Who We Are
The Team
Teresa Buccheri, PhD
Associate Professor
Director of Clinical Training
Dr. Teresa Buccheri began teaching in the Clinical Psychology Department at NDNU in 2020 after relocating to California from Italy in 2019. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist in Italy, with heterogeneous knowledge in many sectors, including clinical psychology, health, research, neuroscience, industrial-organizational psychology, and forensics. For over 10 years, Dr. Buccheri has worked in Italy as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, conducting individual and family psychotherapy and psychological and neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Buccheri has worked as a passionate and meticulous researcher in academia and industry. She has collaborated with the Family Resiliency Center, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Leeds. She lives in Campbell with her husband and their daughter. She enjoys Pilates, running, TV series, and cooking.
Michael Drexler, PhD
Associate Professor
Director of Academic and Student Success
Dr. Michael Drexler, a neuropsychologist and Associate Professor at NDNU, is Director of Academic and Student Affairs/Success, and teaches courses including Lifespan Development, Clinical Assessment, Death & Dying, and Research Methods. He is an Adjunct Professor at Alliant International University, UCSF, and the University of San Francisco. From 2001 to 2023, he held leadership roles at the Department of Veterans Affairs, including VISN 21 Director of Organizational Development, Chief Mental Health Officer, and Chief Wellbeing Officer. He also worked for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Telecare Corporation, and Letterman Army Medical Center. He completed his postdoctoral residency in neuropsychology at Laurel Grove Rehabilitation Hospital and his internship at the San Francisco VA. He earned his doctorate from Alliant International University in 1988. A Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, he is board-certified by the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
Victoria Liou-Johnson, PhD
Assistant Professor
Director of Professional Education
Dr. Victoria Liou-Johnson (she/her) is Assistant Professor and Director of Professional Education in the Clinical Psychology Department at NDNU. She is a licensed clinical psychologist/neuropsychologist with a background in social justice, diversity, and equity, which she brings to her teaching, research, and clinical practice. In addition to her faculty position, she serves as Board President of the 501(c)3 non-profit Hawai’i Behavioral Health Connection (HiBHC), for which she was also Co-Founder and the Founding Executive Director; she is an Affiliated Scholar at the Stanford Clinical Excellence Research Center; adjunct faculty at Palo Alto University; and also maintains a small private practice focused on culturally responsive trauma treatment for Indigenous and other historically marginalized peoples.
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Dr. Liou-Johnson’s research interests center on health equity and include: traumatic brain injury, cognition, trauma, displacement, chronic illness, and health disparities especially in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Native American and Alaska Native populations. Her research utilizes interdisciplinary collaboration, qualitative, and quantitative methods, to explore these topics. As a researcher and clinician, she is particularly interested in the translational implications and implementation of her research to improve current conditions, interventions, and outcomes, especially for historically marginalized populations.
Kim Westerman, EdD, MA, MFA
Academic Administrator
BA Psychology Program Director
Kim Westerman, Ed.D., M.A., MFA, is an educator, academic administrator, and writer with more than 25 years of experience in higher education. She has taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses in Academic and Professional Writing, Research, Industrial & Organizational Psychology, Human Resources, LGBTQ+ Studies, Film Studies, Mindfulness & Contemplative Studies, and Rhetoric. Her administrative experience includes program direction, faculty development, curriculum and instruction, compliance, recruitment, career counseling, marketing, and strategic planning. Dr. Westerman’s professional interests include organizational culture and climate, mindfulness and emotional intelligence, DEIB, student success, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in higher education. She has published articles on responsible travel, health & wellness, the sensory analysis of coffee, and parenting in the 21st century. She also serves on the board of The East Bay School.
Lorraine Cainia, MPA
Executive Assistant
School of Psychology
Lorraine plays a key role in supporting community engagement initiatives, professional development, alumni relations, administrative tasks, grant work, and event planning. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2015) and Master of Public Administration (2022) from Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU). She is now a student in the MS in Clinical Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy (MSCP/MFT) program at NDNU since Summer 2024.
Bonnie Lui, MS
Academic Advisor and Success Coach
Bonnie oversees all academic and advising responsibilities, serving as the primary liaison to the Admissions office. She holds an MS in Counseling from San Francisco State University and has been a dedicated member of Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) for 10 years.
650-508-3542​
