Marissa S. Matta received a Doctorate in Counselor Education from the University at Buffalo-SUNY, a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Mississippi State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University. Marissa is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee (CASAC-T), and a Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS). Currently, she is a Professor and Director of Fieldwork in the School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling programs at Queens College – CUNY.

Marissa has extensive experience working in the nonprofit sector. She worked as a Vocational Specialist at START Treatment and Recovery Methadone Maintenance Clinic in East New York where she provided vocational and mental health counseling to patients with opioid use, substance use, and mental health disorders. Marissa also worked as a Diagnostic Vocational Evaluator at FEGS WeCARE in Manhattan assisting clients on welfare with clinical barriers to employment attain their highest level of health and self-sufficiency by addressing their individual service needs. Furthermore, she worked as a Community Support Supervisor at AHRC-NYC in Canarsie where she worked with adult individuals with a wide range of developmental disabilities and mental health issues.