and dog.
Judith Taveras, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker and Coordinator or Avanced Mulitcultural Training Program
Judith received her MSW from BU’s School of Social Work, after working in hire ed and non-profit for several years. As a social worker, she has previously supported survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), folx who have struggled with substance misuse, and individuals managing severe mental illness.
In her current work, Judith takes a humanistic, strengths based, and relational attachment approach to supporting her clients. With the goal to create a space in which folx feel empowered to process their experiences while stabilizing and increasing their self-compassion.
Judith self identifies as queer, first-generation, Afro-Latina who is cisgender and uses she/her/hers pronouns. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, wrapped up in a good book, or messing up a bread recipe.
Elvin Cardona, LICSW
Social Worker
Beatriz Louzado (she/her/hers)
Mental Health Educator
Beatriz is a UMass Boston alumni, Class of 2022, who received a B.S. in Biology and Psychology. In her experience at UMass Boston, Beatriz has worked in a range of different departments from studying as a pre-medical student, to working as a Resident Assistant at the residential halls, working as a Peer Mentor before and throughout the pandemic, volunteering with SAEC, starting her own club The Character Collaborative, managing as the Vice President of Recruitment for Phi Delta Epsilon, and more. Beatriz, understanding the school from a student's perspective, now dedicates her time as a health educator where she amplifies the voice of our Beacons and teaches them the importance of giving attention and care to our lifelong companions, our minds.
As a Latinx woman, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Beatriz understands the struggles immigrants and POC face in this country. With personal and academic experience in equity and inclusion, Beatriz promises to educate students on how much our mental health frequently relies on our identity, how we want to be perceived and how we perceive ourselves, highlighting how much pressure that can cause. In being an alumni and a resident of the New England area, Beatriz pledges to provide our students with the resources students of all backgrounds need to survive and thrive not only at UMass Boston, but in the big city.
In her free time, Beatriz enjoys exploring new adventures with her family and friends, hiking
new trails, visiting unique events and locations, and meeting new people. She also knows
how to wiggle her ears!
Leah Livingstone (she/her/hers)
Clinic Administration
Leah is our front desk staff and is most likely to be the first person you will meet coming into the Counseling Center. Leah is in charge of scheduling, administrative duties and keeping the Counseling Center running. Leah’s goal is to make sure that every person who walks through our doors feels welcome, safe, and cared for.
Outside of work Leah enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to Walt Disney World, reading fiction novels and watching Elmo’s World with her granddaughter. She is also an advocate for her transgender and disabled son. Leah identifies as a cisgender white woman.
The UHS Counseling Center serves as a training site for second-year students in the UMass Boston Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. When office space and schedules permit, the Counseling Center also serves as a training site for second-year social work interns and advanced psychology trainees and clinical fellows.