Section on College and University Counseling Centers – November 2015

barbara meehanThe past year for the Section on College and University Counseling Centers has been one marked by continued growth and exciting new initiatives, all reflecting a strengthened commitment to our mission- furthering the research, training, and practice of counseling psychology among counseling center professionals.

 

We had a strong showing at the 2015 Convention in Toronto and were thrilled to celebrate the many contributions of counseling center staff and trainees. At our Business Meeting, we awarded two stellar psychologists for their contributions to the advancement and practice of college student mental health:

 

  • Monicah Muhomba of Vanderbilt University received the Counseling Center Outstanding Contribution to Counseling Center Work award
  • Dianna Marisol González of University of California, Irvine received the Counseling Center Outstanding Early Career Psychologist award

 

The selection process for these awards was a challenging one as we received many strong and deserving nominations. We hope that members of SCP will continue to consider SCUCC awards as an opportunity to honor the outstanding contributions of counseling center psychologists and trainees.

 

In addition to celebrating the work of professionals, SCUCC also had strong representation in the Student Poster Session. Below is a list of three student poster awardees who presented their work on behalf of our section:

 

Yunkyoung Loh, M.A., Ki-Hak Lee, Ph.D.

University of Iowa & Yonsei University

The mediating effect of intolerance of uncertainty in college students’ subjective well-being and vocational situations.

 

Laura M. Longo, M.S., Gabrielle Groth, B.A., & Jessica Martin, Ph.D.

University of Iowa & Yonsei University

Answers to the unmasked questions: Why college students drink and their views of intervention efforts.

 

Heather Terhorst-Miller, M.S., & Stephen Michael Miller, B.S.

New Mexico State University

Mindfulness with university students who identify as Christian: Implications for counseling.

 
Our gathering in Toronto also rounded out a year of growth and change. We amended our Section’s bylaws to extend the terms for Executive Committee positions to 2 years in order to sustain momentum in developing our section and attending to the needs of our membership. We celebrated the leadership and many contributions of our Past-Chair, Dr. Lauren Woolley, as she transitioned from University of San Diego to a new role with San Diego Family Care. And we welcomed new members to our Executive Committee, including:

 

  • Jason Hacker, Psychologist at American University, is our new Chair-Elect
  • Tacianna Indovina, M.A., Doctoral Student in Counseling Psychology at Ball State University, is our new Webmaster (Tacianna has worked her magic to bring our website into the current century, for which we are eternally grateful!)
  • Catherine Hsieh, Senior Staff Psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, is our new Membership Chair (this is a newly established position to intensify efforts to grow and sustain our section membership)

 

Looking ahead to this coming academic year, SCUCC will be hosting a membership drive and will continue to explore opportunities to expand mentorship and networking opportunities at the 2016 convention. And perhaps most exciting, the Executive Committee recently approved an initiative to offer travel awards to the 2016 convention for early career psychologists and graduate students! We look forward to providing additional opportunities to support new and emerging professionals in counseling centers.

 

So please be on the lookout for announcements about all of these and more in the upcoming months. And please contact me if you are interested in getting involved in our Section. We invite all to join us as we further the work of collegiate mental health!

 

-Barbara Meehan, Ph.D.

Chair, Section on College and University Counseling Centers 

Tags: , , Posted on: November 25th, 2015