August 17, 2012
LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointments of Gary Bischof, of Portage, Terri Grierson, of Saginaw, and Laura Mammen, of Grand Rapids, to the Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.
The nine-member board assists the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory affairs in overseeing the practice of more than 800 marriage and family therapists.
"These individuals are highly experienced professionals who will make great additions to this board," said Snyder.
Bischof is a professor in the department of counselor education and counseling psychology at Western Michigan University. He also serves as the university's coordinator of the marriage, couple and family counseling master's program and as a lecturer and teaching team member for Michigan State University's Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Bethany College in West Virginia and a master's degree and Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from Virginia Tech and Purdue University, respectively. Bischof will represent licensed marriage and family therapists and replaces James Moriarty.
Grierson is director of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw's Office of Christian Service, where she provides budget oversight and program management in support of parishes and their work with couples and families. Grierson has worked at the Diocese of Saginaw since 1999, previously serving as an outreach worker. She is an adviser to the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan's grants committee and serves on the Catholic Relief Services national advisory board. Grierson earned a certificate in theology from Siena Heights University in Adrian. She will represent the general public and replaces Brett Beckerson.
Mammen is the multisystemic therapy supervisor at D.A. Blodgett - St. John's, a Grand Rapids-based child and family advocacy and support organization. Previously, she worked as a multisystemic therapist at Riverwood Center in Benton Harbor, as an early impact therapist for Arbor Circle in Grand Rapids and as program support staff at Living Ways in Kalamazoo. Mammen is a national certified counselor, licensed professional counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in counseling education and marriage and family therapy, both from Western Michigan University. Mammen will represent licensed marriage and family therapists and fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Anita Taylor.
Mammen will serve the remainder of a four-year term that expires June 30, 2013, and Bischof and Grierson will serve four-year terms that expire June 30, 2016. All appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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