Speakers
Ashley J. Luedke, PhD, LMHC
Associate Professor
Dr. Ashley Luedke is an Associate Professor and Program Director at St Bonaventure University. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in NY and FL and specializes in working with adolescents navigating crisis and trauma events. Dr. Luedke’s research has primarily focused on supervision, wellness, and the therapeutic relationship. Dr. Luedke begins her term as President Elect of NARACES in July 2024.
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Davante Novacek, B.A.
The second presenter has been a behavioral health and substance use counselor working on the front lines of the opioid crisis for more than three years. He has served diverse populations. His dedication to advancing the field of addiction treatment has led him to actively contribute to innovative research endeavors, including Project MIMIC and Project CoMPASS, in partnership with esteemed institutions nearby. Through these collaborations, he has delved into the intricacies of interventions such as contingency management, explicitly examining their impact on adherence to HIV PrEP (Project CoMPASS) medications and group therapy (Project MIMIC).
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Dominic Augustin, NCC, CRC, M.Ed
Doctoral Student
I am a doctoral student in counselor education at Penn State University. I am a nationally certified counselor as well as a certified rehabilitation counselor. I specialize in working with people living with disabilities and people of color. Much of my research revolves around better serving underserved populations in spaces where they have historically been marginalized.
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Melissa Wheeler, PhD, NCC, ACS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Melissa (Missy) Wheeler is a National Certified Counselor and an Approved Clinical Supervisor who lives in northern Virginia. Dr. Wheeler has been a distance counselor educator for over ten years. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro focusing on the career development experiences of first-year, first-generation college students. Dr. Wheeler has gained experience assisting college students in transition through her work in career services, academic advising, and college student success. Her experience and interests include career counseling, retention of first-generation college students, college and career readiness, practitioner research in career counseling, and mentoring new, online counselor education faculty members. Dr. Wheeler has held leadership positions with the American Counseling Association, the National Career Development Association, Maryland Counselors Association, and the Virginia Career Development Association.
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Xihe Tian, NCC, MS
PhD Student
Xihe Tian is currently in her second year as a doctoral student in the Counselor Education program. She has a keen interest in multiculturalism and social justice within the field of counseling and is dedicated to actively engaging with and learning about diverse cultures.
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Ms. Linh Le (She/her/hers)
Doctoral Student
I am a first- year doctoral student at the Pennsylvania State University whose research focuses on enhancing multicultural education and learning experiences of counseling students of color. I am a former teacher, and my passion is greatly aligned with addressing students' needs and promoting culturally responsive pedagogy in the counseling field.
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Dana Mariano
Ms. Dana Mariano, LPC, NCC, ACS, CCTP
Dana Mariano has worked as a middle school and high school counselor from 2008-2023. During this time, her passion for all things counseling led her in pursuit of an Ed.D., in Counselor Education and Supervision from Shippensburg University. Dana is currently a 2nd year doctoral student looking forward to dissertation completion. Recently, Dana began supervising masters’ level clinicians and finds significant joy in this area of the field. Dana is also employed as a clinician and manages a caseload of clients. Dana provides services both in person and remotely. In her free time, Dana enjoys spending time with her dog, Bear along with her family and friends.
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Marissa Wright, M.S., NCC
Counselor/Doctoral Candidate
My name is Marissa Wright, and I am a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) program at Duquesne University. Currently, I work as a prelicensed counselor in community mental health setting. My research interests encompass imposter syndrome among graduate students and novice counselors, the supervision process in CES, and generational learning differences in CES programs.
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Jocelyn Novella
Dr.
Assistant Professor, Counselor Education, Fairfield University
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Joe Varughese
Doctoral Student
Joe Varughese is a doctoral student in the Ph.D. in Counseling program at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in New Jersey with over 10 years of clinical experience in community mental health and private practice. Joe has worked in providing therapy services to adults, minors, and couples. Joe has worked with clients experiencing various diagnoses, including severe and persistent mental illness. He has also worked extensively with clients requiring psychiatric crisis services and to assess for the need for hospitalization.
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Holly Branthoover, EdD, NCC, LPC
Professor
Presenter 1 has been a Professor in the Department of Counseling at a CACREP accredited program for 19 years. She is a co-author of an article based on the study in this proposed poster presentation. She is currently Doctoral Coordinator within her department and editor of an ACA branch division journal. She has over 20 years of professional organization leadership experience at the national, regional, state, and local levels. She has engaged in numerous peer reviewed and invited leadership presentations.
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Clarrice King, Ph.D., LPC
Associate Professor
Dr. Clarrice King is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor in NC and has been counseling clients in English and Spanish for over 20 years. Dr. King is also an Associate Professor for an online university and has been educating counseling master’s and doctoral students for 20 years. Dr. King attended CACREP accredited master’s and Ph.D. programs for her degrees.
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Lorraine J. Guth, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Professor
The first presenter has been a counselor educator for 29 years and is currently the clinical coordinator for master’s degree programs at her university. Her scholarly interests focus on sexuality and sex positivity in counselor education. She is also the past-president of a national counseling organization. She led the inaugural masterclass podcast/video series and facilitated three service-learning projects. She has utilized innovative technology to enhance teaching/supervision and has participated in numerous trainings to enhance online teaching. She engaged in international social justice advocacy/teaching in several countries, such as Bhutan, Malawi, and Turkey. She published numerous articles related to innovative teaching, technology in counselor education, sexuality, and multiculturalism. She also collaborated with other professionals to develop and publish a guiding document founded on principles of social justice and multiculturalism.
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Abby Dougherty
Clinical faculty
Dr. Abby Dougherty NCC LPC (PA) joined Southern New Hampshire University from Drexel University, where she oversaw the counseling curriculum for the creative art therapies department. She’s also worked as a college counselor and taught at several colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area.
Dougherty has a small private supervision practice, supporting counselors in training toward receiving their Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification. She conducted her doctoral research exploring the lived experiences of counselor educators with mindfulness practice in the classroom with culturally diverse students.
She is the past president for the Greater Philadelphia Pennsylvania Counseling Association and current Emerging Leader chair for ACES emerging leaders. Her interests include examining the use of creative arts in college counseling and counseling supervision, virtual reality (VR) and immersive technologies in counseling and counselor education, simulation education, relational-cultural theory, and mindfulness and contemplative tools in counselor education.
Dougherty received her doctorate in counselor education and supervision and her master’s in mental health counseling, both from Walden University
Dougherty has a small private supervision practice, supporting counselors in training toward receiving their Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification. She conducted her doctoral research exploring the lived experiences of counselor educators with mindfulness practice in the classroom with culturally diverse students.
She is the past president for the Greater Philadelphia Pennsylvania Counseling Association and current Emerging Leader chair for ACES emerging leaders. Her interests include examining the use of creative arts in college counseling and counseling supervision, virtual reality (VR) and immersive technologies in counseling and counselor education, simulation education, relational-cultural theory, and mindfulness and contemplative tools in counselor education.
Dougherty received her doctorate in counselor education and supervision and her master’s in mental health counseling, both from Walden University
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Shana J. Gelin, PhD, LAC, NCC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Shana Gelin is a faculty member at Kean University in the Counselor Education Department. Her research is actively focused on multicultural and feminist counseling issues, specifically, illuminating the Afro-Caribbean population and the intersectional perspectives of race, ethnicity, and gender in demystifying the belief of a monolithic Black identity. Dr. Gelin is an NBCC Minority Fellow and received several minor grants for my work both nationally and internationally. Dr. Gelin is currently collaborating with the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research to assist the First Lady of New Jersey, Tammy Murphy’s 2.22-million-dollar legislation called the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center Act (S3864).
Dr. Gelin’s clinical experience encompasses working as a counselor for adults, children, adolescents, and families across outpatient, school, crisis, and university settings for approximately nine years. She has diverse working experience in different settings (i.e., urban school districts, various clinical settings, and university college counseling centers) which allowed for the opportunity to counsel individuals of underrepresented social, racial, and economic backgrounds. As a counselor educator her goal is to not only teach students about critical approaches to counseling, but also promote critical thinking, cultural competency, and personal self-reflection.
Dr. Gelin’s clinical experience encompasses working as a counselor for adults, children, adolescents, and families across outpatient, school, crisis, and university settings for approximately nine years. She has diverse working experience in different settings (i.e., urban school districts, various clinical settings, and university college counseling centers) which allowed for the opportunity to counsel individuals of underrepresented social, racial, and economic backgrounds. As a counselor educator her goal is to not only teach students about critical approaches to counseling, but also promote critical thinking, cultural competency, and personal self-reflection.
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Dana Brookover, PhD, NCC
Assistant Professor
Dana L. Brookover, PhD is an assistant professor at Villanova University. A nationally certified counselor and former professional school counselor, her research interests include PK–16 education equity, access to school counseling, first-generation college student success, and STEM equity. She also researches social determinants of health and the related impact on well-being and education outcomes.
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Heidi L. Henry, PhD, LPC
Dr. Heidi L. Henry is an Assistant Professor at St. Bonaventure University. She teaches in their fully online CACREP accredited school and CMH counseling programs. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education from Sam Houston State University and her Master’s degree in Community Counseling from Louisiana State University. She has been a counselor educator since January 2018, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Pennsylvania, and has professional counseling experience in both school and clinical settings. Her research pursuits include presenting and publishing information that addresses mental health and educational disparities among diverse and historically marginalized populations, as well as research to advance counselor education andragogy.
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Aubrey Daniels
Assistant Professor
Dr. Aubrey Daniels is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers University. Her research is focused on complex trauma and the impacts it has on individuals and family systems both long term and short term. Much of her research focuses on the construct, resilience, as many who experience trauma have shown vast amounts of resilience. Therefore, she studies what factors lead to resilience despite the experience of trauma. Dr. Daniels' practice is focused on trauma specifically, childhood and complex trauma, crisis, and adult mental health. She possesses a wide range of clinical experience, with adults experiencing severe mental health concerns, college students in multiple settings, children, adolescents & families in mental health agencies and school settings. She is a trauma informed counselor utilizing this lens with individuals, couples, families, and groups across the lifespan.
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Madison Rowohlt, LAC, NCC
Madison Rowohlt, LAC, NCC
Madison Rowohlt, LAC, NCC, is a current full-time doctoral student in Montclair State University's Counseling PhD program. Madison's current research interests included trauma-informed and anti-oppressive counseling practices, fueled by her clinical experience working with trauma-exposed youth and young adults. With advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, Narrative Exposure Therapy Technique, and Play Therapy, Madison takes an integrative approach to healing and works to promote safety and empowerment in the therapeutic space.
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Diandra J. Prescod, PhD, LPC, NCC
Associate Professor
Dr. Diandra J. Prescod is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Counselor Education at the University of Connecticut. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Certified Career Services Provider. Dr. Prescod’s research focuses on effective career development interventions for STEM undergraduate students and underrepresented students in higher education. She has over 10 years of counseling experience, over 70 presentations, numerous publications in academic journals, and over $3M in external funding.
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Anastasha Earl, PhD, NCC
Instructor
Anastasha is a recent graduate of Duquesne University's Counselor Education and Supervision PhD program. She has over a decade of research experience in counseling and psychology, including research on counselor wellbeing, community engagement for students, and the role cognitive perception in eye witness memory. Ana has broad clinical experience including work in community agency, public education, and university settings--her favorite of which was heading a burnout support group for other clinicians. She is currently an instructor at PennWest University.
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Rebecca Wills, LPC, ACS
Professor
Rebecca (Becky) Wills is a licensed professional counselor in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Becky has been a counselor for over twenty years. She has pursued continuing education and certification in brief psychotherapy, crisis intervention, EMDR, and the treatment of trauma and loss in all ages. For over fifteen years she has maintained an independent private practice treating children, adolescents, and adults in individual, group, and family therapy. In 2018 Becky began teaching psychology and counselor courses at the University of Valley Forge in Phoenixville, PA.
Becky is also the clinical director of the Mercury Critical Incident Response Team in Southern New Jersey and the ATs Care Response Team of New Jersey serving Athletic Trainers in need. Becky responds with the teams to emergency services personnel, police, firefighters, dispatchers, and athletic trainers who may have a psychological reaction to an event. Additionally, Becky is currently the past president of the Greater Philadelphia Area Counseling Association (GPACA). She loves sharing and conducting counseling research, supervising counselors, client and professional advocacy work, and mentoring counseling students.
Becky is also the clinical director of the Mercury Critical Incident Response Team in Southern New Jersey and the ATs Care Response Team of New Jersey serving Athletic Trainers in need. Becky responds with the teams to emergency services personnel, police, firefighters, dispatchers, and athletic trainers who may have a psychological reaction to an event. Additionally, Becky is currently the past president of the Greater Philadelphia Area Counseling Association (GPACA). She loves sharing and conducting counseling research, supervising counselors, client and professional advocacy work, and mentoring counseling students.
Sessions
Louisa Foss-Kelly, PhD, ACS, LPC, NCC
Professor
Louisa Foss-Kelly, PhD, ACS, LPC, NCC is a Professor of Counselor Education and Counseling Training Clinic Director at SCSU. She has co-authored 20 works and given 60 peer-reviewed counseling presentations, including 20 at ACES or regional ACES conferences. She is President of Chi Sigma Iota and Past President of the CT Counseling Association.
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Jennifer Kennedy, PhD, LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
I am a licensed professional counselor who works at Sanderson Psychological - a group private practice in Elizabeth, PA. I work with teens, young adults, and adult clients on a variety of mental health-related concerns. I have an interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and learning how to incorporate this modality into my work with clients. I am also interested in ACT Peer Consultation Groups and learning how to ethically integrate clients' spiritual and/or religious beliefs into their treatment. I obtained my doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from IUP and have experience working as a temporary faculty at IUP. My research interests include ACT interventions, religious and spiritual issues in counseling, counseling self-efficacy, wellness, and course development in counselor education. I am a member of PCA, PASERVIC, ACA, ACES, and NARACES.
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Kate Byrd, MSCP, NCC
MS
This presenter is a counselor, adjunct faculty member, and a doctoral candidate in a counselor education and supervision program. The presenter has experience in emerging adulthood, college counseling, career counseling, first-episode psychosis, and psychiatric rehabilitation. This presenter has been researching the impacts of neuroscience on counselor education and counseling practice with the goal of increasing practitioner and educator awareness of the social justice implications of the universal mind-body connection.
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Dana George Trottier, MA, LCAT, RDT/BCT
Director of Simulation Fellowship Program
Dana George Trottier (he/they), MA, LCAT, RDT/BCT, is a Counselor Educator, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in New York, a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT), and a Board Certified Trainer (BCT). They are a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education & Supervision at Antioch University Seattle. Dana serves as adjunct faculty at New York University (Drama Therapy) and Antioch University Seattle (CMHC). Dana is currently the Director of the Healthcare Simulation Fellowship Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Institute for Medical Simulation and Advanced Learning—one of the largest, accredited interprofessional healthcare simulation fellowship programs across the globe. Previously, they were the Director of Mental Health Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. They have over 12 years of clinical experience working with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings including: acute care, medical, outpatient, private practice, PROS, community mental health, children’s enrichment, private organizations, and workplaces. Their research, publications, and presentations include a variety of topics, such as: debriefing experiential learning; embodied supervision and clinical training; simulated patient methodology to teach counseling skills; action-based DBT; social justice in clinical supervision; microaggressions and systems of oppression in treatment spaces; and minority stress and mental health in the LGBTQ community. He is co-editor of the book Creative Arts Therapies and the LGBTQ Community.
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Holly Seirup
Professor
Dr. Holly Seirup joined Hofstra in 1982 and began teaching full-time in 2006. She holds a joint appointment as a Professor in the Departments of Counseling & Mental Health Professions and Educational Leadership. Before joining the faculty, Dr. Seirup held various positions in university administration including serving as Vice President of Campus Life for over a decade.
Dr. Seirup was appointed the Dean for the School of Health Professions and Human Services (HPHS) in March 2017. Under her leadership, the School experienced a 60% increase in enrollment and added graduate programs in Healthinformatics, Occupational Therapy, as well as the foundation for the new Physical Therapy program.
She has presented at numerous regional, national, and international conferences and has authored/coauthored articles on topics ranging from the impact of Hope on academic success, behavioral health issues on the college campus, college persistence, and online pedagogy.
Dr. Seirup is an active member of professional and community organizations. She received the NASPA Robert H. Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member in 2016, was named the School of Health Sciences and Human Services 2013-14 Teacher of the Year, the Hofstra University Award for Alumni Achievement in September 2002, and was most recently named one of the 2019 Top 50 Women in Business by Long Island Business News.
Dr. Seirup was appointed the Dean for the School of Health Professions and Human Services (HPHS) in March 2017. Under her leadership, the School experienced a 60% increase in enrollment and added graduate programs in Healthinformatics, Occupational Therapy, as well as the foundation for the new Physical Therapy program.
She has presented at numerous regional, national, and international conferences and has authored/coauthored articles on topics ranging from the impact of Hope on academic success, behavioral health issues on the college campus, college persistence, and online pedagogy.
Dr. Seirup is an active member of professional and community organizations. She received the NASPA Robert H. Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member in 2016, was named the School of Health Sciences and Human Services 2013-14 Teacher of the Year, the Hofstra University Award for Alumni Achievement in September 2002, and was most recently named one of the 2019 Top 50 Women in Business by Long Island Business News.
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Elizabeth A. Prosek, PhD, LPC, NCC
Associate Professor
Elizabeth A. Prosek, PhD, LPC, NCC, is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Penn State University. Her research interests include counseling military populations; community engagement and program evaluation; co-occurring presenting concerns; and ethics, exemplar practice, and professional identity development in counseling and counselor education. She previously served as President of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC; 2021-22). She currently serves the profession as an Associate Editor for Qualitative Research for the Journal of Counseling & Development, and an editorial board member for Teaching and Supervision in Counseling.
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Iris Kim
Diverse Minds, Infinite Potential: Fostering Inclusion in Counselor Education
Iris is currently a PhD candidate in counseling education and works as a licensed creative arts therapist in New York City running a group practice. Presenter focuses on working with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship issues using creative arts modalities and CBT. As a bi-poc clinician, she is culturally sensitive and supports minority clients within a safe space. She also advocates for marginalized Asian communities that seek to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed.
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Niko Wilson, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Niko Wilson is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Couples and Family Therapy emphasis at William James College in the Counseling and Behavioral Health Department. Dr. Niko Wilson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Nationally Certified Counselor, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor with a virtual private practice. She has been practicing in a variety of settings since 2013, including private practice, community agencies, and an equine therapy ranch. She has extensive clinical experience in complex trauma and applies trauma informed principles to supervision.
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Yusen Zhai
Assistant Professor, Clinic Director
Dr. Yusen Zhai is an Assistant Professor in UAB Department of Human Studies and Clinic Director of UAB community counseling clinic. His research focuses on health policy and disparities with a background in clinical mental health research and computer science. This equips him to conduct research at the crossroads of AI and mental health through collaboration with computer scientists and medical researchers with the aim of informing health policies and clinical practice to improve client care.
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Jinwon Suh, MS
Doctorate student in Counselor Education
Jinwon Suh is a first-year Ph.D. student in Counselor Education and a clinic supervisor at the Edwin L Herr Clinic at Penn State University. He holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. As a psychiatric counselor at Johns Hopkins Hospital in HIV/AIDS psychiatry department, Jinwon gained experience and training to examine the concepts of the complex relationship between addiction and mental health issues. Jinwon is a passionate and caring researcher/counselor with research interests in addiction, multicultural counseling, and educating culturally sensitive future counselors.
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Kayla Toole
Licensed Professional Counselor
Kayla Toole, MS, LPC and Adjunct Professor in a Counselor Education and Supervision. She is currently doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at Southern Connecticut State University. She has over 5 years in the field and has worked in various settings. She has experience counseling mandated clients in a group practice setting, agency setting, and within the criminal justice system.
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Terry Pertuit, PhD, NCC, LPC-S, LMFT, Certified School Counselor
Associate Professor
Terry L. Pertuit holds the position of Associate Professor within Rider University's Counseling Services Programs. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified School Counselor, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Surviving Hurricane Katrina herself, Pertuit has channeled her experiences into scholarly pursuits, particularly in equipping counselors to effectively aid individuals, families, and communities impacted by crises. Notably, she pioneered a course on trauma and disaster relief at her current institution, and has collaborated with previous universities to expose counseling students to disaster-stricken areas, guiding them in delivering trauma-informed care to those in need.
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Erika Williams, PhD, NCC
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Erika Williams is an assistant professor of psychology at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV. Previously, she worked as a therapist in both the college/university setting and in the private practice setting. She holds a PhD in counselor education and supervision, a master's degree in higher education with college counseling, and a bachelor's degree in psychology. Her research interests include teaching self-efficacy and teaching competency in higher education.
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Brittany Sager-Heinrichs, Ph.D, LPC, CAADC, CCTP
Program Director/ Assistant Professor
Brittany Sager-Heinrichs is a core faculty member in a clinical mental health counseling program and a licensed professional counselor with a small private practice. Brittany specializes in working with young adults experiencing addiction, trauma, or neurodiversity relates concerns. She has experience presenting at local, regional, and national conferences.
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Nikki Hurless, PhD, LPC (MO, TX), NCC
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Nikki Hurless (she/her) is an assistant professor of counseling at Tarleton State University in Fort Worth, TX. Her research focuses on applying a trauma-informed lens to education, clinical supervision, and the professional development of counselors. She is also a national certified counselor (NCC) and advocates for improving mental health treatment for gender and sexual minorities and survivors of interpersonal violence.
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Ashley Bentzel, NCC, LGPC, M.A.
Mental Health Therapist
Counselor at Pivot Point Counseling, offering five years of experience in counseling individual, group, academic, and career counseling. Experience giving and receiving supervision within doctorate-level coursework at Shippensburg University and working towards providing LPC supervision. I am a licensed professional graduate counselor in MD, a nationally certified counselor, and I have received extensive training in mediation and restorative practices. I have created treatment plans to promote client growth, employing various evidence-based practices ranging from applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and humanistic-based approaches. I am passionate about continuing education and developing additional in-depth knowledge of individual and group theory, societal trends, and influences, as well as expanding my knowledge of ethnicities and cultures.
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Mark LeVan
Clinical Director
Mark LeVan is a Clinical Director for a Social Services agency that serves seven states and has over 70 programs. He is a licensed professional counselor, is currently a PhD candidate in counselor education and supervision and has served as an adjunct professor. He is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of trainers and has been responsible for the training and implementation of Motivational Interviewing at his agency.
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Rachele Hartley, PhD
Assistant Professor
Rachele Hartley started her career as a substance use counselor working with adults, then spent over eight years as a school counselor in rural Maine. Rachele is a certified school counselor and certified alcohol and drug counselor in Maine and a licensed school counselor in New Hampshire. She received her Doctorate degree from Capella University in the Counselor Education and Supervision program in 2023. Rachele has extensive professional experience working with adolescents, parents/guardians, adults, and counselors-in-training in both school and clinical settings. She has professional interests in rural school counseling, high school counseling, career counseling, substance use, crisis intervention, diversity, group process, and social justice.
Rachele is passionate about suicide prevention, including writing articles in Chi Sigma Iota newsletters and presenting at local conferences alongside NAMI and alone on best practices for suicide prevention, intervention, and school responses to a student death by suicide. Working in rural Maine for her career as a school counselor, Rachele was active in working with local organizations, such as MELMAC, in developing programming to increase first-generation college students’ access to higher education. She renamed and adopted the national movement of College Access Week to Aspire Higher to foster a more inclusive approach to post-secondary planning that went beyond just college to include military, technical programs, and apprenticeships. This name and approach were later adopted by MaineCan and now it is a Maine statewide event.
Since 2018, she has been a member of the Chi Sigma Iota, including being a member of the Chi Upsilon Chi Executive Committee and member of the Newsletter Committee. Rachele has enjoyed writing about burnout prevention, critical issues in school counseling, professional identity as a school counselor, and the development of multicultural competencies. She is now the faculty advisor for the Plymouth State University chapter of Chi Sigma Iota.
Rachele is passionate about suicide prevention, including writing articles in Chi Sigma Iota newsletters and presenting at local conferences alongside NAMI and alone on best practices for suicide prevention, intervention, and school responses to a student death by suicide. Working in rural Maine for her career as a school counselor, Rachele was active in working with local organizations, such as MELMAC, in developing programming to increase first-generation college students’ access to higher education. She renamed and adopted the national movement of College Access Week to Aspire Higher to foster a more inclusive approach to post-secondary planning that went beyond just college to include military, technical programs, and apprenticeships. This name and approach were later adopted by MaineCan and now it is a Maine statewide event.
Since 2018, she has been a member of the Chi Sigma Iota, including being a member of the Chi Upsilon Chi Executive Committee and member of the Newsletter Committee. Rachele has enjoyed writing about burnout prevention, critical issues in school counseling, professional identity as a school counselor, and the development of multicultural competencies. She is now the faculty advisor for the Plymouth State University chapter of Chi Sigma Iota.
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Saiber Shaikh, M.A., M.S.Ed.
Doctoral Student / Mental Health Counselor, Advocate and Educator
Saiber Shaikh is a second-year doctoral student at the Penn State's Counselor Education program. She earned her master’s degree from Purdue University Northwest in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with specific focus on Expressive Arts based therapy and Addictions Counseling. She also has another master’s from University of Mumbai in Applied Psychology with specialization in Counseling Psychology. She is currently the Lead Clinic Supervisor at the on campus mental health clinic called the Edwin L. Herr Clinic that helps support master and doctoral level counselors-in-training. Her research interest includes imposter phenomenon, GenAI in Higher Ed, Counselors-in-Training professional development and wellbeing, and meme culture. She has provided guest lectures on topics related to mental health and counseling in multiple forums. In her free time, she loves connecting with people, staring at flowers, and watching cat and dog videos on the internet.
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Thomas Killian, PhD, LPC, LMHC, NCC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Tom Killian (he/him/his) is an Assistant Professor of Counseling in the Department of Counseling in the College for Community Health. Dr. Killian earned his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with a minor in Applied Statistics and Research Methods from the University of Northern Colorado. He earned his Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The University of Mississippi. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey, and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Dr. Killian has over a decade of clinical experience. He has worked for university counseling and psychological services, a university athletic department, and a residential facility. Broadly, his research interests include: multicultural and social justice competency development within counselor education and practice, community-engaged research and evaluation within counseling, and LGBTQ+/queer issues within counseling.
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Nicole G Johnson, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, CAADC, CCDP-D, BC-TMH
Associate Professor, Interim Department Chair and Program Director
Dr. Nicole G. Johnson, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, CAADC, CCDP-D, BC-TMH, has over 20 years of experience working in the behavioral health care system providing substance use and mental health services in Philadelphia, surrounding counties and several states. She has earned a Bachelors’ degree in Psychology, Masters of Education degree in Counseling Psychology (Temple University) and a Doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision (Regent University). She has also earned a certificate in Spiritual and Faith Based Counseling. Dr. Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Co-Occurring Disorder Professional Diplomate, Board Certified Tele-Mental Health Provider and holds a counseling competency in Problem Gambling.
Dr. Johnson is an Associate Professor, Interim Chair of the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health in the College of Health Professions, and the Program Director of the Community and Trauma Counseling Program on the East Falls Campus. In addition, she currently oversees Jefferson’s Trauma Education Network’s (J-TEN) Interfaith Leaders’ Learning Collaborative on Trauma, a workgroup of faith leaders who receive ongoing behavioral health education. Dr. Johnson is a board member of the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) which implements standards and testing for certification of addiction counselors, prevention specialists, clinical supervisors, auxiliary professionals, recovery and peer specialists, family recovery specialists, intervention professionals, community health workers, and doula) and Past President of the Greater Philadelphia Area Counseling Association. Dr. Johnson operates NGJohnson Counseling & Consulting LLC, a private practice and consulting firm which provides counseling services and trainings to organizations in trauma, suicide prevention, mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
Dr. Johnson is an Associate Professor, Interim Chair of the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health in the College of Health Professions, and the Program Director of the Community and Trauma Counseling Program on the East Falls Campus. In addition, she currently oversees Jefferson’s Trauma Education Network’s (J-TEN) Interfaith Leaders’ Learning Collaborative on Trauma, a workgroup of faith leaders who receive ongoing behavioral health education. Dr. Johnson is a board member of the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) which implements standards and testing for certification of addiction counselors, prevention specialists, clinical supervisors, auxiliary professionals, recovery and peer specialists, family recovery specialists, intervention professionals, community health workers, and doula) and Past President of the Greater Philadelphia Area Counseling Association. Dr. Johnson operates NGJohnson Counseling & Consulting LLC, a private practice and consulting firm which provides counseling services and trainings to organizations in trauma, suicide prevention, mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
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Yoon Suh Moh, Ph.D., LPC, CRC, NCC, BC-TMH, BCN
Associate Professor
Dr. Yoon Suh Moh is an associate professor and assistant director of the Community and Trauma Counseling program at Thomas Jefferson University. She is a licensed professional counselor, certified rehabilitation counselor, nationally certified counselor, board certified telemental health provider, and Biofeedback Certification for International Alliance’s board-certified counselor in EEG neurofeedback with professional proficiency in English, Japanese, and Korean. Dr. Moh has clinical experience working with a wide range of individuals and families in vocational, clinical mental health, and community settings, serving the deaf and hard of hearing, transgender individuals, individuals with homelessness, and those who have a mental and/or physical disability. Employing a combination of her educational and experiential background, Dr. Moh’s selected research interests center around effects of chronic stress on human health. Also, she is chairing the branch committee of the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling, acting as the North Atlantic regional representative of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, and serving as the president-elect of the American Mental Health Counselors Association. Additionally, she is serving as a reviewer of Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, and Trauma Counseling and Resilience, and a founding faculty lead of the collegiate recovery program named “The Rams for Recovery” at Thomas Jefferson University.
Session
David Julius Ford, Jr., Ph.D., LCMHC (NC), LPC (VA, NJ), NCC, ACS
Chair/Associate Professor
David Julius Ford, Jr., Ph.D., LCMHC (NC), LPC (VA, NJ), NCC, ACS
David Julius Ford, Jr., holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, both from Wake Forest University. In May 2014, he earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Old Dominion University. Dr. Ford is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia and New Jersey. He is a Board-Certified Counselor (NCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Dr. Ford taught for four years at James Madison University and is now a Tenured Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Professional Counseling at Monmouth University, where he is in his sixth-year teaching. He is Past-President of the New Jersey Counseling Association. He is Past Co-Chair of the Branch Development Committee of the American Counseling Association, a member of the Black Male Experience Task Force of the American Counseling Association, the Board Trustee for Counselor Education and Research for the National Career Development Association, a division of the American Counseling Association. He is the North Atlantic Region Representative to the ACA Governing Council and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Counselor Education and Supervision and the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. Dr. Ford sits on the Board of Trustees of the Brookdale Community College Foundation and on the Inspiring Life Board of Directors.
Dr. Ford’s professional interests are Black Greek life; multicultural issues; college students; Black men in higher education; career counseling; addictions counseling; supervision; group work; qualitative research; queer and trans BIPOC; Intersectionality; and persons living with HIV/AIDS. He has experience as an instructor for undergraduate human services courses and has taught graduate courses in counseling skills, multicultural counseling, career counseling, testing and assessment, clinical mental health counseling, addictions counseling, practicum supervision, lifespan development, and group counseling. He has also taught a doctoral-level dissertation course and a doctoral-level course in grant-writing and program evaluation and advanced theories. He is one of 24 inaugural doctoral fellows of the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program. He is the 2020 recipient of the AMCD Samuel H. Johnson Distinguished Service Award and the 2020 ACES Outstanding Counselor Education and Supervision Article Award. Dr. Ford is a classically trained pianist and is a proud, active, and financial member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. As an undergraduate, he had the privilege of taking a class taught by the late Dr. Maya Angelou. Dr. Ford currently lives in Ocean, New Jersey.
David Julius Ford, Jr., holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, both from Wake Forest University. In May 2014, he earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Old Dominion University. Dr. Ford is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia and New Jersey. He is a Board-Certified Counselor (NCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Dr. Ford taught for four years at James Madison University and is now a Tenured Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Professional Counseling at Monmouth University, where he is in his sixth-year teaching. He is Past-President of the New Jersey Counseling Association. He is Past Co-Chair of the Branch Development Committee of the American Counseling Association, a member of the Black Male Experience Task Force of the American Counseling Association, the Board Trustee for Counselor Education and Research for the National Career Development Association, a division of the American Counseling Association. He is the North Atlantic Region Representative to the ACA Governing Council and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Counselor Education and Supervision and the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. Dr. Ford sits on the Board of Trustees of the Brookdale Community College Foundation and on the Inspiring Life Board of Directors.
Dr. Ford’s professional interests are Black Greek life; multicultural issues; college students; Black men in higher education; career counseling; addictions counseling; supervision; group work; qualitative research; queer and trans BIPOC; Intersectionality; and persons living with HIV/AIDS. He has experience as an instructor for undergraduate human services courses and has taught graduate courses in counseling skills, multicultural counseling, career counseling, testing and assessment, clinical mental health counseling, addictions counseling, practicum supervision, lifespan development, and group counseling. He has also taught a doctoral-level dissertation course and a doctoral-level course in grant-writing and program evaluation and advanced theories. He is one of 24 inaugural doctoral fellows of the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program. He is the 2020 recipient of the AMCD Samuel H. Johnson Distinguished Service Award and the 2020 ACES Outstanding Counselor Education and Supervision Article Award. Dr. Ford is a classically trained pianist and is a proud, active, and financial member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. As an undergraduate, he had the privilege of taking a class taught by the late Dr. Maya Angelou. Dr. Ford currently lives in Ocean, New Jersey.
Session
Mark Woodford, PhD, LPC
Professor of Counselor Education
Mark Woodford is a Professor in the Department of Counselor Education at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). He is a licensed professional counselor, a master addiction counselor, and a national certified counselor, who has worked in community-, family-, and school-based prevention and early intervention programs, as well as in a residential addiction treatment facility. He teaches courses in treating addiction and co-occurring disorders, group counseling, marriage and family counseling, and counseling boys and men, and provides clinical supervision for graduate students in counselor education. Dr. Woodford’s research interests are in the field addiction counseling with a specific emphasis on the interplay of gender issues in addiction treatment. He is the author of "Men, Addiction, and Intimacy: Strengthening Recovery by Fostering the Emotional Development of Boys and Men" (Routledge, 2012).
Session
Emily Dries, MS.Ed, LPC
LPC
Emily Dries is currently a doctoral candidate at Duquesne University working toward a degree in Counselor Education and Supervision. Emily received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Millersville University in 2013. Emily then went on to complete her Master of Science in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Duquesne University in 2017. Emily is currently in private practice focusing on the mental health of emerging adults specifically around the topics of anxiety and ADHD. Emily's current research interests include the impact of community mental health agency policies on burnout and evaluating efficacious supervisory practices in agencies.
Session
Scott Scardena, M Ed, LPC, ACS
Licensed Professional Counselor
Scott Scardena has been working in the counseling field for 10 years, with extensive experience in higher education administration. He is a licensed professional counselor in NJ and holds his school counseling certification. For the past 6 years, Scott has supervised interns and provisionally licensed counselors toward state licensure. He currently holds his Approved Clinical Supervisor certification. Since 2018, he has also been an adjunct faculty member at William Paterson University, teaching master-level clinicians and providing supervision.
Sessions
Matthew Shurts
Associate Professor
W. Matthew Shurts, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling at Montclair State University.
Sessions
Amber S. Haley, LPC, PhD, NCC
Assistant Teaching Professor
Amber Haley is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Education and Counseling at Villanova University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Intern (LCDCI), and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Her counseling experience includes work as a counselor educator, clinical mental health counselor and supervisor, and student affairs professional. Amber is committed to the advancement of traditionally underserved and underrepresented persons from a worldview that views them as central rather than marginal to healthy human civilization. This mission is pursued via education and research focused on alleviating perceived microaggressions in cross-cultural relationships through the development of curious, humble, and culturally competent researchers and clinicians. Dr. Haley’s interests also include furthering multicultural and social justice issues, counselor education and supervision competencies, and the impact of intersectionality on healthy identity development and mental wellness. Amber earned her doctoral degree in Counselor Education & Supervision from the University of Central Florida, a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Syracuse University, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in African and African Diaspora Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
Session
Kathy Shoemaker, PhD, LPC, ACS, NCC, Certified School Counselor
Asst. Professor
Kathy Shoemaker is an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University teaching aspiring school counselors. She is also licensed professional counselor and has worked as a teacher and school counselor in New Jersey. Her research interests explore the relationship between neuroscience, counseling and learning with a particular focus on trauma and interventions that support students’ sense of safety and resilience. Kathy has worked with educators, youth and families in school, community, and treatment settings promoting healthy developmental trajectories.
Session
Chris Schmidt, PhD
Associate Professor
Chris Schmidt is an Associate Professor at Villanova University in the Department of Education & Counseling. He teaches graduate counseling students as well as some undergraduate courses at Villanova, engages in research on family and couples counseling, adult development, and counselor development. During his time at Villanova, Chris has led a number of initiatives including the successful CACREP accreditation process, revision of the department’s rank and tenure guidelines and evaluation procedures, the development of the minor in counseling program, among others. Chris is currently a CACREP Board member and also on the editorial board for The Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy and The Family Journal.
Sessions
Tammy Hock
Licensed Professional Counselor
Tammy Hock, LPC, CAADC (she/her) has provided mental health and drug and alcohol counseling for the past eighteen years in a variety of urban and suburban settings, including drug and alcohol treatment centers, private practices, public schools, and prisons, and is currently a full-time counselor and faculty member at West Chester University. In addition, she owns a small private practice and provides clinical supervision to graduate students completing practicum and internship requirements. She practices and supervises through a multicultural and socially just lens, utilizing person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and mindfulness-based therapeutic strategies. In addition to substance abuse and addiction, her specialties include identity development, trauma, attachment, anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, and crisis management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social behavior from Penn State University and a Master of Science degree in counseling and human relations from Villanova University. She is a second-year counselor education and supervision doctoral student at Shippensburg University. She has been state-licensed as a Professional Counselor (PA) since 2013 and state-certified as an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PA) since 2014. Tammy earned a certification in applied mindfulness from West Chester University in 2022.
Session
Qu Chen, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CCMHC
Assistant Professor
The presenter earned her Ph.D. in counselor education in 2020 and has been a Licensed Professional counselor since 2011. She is a core faculty member in a CACREP accredited counselor education department. Her research interests focus on counselor education (e.g., empathy measurement and training, teaching assessments) and clinical work (e.g., working with clients having a BPD diagnosis, gerontological counseling, AI usage in counseling, etc.). She has presented topics related to empathy, culture, and counselor training at the ACA, ACES, NAACES, ACC, and AMHCA conferences.
Sessions
Peter M. del Rosario, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychology & CMHC Counselor Educator
Born in the Philippines, Peter del Rosario grew up in upstate New York where he faced the challenges of growing up being one of the few non-white individuals in a White, rural community. The experience of being different from others significantly influenced the development of his lifelong fascination with human behavior – particularly with issues of race, ethnicity, cultural identity development, and multicultural counseling. Currently, Dr. del Rosario is an associate professor of psychology and counselor educator in the MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. He is also an experienced NY licensed psychologist. In 2016 he was awarded the Board of Trustees’ Faculty Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Dr. del Rosario’s teaching, research, and practice interests involve a commitment providing the knowledge and skills needed for individuals to better understand themselves as cultural beings and understand others who are different from themselves. As a counselor educator, he is dedicated to training the next generation of licensed professional counselors to help prevent, and promote recovery from, the psychological damage resulting from socially oppressive forces. In his research work, he collaborates with small groups of undergraduate and graduate students on projects involving diversity issues, professional counseling training issues, and assessment. Faculty-student research works are presented at state, regional, and national counseling conferences.
Dr. del Rosario’s teaching, research, and practice interests involve a commitment providing the knowledge and skills needed for individuals to better understand themselves as cultural beings and understand others who are different from themselves. As a counselor educator, he is dedicated to training the next generation of licensed professional counselors to help prevent, and promote recovery from, the psychological damage resulting from socially oppressive forces. In his research work, he collaborates with small groups of undergraduate and graduate students on projects involving diversity issues, professional counseling training issues, and assessment. Faculty-student research works are presented at state, regional, and national counseling conferences.
Session
Gina Cicco, Ed.D., LMHC
Dr.
Dr. Gina Cicco is Associate Professor of Counselor Education at St. John’s University. She serves as Associate Dean for the Staten Island Campus and previously as Coordinator for the School Counseling Program. She has been serving as a faculty member in higher education since 2007. She is a practicing mental health counselor and former school counselor. Her research involves learning styles, teaching and supervising counselors-in-training in online modalities, and most recently in understanding the impact of the pandemic on higher education and education professionals.
Session
Azadeh Ahmadi, M.S., M.A., NCC, LPC-Associate
Doctoral Student in Counselor Education & Supervision
Azadeh Ahmadi is a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at The Pennsylvania State University as well as a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Associate Counselor in Texas. She received her first master’s degree in Educational Psychology and her second master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Ms. Ahmadi's research interests are grounded in creating partnerships with community-based agencies through outcome research and developing and validating measurement tools as well as understanding intersectionality in mental health.
Session
Lisa Cardello, EdS, LAC
Doctoral Student, Kean University
Lisa Cardello, EdS, is a doctoral student in the CACREP-accredited PhD in Counseling and Supervision program at Kean University, as well as an adjunct professor at Rider University and The College of New Jersey. She is a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Associate Counselor (NJ), Board Certified Coach, Past President of the New Jersey Career Development Association, and a past participant in the National Career Development Association's Counselor Educator Academy. Lisa was an Editorial Team Lead for the book review of The Handbook of Career Advising, a collaborative project of NCDA and NACADA, as well as a member of the Editorial Review Board of Trauma Counseling and Resilience, the official journal of the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling (IARTC). Lisa earned her bachelor's degree in Education and master’s degree in Counseling from The College of New Jersey and an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in Counseling Services from Rider University.
Session
Stephanie Thorson-Olesen
Core Faculty, Director of Doctoral Research
Dr. Stephanie Thorson-Olesen is a Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) at Antioch University. She is the Director of Doctoral Research. She earned her PhD from Capella University and Master’s degree from Winona State University in Minnesota. She also has a Professional Certificate in Online Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Thorson-Olesen was previously a tenured faculty member at Viterbo University and was awarded D. B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership Research Fellowship, Advisor of the Year and Teacher of the Year. She has served as Chair of Diversity, Interim Faculty Chair, Interim Assistant Dean, and was elected as the Faculty Council Chair. She co-authored and was awarded over $3 million in federal grant funding to expand counseling services in rural areas and expand integrative care practices. Most recently, she was awarded the prestigious David Van Doren Leadership and Service award from the Wisconsin Counseling Association (WCA), a Branch of the American Counseling Association. She has served on the Executive Board for the WCA and was the Editor of the Association Journal. She has previously been involved in mental health policy-making at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and is an active member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and Chi Sigma Iota.
Session
Peng Wang, PhD
Lecturer
She received her Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education from the University of Rochester. She teaches four courses on school counseling at Rowan and is always passionate about advising and mentoring students to ensure her students feel empowered during their graduate studies. Her research interest lies in understanding and serving the needs of international students who pursue counseling training in the U.S., as well as School Counseling in the Era of Generative AIs.
Prior to joining Rowan, Dr. Wang was a therapist at the Community Counseling & Mediation, a NYC non-profit agency that serves a diverse clientele. She also worked as a school counselor in Massachusetts.
Prior to joining Rowan, Dr. Wang was a therapist at the Community Counseling & Mediation, a NYC non-profit agency that serves a diverse clientele. She also worked as a school counselor in Massachusetts.
Session
Eunji Park
Doctoral Student
This presenter is an international doctoral student with a scholarly interest in supporting the development of counselors-in-training and understanding and advocating for the needs of marginalized youth. She has worked as a mental health counselor and school counselor in South Korea for several years.
Session
Sylvia Fernandez, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Dr. M. Sylvia Fernandez, CACREP President and CEO, was a counselor educator and administrator for 29 years prior to joining CACREP. Dr. Fernandez has extensive professional service and leadership experience in state, national, and international Counseling professional membership, accreditation, and regulatory organizations. Dr. Fernandez's publications and presentations are in the areas of multicultural issues in counseling and related disciplines, counselor education and credentialing, professional identity and ethics, and clinical supervision.
Sessions
Harvey Peters, Ph.D., NCC
Associate Professor, Montclair State University
Dr. Harvey Charles Peters serves as an Associate Professor at Montclair State University in the Counseling Department. His research focuses on serving marginalized communities and centering anti-oppression within our professional identity and praxis. He has taught a variety of master's and doctoral level courses, worked inv various clinical settings, and served in various leadership roles across professional counseling associations.
Session
Jennifer Williams MSCP, LPC, NCC
Doctoral Candidate
This presenter has been a licensed professional counselor for over 15 years in Pennsylvania and is currently a doctoral candidate in a counselor education and supervision program. She has worked in the community mental health field for 20 years with foster and adopted youth, individuals, and families through coordination of services, and has served in a supervisory role for nearly 10 years. She has presented at regional, state, and national conferences in the areas of neuroscience, youth mental health, and counselor disposition. This presenter has been engaging in research surrounding the impact of neuroscience on the counseling relationship, as well as its benefits in enhancing the mind-body connection across all client populations.
Session
Osayuware N Samuel-Olagunju, MBA, MA, LPC, NCC
Psychotherapist
Osa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of New Jersey and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) with more than 15 years of experience working with individuals and groups with mental health challenges. She has an MA in Mental Health Counseling and is currently enrolled in a counseling and counselor education doctoral program at Montclair State University.
Osa’s journey in mental health began when she was a young mother, wife, and new immigrant, armed with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master’s in Business Administration and needing a part-time job. This job turned out to be a 5-year journey of working at a not-for-profit organization involved with providing services to adults and children with persistent mental health challenges, substance abuse diagnoses, and housing insecurities.
The clients Osa served, and the work she engaged in, were so life-enriching, that Osa returned to school (for a counseling degree), to be better equipped to serve. Osa subsequently worked at various agencies utilizing her experiences, education, and acquired skills to support those challenged with mental health and life issues.
Osa has returned to school for a doctoral degree, to harness and advance the skills necessary to become a more effective therapist, educator, supervisor, advocate, researcher, and change agent.
Osa is particularly passionate about women and racial/ethnic issues.
Osa runs groups, seminars, and outreach programs on mental health awareness, general wellness, self-discovery, and empowerment amongst others. She speaks locally (in the US) and internationally.
Osa’s journey in mental health began when she was a young mother, wife, and new immigrant, armed with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master’s in Business Administration and needing a part-time job. This job turned out to be a 5-year journey of working at a not-for-profit organization involved with providing services to adults and children with persistent mental health challenges, substance abuse diagnoses, and housing insecurities.
The clients Osa served, and the work she engaged in, were so life-enriching, that Osa returned to school (for a counseling degree), to be better equipped to serve. Osa subsequently worked at various agencies utilizing her experiences, education, and acquired skills to support those challenged with mental health and life issues.
Osa has returned to school for a doctoral degree, to harness and advance the skills necessary to become a more effective therapist, educator, supervisor, advocate, researcher, and change agent.
Osa is particularly passionate about women and racial/ethnic issues.
Osa runs groups, seminars, and outreach programs on mental health awareness, general wellness, self-discovery, and empowerment amongst others. She speaks locally (in the US) and internationally.
Session
Fatma Salem, PhD, LCMHC, NCC
Teaching Faculty
Fatma is a Teaching Faculty at Antioch University New England, private practice owner serving clients in MA and NH, and NARACES secretary elect.
Sessions
Kahyen Shin, NCC, MEd
Doctoral Student
Originally from Korea, Kahyen (Kay) Shin's family relocation and upbringing in Cambodia and the Philippines have deeply shaped her dedication to addressing equal accessibility of counseling among marginalized populations. She is motivated by a vision of becoming a counselor educator and aims to contribute to positive social change by empowering individuals and communities through counseling.
As a current second-year doctoral student in counselor education, she is interested in the professional identity development of counselors and counselor educators. She is also passionate about preventing burnout and promoting lifelong development.
As a current second-year doctoral student in counselor education, she is interested in the professional identity development of counselors and counselor educators. She is also passionate about preventing burnout and promoting lifelong development.
Sessions
Young Kwon Kim, M.Div., M.S., LPC-S, LCPC, NCC
LPC
Young is a 2nd-year doctoral student at W&M. Before starting school, however, Young worked as a psychotherapist/team lead at an inpatient psychiatric hospital in Rockville, MD for 5+ years. Young is currently licensed in all three DMV states - MD (LCPC), DC (LPC), and VA (LPC). He completed his master's degree in clinical mental health counseling at JHU.
Session
Raymond Blanchard, PhD, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Blanchard is an Assistant Professor in Molloy University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. He is a graduate of Montclair State University’s PhD in Counseling program where he specialized in school mental health and LGBTQ issues in counseling. Serving as a Fellow for the Department of Counseling, Dr. Blanchard engaged in scholarly work and research under the supervision of Dr. Michael Hannon. During his time at MSU, Dr. Blanchard was an active member of his Chi Sigma Iota chapter serving as President from 2019-2020. Additionally, Dr. Blanchard was a CSI Leadership Fellow for the 2020-2021 academic year having served on committees for CSI and conducted important leadership research. Given his specialization during his studies, Dr. Blanchard’s dissertation focused on the concept of induction applied to the experiences of licensed mental health counselors working in New York City school based mental health clinics.
He has 10 years of bilingual clinical and supervision experience working with children and adolescents in school based mental health clinic settings across New York City schools. In addition to his clinical and doctoral work, Dr. Blanchard is active in the counseling profession serving on boards such as American Counseling Association of NY (Past President) and the North Atlantic Region of ACA (Treasurer). Additionally, he continues to be active with CSI serving on their Professional Members Committee. He has presented at local, state, and international conferences and published in counseling journals as a result of collaboration with colleagues doing great and important work for our field.
He has 10 years of bilingual clinical and supervision experience working with children and adolescents in school based mental health clinic settings across New York City schools. In addition to his clinical and doctoral work, Dr. Blanchard is active in the counseling profession serving on boards such as American Counseling Association of NY (Past President) and the North Atlantic Region of ACA (Treasurer). Additionally, he continues to be active with CSI serving on their Professional Members Committee. He has presented at local, state, and international conferences and published in counseling journals as a result of collaboration with colleagues doing great and important work for our field.
Session
Chandra Donnell Carey, PhD, CRC
Professor, Counseling and Behavioral Health
Dr. Carey is a Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and currently serves as the Program Director for the hybrid clinical mental health counseling program in the Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Carey has previously served as an editorial board member for the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development and is the former president of the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns. Carey was co-principal investigator on three U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants focused on integrated behavioral healthcare, and a co-principal investigator for a U.S. Department of Education, four-year, inclusive post-secondary education program, UNT ELEVAR (University of North Texas Empower, Learn, Excel, enVision, Advance, Rise). She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and previously held a Licensed Professional Counselor intern designation in the State of Michigan (2005-2009). She was the Lead Primary Investigator on a Minority Health Research Grant Program project sponsored by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which focused on recruitment and enhanced retention support for African American and Latino(a) students seeking careers in counseling.
Dr. Carey has contributed over 38 refereed publications and book chapters to the literature and completed well over 60 national presentations over her 23-year career as a scholar. She is the recipient of 7 Research and service awards and is regarded as one of the top multicultural researchers in her discipline. Her research interests include (1) equitable access and utilization of rehabilitative services for individuals with significant mental illnesses, (2) multicultural responsiveness training in counselor education practice and education, (3) integrated care and behavioral health disparities for minoritized communities, and (4) educational access and mental health stability for students with IDD in post-secondary education. Her current research focuses on psychosocial adjustment and positive mental health for college students with intellectual disabilities and fostering mental health support for parents and caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities through life transitions, particularly as it relates to communities of color.
Dr. Carey has contributed over 38 refereed publications and book chapters to the literature and completed well over 60 national presentations over her 23-year career as a scholar. She is the recipient of 7 Research and service awards and is regarded as one of the top multicultural researchers in her discipline. Her research interests include (1) equitable access and utilization of rehabilitative services for individuals with significant mental illnesses, (2) multicultural responsiveness training in counselor education practice and education, (3) integrated care and behavioral health disparities for minoritized communities, and (4) educational access and mental health stability for students with IDD in post-secondary education. Her current research focuses on psychosocial adjustment and positive mental health for college students with intellectual disabilities and fostering mental health support for parents and caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities through life transitions, particularly as it relates to communities of color.
Session
LaShauna Dean, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, NCC
Associate Professor
LaShauna M. Dean, PhD, LPC, ACS, NCC is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in NJ and VA, National Certified Counselor (NCC), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Dr. Dean has worked in the field of mental health counseling for over 10 years in a variety of roles specializing in addictions and severe mental illness. Additionally, she has served as a diversity consultant for K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and businesses for over seven years. She has numerous publications and professional presentations on DEI, addictions and mental health treatment, and counselor education.
Sessions
Latoya Haynes-Thoby
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education
Latoya Haynes-Thoby (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University) is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Connecticut. Her work explores the benefits of culturally-responsive trauma-informed counseling that promotes resilience and thriving, especially for marginalized children, adults, and communities.
Dr. Haynes-Thoby’s research agenda is brought forth through applied research methods, including the exploration of culturally specific factors that contribute to resilience, and the operationalization of trauma-informed counseling that promotes success. She approaches her work using a trauma-informed lens, and that are rooted in Black-feminist and intersectional frameworks.
Using critical frameworks, her research focuses on issues such as individual and community healing from trauma. Her commitment to advocacy, mentorship, and counselor development is evidenced through her scholarship, teaching, and service. Through her research, Dr. Haynes-Thoby aims to honor the clients who trust us with their stories, and the community-rooted protective factors that support their well-being.
Dr. Haynes-Thoby is a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor (CT & PA), and Approved Clinical Supervisor with nearly twenty years of experience working with women, children and families who have been impacted by intimate partner violence, homelessness, and other sources of trauma. She earned her PhD in counselor education and supervision, as well as her MEd in Counselor Education, with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health in Schools and Communities from the Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Haynes-Thoby’s research agenda is brought forth through applied research methods, including the exploration of culturally specific factors that contribute to resilience, and the operationalization of trauma-informed counseling that promotes success. She approaches her work using a trauma-informed lens, and that are rooted in Black-feminist and intersectional frameworks.
Using critical frameworks, her research focuses on issues such as individual and community healing from trauma. Her commitment to advocacy, mentorship, and counselor development is evidenced through her scholarship, teaching, and service. Through her research, Dr. Haynes-Thoby aims to honor the clients who trust us with their stories, and the community-rooted protective factors that support their well-being.
Dr. Haynes-Thoby is a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor (CT & PA), and Approved Clinical Supervisor with nearly twenty years of experience working with women, children and families who have been impacted by intimate partner violence, homelessness, and other sources of trauma. She earned her PhD in counselor education and supervision, as well as her MEd in Counselor Education, with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health in Schools and Communities from the Pennsylvania State University.
Session
Tracey M. Duncan, Ph.D., Ed.S., LPC
Associate Professor of Counselor Education
Dr. Tracey M. Duncan is an Associate Professor of counselor education at Messiah University, Graduate Counseling Program. Dr. Duncan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (NJ) and a Certified Substance Abuse and Addiction Counselor. As an academic leader and instructor for marriage, couple, and family counseling within counselor education programs, Dr. Duncan aims to model cultural reflectivity and transparent self-exploration in the classroom and supervision with graduate-level students. Dr. Duncan has created and taught various modalities of course instruction including in-person, hybrid, and online graduate courses since 2006 in CACREP-accredited programs. Dr. Duncan’s clinical experience has included working with families impacted by substance use disorders and adolescents’ problem behaviors. Research interests include self-of-the-therapist, best pedagogical practices for teaching graduate-level research and academic advising, and counselor education and supervision (in-person and Telemental counseling).
Session
Jennifer Dashiell-Shoffner, PhD, LPC, NCC, CRC
Assistant Professor
Jennifer (PhD, LPC, NCC, CRC) started her journey in psychology and followed a winding academic and career path that led her to the field of Rehabilitation Counseling. She currently serves as an assistant professor in the Counseling Department and as a counselor in the Counseling Center at Springfield College. Jennifer counsels from a person-centered framework and enjoys working with emerging adults and helping them find the answers to this thing called life that they are searching for. Her primary research interests include disability studies and trauma related to collegiate experiences.
Session
Atsuko Seto, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, NCC
Associate Professor
The presenter is a licensed professional counselor, a National Certified Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. The presenter has over 20 years of experience teaching and supervising graduate counseling students in CACREP-accredited programs and has taught a variety of courses, including multicultural counseling, counseling theories and techniques, introduction to counseling, community agency counseling, crisis interventions, practicum, and internship. The presenter's research interests include racial socialization of multiracial individuals, broaching behavior among mental health professionals, and culturally responsive counselor preparation pedagogy.
Sessions
Erik Messinger, PhD, LCMHC, NCC, ACS
Assistant Professor
Dr. Erik Messinger is an Assistant Professor at Hood College in Frederick Maryland, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. He has extensive experience in counseling adults and adolescents in outpatient community and substance use treatment settings. Dr. Messinger’s research is primarily focused on meeting the mental health needs of first responders along with teaching and supervision strategies for counselors-in-training.
Sessions
Samantha Herrick, PhD, LPC, CRC, NCC, ACS
Associate Professor
Samantha Herrick, is an Associate Professor with The University of Scranton, Panuska college of Professional Studies. She is a graduate of the Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program at The Pennsylvania State University, holds a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Disability Studies from Springfield College and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, from The University of Rhode Island. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey, and holds credentials as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, National Certified Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor. Dr. Herrick has presented at both national and regional professional conferences on topics such as counseling people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, small group interventions for college students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, counseling LGBT clients, and promoting disability support services as a professional option for Rehabilitation Counselors among others. She has published in peer reviewed journals on topics that include barriers and adaptation to college for students with disabilities, developmental disabilities, soft skills for work; and especially Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has been co-investigator on several research grants through Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Health Professions, as well as two federal research grants related to services for people with disabilities.
Session
Abdelaziz Elmadani, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
The presenter has over 10 years of counseling experience. They hold a doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision. They have focused their academic work, research, and presentations on issues of cultural diversity and social justice in the context of therapy, supervision, and training in multicultural and social justice counseling competencies approaches. They regularly attend training on issues including trauma, diversity, and multicultural cultural competence.
Session
Katie Kostohryz
Associate Teaching Professor
Dr. Katie Kostohryz is an Associate Teaching Professor in Counselor Education & Rehabilitation in Human Services for the College of Education at Penn State and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned her BA at Monmouth University in education and psychology in 2001, her MA at the University of Northern Colorado in Community Counseling with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy in 2005, and her Ph.D. at Ohio University in Counselor Education and Supervision in 2011. Before coming to Penn State, she served as a tenure line faculty at Idaho State University for two years. She served as a clinical faculty member for 4 years before accepting a teaching position. She currently serves as the Herr clinic supervisor in State College Areas School District (SCASD). In this role, she is developing an infrastructure to connect Penn State Counselor Education and SCASD through clinical supervision and administrative support to expand access to mental health services. The overall mission of this partnership is to remove barriers and provide equitable access to students, families, faculty, and staff seeking mental health support.
Session
Jessica Motroni Banik
Assistant Professor
I am Jess Motroni Banik, PhD, LMFT. I'm a counselor educator, supervisor, and a marriage and family therapist with expertise in systems theories and providing supervision using the sense of self. Prior to joining the University of Saint Joseph as an Assistant Professor, I was providing supervision and family therapy services at a a local adolescent residential treatment center. My background includes over 15 years of clinical experience in marriage, couples, and family therapy in various levels of care and settings across the United States. I've supported adults and adolescents in residential and outpatient levels of care. I've facilitated positive parent education courses for families through a community organizations and provide continuing education workshops for professional organizations at the state, regional, and national level.
Sessions
Alyson Pompeo-Fargnoli, PhD, LPC
Healthcare Inequity and the Mental Health Implications
Dr. Alyson Pompeo-Fargnoli is an Associate Professor and Program Director in the School of Education, Department of Educational Counseling and Leadership, at Monmouth University. She is a nationally certified counselor (NCC), a licensed professional counselor (LPC), and holds a Substance Abuse and Addictions Counseling Certification. In addition, she has over 10 years of clinical practice experience. She has over 25 publications, and over 40 presentations. Her current research and publications are in the areas of the mental health/physical health connection, college counseling, healthcare inequities, and mental health stigma.
Session
James Geckler, Ph.D., LMHC
Assistant Professor
James M. Geckler, Ph.D., LMHC, is an assistant professor in the Counseling, Educational Leadership, and School Psychology Department at Rhode Island College, where he teaches courses on individual and group counseling skills, child and adolescent counseling, and research methods. His research interests revolve around identity development and youth and emerging adult mental health. His clinical experiences span diverse roles and settings (emergency service program/crisis center, college counseling in both a career service center and embedded within an academic unit, research studies, and private practice setting), and with diverse identities representing the developmental lifespan. He also provides professional development training to schools and community agencies that provide services to children and adolescents.
Session
Tiffany Spisak, MSEd, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor, Current Doctoral Student
The presenter is currently a doctoral student in a counselor education and supervision program and
holds a Licensed Professional Counselor license. They have provided clinical services to clients for 2
years since graduating from an accredited master’s clinical mental health counseling program. They
have worked in community agencies, completed group work for adolescents, and provided
psychoeducation to students by running advocacy events in the community and on college
campuses. The presenter has a background in working with adolescents/young adults struggling
with grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating disorders. The presenter is certified in SBIRT and
has worked as a graduate assistant at the master’s/doctoral levels assisting in completing and
presenting research on the topics of anxiety amongst young adults, advocacy in the community and
on college campuses, mental health in student-athletes, and providing advocacy and support to
those who have experienced generational trauma. They have also served on graduate college
student council grievance and curriculum committees to assist campus communities in
understanding student needs. They have recently presented educational sessions on how to best
support, provide interventions, and advocate for adolescents struggling with maladaptive eating
patterns. They are passionate about working with emerging adults struggling with disordered eating behaviors and the areas of life this behavior can impact.
holds a Licensed Professional Counselor license. They have provided clinical services to clients for 2
years since graduating from an accredited master’s clinical mental health counseling program. They
have worked in community agencies, completed group work for adolescents, and provided
psychoeducation to students by running advocacy events in the community and on college
campuses. The presenter has a background in working with adolescents/young adults struggling
with grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating disorders. The presenter is certified in SBIRT and
has worked as a graduate assistant at the master’s/doctoral levels assisting in completing and
presenting research on the topics of anxiety amongst young adults, advocacy in the community and
on college campuses, mental health in student-athletes, and providing advocacy and support to
those who have experienced generational trauma. They have also served on graduate college
student council grievance and curriculum committees to assist campus communities in
understanding student needs. They have recently presented educational sessions on how to best
support, provide interventions, and advocate for adolescents struggling with maladaptive eating
patterns. They are passionate about working with emerging adults struggling with disordered eating behaviors and the areas of life this behavior can impact.
Session
Carl J. Sheperis
Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies
Dr. Carl J. Sheperis serves as the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies at Kutztown University. Dr. Sheperis has extensive experience in pediatric and family mental health and has served as an expert to various media outlets including The Huffington Post, the Denver Post, Seattle Times, Parenting, Prevention, Disney Family, Bustle, and The Hill. His interviews have reached over 50,000,000 people. Dr. Sheperis has over 25 years of experience in pediatric and family mental health and he has served as an envoy for professional counseling to UNESCO, the International Association for Counseling, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Turkey, the Kingdom of Bhutan, and numerous other international organizations/governments.
Session
Crystal Socha, MS, LPC, CRC, NCC, ACS
PhD Candidate
Crystal Socha, MS, LPC, CRC, NCC, ACS (she/her) is a PhD Candidate and Senior Training and Consultation Specialist at Rutgers School of Health Professions in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions. Crystal’s primary role includes providing in-person and remote training, consultation, and technical assistance to New Jersey agencies that provide Community Support Services. She has over ten years of experience in the behavioral health field, delivering trauma-informed, culturally responsive, gender-affirming care and supporting individuals in building a life worth living. Before joining Rutgers, she provided recovery-oriented services in supportive housing, intensive in-home and in-community, community mental health centers, integrated primary care, hospital systems, and private practices. She is currently undergoing her dissertation process with research interests in anti-fat biases amongst mental health professionals, disordered eating, and social justice. She has her own private practice working with individuals to heal their relationship with their body and food, using a weight inclusive, non-diet approach.
Session
Cameka Hazel
Asst. Professor
Cameka Hazel is currently an Assistant Professor at New York Institute of Technology in the department of psychology and counseling. Dr. Hazel specializes in the supervision and training of professional mental health and school counselors. As a counselor educator, she is an advocate for holistic training for future counselor educators to be effectively prepared to meet the social, emotional and educational needs of the diverse K–12 student population. Her research includes multicultural counseling competence training in counselor education, mental health care for children and families of refugee status and trauma in children and adults. Dr. Hazel has presented at local and national conferences on subjects such as helping new school counselors thrive, reducing preventive and risk factors for school counselor burnout and Caribbean national migration experiences to the US, and acculturation stressors during the transition process. Dr. Hazel also works as a mental health clinician providing mental health services for children and families. She is also skilled in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy for Trauma recovery.
Session
Jessica Gutheil, PhD, NCC, LPCA
Assistant Professor
Dr. Jessica Gutheil is an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education Program at Western Connecticut State University. She received her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Hispanic Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University and her master’s degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling from DePaul University. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Nevada Reno. She enjoys working with children, adolescents, and underserved populations, and her research interests include self-efficacy theory, immigrant stress and mental health, mental health access, and bilingual therapy.
Session
Leslie Kooyman, PhD
Associate Professor
Leslie Kooyman, PhD, LPC serves as an Associate Professor in the Counseling Program at Montclair State University (MSU) in Montclair, New Jersey. He advises and teaches counseling masters and doctoral students in the program. He also has maintained a counseling private practice for 15+ years. He has been at MSU for 17 years. His research is focused on understanding the multitude of factors influencing sexual identity, sexual risk-taking behavior among marginalized populations (gay men, men of color, college women and adolescents), religion and LGBTQ+ populations, relationships and dating within the LGBTQ+ communities, and trans gender and sexual identity development. He has published and presented extensively in these areas. Leslie Kooyman has been a community leader and social justice advocate working in the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS for the past twenty-five years.
Sessions
Dr. Kimberly Asner-Self, EdD, LCPC (Il), LMHC (NY)
Associate Professor
Kim Asner-Self has taught in counselor education for 25 years starting at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and currently at Touro University in New York. She enjoys teaching, especially group counseling and clinical supervision. Kim has presented at numerous conferences, conducted trainings in the U.S., Haiti, Japan, Malawi, and Malaysia in group counseling, and published in some ACA journals including JCD, JSGW, and MECD. She is licensed in Illinois (LCPC) and New York (LMHC) and sees clients online.
Session
Kellie Forziat-Pytel, Ph.D., LPC-PA, NCC, ACS
Assistant Professor
Kellie Forziat-Pytel holds a Ph.D in Counselor Education and Supervision from the Pennsylvania State University. She currently works as an Assistant Professor/Core Faculty at Commonwealth of PA-Lock Haven University. Dr. Forziat-Pytel is a nationally certified counselor (NCC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in PA. She has 9 years of experience in the professional counseling field in a variety of settings: (a) state correctional institution, (b) private outpatient mental health counseling office, (c) college counseling training clinic, (d) career services center, (e) trauma outpatient counseling office, and (f) telemental health platform. She is also a consultant with the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State University, who is partnered with the Department of Defense, on projects that work to improve program processes related to children and adults facing abuse. Dr. Forziat-Pytel’s specialty area consists of military, trauma, grief and loss, and their impacts on individuals, families, and the community.
Sessions
Javier F. Casado Pérez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Education
Javier F. Casado Pérez, Ph.D., [they/them] is Assistant Professor of Education in Counselor Education and Research Associate at Center for the Study of Higher Education. Their research initiatives include adolescent health equity and pre-college programming, institutional oppression and minoritized faculty life, equity-minded education and curricular reviews, and critical qualitative inquiry. Casado Pérez has served as Co-Editor of the Teaching Practice Briefs, an Association for Counselor Education and Supervision publication, Strategic Planning Chair for the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development, Community Counseling Clinic Director, and Past Co-Chair of the CEQUIN Critical Methodologies Taskforce. They have led and supported multiple critical qualitative inquiries, mentor emerging qualitative researchers, and completed the University of Maryland Intersectional Qualitative Research Methods Institute.
Session
Kafi Nsenkyire, MA, LAC
Doctoral student
Kafi is a current doctoral student at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ and a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), with clinical practice experience since 2020. Her research interests include intergenerational trauma in Black families, and internalized oppression and its impact on the mental well-being of women.
Session
Alwin Wagener
Director of CMHC Program and Assistant Professor
Alwin E. Wagener, PhD, LPC, NCC is a Counselor Educator, Director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, and a Professional Counselor. He has numerous presentations at national conferences on dreamwork and publishes in refereed journals on dreams and dreamwork. Recently, he published a new theory on dreams that proposes functions of dreaming grounded in and aligned with research findings in cognitive, psychological, and neurological science. The theory provides a foundational explanation for benefits from dreamwork in counseling practice. Along with exploring the functional basis of dreaming, he devotes his time to understanding the practical and cultural aspects of dreaming and dreamwork in hopes of providing counselors with guidance on how to use dreamwork to gain a deeper understanding of clients along with new ways to support client growth. In addition to researching dreams and dreamwork, he is a professional counselor who often uses dreamwork to understand his clients and facilitate change.
Session
Edward Neukrug, LPC, LP
Batten Endowed Chair of Counseling/Professor
Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Ed Neukrug obtained his B.A. in psychology from SUNY Binghamton, his M.S. in counseling from Miami University of Ohio, and his doctorate in counselor education from the University of Cincinnati.
After teaching and directing a graduate program in counseling at Notre Dame College in New Hampshire, he accepted a position at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Virginia where he currently is the Batten Endowed Chair of Counseling in the Department of Counseling and Human Services at Old Dominion University. In addition, he is the Executive Director of the International Institute for the Advancement of Counseling Theory (IIACT, www.odu.edu/iiact). Dr. Neukrug has worked as a counselor at a crisis center, an outpatient therapist at a mental health center, an associate school psychologist, a school counselor, and as a private practice psychologist and licensed professional counselor.
Dr. Neukrug has held a variety of positions in local, regional, and national professional associations in counseling and human services. In addition, he has published dozens of articles, book chapters, and related publications. Dr. Neukrug has also developed several helping and counseling videos, an interactive and animated website entitled Great Therapists of the Twentieth Century, a survey to assess one’s theoretical orientation, and more. Some of these materials can be found at his open-access website: https://sites.wp.odu.edu/eneukrug/.
Dr. Neukrug is well known for the 14 books, and multiple editions of his books, he has published, which include: (1) The Dictionary of Counseling and Human Services, (2) Skills and Techniques for Human Service Professionals (2nd ed.), (3) Counseling Theory and Practice (3rd ed.), (4) The World of the Counselor (6th. ed.), (5) Experiencing the World of the Counselor: A Workbook for Counselor Educators and Students (4th ed.), (4) Theory, Practice and Trends in Human Services: An Introduction to An Emerging Profession (7th ed.), (7) Essentials of Testing and Assessment for Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists (3rd ed.), (8) A Brief Orientation to Counseling: Professional Identity, History, and Standards (2nd ed.), (9) Skills and Tools for Today's Counselors and Psychotherapists, (10) Counseling and Helping Skills: Critical Techniques for Becoming a Counselor, (11) The SAGE Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy, (12) Contemporary Theories of Counseling, (13) Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and (14) Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals (In Press). See most of his books at: www.counselingbooksetc.com.
Dr. Neukrug has received numerous awards and accolades over the years, including twice being the recipient of the prestigious President's Award from the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS), recipient of the Lenore McNeer Award of NOHS for distinctive contribution to the field of human services, a Fellow of the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the fifth person to receive the Hohenshil Publications Award of ACA. Dr. Neukrug has two children, Hannah and Emma.
After teaching and directing a graduate program in counseling at Notre Dame College in New Hampshire, he accepted a position at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Virginia where he currently is the Batten Endowed Chair of Counseling in the Department of Counseling and Human Services at Old Dominion University. In addition, he is the Executive Director of the International Institute for the Advancement of Counseling Theory (IIACT, www.odu.edu/iiact). Dr. Neukrug has worked as a counselor at a crisis center, an outpatient therapist at a mental health center, an associate school psychologist, a school counselor, and as a private practice psychologist and licensed professional counselor.
Dr. Neukrug has held a variety of positions in local, regional, and national professional associations in counseling and human services. In addition, he has published dozens of articles, book chapters, and related publications. Dr. Neukrug has also developed several helping and counseling videos, an interactive and animated website entitled Great Therapists of the Twentieth Century, a survey to assess one’s theoretical orientation, and more. Some of these materials can be found at his open-access website: https://sites.wp.odu.edu/eneukrug/.
Dr. Neukrug is well known for the 14 books, and multiple editions of his books, he has published, which include: (1) The Dictionary of Counseling and Human Services, (2) Skills and Techniques for Human Service Professionals (2nd ed.), (3) Counseling Theory and Practice (3rd ed.), (4) The World of the Counselor (6th. ed.), (5) Experiencing the World of the Counselor: A Workbook for Counselor Educators and Students (4th ed.), (4) Theory, Practice and Trends in Human Services: An Introduction to An Emerging Profession (7th ed.), (7) Essentials of Testing and Assessment for Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists (3rd ed.), (8) A Brief Orientation to Counseling: Professional Identity, History, and Standards (2nd ed.), (9) Skills and Tools for Today's Counselors and Psychotherapists, (10) Counseling and Helping Skills: Critical Techniques for Becoming a Counselor, (11) The SAGE Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy, (12) Contemporary Theories of Counseling, (13) Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and (14) Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals (In Press). See most of his books at: www.counselingbooksetc.com.
Dr. Neukrug has received numerous awards and accolades over the years, including twice being the recipient of the prestigious President's Award from the National Organization of Human Services (NOHS), recipient of the Lenore McNeer Award of NOHS for distinctive contribution to the field of human services, a Fellow of the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the fifth person to receive the Hohenshil Publications Award of ACA. Dr. Neukrug has two children, Hannah and Emma.
Session
Laura Dawson-Fend, PhD, NCC, LPC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Laura Dawson-Fend received her Master of Arts in Community Counseling at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (2008), and her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Texas Tech University (2014). Laura has spent much of her clinical career working in community mental health with underserved populations. She has worked in substance abuse, crisis response and assessment, housing first and integrated care environments. Laura taught at Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexico Highlands University before accepting her current role as an assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University’s Community and Trauma Counseling program in Philadelphia. Laura is an LPC in Pennsylvania and Texas as well as a Certified School Counselor in New Mexico. Dr. Dawson-Fend’s research interests are in the areas of trauma, crisis, human trafficking, effective models for working with law enforcement and first responders to prevent burnout and PTSD, innovative pedagogical and classroom practices, and closing the gap between what we know about trauma and effective interventions and how we treat and to avoid trauma in the field.
Session
Scarlett Iglesias Hoyos, MS, CPC-I, PGC-I, CADC-I, NCC
Doctoral Student
Scarlett Iglesias Hoyos is a first-year doctoral student in the Counselor and Education program at The Pennsylvania State University. Scarlett has developed increased interest in critical research and measurement development attending marginalized and historically oppressed communities, specifically BIPOC communities, Latino/e/x population, and immigrants. She is passionate about working with marginalized populations to increase awareness and accessibility to mental health services by BIPOC and Latino communities through trauma-informed and decolonizing approaches.
Session
Erica Rhoads, MA, LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
I am a licensed professional counselor, scholar, and educator who focuses on how understanding and connection can lead to better relationships and better mental health. I am pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Liberty University and hope to graduate in May. I am passionate about helping those who have experienced trauma, whether that is a BIG “T” trauma or small “t” trauma. Sometimes the big Traumas are all that get noticed and get help, but the little traumas that happen over time can change the way a person’s brain functions just as easily.
Session
Tyler Puryear, LMHC, MPH
Psychotherapist/PhD Student
Tyler Puryear, LMHC, MPH is currently serving as a Supervisor Psychotherapist at a private practice in Providence, RI, providing individual counseling services to clients with anxiety disorders and/or seeking LGBTQ+ - affirmative counseling. Additionally, he is currently a PhD student in the CACREP-accredited Counseling and Supervision PhD program at James Madison University.
Session
Kate Worley, Ph.D., LPC, RPT
Dr.
Dr. Kate Worley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theological Studies from Trevecca Nazarene University and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Kate then returned to Trevecca to complete a Master of Art’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Ph. D. in Clinical Counseling: Teaching and Supervision.
Kate is a licensed professional counselor (LPC-MHSP) and a registered play therapist (RPT). Her clinical background involves working with children, adolescents, and families through various play therapy techniques. Her clinical specialties include working with the LGBTQ+ population, anxiety, and trauma. She is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the Association for Play Therapy, and Chi Sigma Iota.
Kate’s research interests include: the mental health needs of the LGBTQ+ population, first-generation counseling students, and the effectiveness of play therapy as a counseling modality.
Kate is a licensed professional counselor (LPC-MHSP) and a registered play therapist (RPT). Her clinical background involves working with children, adolescents, and families through various play therapy techniques. Her clinical specialties include working with the LGBTQ+ population, anxiety, and trauma. She is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the Association for Play Therapy, and Chi Sigma Iota.
Kate’s research interests include: the mental health needs of the LGBTQ+ population, first-generation counseling students, and the effectiveness of play therapy as a counseling modality.
Sessions
Yi-Yun Tsai MSED, MS
PhD Student
Yi-Yun (Minnie) Tsai is a first year PhD Student in the Counselor Education and Supervision Program at William and Mary. Prior to her move to Virginia, she was a school counselor in her home country, Taiwan. Minnie has a Masters in Counseling in both School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Villanova University. Minnie started her career getting a Bachelors in Elementary and Special Education, and taught in Florida. Tsai has four years of experience working as a supervisor in Residence Life. Her research interests include multicultural counseling, play therapy, supporting school counselors, and creative interventions.
Session
Kathy D. Richardson, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S
Assistant Professor
Dr. Kathy D. Richardson is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Science in Counseling program at Lebanon Valley College and the owner of Conestoga Counseling & Consulting, LLC in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She previously served as an Assistant Professor and the Program Director of the Master of Arts in Counseling program at Rosemont College. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and a Registered Play Therapy - Supervisor (RPT-S). Dr. Richardson teaches courses such as Trauma Counseling, Professional Standards and Ethics, Human Growth and Development, Diagnosis and Treatment, and Advanced Counseling Skills. Her clinical focus includes play therapy, trauma-informed care, and spiritually integrated psychotherapy. Her research areas include social class and access to care, gatekeeping in counselor education, spiritual and religious competency, and vicarious resilience. Dr. Richardson earned a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from Loyola University Maryland, a post-graduate certificate in play therapy from Temple University, a master's degree in counseling from Montclair State University, and a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Connecticut.
Session
Kristina Weiss
Dr
Dr. Kristina Weiss (she/her) received her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Rowan University. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia within the counseling psychology department. Before joining Holy Family, Dr. Weiss was a K-8 school counselor for ten years. She has experience working with students from PreK-16 through various school and college programs. Dr. Weiss’s research focuses on LGBTQ+ advocacy and school counselor preparation when working with marginalized populations. Currently, Dr. Weiss serves on the executive board of Southern New Jersey GLSEN and provides information to educators on creating safe, affirming spaces for our LGBTQ+ youth.
Session
Scott McGuinness, Ph.D., LMHC, Master CASAC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Scott McGuinness began teaching counseling courses in 2016 and has been a part of federal grants focused on Hyflex instruction and open-educational resources. Dr. McGuinness has been a licensed counselor since 2013 and holds specialty counseling credentials in addiction counseling and clinical supervision. He has worked with clients who have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders across various levels of care, including detoxification, partial hospitalization, and outpatient settings. He has presented at regional and national conferences on clinical supervision, addiction counseling, dark web marketplaces, Internet inquiry, and holistic healing. Dr. McGuinness is currently an Assistant Professor at St. John Fisher University.
Session
Daniel Miller, PhD, LMHC, NCC
Assistant Professor
Daniel Miller, Ph.D., LMHC, NCC (he/they) is an Assistant Professor of Counseling and Psychological Services at SUNY Oswego, where he teaches students in counseling skills, practicum, internship, group counseling, assessment, and family systems. Daniel also serves as the co-faculty advisor of the Sigma Nu Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota.
Daniel received his M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Oswego, and Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education from the University of Rochester. His dissertation research entitled The Identity Development and Gender Socialization Experiences of Highly Sensitive Men, was the first known empirical study investigating the intersectional lived experiences of men with high sensory-processing sensitivity. This work received the Susan B. Anthony Dissertation Award as the most distinguished dissertation in gender studies from the University of Rochester.
In addition to his faculty role, Daniel has a small virtual private practice where he specializes in working with highly sensitive persons. Daniel utilizes relational-cultural theory in his clinical work and teaching, and his research interests include identity development of highly sensitive persons, relational-cultural theory, masculinities and mental health, and creativity in counseling. Daniel was recently named an Emerging Leader for the Association for Creativity in Counseling.
Daniel received his M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Oswego, and Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education from the University of Rochester. His dissertation research entitled The Identity Development and Gender Socialization Experiences of Highly Sensitive Men, was the first known empirical study investigating the intersectional lived experiences of men with high sensory-processing sensitivity. This work received the Susan B. Anthony Dissertation Award as the most distinguished dissertation in gender studies from the University of Rochester.
In addition to his faculty role, Daniel has a small virtual private practice where he specializes in working with highly sensitive persons. Daniel utilizes relational-cultural theory in his clinical work and teaching, and his research interests include identity development of highly sensitive persons, relational-cultural theory, masculinities and mental health, and creativity in counseling. Daniel was recently named an Emerging Leader for the Association for Creativity in Counseling.
Session
Jacoby Loury, Licensed School Counselor (VA)
Doctoral Candidate
Jacoby Loury is doctoral candidate at Virginia Tech, planning to graduate in May 2024 with a Future Professoriate graduate certificate. After graduation, will serve as Assistant Professor at SUNY University at Buffalo starting Fall 2024. His professional background is in school counseling where he has gained valuable K-12 experience advocating for students. Jacoby's research involves best practices for honoring culture in counselor development and counseling practice, as well as use of technology in counseling.
Session
Sarah Springer, PhD, LPC, ACS
Associate Clinical Professor, Seattle University
Dr. Sarah Springer is a counselor educator, the owner of a private practice, NJ Counseling Connections, LLC., and a former NJ School Counselor. Dr. Springer trains masters level school counseling and clinical mental health students and provides LPC supervision to professional school counselors obtaining their license. Dr. Springer's research areas of interest include group counseling, the training and preparation of counselors, and supervision.
Session
Vaibhavee Agaskar
Associate Professor
Dr. Vaibhvee Agaskar is an Associate Professor and a CACREP liaison at New Jersey City University.
Session
Deepika Raju Nantha Kumar, NCC, MEd
Doctoral Student
Deepika Nantha (she/her/hers) is nationally certified counselor, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education at the Pennsylvania State University. Nantha holds a M.Ed. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the Pennsylvania State University and a B.S. degree in Psychology from the Ohio State University. Nantha’s research focuses on critical consciousness, cultural humility, and experiences of people with systemically marginalized racial identities. Nantha is committed to centering work that elevates voices of people of color, whilst also challenging system of power and privilege. She is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Graduate Assistant at World Campus Student Affairs, coordinating race-based affinity groups and advocating for social justice initiatives. Nantha held leadership roles in Chi Sigma Iota Rho Alpha Mu and active participation in committees like the Racial Trauma Taskforce and BIPOC Advisory.
Session
Jean Albert, MA, NCC
Adjunct Professor
Jean Albert is a doctoral candidate in a Counselor Education and Supervision program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During her doctoral experience, she has gained experience working as an adjunct professor, seeing clients at a group private practice, and working as a career counselor for a non-profit for high school, college-bound students. As a doctoral student, she has expanded her interests in clinical supervision, theoretical orientation development, and men's experiences in counseling. Presently, she is working toward licensure and specializing in career counseling for emerging adults.
Session
Nouna Jalilzadeh
Dr.
Dr. Nouna Jalilzadeh is an Assistant Professor at St. John's University, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Board Certified Counselor, EMDR Certified Therapist, and Clinical Supervisor in New York. Dr. Jalilzadeh provides services to a diverse clientele, including individuals in their reproductive journeys and clients with a history of unresolved and complicated traumas. Her research interests include diversity, multicultural competence, and social justice, with an emphasis on trauma, marginalized identities, and intersectionality of identity within counseling, counselor education, and supervision.
Dr. Jalilzadeh has presented at many national conferences, such as the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the New York Mental Health Counseling Convention, the Teachers College Winter Roundtable, and the American Humanistic Society. She is a current member of the New York Mental Health Counseling Association (NYMHCA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA).
Dr. Jalilzadeh has presented at many national conferences, such as the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the New York Mental Health Counseling Convention, the Teachers College Winter Roundtable, and the American Humanistic Society. She is a current member of the New York Mental Health Counseling Association (NYMHCA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA).
Session
Angela Sheely-Moore, PhD
Associate Professor
Angela I. Sheely-Moore, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Counseling Department at Montclair State University. With eight years of clinical experience counseling children and families from diverse populations in school and agency settings and 16 years as a counselor educator, Dr. Sheely-Moore specializes in the area of researching counseling services to marginalized communities from a social justice lens. She has published in the areas of multicultural competencies, play-based counseling services, and counselor education andragogy.
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Ben T. Willis, Ph.D., NCC, ACS
Professor
Ben Willis is a professor and CMHC program director at the University of Scranton. His research interests center around identity development and professional preparation. He enjoys hiking, skiing, and good stories.
Sessions
Yanhong Liu
Associate Professor
Dr. Yanhong Liu is an associate professor in counseling and counselor education at Syracuse University (SU). Dr. Liu’s research centers around marginalized youth and supporting systems. She currently co-leads a multidisciplinary college health and wellness collaborative at SU. She actively publishes in refereed venues and has been a faculty mentor for numerous students' projects.
Sessions
Chad Losinger, M.A., LPC, NCC, CCTP, Doctoral Student
Licensed Professional Counselor
Currently I'm a LPC in the state of Pennsylvania and see clients within the private practice sector. I also provide supervision to Master's students working through their practicum/internship experience and I provide supervision for post degree professionals working towards licensure.
Sessions
Dana Levitt, PhD
Professor
Dana Heller Levitt is a counselor educator and chair of the Department of Counseling at Montclair State University. She has been a counselor educator for more than 20 years and teaches across the master’s and doctoral curricula. She has significant experience in counselor preparation and development, including serving on the CACREP Board of Directors and Chair of the CACREP 2024 Standards Revision Committee. Pertinent to this proposal, Dr. Levitt developed a course on body image, presented and published on the topic, and engages in research with students who hold an interest in this area. Prior to becoming a counselor educator, Dr. Levitt worked with college students with a specialty in body image and sub-clinical eating disorders.
Sessions
Matthew L. Nice, Ph.D, LPC, NCC, ACS
Assistant Professor
Presenter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling at a CACREP accredited program. He is the current Chapter Faculty Advisor of his university Chi Sigma Iota Chapter, and actively promotes wellness and counseling leadership behaviors to counselors in-training. He has published several empirical manuscripts on topics of leadership, wellness, and emerging adulthood development, and has presented the topics at numerous national, regional, and state conferences.
Sessions
K. Lynn Pierce, PhD, CRC, LPC, ACS
Assistant Professor, Doctoral Program Coordinator
Dr. Pierce is an Assistant Professor and doctoral program coordinator at Mercer University. She has worked in higher education disability services and other rehabilitation focused settings in addition to career counseling and private practice settings with predominantly disabled and queer populations. She is the founding Chair of the NARACES Accessibility Committee and regularly consults with organizations and divisions in counseling regarding accessible programming and conferences. Pierce uses a disability culture and identity focused model that is trauma-informed and grounded in disability justice. As a disabled academic, her advocacy work focuses on the normalization and recognition of disability identity to support cross-disability collective liberation.
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Linda Beeler, PhD, LSC, LPC
Associate Professor
Full time Faculty at Capella University since 2008
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Kimberly J. Desmond, PhD, LPC, NCC
Professor
The first presenter has been a Counselor Educator for 19 years and teaches face-to-face and online in a university setting. She is chairperson of the counseling department and has served as doctoral program coordinator. In addition, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has a private practice. Her scholarship focuses on mentoring and counselor education innovations. She has completed training on effective leadership, telehealth counseling services, and teaching graduate courses online.
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Mariah Jones, BA
Mariah Jones, a Stockton University graduate, is currently pursuing a graduate degree in the clinical mental health program at Kean University. Her passion for understanding and supporting adolescents was sparked during her work at a group home. As a LGBTQIA+ Programs graduate assistant at Kean University's Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, she designs and executes impactful programs to enhance the sense of belonging for students with multiple marginalized identities on campus. Post-graduation, Mariah aims to serve in community-based mental health settings, specifically focusing on providing gender-inclusive care for LGBTQ+ youth in urban areas.
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Evelyn Lopez, MA
Counselor
Evelyn Lopez is currently a doctoral student at Montclair State University. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Kutztown University. Evelyn has been providing services in both community and private practice settings for the past 9 years. She is bilingual and engages individuals and families who are Spanish-speaking. Her clinical and research focus is on substance use and eating disorder treatment.
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Stephen V. Flynn Ph.D., LPC, LMFT-S, NCC, ACS
Professor
Stephen V. Flynn, PhD, LPC, LMFT-S, NCC, ACS earned his MA degree from Rowan University and his PhD from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Flynn is an associate professor of counselor education and is a research fellow in the Center of Research and Innovation at Plymouth State University, Plymouth, New Hampshire. He teaches research, clinical, and writing courses for the Counselor Education, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Educational Leadership graduate programs at Plymouth State University. He is a licensed professional counselor (CO), licensed marriage and family therapist (CO, NH), national certified counselor, approved clinical supervisor, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Clinical Fellow, and an AAMFT Approved supervisor. Dr. Flynn has published numerous research articles using diverse methodological frameworks; including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. His research and scholarship interests include five areas (a) research methodology and processes, (b) the relationship between altruism and self-interest, (c), multicultural and diversity issues, (d) counselor preparation, and (e) student retention.
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Dana Albert, MS, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Dana Albert, MS, LPC graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She currently owns her own private practice, Shed Your Stress Counseling, LLC, where she specializes in adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, and grief/loss. She is also a current doctoral student at Southern Connecticut State University in the Counselor Education and Supervision program. She works as a University Assistant in the Counseling Training Clinic for the Counseling and School Psychology Department, providing clinical services and provides oversight to Master's level counselors.
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Rachael Pursell, M.A., NCC
Counselor
I am currently a counselor and in IUP's Counselor Education Doctoral Program.
Sessions
Caitlin Senk, MA, NCC, LPC- PA, CCTP
Licensed Professional Counselor
Caitlin Senk (she/her), PhD, LPC, CCPT, NCC is a licensed professional counselor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania seeing primarily individuals, couples, and some families. Her approach to therapy is an integrative one that focuses on a person-centered, systems, and strengths-based perspective. She received in Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University and holds a PhD is Counselor Education and Supervision from Antioch University Seattle. Caitlin is an adjunct faculty member at Antioch University Seattle in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Currently, Caitlin sees a range of diverse clients in her private practice, CMS Counseling, LLC. Previously, she worked for a group practice, The Center For Relational Change and a community agency in Southwestern Pennsylvania. She has over 5 years of experience working as a counselor and 2 years as a counselor educator. Caitlin has engaged in research and presentations focusing on perinatal mental health, resilience, and substance use. She recently published Resilience-Centered Counseling: A Practical Workbook to assist with reflective practice for counselors in training.
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Thomas Jennings
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Amanda L. Giordano, PhD, LPC
Amanda L. Giordano, PhD, LPC is an associate professor at the University of Georgia who specializes in addictions counseling. She is the sole author of a clinical reference book titled, A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions and co-author of a textbook titled, Addiction Counseling: A Practical Approach. Dr. Giordano works to advance the counseling field with rigorous research and has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Dr. Giordano has experience as an editorial board member for several prominent counseling journals including the Journal of Addiction and Offender Counseling, Journal of Counseling and Development, and the International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling.
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Stephanie Thorson-Olese, PhD
Core Faculty, Director of Doctoral Research
Dr. Stephanie Thorson-Olesen is a Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) at Antioch University. She is the Director of Doctoral Research. She earned her PhD from Capella University and Master’s degree from Winona State University in Minnesota. She also has a Professional Certificate in Online Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Thorson-Olesen was previously a tenured faculty member at Viterbo University and was awarded D. B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership Research Fellowship, Advisor of the Year and Teacher of the Year. She has served as Chair of Diversity, Interim Faculty Chair, Interim Assistant Dean, and was elected as the Faculty Council Chair. She co-authored and was awarded over $3 million in federal grant funding to expand counseling services in rural areas and expand integrative care practices. Most recently, she was awarded the prestigious David Van Doren Leadership and Service award from the Wisconsin Counseling Association (WCA), a Branch of the American Counseling Association. She has served on the Executive Board for the WCA and was the Editor of the Association Journal. She has previously been involved in mental health policy-making at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and is an active member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and Chi Sigma Iota.
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Kathy Shoemaker PhD, LPC, ACS, NCC
Dr. Kathy Shoemaker is an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Department of Educational Psychology, at Rutgers University. She has over eight years in supervising counselors-in-training, utilizing suicide assessments and interventions. Her research also seeks to help people understand how safe school environments are created to give students a grounded atmosphere in which they can become more engaged in their learning. With her experience in school counseling, adolescence counseling, and substance abuse treatment, she trains educators and counselors on a variety of educational and counseling topics and applying these to interventions in schools and community agencies. Dr. Shoemaker is an active member of the Traumatic Loss Coalition for Youth of Middlesex County.
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Ashley Combs, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, NCC, CAADC
Sessions
Vladyslav Logos, MA, MS
LPC-Intern
Vladyslav is an experienced researcher and mental health clinician. He has two master's degrees from very prestigious Ukrainian universities. Currently, he is studying for an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at one of the research-driven universities in Texas, as well as actively contributing to the research activity of the Department of Counseling.
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Alexander Cameron, MA, LPC
Alex is the Senior Director of Clinical Services at a Social Services agency that serves seven states and has over 70 programs. He has over 30 years experience working with children, adults and families. Alex is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and has been responsible for the oversight of many clinical initiatives at his agency, including Motivational Interviewing, The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, Collaborative Problem Solving, and training universal training and screening of suicidality using the Columbia Suicidality Severity Rating Scale. He has had a long interest in the outdoors and has been involved in Experiential Education and Adventure Programming.
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Jessica S. Henry, Ph.D., LPC, CRC
Associate Teaching Professor
Dr. Jessica S. Henry is an Associate Teaching Professor of Education at Penn State's College of Education. With expertise spanning Mental Health and Rehabilitation Counseling, she earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Ohio University in 2016 and her Master of Rehabilitation Counseling from Alabama State University in 2012. Holding licenses as a mental health counselor (LPC) and certification as a rehabilitation counselor (CRC), her focus lies in understanding wellness needs through studying stress impacts on performance outcomes and quality of life. Dr. Henry specializes in counseling individuals dealing with disability identity development, chronic illness adjustment, and stress management.
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Harvey Charles Peters, PhD, NCC
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Nayoung Kim, NCC, BC-TMH
Assistant Professor
The presenter is a nationally certified counselor and an Assistant Professor in counseling program. She received her doctoral and master’s degrees in Counseling. Her clinical background includes working in college and community based counseling and school settings. She has worked on multiple research projects regarding mentorship in the counseling field.
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Amelia D. Shannon, Ph.D., LCPC, LPC
Amelia Danielle Shannon, a Specialist Professor at Monmouth University, and a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Maryland, and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Connecticut and Virginia. Specializations in psychotherapy, with primary clinical interests in sexual trauma, women with autoimmune diseases, and complex trauma, psychology, and faith. Areas of interest in research include college students, African American females in higher education. Dr. Amelia Danielle Shannon pursued her academic journey at Virginia State University (VSU), majoring in Psychology. She excelled, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in clinical psychology, where she actively engaged at VSU, participating in various organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Her academic pursuits continued, lending her to present research at the National Black Graduate Student Conference. Dr. A.D. Shannon achieved a significant milestone by graduating with a Ph.D. in Counseling Education and Supervision from Hampton University. Currently, she is involved in motivational speaking, workshops, and holistic coaching. Dr. A.D. Shannon is the Founder of The Naked Truth Life Enrichment Project LLC (TNT). Actively contributing to her community, she held a leadership role in the Theta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Session
Brittany L. Pollard-Kosidowski, PhD
Professor & Graduate Coordinator
Dr. Brittany Pollard-Kosidowski is a Professor and Graduate Coordinator at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she has been a faculty member since 2015. Her research interests include the experiential training of master's students on group work, social justice advocacy, and theory and she has been a longtime Board member for the Association for Specialists in Group Work. Dr. PK has published and presented extensively on a wide variety of clinical and academic topics and has won several awards for her service and leadership, including CSJ's O'Hana Award in 2023 and the ASGW Presidential Award in 2020 and 2024.
Sessions
Jill E. Schwarz, PhD
Professor
Jill E. Schwarz, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Counselor Education Department at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). She serves as the coordinator of the CACREP-accredited global school counseling program and works with students across the globe. Prior to becoming a counselor educator, Jill worked with children and adolescents as a professional school counselor. Dr. Schwarz serves on the advisory board and as a research consultant for a domestic and sexual violence agency and has presented EMDR and gender-based research at international, national, and regional conferences. She has published her research in counseling journals, magazines, book chapters, and in her own book Counseling Women across the Life Span: Empowerment, Advocacy, and Intervention.
Sessions
Michael Sickels. Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Michael Sickels is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education program at Duquesne University. Dr. Sickels teaches a variety of coursework at both the master's and doctoral level. Dr. Sickels is also a licensed professional counselor in the state of Pennsylvania, working with clients across the lifespan. Dr. Sickels' research interests include distance counseling, empathy, client meaning-making processes, and counselor identity.
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Krista Malott
Full Professor
Krista M. Malott, LPC, PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision, is a professor in the Department of Education and Counseling at Villanova University, where she has trained master-level school and mental health counselors for over 18 years. With a focus on effecting justice through mental health practice, she has over 15 years of counseling experience in a diversity of settings, from public schools to half-way houses and prison settings, to a drug and alcohol treatment center and a domestic violence shelter. The author of over 50 publications, her research emphasizes critical consciousness with decolonial and antiracism lenses. She identifies with multiple intersecting identities that profoundly shape her lens, some of which include White, settler, U.S.-born, cisgender, female, temporarily able-bodied, spiritually agnostic and as a member of a transracially adoptive family.
Sessions
Martin Young, LPC
Martin Young, MS, NCC, LPC, brings 28 years of experience to the field of mental health counseling, focusing on a wide range of populations including children, teenagers, adults, and the geriatric community in both Mississippi and Pennsylvania. His work spans both inpatient and outpatient settings, where he has developed a deep understanding of the varied needs across these life stages. In his career, Martin has contributed significantly through clinical supervision and the administrative management of outpatient psychiatric clinics, crisis intervention programs, and student assistance programs. His counseling approach emphasizes creating supportive environments that foster resilience and personal growth for those dealing with mental health challenges. Martin's expertise spans specialized work with a diverse range of complex populations, including those with serious and persistent mental illness, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), juvenile sex offenders, and youth in residential treatment centers. His approach integrates evidence-based practices, tailored to meet the specific needs of each group with which he works. In his diverse roles across community mental health programs, Martin has taken a keen interest in supporting the professional development of counselors and other mental health professionals. His contributions have often centered on providing guidance that blends ethical considerations with practical applications, fostering an environment where innovative interventions can be explored and implemented. This commitment has played a crucial role in service enhancement and the formulation of effective strategies to meet the complex needs of mental health populations.
Session
Phoenix Rosewood
Program Director
Phoenix Rosewood, MA, LMHC (they/them/theirs) maintains a private practice on Nipmuc and Pocomtuc territory in what is now called Northampton, Massachusetts. Their clinical interests include working with LGBTQIA+ adults, local activists, healers, land-tenders, and educators. Phoenix enjoys clinical work centered around gender-affirming therapy, which weaves the use of anti-oppression, relational and experiential frameworks. Phoenix is passionate about providing affirming and connected care for folks struggling with C-PTSD and Relational trauma, addiction, and recovery and folks who are curious to explore gender and queer sexuality more fully. They provide 1-1 and group supervision and consultation within their private practice setting. Phoenix currently serves as the Keene Campus CMHC Program Director and teaches full-time at the AUNE campus. Phoenix is a first year student in the Antioch University Seattle CES program.
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Thomas Killian, Ph.D., LPC, LMHC, NCC
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr.Thomas Killian (he/him/his), Ph.D., serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling at Montclair State University. With extensive experience as a licensed counselor and supervisor, Dr. Killian has gained valuable expertise in various settings, including university counseling and psychological services, a university athletic department, and a residential facility. His research interests span a broad spectrum, encompassing topics such as multicultural and social justice competency, community-engaged research and evaluation, and queer issues in counseling.
Session
Angie Conrad LPC, MSCP, BS
This presenter has been working in the counseling field for 23 years and is currently a doctoral candidate in a counselor education and supervision program. This presenter has worked with clients between the ages of birth and late adulthood in both in home, in office, and in community settings in the capacity of case manager, therapeutic staff support, behavioral specialist, and program director/clinical supervisor. This presenter has been researching the impacts of neuroscience in the counseling field by integrating connections between the brain and body into counseling sessions and by presenting on the topic at local and regional levels.
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Karen M. Decker, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS
Dr. Karen Decker
Dr. Decker has her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision and is Associate Professor in the Professional Counseling Program at William Paterson University, where she also serves as Chair of the Department of Special Education, Professional Counseling, and Disability Studies. She is both a certified school counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey. Dr. Decker has worked as a middle school counselor and as a counselor in a mental health agency. Currently, she does professional supervision of provisionally licensed counselors in a variety of settings.
Sessions
Linda M. Colon, M.Ed., NCC, LPC
Linda M. Colón has worked as a professional bilingual school counselor and educator in the District of Columbia and multiple states, including Puerto Rico. Her work has focused on helping to eliminate the achievement gap and inequities in under-resourced school communities. Linda is in her third year as a counseling doctoral student at Montclair State University, where she is pursuing her dream of becoming a future counselor educator and mentor. Linda’s passion is to explore ideas for helping to empower school counselors to support families via social justice advocacy. She has presented at the American Counseling Association and American School Counselor Association conferences to help share strategies needed for school counselors to become leaders and change agents. Linda has worked as a site supervisor, mentoring school counseling interns in partnership with the University of the District of Columbia and Trinity University. She has also served as a member of the Reach Higher Initiative for the District of Columbia Team. She is passionate about creating innovative opportunities and support for families to help students fulfill their hopes and dreams.
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Jareb Kinney, MA, LPCC
Jareb is a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision, Adjunct Faculty, and private practice owner in ND. Jareb is the current CSI Nu Lambda Upsilon chapter President Elect.
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Sarah Litt, LPC, NCC, MA
MA, LPC, NCC
The presenter is a first-year doctoral student with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. They are a licensed professional counselor with clinical experience working with the emerging adult population in private practice as well as in two different university counseling settings.
Sessions
Laura Michelle Krenn
LMHC
Laura Krenn has been working as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in NYS since 2020. Laura is a 2016 graduate from The College of Saint Rose where she studied Community Mental Health Counseling. Clinically, Laura specializes in adult mental health, more specifically trauma, anxiety/depression, and substance abuse disorders. Laura currently owns her own private practice where she provides telehealth mental health counseling services. She also has served in the past for NYMCHA as the capital region chapter’s student liaison, and later became their secretary for several years. Laura is also a member of ACA and NARACES currently and is hoping to step into committee roles there as well if elected. Laura is also a Doctoral student at Saybrook University. Her focus currently is on the improvement of counseling supervision for clinicians working with clients in the LGBTQIA+ population. Laura is passionate about training future counselors, advocating on the behalf of the profession, and serving to engage counselors.
Session
Tyra A. Bernard-Watts, Ph.D, tLPC/MHSP, NCC, CRC, CHWC, IPEC, CVE
Dr. Watts has more than 20 years of experience as a professional counselor. She has extensive applied practice experience in public, non-profit, and private–for-profit rehabilitation and clinical mental health settings. Her practical work experience includes employment as a work adjustment specialist, vocational evaluator, chemical dependency counselor and psychotherapist, vocational rehabilitation counselor, consultant, supervisor, and administrator. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Vocational Evaluator, National Certified Counselor, Certified Health and Wellness Coach, holds an LPC/MHSP(temporary) credential in the State of Tennessee, have been accepted as a vocational expert by the Social Security Administration and an evaluator for the Department of Labor Office of Worker’s Compensation. She has taught graduate courses in counseling at the University of Memphis, University of North Texas and Carolina University.
Dr. Watts enjoys student interaction and conceptualizes teaching as a matter of professional stewardship. She has extensive experience as a clinical supervisor in a variety of employment settings and has served as supervisor for graduate students during their clinical practicum experience and an advisor to graduate level students. Her research interests focus on multicultural responsiveness in rehabilitation counselor education, supervision and practice, and culturally responsive ethics training.
Dr. Watts is an active member of the rehabilitation counseling community. She previously served as a committee member on Shelby County HIV Advisory Council, Jail Diversion Planning Advisory Committee, The University of Memphis Rehabilitation Counseling Advisory Council, and the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns as a board member. She serves the Past-President of Tennessee Rehabilitation Counselor Association. Dr. Watts is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Watts enjoys student interaction and conceptualizes teaching as a matter of professional stewardship. She has extensive experience as a clinical supervisor in a variety of employment settings and has served as supervisor for graduate students during their clinical practicum experience and an advisor to graduate level students. Her research interests focus on multicultural responsiveness in rehabilitation counselor education, supervision and practice, and culturally responsive ethics training.
Dr. Watts is an active member of the rehabilitation counseling community. She previously served as a committee member on Shelby County HIV Advisory Council, Jail Diversion Planning Advisory Committee, The University of Memphis Rehabilitation Counseling Advisory Council, and the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns as a board member. She serves the Past-President of Tennessee Rehabilitation Counselor Association. Dr. Watts is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
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Leah K. Clarke, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Professor
Dr. Leah Clarke, director of Messiah University's graduate program in counseling, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in counseling and counselor education from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. Dr. Clarke's clinical experience includes work in a outpatient counseling, college counseling center, family services agency and an inpatient psychiatric unit. Her research and writing focuses on cross-cultural counseling including counseling refugees, best practices in online counselor education, family dynamics with addiction, and empathy. She has been a counselor educator and clinical supervisor for 14 years and has presented at many counseling and counselor education conferences and published in counseling journals.
Session
Terrilyn Battle, PhD, LCMHCA, LCASA, LAC, NCC, CRC, CVE
Dr. Terrilyn Battle is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (North Carolina), a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (North Carolina), and a Licensed Associate Counselor in the state of New Jersey. She is also a National Certified Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and Certified Vocational Evaluator, and holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling and Counselor Education. Through her experience as a CRC, Dr. Battle has acquired experience working with transition-aged youth with disabilities and adults with disabilities to become gainfully employed through federal-state vocational rehabilitation services and support. Additionally, throughout her career, Dr. Battle has gained experience providing counseling support to individuals with mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders. Dr. Battle holds interests in researching areas of cultural immersion and multiculturalism, employability among underrepresented populations, and Impostor Phenomenon and the implications of mentorship to challenge the impostor feelings that come up for so many high-achieving individuals.
Session
Kristen Nadermann, Ph,D, LPC.
Clinic Coordinator, Asst. Professor
Kristen Nadermann is an Assistant Teaching Professor and Coordinator of the Edwin L Herr Clinic at Penn State. Kristen has worked as the Coordinator for 6 years and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. Kristen’s research interests include suicide assessment and prevention, the operation of training clinics, and counselor training. In her spare time, Kristen spends time with her family and loves playing volleyball.
Sessions
Janice Oursler, PhD, CRC
Session
Anjali Badrinath, MA, LAC, NCC
Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC)
Anjali Badrinath is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in New Jersey. Additionally, she is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and is currently a new professional actively seeing clients in both nonprofit and private practice settings. Her research interests include multicultural competency, mental health factors in immigrant families, parent-child relationships, and family/parenting concepts.
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Jennifer Hanna, Ph.D., NCC
Jennifer Hanna is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Penn State. Dr. Hanna has been in this full-time non-tenure line position for three years and previously worked in adjunct roles at two universities. Dr. Hanna earned a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision in 2021 and an M.Ed. with emphases in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Schools and Communities as well as Rehabilitation Counseling in 2016. Dr. Hanna has practiced as a counselor in a community mental health clinic and has worked in several roles within various rehabilitation settings.
Session
Erin Friedman, PhD
Dr. Erin Friedman
Dr Friedman is a Counselor Educator with a background in CMHC as well as a specialization in school counseling. She has conducted original quantitative research on practicing school counselors' graduate school training as well as post-graduate training/professional development they received on utilizing data in CSCPs. Additionally, she has practical experience in K-12 schools including clinical training, supervising school-counselors-in-training, as well as extensive participation in collaborations between non-profit organizations and public schools. Dr. Friedman has delivered workshops on comprehensive school counseling to teachers and other school staff. She teaches assessment, ethic and legal issues in counseling, multicultural counseling, school counseling practicum, counseling children and adolescents, and career counseling,
Sessions
Shannon Shoemaker
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Prachi Kene, PhD, ABPP
Professor
Dr. Kene is a board-certified clinical psychologist. She is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Leadership, and School Psychology at Rhode Island College (RIC). In addition to her work at RIC, she is a licensed psychologist in the states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Dr. Kene serves as the Director of Patient Safety at RICBT, a group private practice. Her areas of research and clinical interests include suicide risk assessment, suicide prevention, and intimate partner violence.
Session
William Tyler Johnson NCC
Outpatient Therapist/ PhD student
This presenter has ten years of college coaching experience and five as a head coach at a junior college where freshmen consistently came to play. They are currently in a Ph.D. program for Counselor Education and Supervision. They earned master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling with a concentration in violence loss and trauma. Multiple years of experience in community and in-home mental health settings. They are also currently a therapist at a private practice.
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Rachel Jacoby, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Jacoby is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisory Endorsements (LPCC-S), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), Certified Trauma Practitioner, and Autplay therapist who passionately enjoys working with children, adolescents, and families. She is an Assistant Professor at Palo Alto University. Dr. Jacoby values working with individuals on a personal and collaborative level; while building strong interpersonal relationships. With this consideration, Dr. Jacoby utilizes an existential-humanistic framework for her counseling relationships; while integrating evidence-based experiences through cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, and narrative approaches. Dr. Jacoby’s clinical experiences include working with neurodiverse populations and individuals who have experienced trauma. Additionally, she values collaborative relationships to provide the best care to her clients, including working closely with families, schools, and allied medical professionals.
As a counselor educator, Dr. Jacoby is passionate about enhancing the counseling field through education, leadership, and advocacy. She intentionally integrates creative approaches into her pedagogy. Dr. Jacoby has held many leadership roles in organizations, including the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC), Northcentral Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES), Association of Humanistic Counseling (AHC), Ohio Counseling Association (OCA), and Chi Sigma Iota (CSI). She is currently the Past-Presdient for ACAC, serving as President in the 2022-2023 year. Dr. Jacoby is also a board member of the ACA Ethics Committee. She has been recognized for her leadership and advocacy work with the 2023 Robert H. Rencken Emerging Professional Leader award by the American Counseling Association and the 2021 Carol Bobby Pioneer for Visionary Leadership award presented by CACREP.
As a counselor educator, Dr. Jacoby is passionate about enhancing the counseling field through education, leadership, and advocacy. She intentionally integrates creative approaches into her pedagogy. Dr. Jacoby has held many leadership roles in organizations, including the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC), Northcentral Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES), Association of Humanistic Counseling (AHC), Ohio Counseling Association (OCA), and Chi Sigma Iota (CSI). She is currently the Past-Presdient for ACAC, serving as President in the 2022-2023 year. Dr. Jacoby is also a board member of the ACA Ethics Committee. She has been recognized for her leadership and advocacy work with the 2023 Robert H. Rencken Emerging Professional Leader award by the American Counseling Association and the 2021 Carol Bobby Pioneer for Visionary Leadership award presented by CACREP.
Session
Lorraine Gordon, PhD
Lorraine Gordon is a Counselor Educator at Concordia University, Supervisor, Licensed professional counselor, especially adept in cultural diversity and awareness, active listening and translating patient needs into detailed treatment plans. Skilled in Cognitive Behavioral therapy, and Mindfulness techniques for interpersonal effectiveness, knowledgeable in Illness Management Recovery. Professional presentation Topics: Mentoring, Teen Conflict Management, Domestic violence, and Carrying Excess Baggage. Frequent attendee at continuing educational workshops to remain current and best practice policies in mental health counseling. Committed to each client achieving interpersonal effectiveness. Enthusiastic, engaging, and outgoing about integrating my counseling experience and delivering care at a high standard with empathy and genuine regard for each client. Volunteers with the My Goal Autism Support Group. Works well with the multidisciplinary team approach.
Session
Lorrie-Anne Monte, PhD, MPH, CHES, CWHC, NCC, LPC, PCS, BC-TMH
Dr. Lorrie-Anne Monte is the Counselor Education Program Coordinator at Western Connecticut State University. Prior to that she was a School Counselor at Naugatuck High School for over 18 years. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Relations from the University of Connecticut (UCONN). She also has a Master of Science degree in Counseling and a Master of Public Health degree from Southern Connecticut State University. She completed her 092 Educational Leadership coursework at Sacred Heart University. She also has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology; Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology from UCONN. She loves to learn and is extremely passionate about personal and professional development. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist, a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, a Pastoral Care Specialist, a National Certified Counselor, and a Licensed Professional Counselor. Lorrie-Anne strongly believes in being of service to others and is a Past President and Past Board Member with the Connecticut School Counselor Association and the Connecticut Association for the Gifted.
Session
Marte Ostvik-de Wilde
Associate Professor
Marte Ostvik-de Wilde, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. She serves as the School Counseling Program Director. Dr. de Wilde is a licensed professional school counselor in Connecticut and Ohio. Her research interests include childhood and adolescent social emotional learning, school-based mental health counseling groups, and school counselor supervision and development.
Session
Ashley A. Pechek, Ph.D., LPC-CO, NCC, ACS
Assistant Professor
Dr. Ashley Ascherl Pechek is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado and has over 15 years of counseling experience. She is a National Board-Certified Counselor (NCC) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Her areas of expertise are working with at-risk youth and military families. Dr. Pechek earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision in 2019 and she is currently an Assistant Professor at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven. In addition, she has taught in online CACREP-accredited programs for the last nine years
Session
Nicole M. Arcuri-Sanders, PhD, ACS, LPC-S, LCMHC-S, BC-TMH, NCC, SAC
Dr. Nicole Arcuri-Sanders currently serves the profession as a counselor educator and supervisor. Nicole also serves her community as a licensed clinician, an approved and licensed clinical supervisor, a board certified telemental health provider, and a nationally credentialed counselor. Nicole has participated in research, presentation, publication, and course development for best-practices to support the military-connected population. Throughout the years, Nicole embraces the importance of culturally competent effective strategies with her military-connected clients and has published and presented on therapeutic best practices specifically with this population. Dr. Nicole Arcuri-Sanders’s specialty area embraces supporting the military-connected population clinicians with best practices and utilizing creative approaches to meet the unique needs of individuals, families, couples, and groups within the clinical space.
Session
Terence Yee, Ph.D
Associate Professor, Program Director of Graduate Counseling Program
Dr. Terence Yee is an Associate Professor and the Program Director of the Graduate Counseling Program at Villanova University. He is an international counselor educator from Malaysia and identifies as a cisgender male, ethnic Chinese, able-bodied, middle-class, and speaks multiple languages (English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay). He is also the co-owner of Clarity and Insight Counseling Services.
Session
Dana Kirkpatrick, MS, LPC, NCC, CST, CSTS
The second presenter is the founder of a specialized therapy practice with two locations. She is a Pennsylvania-licensed professional counselor, IBOSP-certified sex therapist, and a Sex Therapy Supervisor certified through AASECT. Practicing for over 20 years, she thrives working with vulnerable populations including neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, and oncology. A 14-year breast cancer survivor herself, she is committed to expanding access to mental health services for young adult survivors and training the next generation of clinicians specialized in the intersection of sex therapy and cancer. She regularly presents on these topics at professional conferences and on television.
Session
Ravza Nur Aksoy Eren
Ravza Nur Aksoy Eren is an advanced doctoral student at Penn State University's Counselor Education and Supervision program. Aksoy Eren's research focus is on culturally sustaining education with the children of immigrants and refugees.
Session
Tatiá M. Haywood, M.A.
EOF Counselor
Tatiá Haywood is a current doctoral student in the Counseling Program at Montclair State University. Additionally, she holds a B.A in Literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a M.A. in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from New York University. Tatiá is also a Counselor for the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program at Montclair State University where she supports first generation, low-income and historically underrepresented undergraduate students. She also serves as a course instructor to support academically suspended students. Her research interests include estranged family relationships, the impact of historical trauma on African Americans and sociocultural issues impacting marginalized families and communities.
Session
Shernell Elibox, PhD, NCC
Assistant Professor
Shernell Elibox, Ph.D., M.A. is an Afro-Caribbean clinical mental health counselor who received her PhD in Counselor Education from The Pennsylvania State University in 2023. She is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator of the Community and Trauma Counseling Program at Thomas Jefferson University. Shernell spent three years as the first and only Clinical Suicidologist Counsellor on her home Island of Saint Lucia. During her tenure working for Saint Lucia’s Department of Health and Wellness, she sat on the island’s clinical team and was responsible for designing and implementing many mental health and suicide prevention and intervention campaigns. During her doctoral studies, she was the Lead Clinic Supervisor of the Edwin L Herr Counseling Training Clinic at Penn State. She was instrumental in updating crisis counseling and training policies and procedures for in-person and telehealth counseling. Shernell’s research investigates the relationship between intersectionality and suicidality and focuses on cultural humility in suicide intervention and prevention. Most recently, she undertook a 122,465-participant study investigating suicidality among college students of color. She brings her expertise as a suicidologist, international clinician, and scholar into the classroom to enrich the experiences of the students she serves.
Sessions
Elizabeth A Prosek, PhD, LPC, NCC
Elizabeth A. Prosek, PhD, LPC, NCC, is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Penn State University. Her research interests include counseling military populations; community engagement and program evaluation; co-occurring presenting concerns; and ethics, exemplar practice, and professional identity development in counseling and counselor education. She previously served as President of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC; 2021-22). She currently serves the profession as an Associate Editor for Qualitative Research for the Journal of Counseling & Development, and an editorial board member for Teaching and Supervision in Counseling.
Session
Deanna Bishop, MS, LMHC-S, LPC
Deanna A. Bishop graduated with honors from Troy University with a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Clemson University. She has worked in the counseling and psychology field for several years as a licensed mental health counselor supervisor and licensed professional counselor (S.C.) serving multiple populations. Her clinical focus is trauma in adults and children, personality disorders, and depression and anxiety. Presently, she is enrolled in a doctoral program with a focus of counselor education and supervision with a completion date of summer, 2024. Ms. Bishop's research interests are narcissistic personality disorder, therapeutic interventions for childhood trauma, attachment issues, and counselor supervision. She has taught many introductory and advanced psychology courses throughout her career and enjoys active discussions and dynamic lectures. Ms. Bishop draws upon her years of clinical experience and education to promote growth in the field of counseling.
Session
Caroline O’Hara, Ph.D., LPC (GA), NCC
Associate Professor
One of the co-presenters works as a counselor educator in a university setting and holds independent licensure and certification credentials. They have years of experience working with masters and doctoral students in counselor training programs. Some of their relevant professional experiences involve teaching a doctoral-level supervision course and providing group, triadic, and individual supervision to masters and doctoral counseling students.
Session
A. Renee Staton, PhD, LPC
Professor
A. Renee Staton is Professor in the Department of Graduate Psychology’s Counseling Programs at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Renee is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Board Certified Counselor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor. Her research and practice interests include multiculturally responsive counseling; international education; and gender issues in counseling, particularly gender-affirmative counseling practice with young people.
Session
Tim Hanna, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Associate Professor
Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Neumann University, Aston, PA
Past-President of PASERVIC (Pennsylvania Association for Spiritual, Ethical, & Religious Values in Counseling)
Neumann University, Aston, PA
Past-President of PASERVIC (Pennsylvania Association for Spiritual, Ethical, & Religious Values in Counseling)
Session
Tom DeGeorge PhD. LPC, NCC, ACS
Associate Professor/Department Chair
Dr. DeGeorge serves as the Department Chair/Associate Professor for Rosemont College's Gradauate Counsleing Departmnet. He is also Director/Clinical Supervisor of the college counseling center. He is in private practice and hosts weekly case consultations for therapists across the country.
Session
Lyneia Richardson, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor
Dr. Lyneia Richardson is licensed psychologist dedicated to helping women and mothers find ways to reconnect to their mind, body, and spirit. Dr. Richardson received a B.A. in psychology from North Carolina A & T State University, M.S. in mental health counseling from Johns Hopkins University, and her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She has over twelve years of experience providing direct therapy in a variety of clinical and community mental health settings, serving an array of clients. Her clinical approach is integrative and holistic, placing special emphasis on the therapeutic relationship, interpersonal process and diversity. Her clinical and research interests have centered around women’s issues from the African diaspora exploring the intersectionality of race, gender, and motherhood. She is currently an assistant professor of counseling and the owner of Melanted Women’s Therapy, LLC.
Session
Christian Heasley, NCC, Licensed School Counselor (PA and VA)
Doctoral Candidate
Christian Heasley is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education & Supervision program at Virginia Tech where he also completed a graduate certificate in Educational Research & Evaluation (statistics concentration). He is a licensed school counselor (Virginia and Pennsylvania) and holds the NCC credential from the National Board for Certified Counselors. After earning a CACREP-accredited M.A. in student affairs and a school counseling endorsement from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, he held several counseling and student affairs positions that included work as a residence life coordinator, college counselor, mobile crisis counselor, school-based outpatient therapist, and elementary school counselor. In Fall 2024, he will begin work as an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Marist College.
Session
Janice A. Byrd-Badjie, Ph.D.
Dr. Janice A. Byrd-Badjie (she/her), a native of rural South Carolina, is an assistant professor in the counselor education program at the Pennsylvania State University. She earned her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from the University of Iowa and an M.Ed. in counselor education (K-12 school counseling) from South Carolina State University. Dr. Byrd-Badjie has previous experience as a school counselor, career counselor, teaching in secondary settings and serving as a university-wide DEI affiliate. As a community-engaged, critical qualitative researcher, Dr. Byrd- Badjie’s areas of expertise include: (1) policies and practices that influence the development and social determinants of health of Black girls/women in educational settings; (2) college and career readiness (at the intersections of identities); and (3) research and teaching in counselor education and supervision. She has been nationally recognized for her scholarship, teaching, and service, and her work appears in various peer-reviewed journals, such as Review of Educational Research; Counselor Education and Supervision; Professional School Counseling; and Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Dr. Byrd-Badjie was bestowed The Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development’s 2022 Young Emerging Leader award, the 2022 AERA Review of Research Award for an article in the Review of Educational Research (e.g., the number one education journal in the world), and the 2023 Outstanding Junior Researcher award within the College of Education at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. serves as the Program Chair (2021-24) for the Critical Examination of Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in Education special interest group within the American Education Research Association, the DEI Member-at-Large for the Association for Counselor Education & Supervision, and is the co-chair of the Advocacy Interest Network within the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) for three years.
Session
Natalie Nieves, MA LPC, NCC
LPC
Natalie Nieves is a doctoral candidate and counselor educator. Outside of academia, she operates a private practice and provides counseling services to predominantly women of color. Ms. Nieves frequently presents current peer-reviewed research with colleagues related to multicultural competency. She also integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and restorative practices, such as mindfulness, to help promote mind-body connection while honoring her client’s intersecting cultural identities.
Session
Edward Wahesh
Associate Professor
The presenter is a counselor educator and professional counselor who has nearly twenty years of experience providing training and supervision in Motivational Interviewing (MI). The presenter is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), which is an international organization that promotes best practice in MI use, training, and research. He has successfully completed two MI training of new trainers (TNT) workshops and helped design the MI training curriculum used with drug and alcohol treatment providers within his state of residence. He has been an invited speaker on the topic of MI over two dozen times and has served as a MI consultant and trainer to professional organizations, treatment centers, and institutions of higher education. He has presented on MI-related topics at past conferences sponsored by ACA, ACES, and MINT. He has published several peer-reviewed journal articles on the practice and supervision of MI, most recently co-authoring a textbook on MI in mental health counseling.
Sessions
Dilani Perera, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor of Counselor Education
Dr. Dilani Perera, Ph.D. is the Department Chair and a Full Professor of the Counselor Education Department at Fairfield University who is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of Connecticut as well as a National Certified Counselor, a Master Addiction Counselor, and a Board-Certified Telemental Health provider through National Board of Certified Counselors. She has been a Counselor Educator for the past 18 years training students to work with underrepresented and minoritized groups. Previous to joining higher education, she worked as a Professional Counselor and Addiction Counselor in a variety of settings including a minimum-security prison, a hospital, an agency, and a private practice. Dr. Perera has 40+ publications in the areas of addiction, assessment, multicultural issues, and training of professional counselors and counselor educators. Dr. Perera is a member of multiple professional counseling organizations. Dr. Perera is a naturalized immigrant from Sri Lanka.
Sessions
Joe Charette, PhD, LPC, NCC
Dr.
Dr. Joe Charette is an LPC in Pennsylvania and an Associate Professor and Director of the Master's in Counseling Program at La Salle University. Dr. Charette is the co-chair of the ACES supervision committee. He supervises candidates for licensure in Pennsylvania and researches the effect of identity matching in supervision.
Sessions
Simone Lambert, Ph.D. LPC
Associate Professor
Simone Lambert, Ph.D., LPC is an ACA Fellow and was the 67th president (2018-2019) of the American Counseling Association.
She is a core counseling faculty member at Capella University and has been a counselor educator since graduating from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2001.
Her research interests include addiction prevention, counselor wellness, chronic illness, sensory processing disorder and issues related to children, adolescents and families. She has published numerous book chapters and articles primarily focused on issues related to mental health, addiction, youth and families.
Her advocacy efforts include serving on the Counseling Interstate Compact Advisory Council as a step towards licensure portability. Dr. Lambert is a past president and former Governing Council representative of the International Association of Addictions and Offenders Counselors (IAAOC), a division of the American Counseling Association.
She is a core counseling faculty member at Capella University and has been a counselor educator since graduating from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2001.
Her research interests include addiction prevention, counselor wellness, chronic illness, sensory processing disorder and issues related to children, adolescents and families. She has published numerous book chapters and articles primarily focused on issues related to mental health, addiction, youth and families.
Her advocacy efforts include serving on the Counseling Interstate Compact Advisory Council as a step towards licensure portability. Dr. Lambert is a past president and former Governing Council representative of the International Association of Addictions and Offenders Counselors (IAAOC), a division of the American Counseling Association.
Session
Prosline Saint-Armand PhD, LPC, CCTP
Session
Erika Dandinoli
Erika Dandonoli, BA graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She is currently a Master's student at SCSU studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling expected to graduate August of 2024. She is currently working at a psychosocial clubhouse for individuals with chronic and persistent mental illness. She is also a clinical intern in private practices working with individuals struggling with anxiety, trauma, and mood disorders. She works as a Graduate Assistant in the Counseling Training Clinic for the Counseling and School Psychology Department, providing counseling groups.
Session
Hyunjy Kim
Master's Student
Hyunjy Kim is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Counselor Education at Pennsylvania State University. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Human Resources Management from the University of Hong Kong. Coming from a diverse cultural background, her research interests focus on the unique needs of culturally marginalized communities, addressing cultural and social justice issues in counseling, including race-related trauma and cultural identity. Particularly interested in AAPI and BIPOC populations, Hyunjy aims to bridge the gap in mental health studies concerning these communities, addressing issues like racism and discrimination, and ultimately promoting diversity within the mental health profession. Currently, she holds the role of co-chair for the Professional Development Committee at CSI Rho Alpha Mu.
Session
Madison Rowohlt, MA, LAC, NCC
Psychotherapist and Counseling Doctoral Student
Madison Rowohlt, LAC, NCC, is a current full-time doctoral student in Montclair State University's Counseling PhD program. Madison's current research interests included trauma-informed and anti-oppressive counseling practices, fueled by her clinical experience working with trauma-exposed youth and young adults. With advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, Narrative Exposure Therapy Technique, and Play Therapy, Madison takes an integrative approach to healing and works to promote safety and empowerment in the therapeutic space.
Session
Sumedha Therthani, Ph.D., NCC
Dr. Sumedha Therthani (she/her/hers) is as an Assistant Professor received her Ph.D. from The University of Mississippi. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Her research interests encompass a broad range of topics within the field of counseling and mental health, such as work addiction, substance use, tele-mental health, multicultural issues in counseling and supervision, and use of technology in Counselor Education. She has taught graduate courses on Theories in counseling, Case Conceptualization, Research Methods, testing and assessment, clinical mental health counseling, and practicum and internship. For more information about Dr. Sumedha Therthani and her academic background and interests, please visit her LinkedIn page at linkedin.com/in/sumedha-therthani-86a47354.
Session
Wanqi Yang, MA
Doctoral Student
Wanqi “Wan-Chi” Yang (she/her), MA, is a doctoral student in the Department of Counseling at Montclair State University. She received her first master’s degree in educational psychology and second master’s in counseling and student personnel psychology. Wanqi has clinical experience working with individuals and groups from diverse background especially people of color and other members from historically underrepresented communities. Wanqi also serves as the president-elect for CSI/CSM chapter at Montclair State University. Her research interests including but not limited to cross-cultural counseling, professional counselor identity development of students of color, and anti-oppressive pedagogy in counselor education.
Sessions
Michelle Gimenez Hinkle, Ph.D., LPC, ACS (she/her/hers)
Professor
Michelle Gimenez Hinkle, Ph.D. (she/her) is a Professor of counselor education and current program co-director of the Professional Counseling Program at William Paterson University of New Jersey. She has counseled individuals across the lifespan in clinical mental health counseling settings. Her clinical work has been with children, adolescents, and families. She has held leadership positions in counselor education and supervision and has a variety of publications and professional presentations on topics in mental health counseling and counselor education.
Session
SunHee Eissenstat, PhD, LAC, CRC,
Session
Lebogang Tiro, Ph.D. CRC
Lebo Tiro is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Penn State. Her speciality is on disability issues after graduating from University of Kentucky in 2018. She also holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Services, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Early Childhood Education. Her main interest is in coping with disability. She has worked with individuals with traumatic brain injuries and those with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Tiro is a certified rehabilitation counselor.
Session
Jennifer Keilholtz
Session
Kalina Brabeck
Session
Sandi Logan-McKibben, PhD, NCC, NCSC, BC-TMH, ACS, CSC (CA), LPC (CT)
Program Director & Clinical Associate Professor
Sandi Logan-McKibben, PhD, NCC, NCSC, ACS, BC-TMH, LPC (CT), CSC (CA) is School Counseling Program Director and Clinical Associate Professor at Sacred Heart University (SHU). Prior to earning her doctorate, she worked as an elementary and middle school counselor in Southern California, was the district-level Tobacco Use, Prevention, and Education (TUPE) Coordinator, and was a site supervisor for practicum and internship students. Her interests include assessment & data-driven decision making, incorporating creativity in counseling and supervision, and online counselor education. She is award winning and has served in multiple leadership roles with various state and national counseling associations, including California Association of School Counselors, Florida School Counselor Association, and Chi Sigma Iota International. Recently, she co-authored her first book, The Ultimate School Counselor’s Guide to Assessment & Data Collection.
Session
Diana Naddeo, PsyD
Dr. Diana Naddeo is an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education program at Western Connecticut State University. She also owns a private practice specializing in clinical mental health counseling and assessment in Newtown, CT. Prior to these roles, Dr. Naddeo was an adjunct professor in the Counselor Education (graduate) and Psychology Department (undergraduate) at WCSU. Dr. Naddeo has a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessment from Chestnut Hill College. Dr. Naddeo also earned her master’s degree in Counselor Education from Fordham University in 2005. Beyond clinical work and teaching duties, Dr. Naddeo has also served in other related capacities in the field as follows: Director of Student Development (Fordham University); Clinical Consultant (The Jed Foundation), and Personal Development Advisor for first generation college students (Kingsborough Community College (Brooklyn, NY). Dr. Naddeo’s areas of expertise include psychological assessment, neuropsychological testing, therapeutic feedback, and individual psychotherapy. She is trained in many modalities but specializes in psychodynamic therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy.
Session
Ashley Niccolai, MA
The third presenter is currently a counseling master’s student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Prior to pursuing a career as a counselor, she trained as a sociologist and developed expertise in family/gender and obtained advanced training in qualitative research methods. Her experience working as a family sociologist led her to develop a passion advocating for mothers and families, which ultimately inspired her to become a counselor. She is a seasoned lecturer and public speaker on the topics of family and parenthood in addition to teaching at the college level. Throughout her career, she co-authored several peer-reviewed publications on a variety of topics such as age discrepant relationships, how gender and class shape experiences of unemployment, and first responders’ narratives of the opioid epidemic in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Session
Linh Le
Linh Le is a doctoral student at Penn State University's Counselor Education and Supervision program. Le's research focus is on institutional inclusivity and equity pedagogy.
Session
Ana Barend, MA, LMHC, NCC
Clinical Director
Ana Barend, MA, LMHC, NCC is a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision at Liberty University, and she serves as one of the program's liaisons. She practices trauma-informed care at a non-profit setting in Massachusetts and is certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Ana is the president of the Chi Sigma Iota's Rho Eta Nu Alpha Rho chapter, and she believes in leading through service. Ana has presented at numerous counseling conferences on embodiment, trauma, multiculturalism, and leadership. Her areas of interest are spirituality, anxiety, depression, identity, trauma, and attachment issues. She was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but now lives in Rhode Island with her husband of 28 years.
Session
Liam Kelly, Ph.D., LPC
Associate Professor
Professor who primarily teaches clinical and counseling-related courses. Currently researching nightmares as related to the self structure.
Session
Frederick Clemens Pratt, LPC, ACS
Adjunct Faculty
Frederick leads student services, including health, academic success, and counseling at Friends' Central School in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. After earning a BSW from Siena College in 1997, Frederick worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) before joining the Ordo Fratrum Minorum, an international fraternity called to live on the margins of society and committed to working for peace in a troubled and divided world. During those years, he pursued graduate studies in clinical & community social work and spirituality and lived in Boston, MA; New York, NY; Wilmington, DE; Bolivia, SA; and Washington, DC. After leaving his life with the Franciscans and moving to Philadelphia, PA, he began teaching, first at the Romero Center in Camden, NJ, and then at Merion Mercy Academy for a decade. At Merion, he taught World Religions, Ethics, Spirituality, and Social Justice courses and served as a mental health counselor. During those first ten years in education, he earned two graduate degrees and completed post-graduate studies at Villanova University, Bryn Mawr College, and the International Institute for Restorative Practices. In addition to providing leadership and consultation for student and family support at Friends’ Central, Frederick serves as a clinical counselor in both the Middle and Upper Schools. He is passionate about the integration of Quaker pedagogy and the field of Social and Emotional Learning, particularly mindfulness and restorative practices. He is the secretary of the Board of Trustees at The Quaker School at Horsham and a Doctoral Candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Session
Sara Pula, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC, CCTP
Assistant Professor
Dr. Pula is counseling professional with 25 years’ experience ranging from School Counselor, Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Program Manager of a DOD-funded RCT trial, Counselor Educator, and private clinician. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Counselor Education and Supervision programs at Capella University. She has held numerous leadership positions, including CES Site-based Learning Lead, Director of Clinical Training, Past President of the Maryland Counseling Association, Past President of the Maryland Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and Past President and Treasurer of the Board of Advisors of the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services. As a leader in the field, Dr. Pula has presented at national and local conferences, facilitates workshops, supervises counselors toward licensure, and provides advocacy at the national and local levels. Dr. Pula is a subject matter expert, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor in Maryland. Dr. Pula specializes in working with adolescents and young adults, treating body image dissatisfaction, ADHD, autism-spectrum issues, anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, and trauma-related issues.
Session
Emily Velidow, MS, LPCA
Clinician
I am a counselor in Connecticut, currently working in a community mental health agency. I work with a variety of clients providing primarily dual-diagnosis treatment. I work with these clients in outpatient groups, intensive outpatient, and individually. I have experience working with students in the higher education setting as well as with clients experiencing severe psychosis. I am also currently a PhD student at Antioch University in the Counselor Education and Supervision program. My therapeutic focus and research interests continue to shift as I learn more about the field. I am hoping to continue my work as a counselor while I develop my experience as a supervisor and continue to learn in this ever-evolving field.
Session
Barbara Dos Santos, MA, LMHC, NCC
Session
Kelly Dryzal Ed.D., LPC, CIS-R, CMNCS
Session
Mingwei Zhou, M.Sc.
Mingwei Zhou, a second-year master’s student in Counselor Education at Penn State, is an Assistant Clinic Supervisor at the Edwin L. Herr Clinic. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Amsterdam, with a focus on the Brain and Cognition. She actively participates in suicide crisis intervention at the clinic and is exploring a variety of research interests, such as counseling dynamics. She is passionate about sports like running and hiking, she equally enjoys quiet time at home with books, experiments with her rusty cooking, and her 2-year-old clingy cat.
Session
Meredith Drew, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS, Certified NJ School Counselor
Professor
Meredith Drew, Ph.D. is a Professor of Counselor Education in the Professional Counseling Program at William Paterson University of New Jersey. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-NJ (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She is a certified school counselor (NJ) with extensive experience in the schools working with children, adolescents, and families. She has numerous publications and presentations on topics of wellness, counselor education and supervision, creativity, and schools.
Session
Michelle Crossley, PhD, LMHC, NCC
Associate Professor
Dr. Crossley is an Associate Professor at Rhode Island College in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. She also has a private practice where she provides individual, couple, and family counseling to Gender Diverse clients. Dr. Crossley serves as the President of the Rhode Island Mental Health Counselors Association (RIMHCA) and has been invited by several community agencies to provide Continuing Education on the importance of providing gender-informed counseling.
Session
Saiber Shaikh, M.A, M.S.Ed.
JCPS Editorial Fellow
Saiber Shaikh is a second-year doctoral student at the Penn State's Counselor Education program. She earned her master’s degree from Purdue University Northwest in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with specific focus on Expressive Arts based therapy and Addictions Counseling. She also has another master’s from University of Mumbai in Applied Psychology with specialization in Counseling Psychology. She is currently the Lead Clinic Supervisor at the on campus mental health clinic called the Edwin L. Herr Clinic that helps support master and doctoral level counselors-in-training. Her research interest includes imposter phenomenon, Counselors-in-Training professional development and wellbeing, decolonizing research in mental health, chronic health issues and invisible disabilities, women issues, GenAI and meme culture. She serves as the Editorial Fellow for the Journal of Counseling Preparation and Supervision. She is also the incoming Graduate Student Representative Elect for NARACES. In her free time, she loves connecting with people, staring at flowers, and watching cat and dog videos on the internet.
Connect with her on saiber.shaikh@psu.edu for collaborations and conversations.
Connect with her on saiber.shaikh@psu.edu for collaborations and conversations.
Session
Sara Stewart, BA
The fourth presenter is currently a clinical mental health counseling master's student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the program, she worked as an arts and culture journalist for many national publications. She has written about sex-positivity advocates, sexual health, and reproductive rights for CNN, The New York Post, Cosmopolitan, Los Angeles Weekly, and Bustle.com.
Session
Sophia Park, Th.D., LMFT
Session
Kaitlynn Cornell LCAT, RDT, MA
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist/Adjunct Professor
Kaitlynn Cornell LCAT, RDT, MA (she/her)
Kaitlynn is a licensed creative arts therapist, registered drama therapist, and executive functioning coach based in New York. Kaitlynn has worked with a variety of populations in hospitals, schools, community-based programs, and an in-home therapy organization. She currently operates a private practice, providing therapy to individuals and families as well as clinical supervision for creative arts therapists. She is also adjunct faculty with Antioch University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program, teaching and supervising students in the Pre-Internship Practicum course. Kaitlynn received her master’s degree in drama therapy from New York University as well as a certificate in Child and Family Therapy. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Antioch University in Counseling Education and Supervision.
Kaitlynn is a licensed creative arts therapist, registered drama therapist, and executive functioning coach based in New York. Kaitlynn has worked with a variety of populations in hospitals, schools, community-based programs, and an in-home therapy organization. She currently operates a private practice, providing therapy to individuals and families as well as clinical supervision for creative arts therapists. She is also adjunct faculty with Antioch University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program, teaching and supervising students in the Pre-Internship Practicum course. Kaitlynn received her master’s degree in drama therapy from New York University as well as a certificate in Child and Family Therapy. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Antioch University in Counseling Education and Supervision.
Sessions
Katja A. Waldron, M.S.
Session
Jessica Gadzik, M.Ed.
Session
Diane Walsh, Ph.D., LGPC, NCC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Diane Walsh is an assistant professor of counseling at McDaniel College. Prior to this role, she served as the program director and assistant professor of clinical mental health counseling at Neumann University. Dr. Walsh is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) in the state of Maryland where she maintains a small caseload of clients. Dr. Walsh’s research areas of interest include social class, religion and spirituality, and counselor development. She is actively engaged in professional counseling organizations and has presented at national, regional, and state levels. Dr. Walsh earned a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at Loyola University Maryland, a master’s degree in counseling psychology at the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Iowa State University.
Sessions
Sarah Lisa Subhan, MS
Child and Family Therapist
Sarah Subhan is a Child and Family Therapist practicing in the Caribbean Island of Trinidad and
Tobago. She is the founder of Family Tree Services which provides neurobiologically informed
mental health therapy to children and their caregivers. Sarah is passionate about the growth of
trauma-informed care within the Caribbean. She works with agencies in her country to advance
knowledge of trauma-informed practices for use with children within community care and she
provides consultation and therapy services related to childhood trauma, attachment, child
custody, and other court-ordered evaluations. She is also focused on teaching and supervision
with an emphasis on multicultural practice.
Sarah was trained at Loyola University Maryland. She furthered her specialized training at the
Kennedy Krieger Institute, where she received extensive instruction in trauma-focused therapies,
play-based interventions, sandtray therapy, and expressive arts therapy. She thereafter received
training in Child Custody Evaluation at William James College Boston. She is currently a
doctoral student at Antioch University Seattle. She enjoys using an integrative therapeutic
approach and aims to produce more research related to the Caribbean region and its diaspora.
Tobago. She is the founder of Family Tree Services which provides neurobiologically informed
mental health therapy to children and their caregivers. Sarah is passionate about the growth of
trauma-informed care within the Caribbean. She works with agencies in her country to advance
knowledge of trauma-informed practices for use with children within community care and she
provides consultation and therapy services related to childhood trauma, attachment, child
custody, and other court-ordered evaluations. She is also focused on teaching and supervision
with an emphasis on multicultural practice.
Sarah was trained at Loyola University Maryland. She furthered her specialized training at the
Kennedy Krieger Institute, where she received extensive instruction in trauma-focused therapies,
play-based interventions, sandtray therapy, and expressive arts therapy. She thereafter received
training in Child Custody Evaluation at William James College Boston. She is currently a
doctoral student at Antioch University Seattle. She enjoys using an integrative therapeutic
approach and aims to produce more research related to the Caribbean region and its diaspora.