WPS Board Of Directors
Lawrence (Larry) Perlman, PhD
Chair of Washtenaw Psychology Society
Dr. Perlman has been a working clinician for 50 years in diverse practice settings. In New York City, he taught in several graduate programs and started his own training program in child and family therapy. He helped found a grassroots organization in New York State which promoted hospital privileges for psychologists. Subsequently, Dr. Perlman served on the Insurance Committee of NYSPA. During that period, he maintained a private practice in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
In 2001, Dr. Perlman relocated to Ann Arbor and worked at the Ann Arbor VA, where he created several innovative treatment programs. He also trained many graduate students and psychology interns. In response to the needs of the veterans, he developed group treatments for insomnia, pain management, and smoking cessation.
Dr. Perlman developed a multidimensional Wellness Program for veterans with severe comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions. It consists of 11 modules that promote a healthy lifestyle by teaching a variety of skills in stress management, physical self-care, and behavioral activation. He supervised 50 students and interns, who co-led these groups and assisted in data collection for outcome studies that generated two published papers.
Dr. Perlman has a long history of organizational activity and advocacy. He served on the MPA Insurance Committee for several years. He was elected as Michigan Representative to the APA Council for a three-year term from 2015 to 2017. At Council, he made a special effort to network with psychologists representing other states.
In November 2015, Dr. Perlman founded a regional MPA group, the Washtenaw Psychology Society, to encourage networking and educational activities in the area surrounding Ann Arbor. His goal was to use this as a demonstration project to help rebuild stagnant MPA membership. Over 7 years, WPS grew to 550 members and held 73 monthly meetings with educational presentations for its members. A Google Mail Group allowed members to post queries for referrals and ask pertinent questions. All these services were provided for free to members.
From 2019-2023, Dr. Perlman served as Member-at-Large for APA Division 31. In this role, he promoted the interests of small, financially struggling State, Provincial, and Territorial Associations (SPTAs). He brought attention to the plight of these under-resourced state associations. He was also able to highlight the successes of small state associations that overcame meager financial resources. Dr. Perlman was able to influence new directions for the leadership of Div. 31.
In addition to serving on numerous boards and committees in the institutions where he was employed, Dr. Perlman has also been an officer of many non-profit organizations. He was the founding president of his co-op apartment building in Manhattan and of his condo association in Ann Arbor. For many years he served as a board member of a synagogue in New York and neighborhood associations there and in Ann Arbor. Everywhere that he has lived and worked, Dr. Perlman has started projects and helped bring people together.
Todd K. Favorite, Ph.D., ABPP
Board Member of Washtenaw Psychology Society
Todd Favorite, Ph.D. is a fellow of the American Association of Clinical Psychologists.
Dr. Favorite did his clinical training at the U-M Psychological Clinic and U-M Center for the Child & Family. He completed a clinical fellowship at the Ann Arbor VA in the PTSD Clinic.
For 12 years Dr. Favorite was the Director of the University Psychological Clinic, an APA-accredited training clinic.
He has advanced training and certification in Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System for Psychotherapy (CBASP), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBSR), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). His current research activities are in the application of MBSR for treating chronic pain. Dr. Favorite serves as co-investigator and MBSR team lead on a multisite study that is exploring alternative treatment interventions for chronic pain.
Dr. Favorite is the Director of UM Michigan Mindfulness.
Dr. Favorite is the Regional Network Coordinator for the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration.
Dr. Favorite is currently an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School (known as Michigan Medicine).
His work is in the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan Medicine. He is also Co-Principal Investigator for the Back Pain Study at Michigan Medicine.
Geraldine Markel, PhD
Board Member of Washtenaw Psychology Society
Geraldine Markel, Ph.D., is an educational psychologist and ADHD/Executive Function coach. She works with high-achieving professionals and students who experience low productivity, high distractibility, and constant procrastination or disorganization. In her coaching, Dr. Geri offers practical, step-by-step strategies. She served as University of Michigan faculty before creating her company, Managing Your Mind Coaching and Seminars.
As a professional speaker, Dr. Geri enhances productivity for all types of organizations. As a consultant, trainer, and speaker, she has teamed with the Department of Agriculture, Ford Motor Company, Merrill Lynch, The Walt Disney Company, TIAA-CREF, Time Warner Cable, University of Michigan Dental and Medical schools, Viacom, and others. Dr. Geri is an award-winning author of multiple books on learning strategies and coping with adult ADHD. One of her most popular books is Defeating the 8 Demons of Distraction: Proven Strategies to Increase Productivity and Decrease Stress.
Allan Newman
Board Member of Washtenaw Psychology Society
Mr. Newman has been an entrepreneur since starting The Newman Group in 1971. Among the other companies he founded were Recellular, the world’s largest recycler of cellular phones, CompuMart, the first retail computer store in Michigan, and Rent-A-Byte, the first computer rental store in the United States. He also founded Hamilton Rentals, I/O Data Systems, Word Processing Exchange, Demand Publishing, and Wireless Resources.
Mr. Newman has founded a trade show, Dexpo, and a trade association, The Digital Dealers Association. Mr. Newman has co-founded the non-profits A Brighter Way and PitchYpsi.
Mr. Newman is Chair of A Brighter Way, Co-Chair of Offender Success Region 9, Co-Founder and Co-Facilitator of the Washtenaw County Re-Entry Committee, Vice Chair of Recycle Ann Arbor, Secretary of the Huron Waterloo Pathway Initiative and board member of Avalon Housing, Next/Cycle Michigan and the Washtenaw Psychological Society.
Mr. Newman is Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Washtenaw Community College
Mr. Newman received his Bachelor of Science in 1968 from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Newman and his wife, Rosalind Wares, have four children, and eight grandchildren, and reside together in Ann Arbor.