2025 Special Board of Directors Election

It is with humility and enthusiasm (and admittedly some imposterism-related nervousness) that I have accepted a nomination to run for the Board of AUCCCD. Throughout my 14-year tenure as the Counseling Center Director at Fordham University, AUCCCD has been my professional sanctuary and home. The organization and its members (all of you) have contributed immeasurably to my growth, not just as a Director, but as a whole person. AUCCCD has provided me with unparalleled scholarship, mentorship, wisdom, compassion, and joy, all of which I have consistently and wholeheartedly strived to reciprocate.

I have co-delivered 16 presentations at our annual conferences, focusing on critical themes such as new director development, authentic leadership, social justice, equity-based services, and ideological and disciplinary diversity. Additionally, I served on the Elements of Enrichment (E of E) Committee for 7 years, including co-chairing it for 3 years throughout the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. My experience with E of E deepened my understanding of the complexities, trends, challenges, and opportunities within our organization, its membership, and the field of university and college mental health. Finally, I have directly supported new (and newer) directors by serving as a mentor, conference connector, and Director on Duty, as well as by contributing to the New Directors Curriculum and AUCCCD's strategic planning process.

My decade-long service to AUCCCD reflects my deep reverence for the increasingly complex and invaluable work we do as Counseling Center Directors. If elected to the board, this reverence for our work will continue to anchor and guide my service and advocacy for our organization, membership, and profession.

With Gratitude,
Jeffrey Ng, Psy.D.

Hello and thank you for taking the time to consider my application for the AUCCCD Board.

I currently serve as Chair of the Communications Committee and was elected to the Board in 2022. During my tenure, I have worked collaboratively to:

• Contribute to broader governance and communication initiatives within the organization including to the importance of DEI in college student mental health as well as other positions and announcements of the organization
• Aid in the development and facilitation of listening sessions related college student mental health
• Develop a media kit for members responding to media requests which has led to placements in the Chronicle of Higher Ed, NPR, Forbes and other national public outlets
• Re-launch the AUCCCD newsletter

Before joining the Board, I:

• Served 7 years on the AUCCCD Communications Committee
• Sat on the Editorial Board for the Journal for College Student Psychotherapy (4 years) and as an ad hoc reviewer for many others
• Acted as a Conference Connector for new directors
• Strengthened international partnerships with AUCCCD colleagues in Japan — including visiting faculty work at Nagoya University and research collaborations with Kyoto University of the Arts

At Pace University (NYC), I have been the Director of the Counseling Center and Adjunct Faculty in Psychology since 2003. The Center reflects our university’s motto, “Opportunitas,” through our vibrant and diverse staff and commitment to access.

We are facing unprecedented challenges — staffing shortages, funding shifts, systemic inequities, and rising student mental health challenges. Stability and consistency matter, but so does innovation. My goals for the next term include:

• Reframing the narrative of college mental health from crisis to capability
• Positioning AUCCCD as a leader in shaping national discourse and policy
• Continuing to center social justice, equity, and representation in our work

I bring experience in campus collaborations with organizations such as the Steve Fund, Born This Way Foundation, Jed Foundation, and U.S. Health Promoting Campus Network, along with grant-funded initiatives to support students of color, LGBTQ, and BIPOC communities.

I remain deeply committed to representing our diverse membership, amplifying member voices, and advancing a socially just AUCCCD.

With gratitude,
Richard Shadick

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Karen Singleton, Ph.D.
Director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

I am respectfully putting myself forward as someone who is eager to give back to an organization which has been so meaningful to me. It is my belief, in these times of rampant disconnection, that it is now more important than ever to deepen commitments, strengthen connections and make time for what most aligns with our values. For me, this means prioritizing my involvement with AUCCCD.

From the day I attended the Surviving and Thriving as a New Director program in Salt Lake City, I felt I’d found my professional home and quickly proceeded to soak up the guidance and mentorship entirely. This was invaluable, and it motivated me to eventually serve as a member and then co-chair of E of E to facilitate the very sessions I had learned so much from. During my time on E of E, I was able to work with incredibly committed colleagues to update the name, application and guest invitation processes, outreach strategy and location, in an effort to increase accessibility and inclusivity. This work, along with serving on various board subcommittees, serving as a mentor and as a presenter on a host of leadership topics at the annual conference, has both aligned with my values and been incredibly rewarding. My hope is to use these experiences as well as my time working at a variety of collegiate settings (private, public, STEM, single-gender, and community college), involvement on the mental health advisory boards of quite a few universities and organizations, and work as a consultant to universities regarding their student counseling and health services, to assist AUCCCD in sustaining its vitality, responding to the changing landscape of college mental health, and building a sustainable future which is prepared for (and, even, steps ahead of) a rapidly changing world beyond higher education.

Additionally, I have been committed to amplifying collegiate mental health scholarship through my writing and reviewing of journal submissions and book proposals. I am also engaged in neighborhood and community committee work and assisting my son’s local fencing club on strategies for addressing the wellbeing needs of competitive athletes. Ultimately, I know personally that the work of, and the connections formed through, AUCCCD (both virtually and in-person) is inspiring, restorative and frankly, life-changing. It would be my honor to contribute to maintaining these key aspects of AUCCCD as a member of the board.

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Kodee L. Walls, Ph.D., HSPP, ABPP
Director, Indiana University, Bloomington

I am pleased to submit my self-nomination to join the board for the remainder of the one-year term, vacated by Dr. Wood. Though brief, I hope to use this opportunity to contribute my skills and experience in support of AUCCCD’s mission and the advancement of collegiate mental health. As an Early Career Psychologist, I have been a director and member of AUCCCD for five years.

With a background in Counseling Psychology, I have dedicated my career to enhancing engagement, and, by extension, student well-being through a lens of restorative practice, justice, and liberation. My leadership experience as an Associate Director and then Director at a Big 12 institution during a period of declining enrollment and budgetary constraint strengthened my flexibility, creativity, and advocacy skills. It was during this time that I initiated and guided the process of moving from a traditional model for counseling services to K-State’s version of a stepped care model. Included in this process was integrating stakeholder feedback, adequate preparation and change management of staff, and communication both internally and externally, with the goal of betting meeting the needs of our students without the cost of clinicians’ well-being. Now, serving at a robust Big 10 institution, these same skills have paid dividends to amplify and navigating the ever-changing landscape of higher education and the demands on the counseling center.

I am passionate about moving our collective framework beyond a “crisis-only” model toward intentional, proactive campus collaboration that embeds mental health into the fabric of student success. I am equally committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative environment within AUCCCD, one that ensures every voice is heard and every perspective valued.

As a member of the board, I will prioritize transparency, accountability, and strategic planning to help AUCCCD to achieve its goals but exceed them through a forward-thinking vision for the future. I am eager to work alongside my fellow board members and our community to create lasting, positive change. I would be honored to serve and to contribute meaningfully to AUCCD’s ongoing work. Thank you for considering my candidacy. Together, I know we can build a stronger future for our organization and those we serve.

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Jennifer M. Whitney, Ph.D.
Director, The University of North Carolina Greensboro

In service of and commitment to collaborative leadership and advancement of our field, it is with sincere humility and a profound sense of responsibility that I submit my candidacy for the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) Board Member Vacancy, seeking to serve the remainder of the vacated one-year term. Throughout my career as a Director spanning more than fifteen years, I have developed a deep appreciation for the privilege of supporting and advancing the mission of AUCCCD. I am committed to ensuring that our organization continues to serve as the authoritative voice for mental health expertise within higher education and remains responsive to the evolving needs of its members, as well as of college and university campuses.

My professional tenure has afforded me a breadth and depth of knowledge and insights, which I am eager to share in the service of AUCCCD’s strategic priorities and organizational mission. Between 2022 and 2024, I had the distinct privilege of serving as Deputy Editor for the AUCCCD Journal of College Student Mental Health alongside esteemed colleagues Danielle Oakley and Holly Harmon. I continue to serve as an editor for the journal, reflecting my ongoing commitment to collaborative leadership and the advancement of our field. In this same vein, I believe I can be of service to our organization. AUCCCD has consistently served as a valuable, thought-provoking resource, as well as a source of support and collegial connection throughout my career. I am dedicated to giving back to the organization in any capacity I am able, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and impact of AUCCCD as a member of its Board of Directors.

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Etisha Wilbon, Ph.D., LMFT
Director, CSU Fresno