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CGI Alumni: Bridging Distances and Strengthening Connections

By February 11, 2025No Comments4 min read

A community built on shared experiences, lasting connections, and continued growth.

Feb. 11, 2025

The Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI) Alumni Association continues to build a thriving network of graduates united by their commitment to integrated behavioral health. Founded with a vision of creating lifelong engagement, the Alumni Association serves as a cornerstone for supporting alumni, students, and the broader CGI community.

Mission and Vision

The CGI Alumni Association exists to connect alumni to the university and to one another, promoting community, professional growth, and the values of integrated care. Its mission is to encourage active participation in CGI’s initiatives through events, volunteering, and collaborative opportunities that inspire growth and connection.

The association’s vision emphasizes inclusivity and engagement, striving to involve as many alumni as possible by offering programs and services that reflect the values of education, community, and service. These include opportunities for lifelong learning, career enhancement, and meaningful contributions to CGI and its extended community.

Activities and Initiatives

The Alumni Association is currently engaged in several key initiatives aligned with its mission, including:

  • Lifelong Learning Opportunities: Programs and webinars designed to keep alumni updated on the latest advancements in integrated behavioral healthcare.
  • Mentorship Programs: Connecting alumni with current students to foster relationships that support professional development and career growth.
  • Volunteer and Networking Events: Both virtual and in-person events aimed at strengthening the bonds between alumni and CGI while expanding professional networks.
  • Fundraising Efforts: Providing financial support to deserving students, ensuring access to education and the continuation of CGI’s mission through fundraising.

“As Doctors of Behavioral Health, we have the unique opportunity to connect and change healthcare. As CGI says, we are disruptors and as an association that regularly connects, we can disrupt even further to improve healthcare across multiple disciplines.” said Dr. Allison Earl, President of the Alumni Association. “We continually strive to offer the most current research and guidelines when implementing any changes in the organizations that we work with.”

New Leadership

The CGI Alumni Association is under new leadership in 2025, with an energized team committed to expanding opportunities for alumni engagement.

Members

Engaging with the Alumni Association

To become part of the CGI Alumni Association, the first step is to officially join the organization. First year membership dues are waived for CGI degree seeking and non-degree seeking graduates who join after completion of their academic program.

“The only requirements for being in the association are to come with an open mind. As we expand, we will have more that we ask of the members. We have meetings quarterly to help accommodate scheduling.” shared Dr. Allison Earl.

For alumni interested in engaging with the CGI Alumni Association, please contact Dr. Allison Earl at learl@cgi.edu or dr.earlokc@gmail.com or Dr. Jerrika Henderson at jhenderson@cgi.edu for more details.

A Lifelong Connection

The CGI Alumni Association embodies the institute’s commitment to education, community, and service. By building meaningful relationships and supporting lifelong learning, the association ensures that alumni remain a vital part of CGI’s mission to transform healthcare.

“During my DBH journey and after, I have found that I have created such a supportive and intellectual network of people who all have their own items of expertise. I have been blessed with being able to connect in different ways and build lasting relationships with many of the brightest minds that are around at this time.,” shared Dr. Allison Earl.

If you’re a CGI graduate, consider joining the Alumni Association to connect, grow, and give back. Together, we can make a lasting impact in the field of behavioral health.

 

Testimonials

“As a member of the AAPI community, I’m very familiar with the barriers to mental health services and the need to break through the glass wall of cultural stigma that prevents many from receiving potentially life–saving treatment. I was the only Asian American person in my master’s cohort, the only Asian American person in many of my clinical work settings, the only Asian American person to walk into many of the professional settings that I pushed myself to show up to. In my current practice, I’m constantly reminded by my patients of how difficult it is to find an Asian American mental health provider, though this reminder constantly informs me that more needs to be done for my community. Day after day, I read stories of Asian American people who die by suicide as a consequence of our culture’s avoidance of mental health topics. As a DBH, my biggest goal is to use my expertise in whole–person care to amplify the conversation around mental health and help my community understand that mental healthcare is not a privilege that we are not entitled to, it is a crucial part of our healthcare that will manifest differently in us than what many Western psychology or psychiatry textbooks will describe, and that our unique experience of mental health issues are valid, important, and is time to be part of the larger conversation.”

Willam Chum, LMHCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - September 16, 2022

“The Doctor in Behavioral Health (DBH) program has changed my understanding of the subject and career path. Before this academic journey, my knowledge of behavioral health was primarily theoretical, including essential ideas and methods. However, the DBH curriculum combined intense academic research with practical application, helping me understand behavioral health from multiple angles. Recognizing mental health as part of total health changed my perspective. The biopsychosocial model, which showed how biological, psychological, and social variables affect mental health, was stressed in the DBH curriculum. This comprehensive approach made me realize how complex human behavior is and how important it is to address mental health issues. Effective interventions must target the individual’s surroundings, relationships, and life experiences, not just symptoms. The curriculum also gave me enhanced evidence-based practice training to execute successful solutions. Studies methods and data analysis classes improved my critical thinking and allowed me to evaluate and apply behavioral health studies. This gave me the confidence to contribute to the field’s knowledge base through practice and research.”

Dr. Rhea Hill, DBH, LPCDBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 17, 2025

“This program will change how you present to the world, not just as a professional but as an individual. Understand this is work but the work is worth it and the journey is undeniably transformative. If you are seeking a doctorate for the title, this is not the program for you. If you are seeking a doctorate to interrupt and disrupt the course of healthcare, then this is the program for you. You won’t find a more supportive program with professors who are dedicated to your success and your education. This program is not about the regurgitation of information. It is about the appropriate applied application of knowledge and information to push forward and become an advocate for equitable and quality care for all.”

Brandy K. Biglow LMHC, CCTP, QSDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 5, 2024

“The Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program has definitely transformed my understanding of behavioral health. Understanding the links between physical and mental health has taught how to make better treatment decisions. The DBH program has also given me insights that otherwise would not be possible and allows me to view individuals through a lens that I was previously ignorant of. This program has helped me grow into a more confident individual, provider, and parent.”

Cory H. Cannady, BCBA, LBADBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 13, 2024

“The DBH program has reinforced my vision of viewing behavioral health (BH) as an integrated component of the healthcare system rather than a siloed service. As a practitioner in the focused BH realm of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, I observe on a regular basis how identifying and serving SUD patients is often missed, ignored and stigmatized in primary healthcare, despite the fact that early intervention at these check-points often has the potential to intervene earlier and lessen the negative SUD outcomes frequently seen by the time a patient reaches specialty SUD services. Reinforcement received in my DBH program has motivated me to promote integration as a leader in my workplace and is a primary factor in considering the long-term trajectory of my individual career path.”

Kenneth L. Roberts, MPS, LPCC, LADCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - November 5, 2024

“Graduating from the DBH program has influenced and enhanced my approach to addressing behavioral health challenges and making a difference in the field by preparing me to become a serious business owner. Through the DBH program, I understand now that becoming a business owner not only assists me in reaping the financial benefits of working for myself, but the program also offers me a sense of freedom to make a difference in an individual’s life.”

Dr. Rebecca K. Wright, DBH, LBA, BCBA, QBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - December 18, 2024

“I have always wanted to pursue a higher degree but never found a program that met my needs. When I investigated the DBH program, I can honestly say I was excited. It was a program that would expand my knowledge in behavioral health but also how it relates to physical health. The philosophy of treating the whole person was exactly what I was looking for.”

Elizabeth Nekoloff, M.Ed., LPCC-S, NCCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 16, 2025

“Prior to obtaining my DBH, I practiced behavioral health within the boundaries of behavior analysis. The DBH degree has given me the ability to broaden my scope of competence allowing me to provide a higher quality of care to my clients through a person-centered approach, while still staying within my scope of practice. I was in the beginning stages of opening my business when I enrolled in the DBH program which set my trajectory towards being a stronger leader. The program equipped me with essential healthcare leadership and entrepreneurial skills, allowing me to ensure high-quality services for my clients and foster a supportive work environment for our staff. It has also given me the confidence to expand my business and pursue other healthcare ventures, reaching a broader range of patients in need.”

Dr. Pauline Tolentino Pablo, DBH, BCBA, IBADBH Alumna, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - January 21, 2025

“Although I have worked with many patients who have mental health diagnoses, or behaviors which make managing their medical diagnoses and day to day life difficult, the DBH program at CGI is broadening that knowledge and providing a deeper understanding of behavioral health and how best to help these individuals manage their health and improve their quality of life. This will allow me to provide and advocate for more meaningful and seamless integrated care, providing new tools for my intervention toolbox, and the confidence and skills to collaborate within and lead whole person focused interdisciplinary teams. I also anticipate building upon my knowledge as a nurse case manager and long time caregiver, as well as my personal passions and professional vision, learning about processes and operations, to be in position to start up and lead my own company one day, offering the services and care I know every person should have access to.”

Hollie Wilson, MSN, RN, CCMDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - February 11, 2025

“The DBH program will open opportunities for me to contribute to healthcare system innovation, particularly through trauma-informed care and integrated behavioral health settings. I will be better positioned to advocate for and implement holistic care models that improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Ultimately, this program will help me transition into higher-level roles, such as a director or consultant in behavioral health, where I can influence broader system changes and contribute to the future of healthcare delivery.”

DeKyn Rashad Peters, MPH-CHES,BSW/BA,APCDBH Candidate, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies - March 4, 2025

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