2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Traci Bitondo received her Master of Arts degree in Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy from Caldwell University and her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of the Cumberlands. She received the 2019 Edward Stroh LPC award from the New Jersey Counseling Association, the 2022 Nancy Schoebel Legislative Service Award from AATA and was part of a research team that won the 2022 AATA Rawley Silver Research Award. She has been on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey since 2017 and has previously held the role of Programming cochair and Government Affairs Chair. Traci has presented at conferences locally and nationally on topics of group counseling, treatment of trauma, art therapy with individuals with vision loss, and insurance billing and practice building for mental health clinicians. Currently, Traci owns and operates a counseling and art therapy private practice where she treats clients, provides supervision to counseling and art therapy students and new professionals, and consults professionals on practice building. She is also an Adjunct at Caldwell University and Cedar Crest College. She has past work experience with adults in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, as an art therapist with adults with vision loss, with children and families in crisis as an in-home counselor, and as a psychotherapist in an outpatient counseling center.

Deborah  is a Board Certified Art Therapist and Certified Child Life Specialist. Deb received her Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Binghamton in studio art with a concentration in psychology and holds master’s degrees from Hofstra University in Art Therapy and from Touro College in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. Deb has been an administrator and clinician for the past 15 years and is the Coordinator of Creative Arts Therapies in the Healing Arts Program at Atlantic Health System. She has a private art therapy practice in NJ.

Brian Tepper is a Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist and Supervisor, New York Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, and Certified Arts Specialist in the state of New Jersey. He is currently working in the Jersey City Public School System. He holds credentials as a Disaster Relief Crisis Counselor of NJ, Serves on AATA’s conference committee, and is a certified USSA ski race coach. Brian has served as a faculty supervisor in the School of Visual Arts Graduate Art Therapy Program in NYC for 5 years. In addition, he is a practicing artist, sculpting limestone, marble, clay, bronze, cement, and wood in addition to painting in oils. He has exhibited his art in several venues throughout New York City, Colorado, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. He participated in an International Sculpture symposium in Geochang, South Korea as well as presenting numerous workshops to various professionals at New York University, Art Educators of NJ, NJATA at Caldwell College, DVATA, The Jersey City Public School System, School of Visual Arts, Arkansas Board of Education and The American Art Therapy Association.

Aline is a board certified art therapist, who completed her undergraduate degree at Pace University in 2016, with a double major in psychology and art, before receiving her Masters degree from the School of Visual Arts in Art Therapy. She completed her first year internship at Baranabas Behavior Health in Toms River, NJ, and her second year internship at the PALS program at Women Aware, the Middlesex County Domestic Violence Agency. After graduating in 2018, Aline transitioned into a full time creative arts therapist at Women Aware, where she currently practices. Aline has been a part of the NJATA board since 2017, previously holding the Student Liaison and Governmental Affairs Chairperson positions.

.

Meghan McQuaide is a registered and board certified art therapist; she graduated from CW Post, LIU with a masters in Art Therapy in 2004.  She has worked as an art therapist with children with autism, a creative rehabilitative therapist on an adult inpatient mental health care unit, recreation therapist and lead clinician in an adult partial hospitalization program.  Currently Meghan is working as Therapist of Art with adults in the state psychiatric hospital.  Meghan is excited to be working as part of the board to promote art therapy and organize programming for our therapist to continue to improve their skills, give back to the community and educate the public about the benefits of our therapy.

The New Jersey Art Therapy Association is currently looking for a Programing Co-Chair. For those interested in getting involved with the board, contact Board President Traci Bitondo for more information. 

N/A

N/A

 N/A

The New Jersey Art Therapy Association is currently looking for a Nominations Chairperson. For those interested in getting involved with the board, contact Board President Traci Bitondo for more information. 

​

N/A