Taylor Thompson

Dr. Taylor Thompson was born in Oxnard, California. She grew up in Titusville, Florida, which is across the river from Kennedy Space Center. Dr. Thompson attained a B.A. from Florida State University in 2007, majoring in Psychology and English—Creative Writing. She then received her M.A. in Psychology from Wake Forest University and her Ph.D. in the Combined Counseling Psychology and School Psychology Program at Florida State University. During her doctoral program, she worked for three years as a graduate assistant liaison between the FSU Student Disability Resource Center and the Student Athlete Academic Services offices.

For her pre-doctoral internship, Dr. Thompson matched at Nova Southeastern University’s Psychology Services Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and she completed her post-doctoral residency at Keystone Behavioral Pediatrics in Jacksonville, Florida. She became a licensed psychologist in 2017. As fate would have it, she also later became the Clinical Director of the FSU Adult Learning Evaluation Center in 2017, where she was a faculty member, administrator, and clinical supervisor for six years. In the summer of 2023, Dr. Thompson recently transitioned to a new role as an assistant professor at the FSU College of Medicine’s Office of Student Counseling Services, providing mental health and academic support services to COM students.

Dr. Thompson has been involved in psychoeducational assessment in some fashion since 2005, and her clinical background has included work with both adults and children with anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, mood disorders, and behavioral disorders. Over the years, Dr. Thompson has supervised over 100 graduate students in providing assessments and therapy. These mentoring relationships and shepherding ALEC through the COVID pandemic are what Dr. Thompson considers her most important professional accomplishments so far.

Dr. Thompson’s research interests have focused on the experiences of young and emerging adults from diverse backgrounds. Her master’s thesis was a study of the model minority stereotype’s influence on adolescent adjustment under Dr. Lisa Kiang; her doctoral dissertation was a meta-analysis of gender differences in creativity under Dr. Steven Pfeiffer. Dr. Thompson has presented at conferences for the American Psychological Association and the Society for Research in Child Development, and she has published in journals, such as the Asian American Journal of Psychology and Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. She is also an editorial board member for the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

With regard to professional service, Dr. Thompson is actively involved in the Florida Psychological Association. She is currently the chair of the continuing education committee for the state of Florida and is the secretary of the Capital Chapter. She is also involved in FPA’s political efforts to advocate for the profession of psychology, such as the recent lobby for and successful passing of PSYPACT in Florida. Dr. Thompson also has a consulting role at PracticeWise, LLC, an organization dedicated to compiling evidence-based resources and training for providers of children’s mental health.

Throughout her life, Dr. Thompson has worked as a cashier in a meat market, as a summer camp counselor, and in retail at record and bookstores. As an undergrad student, she was originally interested in majoring in Meteorology or French. Her parents are an accountant and a painter, and her sister is an occupational therapist in the United States Army. Dr. Thompson is fascinated by career choices, personal purpose, and meaning-making, and she enjoys helping others find and stay flexible on their paths.

Samantha "Sam" Ritts

Sam Ritts (she/her) is an eighth year School Psychologist who has worked in Maryland and in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) system for nearly six years. She is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Prior to working for AACPS, she worked in the Grady County School District in Cairo, Georgia; interned in Thomas County Schools in Thomasville, Georgia; and earned her combined M.S. and Ed.S. degrees in Counseling and Human Systems with a specialization in School Psychology from the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida in 2016. She is also working on her administrator certificate at Mount St. Mary’s Instructional Leadership Program under the Maryland Leads grant in collaboration with AACPS.

Since moving to Maryland, Sam served three years as President of her Local School Psychology Organization (LSPO; SPAAAC) and had subsequently held the role of LSPO Representative to the Maryland School Psychologists’ Association (MSPA) during that time. As well, she spent one year as Past-President of SPAAAC. Sam has been both Membership Committee Co-Chair and Chair, participates in the Legislative Committee, is a member of the Public Affairs Committee, member of the Assistance to Locals Subcommittee of Public Affairs, and has chaired the National School Psychology Week Subcommittee for Public Affairs. She volunteers reviewing continuing education provider renewals for the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). In her school district, Sam is Middle School Professional Learning Committee (PLC) Co-Leader, on the LGBTQ+ Advisory, and a member of the Positive Psychology PLC. She is the continuing Secretary for MSPA. As well, she is leading salary negotiations for AACPS School Psychologists for the 2025 fiscal year under new legislation (Blueprint for Maryland’s Future), through her union’s negotiating team.

Sam’s passions include LGBTQ+ issues, as well as suicide prevention and intervention. Sam is involved in a number of broader and unrelated issues, as well. She has attended three Legislative Days and two Lobby Nights through MSPA; has written and orally testified at the AACPS BOE; has orally testified at the Maryland Senate on behalf of MSPA; and has built a relationship with local Legislative Delegates through these ventures which help further MSPA’s mission.

Inika Pierre Williams

Dr. Inika Pierre Williams career has reached across several areas, including public education, higher education, state government, and youth development programs for under-represented students. She completed her doctoral studies in educational leadership, M.S. and Ed.S in Counseling from Florida State University and her B.S. in Education from Florida A&M University. 

Dr. Williams is the Associate Director of Policy with Attendance Works, a national and state initiative that works to advance student success through policy and practice. Dr. Williams is responsible for developing and executing a public policy agenda and working closely with government and advocacy leaders to advance student outcomes. Her previous professional roles include serving as the Director of Pre-Collegiate Programs at Florida State University where she notably acquired over $1.3 million to build pipeline tutoring and mentoring programs to prepare underrepresented students for higher education. She also served as Statewide Director of the College Reach-Out Program and Project Director for a $1.6 million federal initiative to develop school-based mental health programs and services in the Florida panhandle with the Florida Department of Education. 

Fostering learning opportunities for young people is a personal passion for Dr. Williams who has expertise in youth development and programming. She has been recognized as one of the “25 Women to Know in Tallahassee” by the Tallahassee Democrat, a "Future Five" award recipient by Access Tallahassee, and awarded with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Valerie Bryant Justice Award for her commitment to women and children. Dr. Williams serves on the board of directors of the PACE Center for Girls, Big Bend Habitat for Humanity, the Tallahassee National Pan-Hellenic Council, and was appointed to the City of Tallahassee/Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. She is a member of Leadership Tallahassee Class 39 and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.