Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appoisntment of Jeffrey Leichter, Ph.D., Patricia K. Orud, and Patricia Stankovitch, Ph.D.; and the reappointment of Chris M. Bonnell and Margaret Alyssa Fulton, Ph.D. to the Board of Psychology.

Bonnell, of Buffalo, is a senior contacts administrator with Capella University. He has a 20-year professional background in law, government relations and project management in both the private and public sectors. Bonnell earned his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul and his bachelor of arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead. He is a member of the Buffalo Planning Commission, a volunteer administrator with USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey, and previously served on Buffalo’s Park and Recreation Board and Civic Center Advisory Board, and Crystal’s Planning Commission and Park and Recreation Board. Bonnell, who has been a member of the Board of Psychology since 2006, is reappointed as a public member to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Fulton, of St. Paul, is a private practice psychologist and psychoanalyst in Minneapolis. She has a 25-year background in psychology working in clinical and hospital settings. Fulton, who has a certification in adult psychoanalysis from the Minnesota Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalytic Studies in Minneapolis, earned her doctor of philosophy degree in counseling psychology from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, her master of arts degree in counseling psychology from Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, and her bachelor of arts degree from Moravian College in Bethlehem. She is a faculty with the Minnesota Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, an adjunct associate professor of psychology with St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis, and a clinical faculty with Hennepin-Regions Psychiatry Training Program. Fulton, who has been a member of the Board of Psychology since 2006, is reappointed as a doctoral-level psychologist member to another four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Leichter, of Detroit Lakes, is a staff psychologist with MeritCare Health System in Detroit Lakes and the clinical director with the Minnesota Consortium for Advanced Rural Psychological Training. He has previously been the director of clinical training with Capella University’s Harold Abel School of Psychology, and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis. Leichter, who completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in primary care health psychology at Michigan State University – St. Joseph Hospital in Flint, earned his doctorate as well as his master of arts degree in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (now known as Alliant University) in Los Angeles, his bachelor of science degree in biological sciences from the University of California, Irvine. He completed his pre-doctoral internship at the Jerry L. Pettis Veterans Administration Hospital in Loma Linda, California. Leichter replaces Thanh Son Thi Nguyen-Kelly on the Board of Psychology as a doctoral-level psychologist member, and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Orud, of St. Paul, is a private practice psychologist as well as a part-time psychologist with the Fourth Judicial District Court Psychological Services in Hennepin County. Previously, she was the director of behavioral health with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, a psychologist and associate director with Project, Pathfinder, Inc., and a caseworker/therapist with the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility Sex Offender Treatment Program. Orud earned her master of arts degree in clinical and counseling psychology from St. Mary’s College in Minneapolis, and her bachelor of science degree from the University of Minnesota. Orud replaces Joseph Lee on the Board of Psychology as a masters-level psychologist member, and is appointed to complete a four-year term that expires on January 2, 2012.

Stankovitch, of Eden Prairie, is the director of psychological services with the University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services in Minneapolis. She previously maintained a part-time private practice and has served as an adjunct psychology instructor at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, and North Hennepin Community College and Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Stankovitch earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas, and her bachelor of science degree from Mankato State University. As part of her graduate psychology training, she provided psychological services at the Neighborhood Involvement Program in Minneapolis, Hennepin County Mental Health Center, and Bethel College’s Counseling Center. Stankovitch replaces Myrla Seibold on the Board of Psychology as a doctoral-level psychologist member, and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

The Board of Psychology is responsible for licensing and disciplining psychologists. The Board consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor.