American AcademY OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Chair 

Rita M. Rivera, M.S., CTP
Chair, AACP-Division of Graduate Students

Rita M. Rivera, M.S., CTP is a clinical psychology resident at Duke University and is pursuing a Psy.D. with a concentration in neuropsychology at Albizu University. She is a Certified Trauma Professional by the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP) and a Certified Crisis Worker by the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). Rita is the Chair of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology-Division of Graduate Students (AACP-DGS), Student Representative for the APA’s Society of Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy (Div. 49) and Past Chair of the Florida Psychological Association of Graduate Students (FPAGS). Rita is also Co-chair of several working groups of the APA’s Interdivisional COVID-19 Taskforce, including the Higher Education working group, and a member of the student committees of the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society and the National Latinx Psychological Association. She is a writer for APA’s Society of Counseling Psychology (Div. 17)-SCP Connect Team and her Psychology Today blog, “Physio & Psych.” Her areas of interest include fields that explore the relationship between physiology and mental health, particularly among minority and underserved populations. Rita has clinical experience working with Hispanic/Latinx, trauma, and high-risk populations both in the United States and in her home country, Honduras.

Vice Chair

David Benitez, M.S.
Vice-Chair, AACP-Division of Graduate Students

David Benitez, M.S. is a third-year Psy.D. student pursuing a clinical psychology doctorate with a concentration in neuropsychology at Albizu University-Miami Campus. At AU, he serves as President of the Neuropsychology Society, President of the Division of Clinical Psychopharmacology, and Institutional Academic Board Student Representative. He is the newly elected Student Representative for the APA’s Society of Prescribing Psychology (Div. 55), Vice-Chair of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology-Division of Graduate Students (AACP-DGS), and Past Chair of the Florida Psychological Association of Graduate Students (FPAGS). He also serves as a Student Representative for Albizu University’s Association of Neuropsychology Students and Trainees (ANST), sponsored by the APA’s Society of Clinical Neuropsychology (Div. 40), and is Co-chair of the Higher Education working group of the APA’s Interdivisional COVID-19 Taskforce. David has clinical experience working in outpatient and in-patient settings with a wide arrange of populations, including pediatrics, adults, and geriatrics. Among clinical presentations, he has worked predominantly with patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), dementia, and other neurocognitive disorders.

Secretary

Erica Ackerman, M.S.,
Secretary, AACP-Division of Graduate Students

Erica Ackerman, M.S. is a first-year Psy.D. student pursuing a clinical psychology doctorate while specializing in forensic psychology at Nova Southeastern University. She received her master’s in clinical psychology from Barry University where she served as the Vice President and subsequently President of the Graduate Association of Students in Psychology (GASP). Erica is the Secretary of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology-Division of Graduate Students (AACP-DGS). She has extensive experience presenting her forensically oriented research at various conferences and symposiums, some of which earning her awards in psychology and social science categories. Erica has experience constructing measures and hopes to continue to create assessment measures catered to the forensic population that will serve as a guide for evaluations for serious mental illness or competency issues in the jail/prison population. Other areas of interest include restoration processes, mitigation assistance, and jury consultation. Erica has clinical experience working in outpatient settings with adult populations. Her experience includes providing comprehensive neuropsychological assessments to patients with traumatic brain injuries and other neurocognitive disorders. She also has experience providing cognitive rehabilitation and various therapeutic services to individuals with diverse symptomatology.

Clinical Psychopharmacology Advocacy Chair (CPAC)

David Giard, M.A., M.S. 
CPAC, AACP-Division of Graduate Students

David Giard is a 4th year Doctoral Candidate pursuing his PsyD in Clinical Psychology at California Northstate University. He also earned his master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology (MSCP) from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. David’s clinical and research interests include integrated care, population health, and preventative interventions with a focus on underserved populations. His clinical experiences have focused on community health, comprehensive assessment, clinical research, and program development and implementation. He has spoken nationally and internationally on topics such as leveraging psychology in the treatment of chronic conditions, and the benefits of early psychopharmacology training contributing to improved treatment outcomes.

Inclusion & Diversity Officer (IDO)

Lysmary Cadavieco, M.S.
IDO, AACP-Division of Graduate Students

Lysmary Cadavieco, M.S. is a second year Psy.D. student pursuing a clinical psychology doctorate with a concentration in child psychology at Albizu University-Miami Campus. At AU, she serves as Secretary of the Neuropsychology Society, and is the Social Media Chair for the Forensic Club. Lysmary has clinical experience working with minorities and underserved populations in a community mental health center. Her area of interests includes administering psychological evaluations and neurodivergent disorders, such as ADHD and autism.