People

Rob White, LCPC
Director, Behavioral Health

Mr. White manages the Employee Assistance Programs and Behavioral Health contracts for the University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry. He is board certified in addiction counseling and employee assistance and is licensed as a professional counselor.

410-328-8549 | rwhite@psych.umaryland.edu

Joanna Franklin, MS, NCGC II
Program Director

Joanna Franklin received her BS and MS degrees from Johns Hopkins University. She is the past president of the Maryland Council on Problem Gambling and has been treating gamblers and their families since 1979.

She has designed and delivered clinical training programs in 45 states, 10 Canadian provinces, among 31 tribes and in 9 other countries. She has consulted and trained for the FBI, CIA, Pentagon, the Navy, and the Army. She designed and implemented responsible gaming training for state lotteries, race tracks and casinos internationally. She has authored two book chapters for Harvard publications on family therapy and teen gambling, and published journal articles on problem gambling treatment.

Carl E. Robertson, M.R.E., M.Div.
Prevention Program Manager

Carl Robertson completed his graduate studies at St. Alphonsus College in New York. He has spent the last five years working in the problem gambling prevention field with an emphasis on youth problem gambling prevention. He has presented several times at the National Council on Problem Gambling Annual Conference on topics such as Youth Prevention Programs, and Spirituality in Gambling Treatment. Mr. Robertson also conducts responsible gaming training for the gaming industry through the Customer Assistance Program (CAP program). Mr. Robertson conducts trainings for student assistance, prevention specialists and mental health and addiction professionals. He also provides trainings on the family and financial aspects of problem gambling to behavioral health care providers.

Mr. Robertson has worked for over twenty years in senior management, corporate training and human resources both in for-profit and non-profit settings. Mr. Robertson is bilingual (English/Spanish) and has taught conversational Spanish within the Pennsylvania State University system. He has experience in conducting CISD interventions, cultural diversity, and effective communication and leadership programs.

Evonne Nelson-Gershon, MSW-LG
Program Coordinator

Ms. Nelson-Gershon has a masters degree in social work and a bachelors degree in Health Education/Public Health. She has over 17 years of experience in the health and mental health industry. She has worked extensively with adolescents and their families. She is a certified wellness and work/life balance coach and provides training in both mental health and wellness fields. Using art therapy and visualization techniques, Ms. Nelson-Gershon maintains a holistic approach in her counseling and training sessions.

410-328-4707 | egershon@psych.umaryland.edu

Donna Gaspar
Program Administrator

Donna Gaspar has extensive experience in executive support, corporate communications, marketing and corporate event planning. As program administrator, Ms. Gaspar assists the Center on Problem Gambling team in facilitating key deliverables designated by the state of Maryland, including managing training and educational events; maintenance of the Center’s library resources; tracking and producing statistical reports; and providing general administration support.

410-328-4710 | dgaspar@psych.umaryland.edu

Christopher Welsh, M.D.
Psychiatrist

Dr. Welsh’s main area of clinical work is in the areas of addiction and dual diagnosis. He works in various in- and out-patient settings, including methadone and buprenorphine maintenance. He also has an interest in the medical complications of addiction and is the medical director of the UMMC Substance Abuse Consultation Service, which is responsible for substance abuse assessment and intervention with patients throughout the University of Maryland Medical Center. He has also worked with the Baltimore City Department of Health on the needle-exchange and opioid overdose prevention projects.

Deborah G. Haskins, Ph.D., LCPC, NCGC II
President, Maryland Council on Problem Gambling; Board of Directors, International Gambling Counselor Certification Board; Assistant Professor/Director of Counseling Programs in the School of Education at Trinity Washington University.

Dr. Haskins has served as Chair of Credentials Committee, Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. She now provides clinical and consulting services nationally and internationally on diversity, multicultural, gambling addiction recovery and mental health topics. She is a Nationally Certified Gambling Counselor II and Board Approved Clinical Consultant.

Bill Borchardt, LCSW-C
Counselor

Bill has twenty years of experience working in the addictions and dual diagnosis fields. A University of Maryland graduate, Bill had worked in shots term, long term addiction treatment centers and inpatient dual diagnosis programs. Senior Counselor of a community outreach project with chronically mentally ill clients and government benefits presumptive eligibility. He is a past board member of Maryland Addictions Counselor Certification Board and was recently elected Vice President of Winner’s Federation. The Winner’s Federation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to the health and safety of all workers at racetracks and other racing-related facilities. It is a working group of addiction/mental health professionals and Chaplains working with horsemen across the country. He has a long history of working with gamblers.

Wanda Binns, LCSW-C
Counselor

Ms. Binns is a licensed clinical social worker with 28 years of counseling experience. Ms. Binns has extensive experience supporting clients with issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship, addiction & stress. Ms. Binns provides trainings and consultation on issues that impact employees and managers within the workplace. Ms. Binns is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors for anyone seeking Christian counseling.

410-328-5861 | wbinns@psych.umaryland.edu

Peggy Burns, LCADC
Counselor

Mrs. Burns is a board certified and licensed addiction specialist. She has 24 years experience as counselor and has been with the Employee Assistance Program since 1997. Ms Burns also has extensive experience assisting clients with issues pertaining to communication, grief, anger management and relationship issues. Peggy also has expertise in assisting clients with recovery planning and ongoing issues.

410-328-0409 | pburns@psych.umaryland.edu

Cheryl Confer, MS, CEAP
Counselor

Ms. Confer is a professional counselor and Certified Employee Assistance Professional with over 15 years experience in EAP counseling and management. She has extensive experience in addictions, grief, stress management, work/life balance and personal growth.

410-328-1131 | cconfer@psych.umaryland.edu

Jan Buxton, LCPC, CEAP
Counselor

Jan Buxton is a Board and Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Employee Assistance Professional. She has 22 years of experience in the EAP field and private practice. Ms. Buxton has extensive experience helping clients with mood disorders, anxiety, addictions, grief, domestic violence, parenting issues and workplace problems. In addition to counseling, she provides trainings, and response to critical incidents in the workplace. Prior to her EAP career, Jan had a first career in human resources.

410-328-6659 | jbuxton@psych.umaryland.edu

Maureen McCarren, LCSW-C
Counselor

Ms. Maureen McCarren has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 30 years. Much of her expertise is using conventional talk therapy to help people cope with stress, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other similar issues. Over the last 10 years, Ms. McCarren has branched out and is now incorporating alternative holistic therapies such as neurofeedback, meditation, breath work, etc., with clients who want to explore alternative treatment. Neurofeedback helps people regulate their brainwave patterns to reach peak performance levels. Thus, they are able to relax, sleep better, concentrate better, and are more motivated and creative.

410-328-0412 | mmccarre@psych.umaryland.edu

Bridget Mixon, LGSW
Counselor

Ms. Mixon holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, specializing in Clinical Mental Health and Employee Assistance Programs, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has experience working with adults from diverse backgrounds and their family members. Ms. Mixon takes a collaborative approach with her clients utilizing their strengths to achieve balance in their lives with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, relationship and interpersonal problems, and workplace issues. She has knowledge of addictions and compulsive disorders, such as problem gambling. Ms. Mixon focuses on mindfulness and acceptance in her clinical practice.

410-328-4642 | bmixon@psych.umaryland.edu

Amy Johnson, AA
Administrative Assistant

Amy has been a part of the University System for 19 years and has been the Administrative Assistant for the EAP for the past 17 years. She is primarily responsible for scheduling new appointments, processing behavioral health claims and general administrative duties.

ajohnson@psych.umaryland.edu