Lily L. Bonilla, MBA

Professor Bonilla teaches the Traditional Track, LEAD, & BLEND programs in Pillar College’s Psychology and Counseling Department. She is also an NJ-Multisystemic Family Therapist who works with at-risk, out-of-home placement youth struggling with chronic, violent, and serious antisocial behaviors ending in incarceration and probation within the juvenile justice system. Lily is also a New Jersey Superior Court-Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children.

Professor Bonilla is certified by the American Psychological Association and Brandeis University as a Coordinator & Facilitator for the ACT Against Violence Parenting Program. She is also a Certified Church-Based ESL Ministries Instructor and a Certified Mental Health First Aid Assessor. Lily is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and the National Institute for Latino Policy. She also serves as North Jersey Vineyard Church’s Life Group Leader and Certified ESL Ministry Instructor and volunteers for their Welcome Team and Food Bank Ministry.

Professor Bonilla earned Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Latin America Latino Studies from Montclair State University. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Child Advocacy & Policy from The Graduate School at Montclair State University. Lily is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her research focuses on how childhood traumas like witnessing domestic violence/intimate partner violence and suffering child abuse and neglect impact these victims in adulthood.