Committee Chairs and Regional Representatives
Michael Axelrod, Ph.D., L.P., NCSP Professional Standards and Practice Chair (715) 836-5020 |
I am presently the Director of the Human Development Center and a Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. I earned my Ph.D. in School Psychology from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and have formal clinical training through Father Flanagan’s Girls and Boys Town and Creighton University School of Medicine, both in Omaha, NE. Prior to coming to UWEC in 2008, I held clinical, research, training, and administrative positions at Father Flanagan’s Girls and Boys Town and the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, ME.
My professional interests include helping adults solve problems common to children and adolescents. I’m also interested in promoting the practice of evidence-based school psychology and dispelling myths commonly ascribed to child and adolescent psychology. I’ve written two books (Behavior Analysis for School Psychologists and Great Myths of Adolescence) and have published numerous papers in the fields of clinical and school psychology. I see school psychology as the spearhead for educational reform and believe school psychologists are in positions to provide real assistance to students and their families. My involvement with WSPA has been as a presenter at conferences and now as the Ethics and Professional Standards Chair.
When I’m not being a psychologist, I am a husband (my wife, Angela, is also a school psychologist), father (I have two sons, neither of whom are interested in psychology), and baseball coach (admittedly, I have a lifetime losing record). I enjoy traveling with my family and teaching my dog, Ma-bel – a spirited Welsh Terrier, new skills.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I've been working in the River Falls School District since I first began as a school psychologist in the 2013-14 school year. I enjoy collaborating with other to create Equitable Multi-level System of Supports for secondary students. Additionally, I'm passionate about increasing advocacy for members of the LGBTQ community. I co-faciliate the GSA at the middle school and previously facilitated a Transgender Advocacy Group at the high school level. I'm in the process of combining my love of dogs and helping others by raising a golden retriever to become a therapy dog at the middle school. My husband, dogs, and I love to take road trips whether it's to our home state of Pennsylvania or to a national park. We're always up for a fun adventure all together! I became the Northwest Regional Representative in 2020 so I'm looking forward to building more relationships with school psychologists through my involvement with WSPA!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is Leah Braunschweig and I began serving as a representative for the Coulee Region Area Psychologists in the Schools (CRAPS) in the spring of 2018. I am a graduate of the UW-La Crosse school psychology program and am currently a school psychologist for the School District of La Crosse, having completed my internship year in 2015-16. Professionally, I am passionate about equity, school climate, trauma informed care, and transition planning. I am from Pewaukee, Wisconsin and my personal hobbies/interests include enjoying the outdoors (i.e., kayaking, boating, biking, hiking, etc.) and traveling, especially back to Pewaukee to spend time with my family and friends. I am excited to be a part of WSPA and to help bring more information back to the Coulee Region!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amy Cole Vacationland Regional Representative Children's Services Committee Chair |
I have been involved with WSPA since I became a school psychologist in 2000. My school psychologist training included the importance of being a member and staying involved in your professional state organization. What I enjoy most about being a school psychologist is working directly with the students and seeing their positive growth. I had worked for Poynette School District from 2000-2011 as the district school psychologist. I currently work for the Portage Community School District since 2001 as the middle and high school psychologist. I enjoy problem solving at the building, district and state levels.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is Caitlin Cox. I joined the WSPA Board in 2017 as the Gateway Representative and ISPA Co-Chair. I worked in Racine Unified School District as a school psychologist from 2015-2018. I am continuing my work as a school psychologist in the private sector while I finish my doctorate. My current interests include intercultural competence, trauma, behavioral interventions, and animal-assisted therapy. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my pup, family, and friends. I look forward to more collaboration and networking with school psychologists in the Gateway region, the states, and internationally.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________