Meet Our 2024 Student Board

President: Lizee Love

Elizabeth "Lizee" Love finishes her master's in Marriage & Family Therapy at Texas Woman's University in May 2024. In the fall, she will start a Ph.D. in Human Development with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech. Lizee has interned at UT Southwestern, providing therapy to individuals, couples, and ALS patients and their families. Her interests include couple and sex therapy, medical family therapy, and intersecting minority identities. Lizee serves in local and state leadership roles for MFT and hopes to contribute to the growing research and advocacy for marginalized communities.

President-Elect: JoAngeli Kasper

JoAngeli is currently immersed in her Ph.D. studies in Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas Wesleyan University. With over 20 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Texas, she brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her academic pursuits. Beyond her professional commitments, JoAngeli is deeply involved in advocacy work as the Chair of Grayson County Pride, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering the LGBTQ+ community.

In her research, JoAngeli explores topics that resonate with her deeply, such as the experiences of the LGBTQIA community, the unique challenges faced by first-generation Mexican Americans, and the potential for innovative research using solution-focused narrative therapy.

Having been a student member of TAMFT for the past two years, JoAngeli now seeks to extend her contributions by joining the Board of TSAMFT. Her primary goals include raising awareness among students about the numerous benefits offered by both TAMFT and TSAMFT. Additionally, she is eager to lend her support to the existing board, drawing upon her diverse background to enhance the organization's initiatives.

Secretary: Emily Saldivar

Emily Saldivar is a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy student at Our Lady of the Lake University - Houston. She graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of Houston - Downtown. She currently volunteers at the Bisexual Resource Center, as well as co-facilitates a bisexual support group once a month. Her clinical and research interests lie in the Latino/x/e community and the LGBTQIA+ community. She enjoys listening to music and watching '80s horror movies in her free time.

Treasurer: Justin Rivas

Born and raised in Texas, Justin Rivas is presently studying to become an LMFT at Lamar University. His background includes a BA in Psychology from Texas Tech University, the organizational acumen from serving as a nuclear reactor operator in the Navy, and from presiding on the board of directors for Literacy Lubbock. Justin will begin working his practicum with Dr. White and Associates in August 2024. His idiosyncratic perspective borrows from several others, including Cognitive Behavioral, Somatic, and Exposure Therapies. Basketball, board games, Dungeons & Dragons, and deep talks with close friends eat up most of his free time.

Social Media Manager: Rae Morris

Rae is a student in the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program at National University and is a recent Cum Laude graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor's in English while minoring in Addiction and Recovery Sciences. Rae is new to both the Master’s program and TAMFT and is currently part of the AAMFT interest group QTAN (Queer and Trans Advocacy Network) community outreach team. Rae is passionate about helping youth in the LGBTQIA+ population and hopes to put that passion to use in future research and clinical work. They reside in the DFW area with their partner, dogs, and cats while working as an Epic Technology Specialist for a nonprofit hospital system.

Social Justice & Ethics Chair: Caleb Carroll

Caleb is a Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling student in the Master of Counseling program at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He has worked at UMHB’s training facility on campus this past semester, assisting fellow counseling students in their training and offering a warm welcome to the clients they help. He has been a student member of TAMFT for the past year and is thrilled to explore what it means to be part of this wonderful network and to bring valuable contributions to the table. He aspires to be a helper who offers connection and acceptance through a calming and friendly presence, working specifically with couples and their children. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their dogs, reading a good book, watching a game of basketball, and playing board games with friends.

Outreach Coordinator: Cheryl Nichols

Cheryl Nichols is a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy student at Texas Wesleyan University. She has been a student member of TAMFT for two years and anticipates serving on the TSAMFT board to inspire more student engagement. Cheryl currently works at the Texas Wesleyan Community Counseling Center, providing both in-person and virtual therapy sessions to individuals, couples, and families. She finds fulfillment in working with adolescents and their families, as well as supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community. Cheryl serves as the president of the Texas Wesleyan chapter of Delta Kappa, the International MFT Honor Society, a chapter she initiated in 2022. She also organized and hosted the university-wide “Be Well: Mental Health Dinner” for Texas Wesleyan undergraduates in the fall of 2022 and 2023, focusing on student mental health and suicide awareness. Additionally, Cheryl is a chapter co-author in the recently published text Marriage and Family Therapy: A Practice-Oriented Approach - 3rd Edition, by Dr. Linda Metcalf. Cheryl enjoys family game nights, camping, and hiking with her husband and their two children and way too many animals.