Board of Directors
Brickhouse, Curtis,
Board Member, Interim Director of Residence Life
Crossfox, Justin A.
Board Member, Senior Assistant Librarian, Butler Library
Justin A. Crossfox is a User Experience and Outreach Librarian at Buffalo State University. He has been publicly educated from kindergarten through his graduate work, with a BA from UAlbany, MLS from Queens College, and an MS in Adult Education from Buffalo State. Prior to coming to Buffalo State, he spent 18 years in public libraries with a focus on children's and youth librarianship. He has partnered with the Child Care Center for programming at the Butler Library, and has presented at the American Library Association's annual conference on connecting the academic library to the Child Care Center.
Doody, Kathy R., Ph.D.
Board Chair, Professor and Chair of Graduate Studies, Exceptional Education
Kathy R. Doody is a Professor in the Exceptional Education department, teaching graduate coursework to candidates who are seeking special education certification. Her areas of interest include early childhood education, autism spectrum disorders, inclusive education, and the importance of play in childhood development. Her research includes the study of how young children develop, communicate, behave, think, and learn. Kathy has been on the Board for ten years and is currently Chair.
Hartz-Bissell, Elizabeth A., MS, RDN, CDN
Board Secretary, Lecturer, Health, Hospital, Nutrition, and Dietetics
Elizabeth Hartz-Bissell, MS, RDN, CDN is a full-time lecturer at Buffalo State University and secretary of the Buffalo State Child Care Center Board of Directors. Her area of expertise is in Nutrition and Dietetics, and she has worked in the community as a Registered Dietitian outside of her teaching responsibility. The BSCCC was fundamental to her ability to finish her degree since she was enrolled at Buffalo State while having a young child. The bonds that developed during that time were never forgotten and it is an honor for her to give back to the Center.
Henry, Julie J., Ph.D.
Board Member, Professor and Chair of Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership
Julie Henry is a Professor at Buffalo State and Chair of the Department of Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership. Her first job was teaching toddlers, and she loves this age group. Dr. Henry studies early literacy and teacher change and is a proud grandma to four current BSCCC students.
Mack, John P., (Jack), Ph.D.
Board Member, Associate Clinical Manager, Weigel Health Center
Mawer, Dave, Ph.D.
Dave Mawer is an Assistant Professor of Art Education at Buffalo State University, where he prepares future art educators and researches the intersection of creativity, technology, and learning. His teaching and scholarship focus on media arts education, digital creativity, and how meaningful learning experiences shape learners' identities and agency. Dave was motivated to join the Child Care Center Board because he believes that rich artistic and creative experiences should begin in early childhood, and he is eager to support a learning environment that serves children and families across the Buffalo State community. He looks forward to contributing his experience in arts education, curriculum development, and community engagement to the Board's work.
McKay, Naomi J., Ph.D.
Board Member, Associate Professor, Psychology Department
Dr. Naomi McKay is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Buffalo State with has a background in behavioral neuroscience. She teaches courses in psychology and runs a research laboratory that studies the interaction between the stress response and eating behaviors. Dr. McKay is also a mother of two who both attended the Buffalo State Child Care Center and had wonderful experiences there. She is thankful for the warmth and love that her children received at the Child Care Center and enjoys giving back by being on the Board of Directors.
McLaughlin, Cara, RD
Board Member, Registered Dietitian, Kaleida Health
Cara McLaughlin is a pediatric dietitian with 18 years of experience dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of children and their families. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health, which has strengthened her understanding of nutrition, prevention, and population health. Throughout her career, she has served on various committees at Golisano Children’s Hospital, contributing to quality improvement initiatives and efforts to enhance patient care. She is passionate about improving children’s health through evidence-based nutrition and felt her experience brought a unique perspective to the Board of Directors.
Petlakh, Ksenia, Ph.D.
Board Member, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Department
Dr. Petlakh is an Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at Buffalo State University. Her teaching and research interests include criminal law, criminal courts, wrongful convictions, exonerations, cognitive errors in the Criminal Justice System, and research methods. She became involved with the Buffalo State Child Care Center through service on an ad hoc Safety Committee, and joined the Board with a particular interest in safety and emergency preparedness.
Seneca, Carey, MBA
Board Treasurer, Human Resource and Payroll Specialist
With an MBA from the University of Buffalo that lead to a career in Human Resource Management, Carey Seneca is a seasoned Human Resources professional with a proven track record in contract management, recruitment, employee life cycle management, labor relations, payroll administration, compliance, and strategic workforce management. Throughout her career, Carey has successfully managed HR and Payroll processes for organizations ranging from small private corporations to multi-state and public agencies, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and adherence to regulatory requirements while improving efficiencies, partnering with leadership and recommending employee-focused solutions that align with business needs and goals.
Stanley, Felicia
Board Member, Senior Counsellor, Weigel Health Center
Truesdell, Kim, Ed.D.
Vice Chair, Associate Professor Emeritus, Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership
Kim Truesdell is an Associate Professor emerita in the Department of Elementary Education. She taught undergraduate and graduate classes on a range of content areas, specializing in literacy. She most recently focused on the Science of Reading for current elementary and. secondary content teachers. She is on the Board as she believes our youngest children need to get off to a great start in language and literacy well before they begin their formal education.