Monica is the Executive Director of the Youth and Family Training Institute and an Adjunct Instructor in Psychiatry in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Her team is responsible for the outcomes, process, fidelity, and satisfaction data collection for PA counties implementing High Fidelity Wraparound. Her team is also contracted to work with five SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) grants and three SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) grants, supervising the data collection, data analysis, and continuous quality improvement efforts throughout 40 partner counties in Pennsylvania.

Monica has been trained in both clinical psychology and education, and has been working with youth and families with mental and behavioral health challenges for the past 20 years. Prior to her current role, she coordinated three large longitudinal NIMH-funded research studies at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She has also worked as an outpatient and in-home family and play therapist, taught secondary Social Studies at a local high school, and was an Adjunct Professor for undergraduate psychology courses at Duquesne University.

Monica obtained her training in Clinical Psychology at Duquesne University, completing her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and her Ph.D. (ABD). She also obtained a Master of Arts degree in Teaching at the University of Pittsburgh. She is the co-author of 11 trauma-related peer-reviewed articles in psychiatric journals. She is married to her wonderful husband, Jim, has three adorable cats, and loves music, photography, sports, and traveling in her free time.