Frances Meléndez

Frances Meléndez is a licensed clinical psychologist and faculty member at the College of Staten Island (CSI), part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. She serves as the Director of the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling program and holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center. She earned her BA and MA in Psychology from CUNY institutions, including CSI and City College.

Her research and clinical work focus on addiction, trauma, women's health, and the psychosocial impact of HIV/AIDS. She has pioneered mental health interventions for at-risk populations traditionally resistant to services. Her groundbreaking work has been featured in the New York Times, documentaries, and media interviews. She previously served as Associate Director of the Rehabilitation Medicine/Traumatic Brain Injury Program at Bellevue Hospital Center, where she conducted neuropsychological assessments and therapy in both English and Spanish.

Dr. Meléndez is an active presenter at regional and national psychology conferences. She is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association (APA), the New York State Psychological Association (where she sits on the executive committee on addiction), the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), and others.

• Degrees:
• BA, Psychology, College of Staten Island, CUNY
• MA, Psychology, City College, CUNY
• PhD, Clinical Psychology, CUNY Graduate Center

She is committed to advancing mental health services for underserved populations and integrating clinical training with academic leadership.