Meet Our Staff
Dr. Betsy Grigoriu
Consultant
Dr. Grigoriu earned a B.S.E. in Secondary English Education (1989), an M. A. in Clinical Community Psychology (1993), both from Mansfield University in PA, and a doctorate in the field of Educational Psychology (Cornell University, 1998). She is an Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. Dr. Grigoriu has worked in public school systems as a teacher at the high school level and a therapeutic counselor at the elementary school level. Her experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and couples in clinical and school settings involved conducting individual and family therapy, psychological assessments, treatment team meetings with school psychologists, principals, teachers, and parents, and individual and group counseling with students. She has taught educational psychology undergraduate courses in adolescent development and learning processes, in the areas of cognitive, emotional, moral, and social development. She has taught graduate courses in adult development and program evaluation and has conducted numerous program evaluations in school and clinical settings. Dr. Grigoriu's research, conducted as a doctoral student, in cognitive-emotional development informs much of her work in analyzing the psychological needs of clients and formulating recommendations for placement. Her strength lies in helping families sort out a large amount of information to determine their options and make well-informed decisions. When she is not helping families as a consultant, she finds a lot of joy in her family, flying as a private pilot over New York Finger Lakes, hiking in local woods and streams, and traveling all over the world with her spouse. She lives in Ithaca, NY, with her husband, Mircea, a Professor at Cornell in Engineering. They each have a grown son and a daughter-in-law who live nearby.
Ithaca, NY 14850
T: 607.227.7203, F: 845.501.3017
bgrigoriu@ecs4families.org
Patrick Burns
Owner/Consultant
Patrick Burns has a B.A. and M.S. in Human Development from Cornell University. Patrick’s experience in therapeutic work is extensive and varied. More than 20 years ago he was a client of ECS, and attended a therapeutic outdoor program and later a therapeutic boarding school. He subsequently spent two years on the staff at the San Cristobal Ranch Academy in Taos, New Mexico where he worked with adolescents and young adults struggling with issues related to substance abuse and addiction. Not long after that he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Cornell. Patrick served for five years as the Associate Director of Student and Young Alumni Programs at Cornell University. He returned to ECS as a consultant before succeeding Dr. Posner as owner of the practice. Patrick's research and published work focuses on attachment, adoption and substance abuse. His publications have appeared in Psychology Today, The Huffington Post, The Portland Oregonian, Tulsa World, and Studies in American Humor. Pat has also worked intensively and over extended periods of time with teenagers, young adults and their families as a Life Coach and advisor on appropriate schools and programs. An avid athlete and outdoorsman, Pat cannot think of a better place to spend time with his family (and Chloe, his Golden Retriever) than Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, New York.
Ithaca, NY 14850
T: 607-592-0796
pburns@ecs4families.org
Courtenay O’Hea
Consultant
Courtenay O’Hea has a B.A. in Sociology from Dalhousie University located in Nova Scotia, Canada. In addition, she has a diploma, with honour roll standings, in Addictions and Community Services Work. Among other things, this diploma extensively covered modules on youth issues, working with families, psychology and group facilitation. Courtenay has spent time working in private substance rehabilitation clinics, however, her real interest lies in working with families to find the best and most effective solutions for their loved ones. Her experience as a wife and mother led her to work in this field. Her own child was a client of ECS and attended a wilderness program followed by a therapeutic boarding school. This experience coupled with her
education gives her a unique perspective and understanding of the overwhelming task of finding the right environment to help your child conquer whatever obstacles they are facing. Courtenay believes in the biopsychosocial model in treatment planning to ensure all aspects of life are accounted for, allowing for the greatest success. Courtenay enjoys spending time with her three children and husband at their lake house, appreciating the natural environment of the lakes and forests. She currently resides in Toronto, where she was born and raised.
Toronto, ON
T: 416.720.0457
courtenay@ecs4families.org
Dr. Glenn Altschuler
Family Systems Specialist/Advisor
Glenn Altschuler received his PhD in American history from Cornell in 1976 and was an administrator and teacher at the university between 1981 and 2024. He served as dean of the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions from 1991-2020. From 2009-2013, Professor Altschuler also served as vice president for university relations, with responsibilities for articulating and overseeing strategies related to communications, government relations, and land grant affairs.
Professor Altschuler was an animating force in the American Studies Program and has been a strong advocate on campus for high-quality teaching and advising. In 1998, he became the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies. For many years, his two-semester survey, Popular Culture in the United States 1900-Present, was one of the most popular courses at Cornell. In 2024, he became the Litwin Emeritus Professor of American Studies.
Professor Altschuler has won several awards for teaching and undergraduate advising at Cornell. He is the recipient of the Clark Teaching Award, the Donna and Robert Paul Award for Excellence in Faculty Advising, the Kendall S. Carpenter Memorial Award for Outstanding Advising, and the Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellowship for effective, inspiring, and distinguished teaching of undergraduate students.
The author or co-author of twelve books, Glenn Altschuler has addressed a range of topics, including American political culture, The G.I. Bill, a history of Cornell University, rock 'n' roll, great American trials, and the rise and fall of Protestant Brooklyn. He is also a prolific writer of book reviews and op/eds, which have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Psychology Today, The Jerusalem Post, and many other media outlets. From 1999-2002, his column, "College Prep," appeared in the Education Life section of the New York Times. From 2002-2005, he was a regular panelist on The Ivory Tower Half Hour, a weekly national and international public affairs program on WCNY TV, a PBS affiliate based in Syracuse, NY.
Glenn likes to go to the theater, listen to classical music, walk 13,000 steps every day, play poker, dine with friends at first-rate steakhouses, and stay in touch with his former students.
Susan H. Ainslie
Placement Associate
Susan earned an AAS in Food Service Administration from Morrisville State College, a BS from Western Michigan University, and an M.Ed. from St. Lawrence University. Her experiences as a daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother lead her to careers in education, the hospitality industry, healthcare, and real estate She has been a Cornell University lecturer, Cornell University Cooperative Extension Agent, and a consulting dietitian to hospitals and nursing homes. Susan is a past member of both the American Dietetic Association and the NYS Nutrition Council.
She has served on the boards of many organizations. Currently, she is a Village of Lansing Trustee and a member of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization and serves on the Tompkins County Youth Services Advisory Board and the Tompkins County Joint Youth Commission.
She spends time with her family and friends enjoying the New York State Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks.
T: 607.273.5400
sainslie@ecs4families.org
Dr. George J. Posner, EdD
Founder/Advising Consultant
Dr. Posner has a B.S. in Psychology (1965), and a masters degree in Physics Teaching (1970), both from Union College, and a doctorate in curriculum and educational psychology (University at Albany, 1972). For more than forty years he has been teaching and advising youth. He has been on the faculty at Cornell University since 1972 (currently retired and Professor Emeritus of Education), where he served as both Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies in Education and Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Posner has been an award-winning faculty member while at Cornell, the principal author of three major textbooks used around the world and more than thirty articles on teaching and curriculum. In addition, Dr. Posner served on the National Advisory Board of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Study (an independent evaluation of the DARE program) and on the Board of Education, Ithaca City School District (Ithaca, New York). He has also served as a consultant to schools, universities, foundations and states throughout the country and in several countries abroad on matters of curriculum, teaching and teacher education. This extensive background has provided the expertise needed to evaluate schools and programs and to assess their appropriateness for his clients. At Cornell and within the Ithaca community, Dr. Posner has always advocated for students with emotional and learning challenges. This commitment drew him to educational consulting and, in particular, to a focus on students with special needs. He lives in Ithaca, NY, with his wife, Adrienne, and has two married daughters, both mothers, one living in Rochester, NY, the other, a living in Greenwich, CT. He is an avid skier and is thankful for his wonderful grandchildren, who are the highlight of his life.
Ithaca, NY 14850
T:607.273.5400, F: 845.501.3017
gposner@ecs4families.org