Faculty
Debra L. Ainbinder, Ph.D.
Dr. Debra L. Ainbinder’s extensive career includes counseling across the lifespan in both agency and private practice settings. Her professional emphasis on prevention research, interventions and training has enabled her to bring these ideals to the classroom and represent Lynn University in national and international arenas.
Dr. Ainbinder is currently a co-principal investigator on Project ENHANCE, a research project focused on parent interventions to decrease alcohol use and its related consequences, and is involved in the Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education Task Force, which provides community programs in Broward and Palm Beach counties. As a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA), Dr. Ainbinder’s academic work mirrors her clinical work in that she believes in finding the strengths and competencies of her students and allowing these to foster a desire to learn and to seek personal growth.
Dr. Ainbinder earned her Ph.D. from Barry University and her M.S. from Nova University. She also holds a B.S. from the University of Florida.
Patrick Cooper, Ph.D.
Dr. Patrick Cooper’s research broadly focuses on social development and well-being in preadolescence, and he is specifically interested in three areas of development: gender socialization, aggression, and attachment in middle childhood.
As an Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr. Cooper provides conceptual frameworks for each course to help students understand the value of what they are learning, encourages scientific thinking as much as possible, and fosters student engagement to help students link in-classroom lectures to real-world applications.
Dr. Cooper earned both his Ph.D. and his M.A. from Florida Atlantic University. He also holds two B.S. degrees from Pennsylvania State University.
Ann Crawford, Ph.D.
Dr. Ann Crawford has taught at Lynn University for more than 34 years, and her numerous teaching specializations include expressive therapies, abnormal psychology, personal growth psychology, forensic psychology, and psychobiology.
Dr. Crawford believes that students learn best when both they and their professors are engaged in the entire learning cycle of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. She affirms that the professor’s role is as much a facilitator of self-learning and organizer of the classroom community as it is as lecturer and knowledge-bearer.
Dr. Crawford earned her Ph.D. from the Union Institute and University and her M.P.S. from New York Institute of Technology. She also holds an M.S. and a B.S. from Florida State University.
Ali Cunningham, Ph.D.
Dr. Ali Cunningham’s teaching specialties include group counseling, social and cultural foundations, counseling theories, community counseling, and career development. In addition to teaching, Dr. Cunningham currently works in part-time private practice providing individual and group counseling services.
Throughout her career, Dr. Cunningham gained a variety of experiences as a helping and teaching professional, including coordinating a statewide mentoring program for the Office of the Governor, teaching English abroad, coordinating health care services for pregnant women, and providing therapy to individuals dealing with substance abuse and eating disorders. After gaining these experiences, she found her clinical passion and professional niche by working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Dr. Cunningham earned both her Ph.D. and her M.Ed. from Florida Atlantic University. She also holds a B.A. from Florida State University.
Melissa Lehman, Ph.D.
Dr. Melissa Lehman’s teaching specialties focus on experimental psychology, including cognitive psychology, research methods, and introductory psychology. Her professional experience includes working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Cognition and Learning Lab at Purdue University, examining the applications of cognitive principles of memory to educational contexts.
Dr. Lehman’s current research focuses on the effects of retrieving information from long-term memory, examining the memorial benefits of retrieval practice, and on the applications of these findings to learning, both individually and in classroom environments. As an Assistant Professor of Psychology, she believes in using a variety of teaching techniques to engage a diverse body of students, make learning relevant for students, and incorporate research applications into her teaching.
Dr. Lehman earned both her Ph.D. and her M.A. from the University of South Florida. She also holds a B.S. from the University of Florida.
Rachel Pauletti, Ph.D.
Dr. Rachel Pauletti’s research interests include childhood aggression, narcissism, and gender identity, and she has worked as a postdoctoral research assistant as well as teaching courses in developmental psychology, personality psychology, and statistics.
Dr. Pauletti has authored numerous articles in scholarly journals including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Child Development. As an Assistant Professor of Psychology, she uses a variety of media and resources to demonstrate how important psychological concepts can be utilized to explain human behavior in consumer decision making, politics, education, parenting, and professional environments.
Dr. Pauletti holds a Ph.D., an M.A., and a B.A., all from Florida Atlantic University.
Robert Riedel, Ph.D.
Dr. Robert Riedel’s research interests include areas of prejudice and discrimination, prevention in the abuse of drugs and alcohol, levels of emotional awareness, and gun control attitudes.
As a Professor of Psychology, Dr. Riedel encourages his students to get involved in research, present at conferences, and try to publish their work. He believes in conveying material in an objective manner and then allowing students to think critically about the concepts.
Dr. Riedel earned his Ph.D. from Colorado State University and his M.A. from Saint Cloud State University. He also holds a B.A. from Moorhead State University.
Request information
To learn more about Lynn University’s online Master of Science in Psychology (MS PSY) and download a free brochure, fill out the fields below. You can also call 877-388-7239 to speak to one of our admission counselors about the degree program.
Lynn University respects your right to privacy. By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails and calls from a representative of Lynn University, which may include the use of automated technology. Consent is needed to contact you, but is not a requirement to register or enroll.
Request information
To learn more about Lynn University's online Master of Science in Psychology (MS PSY) and download a free brochure, fill out the fields below. You can also call 877-388-7239 to speak to one of our admission counselors about the degree program.Lynn University respects your right to privacy. By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails and calls from a representative of Lynn University, which may include the use of automated technology. Consent is needed to contact you, but is not a requirement to register or enroll.