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Phone Number: (856) 566-2770
Office Location: 40 East Laurel Road UEC, S-EUC-2105, Stratford , NJ 08084
Ni Gao, Ph.D., LCSW is an assistant professor at the Integrated Employment Institute in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at UMDNJ, where she provides consultation and technical assistance related to the development and delivery of evidence-based practice employment services.
Previously Ms. Gao worked in the community mental health field in New York and New Jersey. She has worked in case management, partial care and outpatient programs and held management positions for over ten years. She has presented workshops and trainings in New Jersey and at national conferences.
Her research interests include enhancing employment services and outcomes among people with mental illness and improving mental health services for ethnic minority groups. Ms. Gao is a co-author of several articles on employment issues for people with psychiatric disabilities
MSW, Syracuse University
Ph.D., UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions
Editorial Board Member, The Journal of Specialists in Group Work, 2024-2027
Editorial Advisory Board Member, Behavioral Medicine, 2021-2024
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation, 2018-2026
Excellence in Research of SHRP, 2011
Doctoral Student Scholarship Award, 2004-2005
Distinguished Service Award, 1997
Factors such as education attainment associated with employment success among individuals with psychiatric disability; Cultural issues in psychiatric services
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Title |
Sponsor |
Effective Dates |
Role |
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Navigating Higher Education: Telehealth Transdiagnostic CBT and Supported Education for Post-Secondary Students with Mental Health Conditions |
NIDRR, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services |
September 2025-August 2028 |
Co-PI | |||
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My CTE Journey: A Digital Toolkit for Navigating Career and Technical Education |
NIDRR, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services |
September 2024-August 2027 |
PI | |||
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Internet Assisted Career-Oriented Soft-skills Training (iCareer) for Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
NIDRR, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services |
September 2022-September 2025 |
Co-PI | |||
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Developing A Career Services Toolkit for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness Pursuing Career & Technical Education |
NIDRR, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services |
September 2020-August 2024 |
PI | |||
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Evaluating the Impact of Employment Services in Supportive Housing |
NIDRR, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services |
September 2013-August 2017 |
PI | |||
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Evaluating the Impact of Employment Services in Supportive Housing |
NIDRR, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services |
2013 – Ongoing |
PI | |||
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The Impact of Self-Help Center Characteristics on the Satisfaction and Empowerment of People with Serious Mental Illness |
UMDNJ Foundation |
2009 – Present |
PI |
| Title | Authors | Where and When |
| Leveraging big electronic data to identify oral care disparities in individuals with serious mental illness | Singhal, V., Jia, Y., Gao, N., York, J., Gold-Rosenbach, M., Ginu, N., Arya, R., & Patel, J. S. | 2025. General dentistry, 73(4), 68–77 |
| Educational Expectations Matter in College Application and STEM Major Choices for Students with Disabilities | Jia, Y., Eissenstat, S. J., & Gao, N. | 2025. Journal of Disability Policy Studies https://doi.org/10.1177/10442073251368339 |
| Need for Interprofessional Collaboration for Depression Interventions: From Research to Future | Eissenstat, S. J., Gao, N., Brody, R., & Modak, R. | 2025. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 28(5), 1176-1184 https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i5.580 |
| Explaining Traumatic Stress Experienced by International Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic | Eissenstat, S. J., Gao, N., Wacha-Montes, A., Wang, Y., Lee, Y., Oh, S. & Castanos, V. | 2025. Journal of International Students 10.1080/07448481.2025.2472183 |
| Interprofessional Training for Opioid Disorder Treatment: A Pilot Study of Student Outcome Analysis | Minor, T., Back, A., Lu, W., Gao, N., Oursler, J., Beninato, J., Choi, J., Srijeyanthan, J., Demasi, M., & Robinson, M. | 2025. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 0(0), 1–9 https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20250313-02 |
| Using EPIS to Improve and Sustain Career Services Within Community Behavioral Health Settings | Dolce, J., Banko, A., Valiant, J., Nuhu-Sulemana, M., Gao, N., Salzman, A., & Rodriguez, M. | 2025. The Rehabilitation Professional, 33(2) https://doi.org/10.70385/001c.143989 |
| Employment-related soft skills for young adults with disabilities | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Gao, N., Beninato, J., Herrick, S. J., Durante, A., Bazan, C., Socha, C., Gbadamosi, S., Meyers, E., & Hill, K. | 2025. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation https://doi.org/10.1177/10522263251337587 |
| The Experiences and Impact on wellness among International Students in the United States during COVID-19 Pandemic | Gao, N., Eissenstat, S. J., Wacha-Montes, A., & Wang, Y. | 2024. Journal of American College Health 10.1080/07448481.2022.2052077 |
| Effectiveness of acupuncture and brief telehealth intervention for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder | Lu, W., Chen, Y., Gao, N., Wang, K., Srijeyanthan, J., Beninato, J., Oursler, J., Lin, K. W.-R., Ben-Ari, T. Z., Ray, S., & Caldwell, B. | 2024. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 1–11 https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20240612-02 |
| Telehealth non-inferior to in-person for vocational counseling: A comparison study of “Asking for Help” group intervention to improve soft skills | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S.J., Gao, N., Harosh, A.S., Wang, K., Beninato, J., Morales, M., Diviney, J., & Mevawala, J. | 2024. Journal of Employment Counseling 61(4), 237-256 https://doi.org/10.1002/joec.12234 |
| Behavioral interventions of dietary changes to reduce depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis | Eissenstat, S., Gao, N., Kim, B., Brody, R., & Hauck, E. | 2023. Journal of Public Health doi:10.1007/s10389-023-02157-z |
| Healing trauma while staying at home: Using telehealth to conduct a brief treatment program for posttraumatic stress disorder | Lu, W., Caldwell, B., Gao, N., Oursler, J., Wang, K., Beninato, J., Srijeyanthan, J., Kumi, C., Sawyer, J., Giacobbe, G., Chen, Y., Lin, K. W., & Mueser, K. T. | 2023. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 1–11 https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20231205-01 |
| Focus groups on employment related soft skills for transition age youth with disabilities | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Gao, N., Herrick, S., Mariani, J., Diviney, J., Socha, C., & Beninato, J. | 2023. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 59(2), 123-137 https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-230033 |
| Comparing telehealth-based vs. in-person soft skills training for persons with disabilities during COVID-19: A pilot study | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Diviney, J., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Wang, K., Santiago, G., & Parrott, J. S. | 2023. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 48(1), 57-77 https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2022.2158973 |
| Conversational skills at work: Teaching small talk via telehealth to individuals with disabilities | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Eissenstat, S., Harosh, A. S., Wang, K., Diviney, J., Schultz, E., Silva, J., & Lee, D. | 2023. Journal of Employment Counseling, 60(4), 260–281 https://doi.org/10.1002/joec.12217 |
| Responding to feedback: Employment-related soft skills for persons with disabilities | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S. J., Gao, N., Wang, K., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Franco, S., & Jackson, S. | 2023. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 54(3), 229-247 https://doi.org/10.1891/JARC-2022-0017 |
| A One-Year Follow-up Study of Changes in Social Media Use among College Students with Disabilities | Gao, N., Eissenstat, S. J., & DeMasi, M. | 2022. Journal of American College Health 10.1080/07448481.2022.2047707 |
| A Rapid Response to Training Needs for Rehabilitation Practitioners: An Exploratory Study | Dolce, J., Gao, N., Bates, F., Banko, A., Stone, B., & Akhtar, I. | 2022. The Rehabilitation Professional, 30(1), 37-48 |
| The Association Between Food Insecurity and Psychological Distress Among Graduate Health Professions Students | Sullivan, J., Gao, N., Byham-Gray, L., & Sackey, J. | 2022. Current Developments in Nutrition, 6(Suppl 1), 179 https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzac051.095 |
| Anxiety, Depression and Food Insecurity Among Health Professions Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Sackey, J., Sullivan, J., Brody, R., Gao, N., Touger-Decker, R., & Byham-Gray, L. | 2022. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 122(9) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.06.046 |
| Work-related interview skills training for persons served by vocational rehabilitation agencies in four states | Oursler, J., Lu, W., Gao, N., Herrick. S., Beninato, J., Hill, K., & Durante, A. | 2022. Rehabilitation, Research, Policy, and Education, 36(1) https://doi.org/10.1891/RE-20-23 |
| Interview skills training for people with neurodevelopmental disorders receiving vocational services: A pilot study | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S.J., Gao, N., Beninato, J., Minor, T., Franco, S., Sanitago, G., Mihaita, T., & Hauck, E. | 2022. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 57, 197-206 https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-221210 |
| Service needs assessment of employment-related soft skills for transition age youth with disabilities | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Gao, N., Herrick, S.J., Mariani, J., Socha, C., & Beninato, J. | 2022. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 56(1), 69-79 https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-211173 |
| Asking for help: Employment-related soft skills training for persons with disabilities | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S.J., Gao, N., Beninato, J., Durante, A., Gbasamosi, S., & Minor, T. | 2022. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 53(4), 266-278 https://doi.org/10.1891/JARC-2021-0002 |
| Feasibility of work-related interviewing and conversational skills trainings for individuals with psychiatric disabilities | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S.J., Gao, N., Beninato, J., Bazan, C., Hill, K., & Minor, T. | 2022. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552221102398 |
| Social Media Use and Academic, Social, and Career Development among College Students with Disabilities | Gao, N., Eissenstat, S. J. & Oh, T. L. | 2021. Journal of American College Health doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1947831 |
| A pilot study of wellness coaching for Smoking Cessation among Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses | Gao, N., Solomom, P., Clay, Z., & Swarbrick, M. | 2021. Journal of Mental Health, 32(1), 183-189; Doi: 10.1080/09638237.2021.1922630 |
| Work-related interview skills training for persons with substance use disorders | Lu, W., Oursler, J., Herrick, S.J., Beninato, J., Gao, N., Brown, L., & Durante, A. | 2021. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 46(2), 146-160 https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2021.1900959 |
| Postsecondary Career and Technical Education: A Pathway to Employment for Individuals with Mental Health Conditions | Gao, N., Buchbinder, S. Banko, A. & Stone, B. | 2020. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 23(3-4), 249-269 |
| Poor physical health: A major barrier to employment participation among individuals with serious mental illness | Gao, N., Eissenstat, S. J. & Giacobbe, G. | 2020. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 52, 101-108 |
| Nutrient intake differences among ethnic groups and risks of depression | Eissenstat S. J., Gao, N., Radler, D. G., & Oh, T. L. | 2020. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health |
| The relationship between hope and symptoms | Waynor, W. R., Gao, N., Dolce, J. N., Haytas, L., & Reilly, A. | Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. Vol. 35 (4): 345-348 (2012 ) |
| Building Human Capital to Increase Earning Power among People Living with Mental Illnesses | Gao, N., Schmidt, L. T., Gill, K., & Pratt, C. W. | Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. Vol. 35(2): 117-124 (2011 ) |
| The application of human capital theory in vocational rehabilitation for individuals with mental illness | Gao, N, Gill, K. J., Schmidt, L. T., & Pratt, C. W. | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, . Vol. 32 (1): 25-33 (2010 ) |
| A case illustration of strategies to improve employment outcomes among individuals receiving ACT services | Gao, N. & Dolce, J. N. | American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Vol. 13 (2): 75-88 (2010 ) |
| One-Stop Career Center customer satisfaction questionnaire: Psychometric properties of an instrument that can be used by individuals with and without disabilities | Gervey, R., & Gao, N. | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Vol. 30 (1): 21-29 (2009 ) |
| Creating organizational commitment to change: Key to consumer employment success in a supportive housing agency. | Gao, N., Waynor, W. R., O Donnell, S. | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Vol. 31(1): 45-50 (2009 ) |
| Person-centered employment planning teams: a demonstration project to enhance employment and training outcomes for persons with disabilities accessing the One-Stop Career Center system. | Gervey, R., Gao, N., Tillman, D., Dickel, K., & Kneubuehl, J. | Journal of Rehabilitation, 75(2), 43-49.. Vol. 75(2): 43-49 (2009 ) |
| Gloucester County One-Stop Project: Results of staff training on customer satisfaction and employment outcomes for person with disabilities | Gervey, R., Costello, L. & Gao, N | Journal of Rehabilitation. Vol. 73 (3): 10-17 (2007 ) |
| Diversity and Cultural Competence. In M.S. Salzer (Ed.), Psychiatric rehabilitation skills in practice: A CPRP preparation and skills workbook | Rogers, J., Restrepo-Toro, M. E. & Gao, N. | Vol. : 387-440 (2006 ) |
| Gloucester County One Stop Project: Baseline level of Access and Satisfaction of One Stop Center Customers with Disability | Gervey, R., Gao, N. & Rizzo, D. | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. Vol. 21: 103-115 (2004 ) |
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