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Celebrating New DBH Graduates

By February 24, 2026No Comments5 min read

Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI) proudly celebrated the graduation of four new Doctors of Behavioral Health (DBH) during the DBH commencement ceremony held on September 26, 2025, in Chandler, Arizona, on the ancestral homelands of the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) Peoples of the Gila River Indian Community, who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial. The event recognized a dynamic cohort of healthcare visionaries committed to transforming integrated behavioral health through bold leadership and advocacy.

Graduate Highlights:

Dr. Earl Lewis, DBH, LPC, Ed.S.

Dr. Earl Lewis is a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, and Arizona and a Doctor of Behavioral Health dedicated to helping men and families navigate life’s challenges through culturally responsive, integrated care. With academic training in psychology, clinical mental health counseling, and marriage and family therapy, Dr. Lewis focuses on the intersection of health literacy, chronic disease management, and men’s mental wellness. His culminating project, Effects of Community-Based Interventions to Improve Physical and Mental Health in Men, explores how community-based strategies can improve health literacy, increase engagement in preventive care, and promote positive physical and mental health outcomes among underserved men. Dr. Lewis’s work emphasizes empowering individuals through education, integrating behavioral health into community settings, and developing interventions that support long-term wellness.

Discover more about Dr. Lewis’s work and culminating project.

Dr. Don Miller, DBH, LPC, CMAC, CAMC, CGS, EMDR

Dr. Don Miller is a seasoned behavioral health professional with more than 20 years of experience providing individual, family, and group therapy, and the CEO & Founder of The E Effect, LLC. A certified John Maxwell Coach & Speaker and former National Training Associate for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Dr. Miller brings a deep commitment to community empowerment, youth development, and trauma-informed care. His culminating project, Environmental Impact on Autoimmune Disease and Anxiety in Black and Brown Communities, examines how systemic racial disparities, environmental exposure, social determinants of health, and limited access to care contribute to autoimmune disease and anxiety in historically marginalized populations. The project highlights the need for greater inclusion of Black and Brown individuals in clinical trials and research, increased representation in medical and mental health professions, and collaborative community partnerships to reduce disparities and improve outcomes.

Discover more about Dr. Miller’s work and culminating project.

Dr. Michelle Stroebel, DBH, MA, NCC, LCMHC, NADD-CC, CCM

Dr. Michelle Stroebel is a Doctor of Behavioral Health, licensed counselor, and certified case manager with more than 25 years of experience serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, neurodivergent populations, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. As the founder of Breathe Wellness Counseling PLLC and a regional manager in tailored care management with Partners Health Management, Dr. Stroebel is committed to advancing inclusive, trauma-informed, and person-centered care. Their culminating project, Building Competence in Care: The Role of Provider Education in Trauma-Informed Practices for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, led to the creation of Inspire Disruption, a training and consultation business designed to equip healthcare providers with the tools and confidence to deliver trauma-informed care to patients with IDD. This work addresses critical gaps in provider preparedness and promotes compassionate, effective care environments.

Discover more about Dr. Stroebel’s work and culminating project.

Dr. Jeremy Henderson-Teelucksingh, DBH, LPC-MHSP

Dr. Jeremy Henderson-Teelucksingh is a Doctor of Behavioral Health, licensed counselor, leadership and management coach, and human relations consultant who brings nearly two decades of experience in the technology industry alongside clinical mental health practice. Working with adults, couples, families, and the LGBTGEQIAP+ community, Dr. Henderson-Teelucksingh approaches care from a multicultural and social justice perspective, addressing concerns such as trauma, anxiety, OCD, anger, and relationship challenges. Dr. Henderson-Teelucksingh’s culminating project, Parent Abuse: The Best Hidden Family Secret, examined healthcare practitioners’ knowledge of and attitudes toward parent abuse, illuminating a largely unrecognized form of family violence and the need for increased awareness, education, and appropriate clinical response. This work supports the development of more informed, compassionate, and effective systems of care.

Discover more about Dr. Henderson-Teelucksingh’s work and culminating project.

“At CGI, each student chooses an area of focus that is largely influenced by their own lived experience as clinicians, but also as patients and caregivers themselves. The Doctor of Behavioral Health degree helps them prepare to lead healthcare improvement initiatives by partnering with people and communities. I am so proud of each of our new graduates and can’t wait to see them follow their visions as DBHs.”

The DBH program at CGI prepares healthcare professionals to lead transformative change in integrated behavioral healthcare delivery through advanced education, research, and collaboration. Graduates are equipped to address complex health challenges across medical, behavioral, and community systems.

For more about the DBH program, visit cgi.edu/dbh.

About Cummings Graduate Institute

Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies is a nonprofit, DEAC-accredited, online institution of higher learning offering post-graduate education and training in the field of integrated behavioral healthcare. CGI is focused on meeting the healthcare industry’s need for a highly-skilled workforce to support an integrated approach to addressing patients’ needs.

For further information or to arrange interviews, contact:

Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies
Melissa McGurgan, Sr. Director of Marketing
melissa@cgi.edu

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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