User:Jeslie92/sandbox

Leslie Verghese is a New State Licensed Psychotherapist with LCSW-R which is the highest independent practicing privilege in the state. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Christian Counseling through NCCA. He has also earned Field Instruction privileges from Fordham University to work as a field supervisor for MSW students. In his secular job, Leslie is working as the Director of Clinic Services and Vice President of Administration of Lifespire which is a premier social service agency in New York providing rehabilitative clinical services to over 1500 developmentally disabled and seriously and persistently mentally ill individuals in over 100 locations. He is an ordained Pastor and also serves as the Executive Director of Agape Partners International with its principal offices in Waltham, Massachusetts that primarily focuses on marriage and teen counseling, overseas missions and social research. Other ministerial involvements and achievements include: Curriculum Coordinator of SSNI Inc., conducting seminars and trainings on various topics relating to family, marriage, teenage sexuality issues, abuse prevention etc. Leslie is a preacher, interpreter, Bible teacher and an accomplished author who has published a number of articles in Christian and professional journals and periodicals. He is married to Jessy and has four children Japhia, Joshua, Johana and Jaynah.

Early Life: Leslie was born in Madras (now Chennai) in Tamilnadu, India where his father was serving the Indian Army as a Subedar Major (Junior Commissioned Officer). Soon after his birth, Leslie's mother Gracy Samuel moved back to Kerala and settled in a small town in Kodukulanji where Leslie spent most of his early childhood.

Education: Leslie attended the Nursery School conducted by the YMCA Kodukulanji from 1973-1974. His first seven years of schooling was in the C.M.S. Upper Primary School, Kodukulanji where he was a top rated student in all grades. He served as class monitor and also as the School Leader. He proved his skills in public speaking and in leadership all through his education in the school. In his final year at the school, he was granted a National Merit Scholarship to study at the prestigious Loyola School, Trivandrum, Kerala.

From 1981 to 1985, Leslie studied at the Loyola School along with many well known people who are in very high secular positions. Leslie graduated high school (S.S.L.C.) with the 14th rank in the entire state of Kerala in 1985.

From 1985 to 1987, Leslie studies at the Bishop Moore College, in Mavelikara, Kerala where he completed his Pre-Degree Course (PDC) and graduated with the 4th rank from the Kerala University behind his own batchmate Manju Peetambaran who was the first rank holder.

From 1987 to 1991, Leslie attended the Illustrious Allahabad Agricultural Institute now known as the Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (deemed university) where he graduated with a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences.

The year 1992 marked a significant shift in Leslie's career path as he started pursuing a career in Psychiatric Social Work. He joined the Siber Institute of Social Work in Kolhapur, India to complete his MSW with a Medical and Psychiatry specialization and was the third rank holder at the Shivaji University

Immigration to the United States and Beginning of Career: Leslie immigrated to the United States in July 1994 and settled in New York. He started his career as a Volunteer Social Worker at the Zucker Hillside Hospital of LIJ (Long Island Jewish Medical Center). Soon after, in November, 1994, he joined A.C.R.M.D (Association for Children with Retarded Mental Development) as a Vocational Social Worker. ACRMD was later renamed Lifespire. Leslie has worked in Lifespire as a Psychothereapist at their Article 16 clinic providing Psychotherapy for developmentally disabled adults, the Clinic Coordinator, The Director of the Clinic, Vice President for Quality and Risk Management and now as the Vice President for Administration.

In addition, Leslie was also a significant partner in the launch of Agape Partners International which is an organization that was formed to meet the mental health, and related needs of South Asian Families in the US and abroad along with his partner Dr. Thomas Idiculla, who is also an Instructor of Psychiatry at the prestigious Harvard School of Medicine. Leslie currently serves as the Executive Director of Agape Partners International

Leslie started working with SSNI (Sunday School Network International) an international organization that develops curriculum for various age groups for Sunday Schools since 2003. He serves currently as the curriculum coordinator of SSNI

Advanced Educational Pursuits and Achievements
 * Field instruction training from the Fordham University - 2002 (Field Instructor for MSW students from various universities)
 * CSW (certified Social Worker) - NY State Education Department 1997 -
 * LCSW -R (Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Advanced Psychotherapy Privileges) - NY State Education Department - 2005 -
 * Ministerial Internship Program - Church of God Theological Seminary - Cleveland, TN - 2009
 * Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor - NCCA - Since 2009
 * Ordained Pastor - India Pentecostal Church of God - Since 2011
 * Doctoral Candidate in Christian Counseling - NCCA - - Since 2010

Other Positions Held
 * President - Student Christian Movement (SCM) - AAIDU - 1990
 * President - Evangelical Graduate Fellowship (EGF) - Kolhapur Chapter 1994
 * President - Pentecostal Youth Fellowship of America (PYFA) - 2000
 * National Youth Coordinator - Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites (PCNAK2003) - 2003
 * National Youth Coordinator - National Church of God Conference - 2004
 * Co-Chair Person - iCare International Conference - St. John's University, New York - 2010

Major Awards and Presentations
 * Presenter on Clinical Services along with Dr.Alan Philip Hore and Ms. Virginia Knott - NYSACRA conference 2007
 * Presenter on Marriage Trends among the South Asians at the first CONNEXT Conference in New York - 2009
 * Presenter on Marriage Counseling Needs among South Asians at the AACC World Conference in Nashville, TN -2011
 * Presenter on Mental Health Needs Among South Asians at the CAPS World Conference in Portland, 2013

Major Publications
 * Strangers in a Foreign Land - the first ever book written on the lives of the Indian Christian Immigrant Community in the USA - Associate Editor
 * Marriage Trends in the South Asian Community - A research study article published by the Emmanuel Gospel Center
 * Sunday School Curriculum for Pre-Teens, Teens, High-Teens, Young Adults and Adults, various topics

Religious Affiliations and Views: Leslie is an ordained Pastor and is a Pentecostal by denomination and faith.

Personal Life: Leslie is married to Jessy Mathew of Peedikayil family from Maramon, Kerala India since April, 1992. He lives with his wife and four children, Japhia Grace (Sophomore at NYIT ; and the President of the IVCF chapter of the college ), Joshua Samuel, Johana Ann, Jaynah Lynn. He is currently a minister at the Shalem Pentecostal Tabernacle, in Elmont, NY