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Meet our Counseling Center Staff
Interim Director & Staff Psychologist
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Dr. Burkhart is our Interim Director for Clinical Operations and Staff Psychologist and has been a part of the staff at the Counseling Center since 2016. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 1995 from Kent State University, and she is a licensed psychologist in the state of Colorado.
Dr. Burkhart has worked at several university Counseling Centers, including Minnesota State University-Mankato (formerly Mankato State University), Baldwin-Wallace College, and Iowa State University. She was the director of a LGBTQI+ Center in Minnesota. She was in private practice for twelve years, and her agency primarily served a diverse, low-income population. Throughout her career she has sought out opportunities to work on issues of diversity, inclusion and equity.
Dr. Burkhart works with clients from multiple perspectives including cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal process, and psychodynamic. She is a generalist therapist who works with most issues, including depression and anxiety. Specialization areas include LGBTQI+ issues, supervision, diversity issues, women’s issues and interpersonal violence/trauma.
Staff Psychologist
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Dr. Malmon (he/him/his) is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Colorado and joined the MSU Denver Counseling Center in 2012. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles, in 1990, and has spent his entire post-license career in college and university mental health work. Prior to coming to MSU, he worked as Assistant Director of Counseling at Occidental College in Los Angeles, and as Coordinator of Counseling at the College of Wooster in Ohio. He also has served as advisor and chair for psychologist continuing education for the American College Health Association since 2004.
Dr. Malmon works from a relational, strength-based, approach to therapy, which includes aspects of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and positive psychologies. He is a generalist therapist who is comfortable working with all issues relevant to the university community, but has particular areas of interest/specialization that include depression, anxiety, group therapy, dream interpretation, and ethical non-monogamy. He is known as the extravert on the staff, and very much enjoys getting out on campus to do all manner of outreach programming.
Staff Psychologist
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Dr. Sia (he/him/his) is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Colorado and joined the Counseling Center in 2023. He earned his Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2010 and has worked in several university Counseling Centers, including those at UCSB, Northwestern University, and most recently, the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he served as a Staff Psychologist and Assistant Director of Paraprofessional Training.
Dr. Sia works from a collaborative, strength-based, and integrative approach to therapy, which is grounded in existential and humanistic tenets, and informed by a lens of multiculturalism and social justice. He aims to co-construct a warm, non-judgmental, authentic, and affirming space to empower clients’ efforts to grow and seek support. He is a generalist therapist who works with a variety of issues relevant to the university community and specializes in career and vocational development, family and relationship concerns, APIDA mental health, men’s issues, addiction treatment, and supervision.
Staff Psychologist
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Dr. Birrueta (she/her/ella) is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Colorado. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oregon with a Spanish Language Psychological Services and Research Specialization. She completed her predoctoral internship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine with rotations in primary care psychology, trauma-focused community mental health, and pediatric neuropsychological evaluations. Dr. Birrueta’s clinical interests include life transitions, immigrant experiences, cultural/racial identity development, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and first-generation college student experiences.
Dr. Birrueta offers bilingual services in English and Spanish. She practices from an interpersonal process orientation and her therapeutic approach is informed by an intersectional feminist and ecological lens. As a social justice advocate, it is important to Dr. Birrueta to acknowledge and understand systemic impacts on mental health. Dr. Birrueta believes that each individual brings something unique to the therapeutic space, strengths of which she hopes to encourage in her work as a psychologist.
Staff Psychologist
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Dr. Boyum received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1994 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Colorado. She has worked part-time with the MSU Denver Counseling Center since 2020, and full-time since January 2023.
Dr. Boyum was a pediatric staff psychologist at National Jewish Health, and instructor and assistant professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, from 1992 – 2003. She was an adjunct instructor at the University of Denver from 2015– 2019, teaching graduate courses in Lifespan Development. She had a full-time private practice from 2003-2023.
Dr. Boyum has worked with children, adolescents and adults with a variety of clinical needs including mood disorders (depression, bipolar), anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic, OCD, phobias), PTSD, acute and chronic medical conditions, Asperger’s Disorder, grief and loss, developmental disabilities and young- adult transitions. She is also interested in the areas of artistic performance and expression, developing and maintaining adult friendships, spirituality, family influences, stress management and self-compassion.
Dr. Boyum follows a relationship-based approach to psychotherapy, with interventions built on evidence-supported techniques. Her approach is supported by foundational work in lifespan developmental psychology.
Advanced Doctoral Practicum Student
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Jasmine (she/her/hers) is an advanced doctoral practicum student. She is beginning her 4th year in the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Northern Colorado. Prior to beginning graduate school, Jasmine gained professional experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults with autism and developmental disabilities. She also worked at an Acute Treatment Unit where she had the opportunity and privilege of assisting adults in recovering from mental health crises; during this experience she worked with clients with a variety of mental health diagnoses.
Jasmine approaches her work in therapy primarily through an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy perspective; however, incorporates a feminist lens that considers the role of client’s unique intersecting identities and how clients often find healing through empowerment and validation of their experiences. Additionally, she incorporates attachment-based perspectives into her work as well as she deeply believes in the healing role of relationships and community both inside and outside of the counseling room. Jasmine enjoys collaboratively working with clients to help them connect with the values they find most meaningful in their lives as they work toward their goals. She is supervised by Dr. Michael Malmon, Staff Psychologist.
Office Manager
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Tamaura Waller works in the capacity of Counseling Center Office Manager. Her duties include appointment scheduling, greeting clientele, responding to phone and email requests and budgetary tasks. Additionally, she provides administrative support to the Counseling Center Staff.
Prior to joining MSU Denver Tamaura worked for over 20 plus years with progressive Fortune 500 companies and State/City Government Agencies, where she held positions of Pre-Admissions/Resident Review (PASRR) Program Specialist, Executive Assistant, Office Coordinator, Court Specialist, HR Administrative Specialist, and Project Coordinator in Health Care, State/City Government, Finance, Wealth Management, and Telecommunications.
Tamaura is well versed in C Level administrative support and software applications. She has excellent verbal and written communication skills; proven talent in planning, organizing, administering, and managing multiple projects efficiently with attention to detail. She is self-motivated and comfortable working in an extremely fast-paced environment. She demonstrates quality judgment and problem-solving talent.
Associate Director, Outreach & Training, & Staff Psychologist
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Dr. Gornell is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Colorado and is also Board Certified in Clinical Psychology. He has been at the MSU Denver Counseling Center since 2012. Dr. Gornell has worked with children, adolescents and adults who present with a variety of concerns. His professional experience includes working in community mental health and at a hospital-based counseling center. He has also taught as an adjunct instructor for doctoral programs in Illinois and Colorado. His areas of interest include mindfulness-based approaches to therapy, depression, anxiety, trauma and spirituality and therapy.
Staff Psychotherapist
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Dr. Tuakoi earned her Psychological Doctorate (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from the University of the Rockies (UoR) in Colorado Springs. UoR was formerly known as the Colorado School of Professional Psychology. She completed her internship at the Sol Vista Youth Correctional Facility and worked at the Colorado State Penitentiary and Denver Women’s Correctional Facility shortly thereafter. Dr. Tuakoi worked with the mentally ill incarcerated population at aforementioned facilities. She then worked with the mentally ill population at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo; she worked primarily with the population found Incompetent to Proceed per criminal charges incurred. More recently, she worked with the Intellectually and Developmentally Delayed population at the Pueblo Regional Center. She is being supervised by Dr. Jeanne Burkhart, Staff Psychologist.
Staff Psychologist
Position Role:
Full-Time Staff
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Dr. Gonzalez (she/her/ella) earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Indiana University Bloomington. She completed her doctoral psychology internship at Colorado State University and her post-doctoral residency at the University of Denver Health & Counseling Center. She also served as Assistant Director of the Center of Human Growth at Indiana University Bloomington, where she supervised counselors-in-training and supported students experiencing crises. Throughout the course of her training, Dr. Gonzalez was a part of a Spanish-speaking team of counselors who provided community workshops, outreach, and individual services to Latinx/e/@-identified students and community members. As a member of this team, she especially valued her role in working with undocumented Spanish-speaking adults with alcohol use concerns.
As a bilingual Latina Psychologist and child of immigrants, Dr. Gonzalez views counseling and daily life through an intersectional feminist and multicultural lens. She also integrates other perspectives into her counseling approach, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and an Interpersonal Processing Approach. She enjoys working with folx on concerns related to identity exploration, alcohol use, intergenerational trauma, oppression and resistance, and adjustment difficulties. She especially loves working with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students, Spanish/Spanglish-speakers, undocumented and DACA students, international students, first-generation students, children of immigrants, members of the LGBTQIA community, and members of fandom communities (e.g. Harry Potter, anime, K-pop, book series, etc.). She values getting to know her clients’ salient identities, passions, hobbies, and background to be able to integrate them into their counseling experience.
Advanced Doctoral Practicum Student
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Lauren (she/her) is currently working towards her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver. She previously graduated with her M.A. in clinical psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University and with her B.A. in Clinical Psychology from Bucknell University. Lauren has worked in various clinical settings including community mental health, private group practices, non-profit organizations, and centers specializing in psychoeducational and disability assessments.
Lauren’s current clinical interests include grief and loss, trauma, anxiety and depression, group therapy, neurodivergence, and LGBTQ+ related issues. She works from a relationally-focused integrative orientation, which is rooted in psychodynamic theory and evidence-based, cognitive behavioral interventions. Lauren’s work is informed by an intersectional feminist lens that captures not only individualistic, but also systemic factors connected to mental health and wellness. Lauren believes that everyone’s needs are unique, and that it is important to build on a strong foundation of trust and compassion. She is supervised by Dr. Lisa Boyum, Staff Psychologist.
Advanced Doctoral Practicum Student
Office Location:
Tivoli 651
Bio: Cynthia “Cindy” Villanueva (she/her) is a 5th year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the University of Colorado Boulder. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Before pursuing a graduate degree, she worked for several years as a research assistant and coordinator in various settings including the San Francisco VA Medical Center and academic research labs, examining links between emotion regulation processes and risk for mental health difficulties. She is passionate about improving mental health equity in research and treatment, including expanding access to care for marginalized groups and rural communities, such as among her hometown of migrant farmworkers.
Clinically, she emphasizes a person-centered and collaborative approach that incorporates sociocultural context to help clients pursue a values-guided, meaningful life. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drawing, live music, iced coffee dates, and spending time with her family. Cindy is supervised by Dr. Andrew Sia, Staff Psychologist.