Jessica Cerniak
Jessica
Cerniak

Department Faculty
-
Roles:
-
Associate Professor
-
MAP
Campus:
- Online
- Department
- Master of Arts in Psychology
- Institution
-
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- Biography
-
Dr. Jessica Cerniak's training as a clinical psychologist led her to study and work in various parts of the country and, more recently, internationally. She first earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Communication Studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dr. Cerniak then relocated to California and earned a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, at Pepperdine University. As part of that program, her training focused on Narrative therapy and work with culturally diverse children, adolescents, and families in school settings. Dr. Cerniak then transferred to the University of Denver where she completed a master's and doctoral degree in clinical psychology with concentrations in psychological assessment and child and adolescent treatment. She returned to Chicago to complete her APA-accredited predoctoral internship training at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. More recently, Dr. Cerniak completed a certificate in Global Education for the 21st Century at the UN Mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica, as well as a certificate in Maternal Mental Health through PSI and 2020mom.org.
Dr. Cerniak is a licensed clinical psychologist whose experience includes providing individual, group, and family therapy in a wide range of settings, such as elementary, middle-school, high school and college counseling centers; private practice; community mental health centers; and various hospital units, including emergency rooms and inpatient and partial hospitalization programs. She first joined TCSPP in 2006. Initially working as the associate director and then director of training for the Clinical PsyD program in Chicago, Dr. Cerniak transitioned into a core faculty Associate Professor position in the MAP program in 2011. In addition to teaching and conducting research, she is active in her local community, co-chairing and representing health professionals as a voting member on a county board focused on maternal, child and adolescent health, and she volunteers at local schools. Dr. Cerniak also is an active member of the CPA/SVPA Grassroots Stakeholder Team, and she serves as a peer reviewer for the Online Learning Journal as well as for the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2).
- Education History
-
Degree Institution Psy.D. Clinical Psychology University of Denver, Denver, CO M.A. Clinical Psychology University of Denver, Denver, CO M.A. Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA B.A. Psychology & Communication Studies University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI - Professional Memberships
-
Role Organization Member American Psychological Association (APA) Member Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2) Registrant National Register of Health Service Psychologists Member California Psychological Association (CPA) Mentor Million Women Mentors - Licenses
-
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Illinois - Community Involvement
-
Role Organization Co-Chair, Health Professional Representative, and Voting Board Member County Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board Review Board Member, Peer and Ad Hoc Online Learning Journal (OLJ) CPA Grassroots Stakeholder Team Member California Psychological Association Volunteer Spanish immersion reading program Faculty Mentor Society for the Teaching of Psychology - APA Division 2 Former Peer Faculty Mentor National Center for Teaching and Learning, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Areas of Expertise
-
Area Expertise Child & Adolescent Development Adolescence Social Development Marriage & Family Family Therapy Psychology Subdisciplines - Clinical Psychology Therapeutic/Theoretical Orientation Constructivist/Narrative Theory Family Systems Theory - Presentations
-
Title Location Date Teaching lifespan psychology online American Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco, CA 8/2018 Students’ successful completion of graduate psychology programs. 30th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, Madison, WI 8/2014 The 21st century classroom: Using social media. Los Angeles County Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA 10/2013 Training to train: Learning the role and responsibilities of an academic director of training. National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP), San Juan, Puerto Rico 1/2011 Putting the puzzle together: The path to a successful internship match National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP), San Juan, Puerto Rico 1/2011 - Publications
-
Chapters Cerniak, J. (2018). Leveraging the features of learning management systems (LMSs) in psychology courses. In R. J. Harnish, K. R. Bridges, D. N. Sattler, M. L. Signorella, & M. Munson (Ed.) The use of technology in teaching and learning (pp. 128-141). Retrieved from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2) website https://teachpsych.org/ebooks/useoftech: .
Journals Newhouse, N., & Cerniak, J. (2016). Student success factors in graduate psychology programs. Online Learning Journal, 20 (1), 70-92.
- Professional Skills
-
life span psychology, online learning at the graduate level, social media in the classroom, clinical training, clinical psychology, introduction to diversity and psychology