Cornell's Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is a free, confidential resource to help Cornell employees resolve concerns that may impact their personal and/or professional lives.

Through counseling, consultation, and referral services, our professional counselors provide specialized care to meet the unique needs of Cornell's faculty and staff members. We recognize and celebrate the rich diversity of our Cornell community, and strive to be inclusive of the many cultures, experiences, practices, and values represented among our clients.

Learn more about ...

• our services
• who we serve
• how to schedule an appointment
• how we protect your confidentiality

FSAP is funded by the university's Division of Human Resources as a benefit and Wellbeing resource for employees. 

FSAP staff

Wai-Kwong Wong, Ph.D. Director  He/Him/His

Wai is the Director of the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program. Prior to joining FSAP in 2022, he worked primarily with students at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for over twenty years. He originally hails from Hong Kong but grew up in various boroughs of New York City. He holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Chicago (which he attended largely because that’s where Indiana Jones had studied) and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Virginia. He feels deeply honored and privileged to have worked with so many Cornell students, faculty and staff over the years, and believes that asking for help is one of the bravest things a person can do. 

Outside of work, he enjoys running, biking, reading trashy sci-fi/fantasy/horror novels and just standing around looking at the stars.

Eve Abrams, LCSW,   Counselor  She/Her/Hers

Eve is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She graduated with a BA in philosophy, religion and sociology in 1990 from Ithaca College. Her studies included a semester abroad studying death and dying in India. Upon her return, she decided to make Ithaca her home. 

She received her Master’s in Social Work from SUNY Binghamton with advanced training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction as well as trauma-based modalities. Eve has worked with college students, faculty, and staff since 2007. 

Eve’s clinical interests focus on health, trauma, sexuality & intimacy, aging, and the development of mindfulness skills to respond to the challenges of being a human. In addition, she enjoys working with people who are going through transitions of all kinds including early career adjustments, family changes, and end of career considerations. She welcomes the exploration of how intersectional identities impact our day-to-day lives. 

She brings a down-to-earth, warm, and relational way of working together that helps clients find belonging, well-being, and to be less alone. 

Eve's personal interests include Buddhism, walking in the woods, gardening, having good food, spending time with family, and finding humor in unlikely places. 

Casey Benson, LCSW, PMH-C  Counselor  She/Her/Hers

Casey Benson has been growing roots in Ithaca since 2006. She is a licensed clinical social worker with experience in private, public, non-profit, and higher educational settings. 

Casey’s counseling style is both supportive and collaborative. She utilizes a client-centered, relational, and strengths-based approach which emphasizes self-compassion, emotional expression, and mindfulness. Casey strives to create a caring, connected, and inclusive environment where clients feel free to be their authentic selves.

Casey’s clinical interests include issues related to interpersonal communication, couples/marriage, parenting, perinatal mental health, work stress and burnout, gender and sexuality, neurodiversity, grief and loss, depression, and anxiety.

Nature, yoga, food, and time with family and friends are a few of Casey’s favorite things.

Jennelle Liljestrand, LCSW Counselor She/Her/Hers

Jennelle is a licensed clinical social worker who finds fulfillment in co-creating a therapeutic space with her clients.  She believes we are all continuously on a journey of self-understanding, and Jennelle walks alongside clients on that path towards self-compassion (and understanding of an intimate partner as well!).  Jennelle enjoys empowering couples with the Gottman Method research and also integrates elements of IFS “Parts work”, mindfulness, ACT, CBT and DBT with individuals.  Her interests are particularly in working with anxiety, negative self-talk/beliefs, and relationship challenges within couples.

Jennelle grew up in Massachusetts and later returned for her Masters’ in Social Work at Smith College. After working in hospice, a VA hospital, and a Partial Hospital Program, she moved to Munich, Germany.  There, Jennelle learned German and worked in psychiatric, social welfare and private practice settings for the last 11 years, supporting clients, like herself, with immigration backgrounds navigating transitions, belonging and identity.

In her personal life, Jennelle enjoys spending time with her twin daughters, swimming, jogging, reading or doing a puzzle. 

Jason Stark, LCSW Counselor He/Him/His

Jason Stark graduated from Cornell in 1999 and earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Florida State University in 2002. He was excited that his role in FSAP allowed him to return to campus.

Jason has worked for 15 years in Tompkins County, addressing issues of sexual and domestic violence, anger management, substance use, and crisis intervention. Jason enjoys working with multidisciplinary teams and looks forward to cultivating relationships with faculty and staff to further the health of the Cornell community. A long-time “townie” (having spent the majority of his life living and working in Ithaca), Jason is a family man with two daughters who keep him busy outside of work.

Jasmine Jay, MFA Lead Clinical Administrative Assistant She/Her/Hers

Jasmine Jay is the Lead Clinical Administrative Assistant for the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (FSAP). She provides administrative support to all the FSAP clinicians and strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of FSAP's clients.

Having originally studied poetry and writing, Jasmine taught Creative Writing and and horror film courses at Cornell for two years before joining the FSAP. She is passionate about working for the betterment of Black girls and Black women in Ithaca, and is committed to creating spaces for Black and Brown people to thrive and prosper.

When she isn't working alongside the FSAP team, Jasmine can be found brainstorming new writing projects, reading about astrology, and listening to Whitney Houston.