SHAC: Meet our Staff

Melissa Boston, PsyD

Associate Dean of Student Health and Counseling

Dr. Melissa Boston is a Clinical Psychologist who joined SHAC in 2015. She currently oversees the Student Health and Counseling Department.  She earned her PsyD from Minnesota School of Professional Psychology with a specialization in Child/Adolescent Psychology, and her Master’s in Psychology and Education from Teacher’s College at Columbia University.  Dr. Boston maintains a strong interest in public health and health psychology.  Dr. Boston is a graduate of Manhattanville College, and was a member of the Women’s Tennis team. 

Dr. Boston’s training was largely CBT and DBT focused, but she draws from several different theories and methodologies. She has specialized trauma training and experience working with adolescents who have experienced significant trauma. Her approach is flexible and individualized to meet the needs of the student. Dr. Boston strongly believe that developing a genuine, trusting relationship is the most important component of helping people make progress toward their goals.

Daniella DiClerico, FNP

SHAC Ass't Director and Family Nurse Practitioner

Daniella is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pace University and her Master of Science in Nursing from the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Daniella has been working as a Nurse Practitioner in a corporate setting in an occupational health office treating executives and employees. Prior to that, she worked at White Plains Hospital Center as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department. She provided care to adults and children ranging from critical care to simple first aid. After 20+ years in the Emergency Department, she switched gears and took on the role as Nursing Coordinator in a corporate setting. From there she earned her MS in Nursing and transitioned to working as a Nurse Practitioner. Daniella lives in Yorktown Heights with her husband Chris and her three grown children, Adam, Andrew, and Amanda. When not working, she enjoys her family and loves playing with her two miniature Dachshunds, Marty and Lorraine.

Elana Light, PsyD

SHAC Assistant Director, Health & Counseling

Dr. Elana Light is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been a member of the SHAC team since 2014. Prior to joining the Manhattanville community, she completed a post-doc at Pace University in college mental health with a focus on anxiety, depression, and stress-management. Before becoming a psychologist, she worked in public health research, but felt it lacked the emotional connections that being a therapist offered, so she returned to school to become a psychologist.  Dr. Light’s areas of interest include depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, and relationship issues. She provides a supportive and person-oriented approach to help students feel comfortable in therapy and collaborates with them to develop treatment goals. Dr. Light coordinates the clinical training program at SHAC. She strives to provide a comprehensive training experience to graduate students who are pursuing a career in counseling. Outside of work, she loves to travel, visit new places, and spend time with family.

Adele Dillane, RN

SHAC Staff Nurse

Adele Dillane graduated from the Leinhard School of Nursing at Pace University in 1982, and started her nursing career in Stamford, Conn. at St. Joseph’s Hospital on a medical/surgical floor. After moving back to New York, Dillane relocated to Northern Westchester Hospital and continued in medical/surgical. After becoming a mother of three, she changed areas of interest to pediatrics, where she remained for 18 years. Dillane came to Manhattanville in the fall of 2007. She learns something new from the students every day, and enjoys watching them grow from youthful freshmen into beautiful young adults.

Laura Achalal, RN

SHAC Staff Nurse

Laura is a Registered Nurse. She started her nursing career in 2015 after receiving her Registered Nurse license and Associates degree from Nassau community college. She then went on to get her bachelor’s degree via an online program at Southern New Hampshire university. She began her first job as nurse working with Cerebral Palsy patients in a home setting. She then went on to work in a hospital setting where she worked on a Detox floor. After a couple years as a psych nurse she moved to Outpatient adult medicine. When she not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, painting, and learning new things. Prior to becoming a nurse Laura worked as a hairdresser and was also an NYPD police officer.

Joanne Hwang, PsyD

SHAC Staff Psychologist

Dr. Joanne Hwang joined SHAC in 2017. She earned her Psy.D. from New York University and B.A. from Barnard College/Columbia University. Prior to joining SHAC, Dr. Hwang worked in varied clinical settings, including psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics and college counseling centers. Dr. Hwang strives to create a warm, non-judgmental and meaningful experience with the aim of helping students gain insight into their concerns, decrease stressful feelings, change maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior, and improve coping skills. Dr. Hwang’s clinical areas of interest include acculturation, relationships, adjustment to life transitions, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.  Dr. Hwang also serves as a supervisor in SHAC’s clinical training program.

Christine Podber, LMHC

Staff Psychotherapist

Christine is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She earned her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Bridgeport. She has been working as an Intern at Manhattanville providing individual and group therapy for the past three years. Prior to her internship, Christine worked for seven years as a career counselor in the Manhattanville Center for Career Development. Christine has experience with evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She works with individuals to help them take a mindful approach to life in order to help decrease stressful feelings, change dysfunctional patterns and improve coping skills. Christine’s additional training includes Suicide and Self Harm and Transgender and Gender Expansive Counseling Issues. When she is not working Christine enjoys spending time with her family and running races throughout the country. Christine is a member of the New York Road Runners Club and has run over 25 half marathons.

Joi Britt, LCSW

Staff Psychotherapist BIPOC Specialization

Joi Britt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker born & raised in the Bronx. She earned her BS in Human Services from St. John's University in 2006 & MSW from NYU in 2012. Joi has worked with children, adolescents and families for over a decade. Joi has spoken about mental health and the importance of mental health awareness and wellness on several panels and podcasts. Joi stepped out of her comfort zone and into her purpose and opened her private practice, Life Intentionally Psychotherapy Services LCSW PLLC, in November 2019. Her focus has been on working with mostly People of Color around areas of trauma, depression, anxiety relationships and race. Joi left her full time job as a Social Work Director in March 2020 to focus on her dreams and goals. Joi is very excited about being a part of the Manhattanville SHAC Team!

Shreya M. Nagula, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Nagula is a dually board-certified psychiatrist in both Adult Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. Her expertise lies with teens, college students, and adults that are dealing with anxiety (social anxiety, panic, OCD, generalized anxiety), depression, or significant life stressors or changes. Dr. Nagula’s primary goal is to strive for diagnostic accuracy, helping recognize and discern acute stressors and challenges from psychopathology. Whether virtually or in-person, she works with patients (and their families if warranted) to holistically address their concerns, and collectively develop effective interventions and treatment modalities.

There's no ‘one size fits all’ treatment because each individual is unique, so it's important to understand what specific type of therapy one can benefit from, or whether meds might be useful. Dr. Nagula is passionate about education, and about empowering individuals to learn & utilize skills to optimize their treatment benefit and maximize their potential.