YC3 Staff Bios
Corinne Coia, Director of Student Well-Being
Corinne Coia is the Director of Student Well-Being. Corinne provides oversight and leadership for the Good Life Center and the Yale College Community Care (YC³) program and provides a limited number of 1:1 wellness appointments with students. She loves working with students through a holistic lens to help support them through their unique life challenges. She has experience working with members of the LGBTQ+ community and has extensive experience working with topics such as stress management, relationships, sleep, body image and athlete specific issues. Prior to Yale, Corinne spent several years working clinically with eating disorders, anxiety and athlete issues before transitioning into the wellness and prevention area. Corinne earned her Master's in Social Work and Bachelor's in Kinesiology from the University of New Hampshire where she was a member and captain of the Women's Basketball team. Corinne currently resides in New Haven with her wife Elizabeth, their children, and their dog. Corinne enjoys hiking, baking break, home renovations and painting/photography.
Please be aware that Corinne has limited availability, please keep scrolling to see the rest of the team.
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Community Wellness Specialists
Brian Hamilton, Community Wellness Specialist
Brian Hamilton (b.hamilton@yale.edu) is a New England native who's passionate about helping individuals navigate the varying obstacles that life can bring. He utilizes a person-centered approach and views individuals as experts on their own lives. Brian's process is to team with you, identify which aspects of your life that you would like to improve, and help implement change. He values creating a warm, safe, and trusting environment for all individuals he meets with. Prior to Yale, Brian spent two years at Syracuse University providing individual support around varying concerns and developing trainings/workshops for the campus community. Brian has knowledge and experience working with relationships, communication skills, conflict management, LGBTQIA+ related concerns, alcohol and substance use, sleep hygiene, imposter syndrome, and managing stress/anxiety. Brian earned his Master's in Couples and Family Therapy from Plymouth State University. In his spare time, he enjoys playing/watching hockey, hiking, traveling, and spending time with his dogs, friends, and family.
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Ricky Belizaire, Wellness Programming, , Community Wellness Specialist
Ricky Belizaire (ricardo.belizaire@yale.edu) Committed to helping others be successful, Ricky centers his care around belief, inclusion, and empathy. He has experience working with students from many different backgrounds and communities, including first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ students, BIPOC students, and transfer students while recognizing the many intersections folks often occupy. Prior to Yale, Ricky spent two years at the University of Georgia working within the UGA Pride Center building out wellness programs and leading educational trainings that connected students to resources on campus and in the local community. Ricky has a breadth of knowledge and experience teaching about creating boundaries, time/stress management, self-care, communication skills, identity development/exploration, and transitional periods. Ricky earned his Master’s in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia and in his spare time enjoys cooking, dancing, and traveling.
In addition to being a CWS, Ricky Belizaire supports wellness programming. Ricky provides oversight and implementation for wellness related programs and support's YC³'s liaison campus partnerships.
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Whitney Simmons, Community Wellness Specialist
Whitney Simmons (whitney.simmons@yale.edu) is passionate about helping students access and utilize skills that support their unique wellness goals. Whitney considers diversity, equity, and inclusion when working with others and strives to help others establish supports and connections in their communities. Whitney has been in the helping field for seven years and has experience with: mentoring, in-home and outpatient therapy, and delivering mental health consultation services to: communities, children, families, and individuals. Whitney has great experience and knowledge regarding interpersonal relationships, communication skills, self-care, and planning/organization, roommate issues/concerns, and athletes. Whitney is a Licensed Professional Counselor born in raised in New Haven, CT. Whitney earned her Master’s of Art Clinical Practices degree from the University of Hartford. Whitney is a Harry Potter fan, loves cooking, and enjoys listening to podcasts.
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Angie Makomenaw, Health Promotion & Marketing, Community Wellness Specialist
Angie Makomenaw (angelyn.makomenaw@yale.edu) has spent 16+ years supporting and advocating for mental health clinical teams within university settings (Wesleyan University, University of Northern Colorado, and University of Utah) and her own tribal community, Saginaw Chippewa. She is also a peer grant reviewer for the Department of Justice specifically working on grants supporting human trafficking organizations and tribal communities. Angie enjoys supporting, guiding, and learning from students the best ways to integrate well-being practices. She identifies as indigenous (Ojibwe/Apache) and loves to blend the medicine and wellness wheels together. Angie has a wealth of experience teaching about healthy relationships, communication skills, sleep dynamics, self-care, supporting others, creating boundaries, motivation, imposter syndrome, mindfulness, alcohol and substance use, and is a QPR trainer. In her free time, Angie enjoys watching high levels of television with her family and enjoying the views of the beautiful outdoors from the comfort of the indoors. She lives with her partner (Matthew) and children (Odeno & Ishkode Nimkee). Not to be forgotten, she also lives with their cats, Jasper and Aanii, who keeps them all in line with their condescending stares.
In addition to being a CWS, Angie oversees the creation and production of wellness focused educational and outreach materials. Additionally, she collaborates with the Good Life Center to implement campus-wide wellness initiatives.
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College Care Clinicians
JT Timms, LCSW
JT Timms, LCSW (jt.timms@yale.edu) completed a Technical Intern Certificate from Yale School of Drama, an MFA in Theatre Sound Design from Boston University, and an MSW from Boston College. Prior to coming to Yale, they worked in the counseling center at Berklee College of Music. They take a collaborative non-judgmental approach to approach to therapy utilizing a Narrative therapy lens. They believe that individuals should be defined by their interests, hopes, dreams, and values, not by the problems they struggle with. They have experience supporting students in a variety of areas including working with the LGBTQIA+ community, navigating burnout, anxiety and depression, identity development, life transitions, supporting students in the arts, and spirituality.
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Kim Nguyen, Psy.D.
Kim Nguyen, Psy.D. (kim-tuyen.nguyen@yale.edu) brings extensive experience supporting students through a wide range of challenges, including academic stress, navigating social connections, exploring gender and sexuality, and understanding cultural and racial identities. She also provides psychoeducation around alcohol and substance use, as well as support related to grief and loss.
She has worked closely with international students, first-generation college students in the U.S., and individuals impacted by sociocultural and political stressors.
In her clinical work, Dr. Nguyen collaborates with students to create a warm, compassionate, and transparent space where they can thoughtfully explore their experiences. Her therapeutic approach integrates mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and a focus on insight and relational dynamics to support meaningful growth and healing.
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Clara Mesa, LCSW
Clara Mesa (clara.mesa@yale.edu) is a Colombian-American, bilingual Clinical Social Worker, who completed both her Bachelor’s degree and MSW from Boston College. As a first-generation college student, Clara is passionate about empowering students to navigate their college experience while prioritizing their mental health. She employs culturally sensitive and affirming therapeutic interventions in a range of specialties from trauma, anxiety and depression, to acculturation issues and identity exploration. Clara developed her therapy practice over the last 10 years with children, adolescents, and families in community mental health settings. For each student, Clara fosters a safe and inclusive environment in order to help each individual embrace their strengths, navigate challenges, and achieve their fullest potential. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and trying any lemon-flavored foods.
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Lauren Moss-Racusin, Ph.D.
Dr. Moss-Racusin (lauren.moss-racusin@yale.edu) completed a Bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Language and Literatures from Boston University, followed by a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut, a clinical internship at the counseling center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the counseling center at Temple University. She is passionate about contributing to the linguistic and cultural inclusivity of the mental health field, and about using psychotherapy as a platform through which to advance social justice. As a clinician, she helps individuals to understand themselves and their relationships, to learn adaptive ways to engage with their thoughts and feelings, and to make healthful changes.
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Nicole Cepeda, DSW, LCSW, Clinical Programming
Dr. Nicole Cepeda (nicole.cepeda@yale.edu) is a bi-cultural/bilingual Clinical Social Worker and native New Yorker. Nicole is dedicated to providing a safe, non-judgmental, therapeutic space for all individuals. Nicole’s background is in therapy with children, adolescents, and young adults. Her clinical approach is focused on a range of topics including intergenerational trauma, familial, peer, and romantic relationships, identity and cultural development, first-generation specific experiences, and life transitions. Nicole’s sessions are student-centered, culturally-informed, and appreciative of the vulnerability and courage present in the room. Nicole enjoys starting her day with a cup of Bustelo and in her free time enjoys traveling.
In addition to being a CCC, Dr. Nicole Cepeda supports Clinical Programming. She provides oversight and implementation for clinical related programming. She works closely with YMHC in the development of group therapy offerings and supports YC³’s liaison campus partnerships.
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