Military Psychology Advisory Council

Learn more about each member of the Advisory Council below:

• Lt. Col. Justin Constantine (Ret.) (DU, JD '98)
  

  Inspirational Leadership Speaker
  Marine Corps Officer
  Combat Veteran

  Background

  Justin joined the Marine Corps while in law school at the University of Denver School of Law, and served as a JAG officer for six years. As a Reservist, Justin deployed to Iraq in 2006, serving as a Civil Affairs Team Leader while attached to an infantry battalion. During a combat patrol, Justin was shot in the head by a sniper.

  Although the original prognosis was that he had been killed in action, Justin survived thanks to risks taken by his fellow Marines and a courageous Navy Corpsman. In fact, when Corpsman Grant first rolled Justin over, he was no longer breathing. For his service in Iraq, Justin earned the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

  Justin retired from the Marine Corps at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He now runs his own business as an inspirational speaker and veteran advocate. In 2011, the Secretary of Defense appointed Justin to a four-year term on the Task Force for Recovering Warriors. In 2015, he completed his first book, My Battlefield, Your Office, which applies military leadership skills to the private sector. And in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Justin recently authored a book about veteran employment to be published later this year. Justin is also a Partner at JobPath, a robust veteran employment platform that provides a variety of solutions to corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations which hire veterans.

  Justin was the Honor Graduate of his class at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. In 2012, the Virginia Legislature passed a resolution highlighting Justin's continued support of veterans and other wounded warriors. In 2015, he graduated on the Dean's List from Georgetown University with a Master of Laws degree focusing on National Security. He now sits on the Board of Directors of a number of national nonprofit organizations, and in 2015, Justin co- founded the Veteran Success Resource Group, which provides innovative and impactful networking events on a national basis.

  Justin is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, was named a Champion of Change by the Obama White House, and also was awarded the prestigious inaugural 2014 Lincoln Award recognizing his outstanding achievement and excellence in providing opportunities and support to our nation's veterans and military families. In 2017, he received the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award for shaping attitudes, raising awareness and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, as well as the Veterans Advantage HeroVet award for significantly contributing to the veteran community though ongoing service and leadership.

• Carrie Doehring, Ph.D.
  

  Professor of Pastoral Care
  Iliff School of Theology, University of Denver

  Background

  Carrie Doehring joined the Iliff faculty in 2003, having taught for eleven years in the masters and doctoral programs at Boston University's School of Theology, and in the Boston University Counseling Psychology and Religion Ph.D. Program in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts and Colorado, and a diplomat in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. At Iliff, she advanced to full professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling in 2015. She directs the Masters of Arts in Pastoral and Spiritual Care (MAPSC) and the Military Ministry Course Provider program.

  Carrie Doehring was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1978, and became a minister in the Presbyterian Church, USA, in 1991. She has worked in congregational ministry for nine years, full time in Ontario, Canada, and seven years part-time in Boston, Massachusetts.

  She has received numerous awards, including the American Psychological Association's Virginia Sexton Mentoring Award from Division 36 (Psychology of Religion); the Senior Career Award from the Society for Pastoral Counseling Research, and a medal from the Network on Ministry in Specialized Settings (COMISS), given in recognition of outstanding scholarship and leadership in teaching spiritual care.

  She is the author of over 35 chapters and articles, and three books. As a licensed psychologist and ordained religious leader, she explores how people draw upon religious faith and spirituality to cope with experiences like trauma, moral stress, and prejudice. She wrote the chapter "Religiously-Linked Discrimination, Prejudice, and Victimization" for the 2013 APA Handbook of Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality (Vol. II). Her book The Practice of Pastoral Care: A Postmodern Approach, Revised and Expanded (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2015) is used as a textbook in pastoral care and clinical pastoral education throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

  Her most recent publications explore the moral stresses of religious leadership and chaplaincy, the moral stress of student debt, military moral injury, and assessing competency in intercultural and evidence-based spiritual care. She teaches courses in the areas of Post-traumatic stress disorder, Crisis Care in Pastoral Theology, Spiritual Care in Pluralistic Contexts, and Moral Stress, Resilience and Spiritual Integration.

• Winters Heafey - Chair
  

  Advisor
  Assistant Director, Savills Denver

  Background

  Winters Heafey is an assistant director in Savills Denver office, with a focus on logistics and supply chains, as well as global portfolio management for industrial sector companies. Winters leads the Denver office industrial practice, advising a range of companies in the acquisition and disposition of industrial assets including manufacturing, distribution, and warehouse facilities.

  Winters takes an active interest in several community and nonprofit organizations, serving on the Board of Directors for Colorado Youth for a Change and is the Board Chair of The University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology; Sturm Military Specialty. He belongs to real estate professional association, CoreNet Colorado, serving on the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Denison University. He was a co -founder of Real Estate Careers for the Armed Forces a registered 501(c)(3), whose mission is to mobilize the real estate community to develop a sustainable program to hire veterans and their families within the commercial real estate industry.

• Daniel J. Kasper
  

  CEO Wishlist

  Background

  Dan is a growth architect and innovator with a passion for building high-performing teams and deriving long-term results by leveraging the power of technology and challenging the status quo. 
  
  Dan served for six years in the United States Navy as an Officer within Special Operations with deployments to the Middle East with SEAL Team Five. 

  After leaving Active Duty, Dan began working for Airbnb where he initiated and executed global expansion for the Trust and Safety teams in the Americas and Asia Pacific.  

  He is currently the CEO of Wishlist, an HR technology organization which helps build human connection and engagement within workforces. 

  Outside of work, Dan chases any and all adventures that give him a chance to tell an unforgettable story. 

• US Army Colonel Kenneth Rollins, Ph.D. (Ret.)
  

  Background

  Kenneth D. Rollins is happily retired and enjoying Colorado after serving in the Army for over 30 years. His career began as a draftee in 1970, and he served a tour in Vietnam as an infantryman in the Americal Division. He then left the Army and continued his college studies.

  In 1977 he received a direct commission as a psychologist in the Medical Service Corps and finished his Ph.D. from New Mexico State University. As a psychologist he served 15 years in traditional health care and teaching roles, and 14 years working with Special Forces, intelligence, and special mission units. After retiring he did contract work with DoD and Homeland Security offices. Since retiring he fills his time with woodturning, hiking, and babysitting hobbies.

• The Honorable Su Ryden (DU, BA '67)
  

  Arapahoe County Public Trustee

  Background

  Su Ryden currently serves as Arapahoe County Public Trustee, whose office processes releases of deeds of trust and foreclosure sales. She previously served eight years as State Representative for House District 36—East Aurora. She served as Majority Whip and Chair of the State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee. She was instrumental in passing legislation for the planned expansion of the Fitzsimons State Veterans Community Living Center Campus. She received the United Veterans Committee Outstanding Legislator award twice. She was selected as the 2016 Woman of the Year by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. Her husband Jerome is a Vietnam-era Navy Veteran, and served in the Combat Camera unit in Norfolk, VA. Su and Jerome are both DU grads in mass communications, and have owned their own marketing firm since 1975.

• Honorable Judge David Shakes
  

  4th Judicial District Judge

  Background

  David Shakes was appointed as a District Judge, State of Colorado in January 2003. He serves in the Fourth Judicial District in Colorado Springs. His current case assignments include adults charged with felonies and civil litigation. Since 2012 Judge Shakes also has presided over the Veteran's Trauma Court, selected as a national mentor court in 2016. Judge Shakes teaches criminal justice matters as an adjunct instructor at the National Judicial College, Colorado Technical University, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law.

  Judge Shakes served on active duty in the Army as a Judge Advocate at Fort Carson from 1979-1983 and served in the Army Reserve continuously from 1983 until his retirement in the summer of 2008. When he retired Judge Shakes was the Commander and Chief Trial Judge of the military judges of the Army Reserve. Major military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Combat Action Badge.

  From January 2007 through January 2008 Colonel Shakes was assigned to Task Force 134, Multi-National Force-Iraq as the Rule of Law Advisor and Political/Military Advisor at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. In that capacity, he worked with Iraqi judges, prison officials, and the Ministers of Justice and Human Rights to improve the Iraqi criminal justice system concerning prosecution of terrorists and insurgents.

  Judge Shakes earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts (Lehigh University), Juris Doctor (University of Pittsburgh), Master of Strategic Studies (Army War College) and Master of Judicial Studies (University of Nevada-Reno).

  His publications include a contributing author to "Planning for Rule of Law Operations in Counter-Insurgency and Stability Operations," Rule of Law Handbook, 2008, published by the Center for Law and Military Operations and author of "Justice In Baghdad: Culture, Conflict, and Challenges" The Bencher, November/December 2008 and, together with co-author Erin Schenk, "Into the Wild Blue Yonder of Legal Representation for Victims of Sexual Assault: Can U.S. State Courts Learn From the Military," 6 University of Denver Criminal Law Review 33 (2016).

  He is the recipient of the 2008 Liberty Bell Award from the El Paso County Bar Association for his contributions in improving the rule of law in Iraq. In 2008 his team won the award for the best Inn of Court program in the United States. In 2015 Judge Shakes, together with Judges Prince and Cisneros, won the national Sandra Day O'Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education from the National Center for State Courts for their Judicially Speaking Program, recognized as the best civics education program in the United States.

• Rene Simard (DU, MPS '13)
  

  Executive Vice President and Chief of Military Affairs, 
  Aurora Chamber of Commerce
  Director of Leadership Aurora
  Staff Liaison for the Defense Council

  Background

  Rene Simard is a retired U.S. Air Force senior enlisted leader with 38 years of converging management and leadership experience across multiple disciplines including leadership training, academic advising, veterans' services, career services, logistics, human resources, personal training and military security.

  Currently, Rene is the Executive Vice President for the Aurora Colorado Chamber of Commerce. He directs and manages the Chamber's flagship Leadership Aurora program where he plans, coordinates, and conducts monthly sessions, monthly board meetings, various committee meetings, recruiting strategy, and annual class and board retreats. He also manages the Aurora Defense Council, a joint organization of over 350 members representing military commands and local business leaders of the major segments of the community.

  Previously, he was the Director of Academic Advising at the Community College of Aurora where he managed a staff of 15 advisors, career services, veteran's services, and administration. His department provided services to over 8,000 enrolled students with approximately 20,000 student contacts per year. Prior to this position, Rene was the Assistant Director of Academic Advising and prior to that he was the Military/Veterans Affairs coordinator. Prior to the Community College of Aurora, Rene was Assistant General Manager for Mesa Moving Systems and Storage in Aurora, Colorado, where he was responsible for daily operations and customer service for 40 employees assigned to a significant United Van Lines agent.

  In October 2006, Rene retired from the U. S. Air Force after more than 28-years of service. In his final assignment, Rene was the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 460th Space Wing at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, where he advised the base commander on matters influencing the health, welfare, morale, effective utilization and quality of life for more than 3,000 enlisted personnel assigned to the base's area of responsibility. During his Air Force career he served at various command levels and also deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm and Southern Watch. His assignments included bases in Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Delaware, Washington, DC (Pentagon) and Colorado.

  Rene graduated with a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Denver in June 2013 where he achieved a 3.97 GPA. He received a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Logistics/Business Management from Peru State College in Nebraska and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Logistics Management from Community College of the Air Force.

  While on active duty he graduated from a number of professional development institutions, including the 8th Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School (distinguished graduate), Strategic Air Command's Noncommissioned Officer Academy and U.S. Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (distinguished graduate), and the Center for Creative Leadership. 

• Maj. T. Reneé Thompson
  

  The Human Performance Team Psychologist
  25th Attack Group
  Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina

  Background 

  Major Reneé Thompson is responsible for overseeing the health and wellness of 1,000 personnel across three geographically separated installations and five squadrons in support of global MQ-9A operations.

• Maj. Sierra Symonett. PsyD, ABPP (GSPP 2014)

  Special Operations Operational Psychologist

  Background 

   

  MAJ Sierra Symonette graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 2004 with a B.S. and commissioned as a Military Intelligence (MI) Officer.  In her first assignment as a MI Officer, MAJ Symonette served as a Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer with 1CD at Fort Hood, TX and a Battle Captain for 1CD while deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 2006-2008. She served as a Brigade Assistant S2 with 4ID at Fort Carson and deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 2009-2010.  

  After her second combat deployment and surge operations, MAJ Symonette took a break in service to attend the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology from 2010-2013. She served as a military psychology intern at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington from 2013-2014 and earned her doctorate degree and EPPP license in 2014.  

  As a military psychologist, while serving in Colorado, MAJ Symonette served as a Brigade Behavioral Health Officer for the 43rd Sustainment Brigade and the Chief of Embedded Behavioral Health at Fort Carson, CO.  She also served as the interim director of the Peak Performance Center at the United States Air Force Academy.  MAJ Symonette is currently serving as a Special Operations Operational Psychologist.  

• Anne Munch, Emeritus Member
  

  Anne Munch Consulting, Inc. 

  Background

  Anne Munch is an attorney with 30 years of experience as a career prosecutor and advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. As a subject matter expert for the United States Air Force, the United States Army and the United States Navy, Anne has worked extensively on the development of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs in the military.

  Ms. Munch attended the University of Denver for her undergraduate and graduate studies and received a BA in psychology and sociology, and then her law degree.

  Following law school Ms. Munch spent seven years as a prosecutor for the Denver District Attorney's office including a rotation in the felony domestic violence and sexual assault unit. She also spent three years as the Chief Deputy District Attorney for the 7th Judicial District in Telluride, Colorado, and two years as the supervisor of the fast track domestic violence unit in the Jefferson County DA's office in Golden, Colorado.

  In addition to her work as a prosecutor, Ms. Munch was the director of the San Miguel Resource Center, a domestic violence and sexual assault program in Telluride, Colorado. She also directed the Ending Violence Against Women Project, a statewide multi-disciplinary training and technical assistance project in Colorado for nine years.

  Currently, Ms. Munch is the owner of Anne Munch Consulting, Inc. and works full time providing speaking, training and consulting in the area of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. She provides her services to local, national, military and higher education organizations all across the United States, Europe, and Asia. She is on the teaching faculty for the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is a part time judge in Lakewood, Colorado.