Faculty

Dominic Alvernaz, Ph.D

Dr. Dominic Alvernaz earned his PsyD in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University-Fresno in California. He also attended Merced College in Merced, California and the University of California San Diego where he studied Psychology. Dr. Alvernaz completed his Postdoctoral Residency at Compass Health Network in Missouri. He is assigned to adolescent acute and intermediate length inpatient psychiatric units at the Human Services Center in Yankton, South Dakota.

Vanessa Ferguson, Ph.D

Vanessa Ferguson, PhD has worked for nearly 30 years as a clinical psychologist providing services across a variety of settings in South Dakota. Her career has included work at community mental health centers, the Sioux Falls VA, other larger medical systems in South Dakota and various times at the South Dakota Human Services Center. Through these diverse systems Dr. Ferguson has provided therapy and assessments to child, adolescent, adult and geriatric clients with more specialized assessments for Social Security Disability and evaluations for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. She has delivered services at the former State Juvenile Prison, various adolescent treatment centers, Community Support Providers, and St. Joseph’s Indian School. At the VA Dr. Ferguson worked as a primary care psychologist triaging mental health patients from primary care, the emergency department and specialty clinics. Additionally, she worked with the VA pain clinic, completed evaluations for veterans seeking disability benefits and as Psychology Internship Director, starting an internship program at Sioux Falls VA. While working in other larger medical systems she delivered mental health services for Women’s and other health clinics such as Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecology Oncology, Reproductive Endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and other areas as needed. She provided specialized assessment and therapy specific to various infertility needs, specialized assessments for kidney donation and evaluations for gastric bypass surgery as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia. She has had experience providing supervision to graduate students, psychologists working towards licensure, and licensed psychologists. She served on a national board for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and in years past has served as the head of the Psychology Department at the South Dakota Human Services Center.

Stephanie Fuller, Ph.D

Stephanie Fuller, Ph.D. serves as USD-GPEP Training Director for LCBHS. She is a clinical psychologist who works as a consultant for South Dakota Social Security Disability Determination Services. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota (USD) where she has been teaching and supervising psychiatry residents in psychotherapy for over 20 years. She was formerly the Director of the Psychological Services Center, a part of the USD clinical training program in the psychology department at USD. She has served over 20 years as a clinical supervisor for the USD clinical psychology graduate training program in various positions and has supervised at a variety of graduate student clinical placement sites in South Dakota over the years including Urban Indian Health, Heartland Counseling and Community Behavioral Health, and the South Dakota Human Services Center, which is the South Dakota state psychiatric hospital. She has a wealth of experience in training issues and working with underserved populations. She grew up in Nebraska and South Dakota and obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of North Dakota. She currently works in eastern SD and is a clinical placement supervisor at the USD Student Counseling Center in Vermillion.

Joel Merkwan, Ph.D

Director of Psychology

Dr. Joel Merkwan earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of South Dakota Clinical Psychology Training Program, which is American Psychological Association Accredited. He completed his residency at the Center for Psychiatric Care in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Dr. Merkwan is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine Psychiatry Department and an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Dakota Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. He is employed as the Director of Psychology and a Clinical Psychologist at the Human Services Center in Yankton, South Dakota and covers adult inpatient competency restoration unit.

Thomas Stanage, Ph.D

Thomas S. Stanage, Ph.D., is a native of Yankton, South Dakota. Dr. Stanage has had a lifetime of providing for the care of those in need. Dr. Stanage completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Yankton College, Yankton, South Dakota. At the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, he earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a minor in Developmental Psychology and Alcohol Studies. Through his employment with Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services, Inc., and in his current role as Executive Director, Dr. Stanage is recognized throughout the state as a leader in providing the highest quality mental health services. He has been the recipient of numerous federal and state grants and is known as a pioneer in the development of behavioral health services in rural South Dakota. Dr. Stanage received local, state, regional and national recognition for his leadership and commitment to serving those with serious mental illness and chemical dependency. His professionalism is recognized through his membership, offices held, and continuing involvement with the National and South Dakota Chapters of the American Psychological Association, the South Dakota Council of Community Mental Health Centers, and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Dr. Stanage serves as the chairperson of the South Dakota Board of Psychological Examiners. Dr. Stanage has extensive experience in the provision of both adult and family / child services. Dr. Stanage is a dedicated family man who actively serves his local community in many leadership capacities on an extensive list of organizations and Boards.

Angela Tonsoline, Ph.D

Dr. Angela Tonsoline earned her PhD in Psychology from the University of Buffalo in New York, an APA=-Accredited program She completed her APA-accredited clinical internship at Tewksbury State Hospital near Boston, Massachusetts. She completed her postdoctoral residency at the Human Services Center in Yankton, South Dakota where she now works as a full-time Licensed Psychologist, primarily assigned to the adult psychiatric rehabilitation units.