Announcement
Meet the Candidates for ACES Officer Positions
Candidates For ACES President-Elect
Madeline Clark
Associate Professor
University of NV - Las Vegas
Discuss your qualifications and reasons for seeking the office for which you have been nominated.
With my extensive academic and professional background in counselor education and supervision, I am uniquely qualified and excited to serve as the president of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES). I have dedicated my career to advancing counselor education, particularly in areas such as multicultural competence, social class issues, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an Associate Professor and former Program Director in Counselor Education, I have significant experience in program management, curriculum development, and fostering student and faculty growth in counselor education programs. My role in supervising doctoral research projects and contributing as an editor and reviewer for major counseling journals (e.g., Associate Editor, JCD, and editorial board member, CE&S) further demonstrates my commitment to academic excellence and research leadership in the field.
In addition to my academic roles, I have served in numerous leadership capacities within professional organizations. I served as President of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) and currently serve on the ACES Government Relations/Public Policy Committee, among other service roles. My contributions to the field include a substantial body of research on counselor education best practices, marginalized student recruitment and retention, and social justice in counseling. These roles have equipped me with the strategic vision and practical experience needed to effectively lead ACES and support the organization’s mission of promoting quality counselor education and supervision across diverse settings with diverse and marginalized people.
The counseling profession has been faced with many challenges in the past year. How will you promote Professional Counselor Identity if elected?
If elected, I would promote our Professional Counselor Identity by championing initiatives that reinforce the unique values, skills, and ethics of the counseling profession. I would work to ensure that the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) provides resources that address professional identity at all career stages, from students and early-career faculty to seasoned counselor educators. I would also advocate for the integration of professional identity-focused content in counselor training programs, helping students and emerging professionals solidify their roles and values as they enter the field.
Furthermore, I would focus on building collaborative relationships with other counseling and mental health organizations to promote a unified professional identity across the field, supporting both professional identity and counselor well-being. I would also work to enhance advocacy efforts that protect counselors’ rights and professional recognition, ensuring that counselors receive the respect, support, and acknowledgment they deserve within the broader mental health community. By strengthening these aspects of our counselor identity, we can empower professionals to confidently represent their role and value to clients, communities, and policymakers.
What do you view as opportunities for ACES to make greater impact in the area of legislation at both the state and national level?
ACES and its members have multiple opportunities to make a significant impact at both state and national levels, particularly through advocacy and policy involvement. At the state level, we can participate in legislative advocacy by working with local counseling associations to influence policies that affect mental health services, licensure requirements, and funding for counseling programs in schools and communities. This may include engaging in lobbying efforts, testifying at legislative hearings, or meeting with lawmakers to educate them on issues such as access to mental health care, the importance of school counselors, and the need for culturally competent care. Through these efforts, we have the opportunity to shape state policies that directly affect the accessibility and quality of mental health care for diverse populations, advocating for legislation that supports clients’ needs and promotes the profession. ACES can be an organizing and collaborative force in these efforts.
ACES can also lead to create an impact at the national level. Nationally, ACES and its members can contribute by collaborating with organizations like NBCC, ACA, ASCA, and CACREP. These organizations provide avenues for counselors to join committees, contribute to research initiatives, and participate in nationwide campaigns that highlight the importance of mental health access and services. Important national issues include mental health parity, reimbursement rates, telehealth regulations, and school counselor ratios. By participating in these organizations and initiatives, counselors and counselor educators can contribute to national discussions on mental health care, helping to inform policies that enhance the profession and expand mental health support across diverse communities.
How do you see ACES collaborating with our affiliate partners or other ACA divisions to ensure sustainability of counselor education programs?
I see ACES collaborating with affiliate partners and other ACA divisions through joint initiatives that address critical issues in counselor education, such as faculty retention, funding for programs, and the incorporation of inclusive and innovative teaching methods. By working with divisions like the National Career Development Association (NCDA), the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), and the Association for Research and Assessment in Counseling (AARC), ACES can develop shared resources and training programs that help counselor educators stay current with best practices and respond to the needs of diverse student populations. Collaborating on grants or research initiatives to explore the effectiveness of counselor training models can also provide valuable data to support program funding and development, helping to secure the long-term sustainability of counselor education programs.
Additionally, ACES can engage with other divisions to create mentorship and professional development opportunities that address burnout and career progression for counselor educators. For example, co-hosting workshops or webinars with the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) could help emerging students and educators gain insights into the mental health field’s demands, while collaboration with the ACA’s advocacy team can support collective efforts to influence policies that provide financial and structural support to counselor training programs. By fostering these partnerships, ACES can strengthen a network of support for counselor education, ensuring that programs remain resilient and adaptable to changes in the mental health and higher education landscape.
Leah Brew
Professor
California State University – Fullerton
Discuss your qualifications and reasons for seeking the office for which you have been nominated.
Hello. I am eager to seek the position of ACES President-elect. My primary goal is to continue and add to the good work of previous ACES Presidents on centering anti-racist practices. My particular focus will be to help counselor education and masters counseling programs to facilitate the growth of each faculty member, including Chairs, toward a liberation and anti-racist mindset. Only when faculty members do their own work can they integrate anti-racist practices in teaching, service, and scholarly activities. One primary factor to being successful at this work is to start with a departmental culture of belonging. I would like to create an infrastructure for sharing ideas, using the wealth of knowledge we already have in our profession.
I have experience with anti-racist and liberation practices as well as with leadership in general. For example, I had the privilege of being elected as Department Chair for 15 years, which included the 2020 heightened racial reckoning. After completing the Academics for Black Lives training in 2020 by Drs. Della Mosley and Pearis Bellamy, I wanted to help our department do better. Some of my colleagues and I participated in a weekly or biweekly accountability group for three years to work on ourselves and to make changes to the department. We are now doing this self-reflective work on interpersonal dynamics biweekly as a full faculty. I complement my education and faculty group work by listening to podcasts on history and liberatory practices, reading books, watching educational movies and TV shows, attending workshops, and engaging in difficult and brave conversations with faculty and students. I recently participated on the Teaching Briefs committee and have engaged in several WACES and ACES related DEIA groups/workshops. Other leadership activities included: being an ACES Graduate Student Representative in 2001, helping to obtain the LPCC license in CA, sitting on the state licensure board as the first LPCC representative for 8 years, and being President of WACES and the California Association for LPCCs (CALPCC), of which I was a co-founder.
The counseling profession has been faced with many challenges in the past year. How will you promote Professional Counselor Identity if elected?
I have experience passing bills in the state legislature and therefore, feel uniquely qualified to gather support to facilitate meaningful change. I want to start by exploring what is currently being done to strengthen counselor identity and find out what gaps need to be filled. My hope is to invite as many people as possible into the process and to use the regions for a grassroots effort. For instance, we could write/share a form letter or template that counselor educators and their students can send to people in power, such as state legislators, APA, or AASCB to advocate for counseling to remain a separate profession from psychology with licensure boards. We can invite other master’s level mental health professions to work with us on this endeavor as well.
What do you view as opportunities for ACES to make greater impact in the area of legislation at both the state and national level?
I want to preface by stating that I need to explore what work is currently being done by ACES. I know we already work cooperatively with ACA to follow state and national laws to protect our profession. State licensure boards also follow legislation that affect the counselor license. One idea I have is that we could identify a representative from each state to attend state licensure board meetings and report back to ACES. Counselor educator consortiums and law & ethics professors are a good source of individuals for this type of work. Then we can use the regional and state divisions of ACES in letter-writing campaigns. I have found when I invite students to engage in this professional advocacy work as part of their class, they are eager to discover that they can make a difference. These skills often translate to persuading legislators to vote on other bills to support individuals who come from marginalized communities. Legislators often look at the “piles” of support versus oppose positions to make many decisions, and so letter-writing can be a powerful tool. I would also invite others to share their successes with doing this work and create a process for sharing what processes have been successful.
How do you see ACES collaborating with our affiliate partners or other ACA divisions to ensure sustainability of counselor education programs?
In all transparency, I am surprised that the “sustainability of counselor education programs” is needed. Without counselor education programs, there would be no counselors. However, the question is here because there must be some concern. I do know ACES has representatives that sit on other boards within the counseling profession. I assume these individuals represent ACES at those meetings and report back to the ACES leadership about those meetings. I would need to get more information about the problem before I can provide an educated answer, but I’m sure CACREP and NBCC must be involved. I would also like to focus on collaborations rather than differences with our mental health professions, as we will all need to fight for our counseling profession and our profession’s values in the coming years to protect our programs, students, and the community at large from harmful laws.
Candidates For ACES Treasurer
Zachary Pietrantoni
Assistant Professor
Florida International University
Discuss your qualifications and reasons for seeking the office for which you have been nominated.
I am deeply committed to ACES’s mission and it would be an honor to support its financial stewardship as Treasurer. I have been involved with ACES since 2017 as an emerging leader but most recently as WACES Treasurer from 2020-2023 in which I served on ACES Financial Investment and Budget and Finance committees. These roles provided me with a strong foundation in budget management and strategic financial planning. Additionally, my role as Principal Investigator of a federal grant has sharpened my skills in handling large budgets and navigating accountability standards, which will aid in supporting ACES’s financial oversight.
My vision as Treasurer is to prioritize financial stability, transparency, and ethical stewardship. My goal is to foster clear financial reporting, enhance budget processes, and implement key performance indicators to track the impact of our resources on members support, professional growth, and DEIA initiatives.
The counseling profession has been faced with many challenges in the past year. How will you promote Professional Counselor Identity if elected?
My vision as Treasurer is to strengthen professional counselor identity by ensuring ACES’s financial resources actively support research, training, and advocacy. I aim to empower members to advance their expertise and contributions to the field through funding of professional development opportunities, research grants, and DEIA initiatives. To achieve this, I will use transparent, data-informed financial practices that reinforce our commitment to ethical standards and long-term sustainability that will ultimately support the profession’s growth and integrity.
Furthermore, I am committed to promoting a strong, inclusive identity within counselor education by prioritizing funding for DEIA initiatives that reflect ACES’s values. My experience with DEIA-focused projects will guide my financial decisions to prioritize initiatives that elevate underrepresented voices. I aim to promote a professional identity that is inclusive, diverse, and aligned with ACES’s core values. By focusing on equitable fundings strategies, my vision is to strengthen our collective identity and support a standard of excellence and inclusivity central the ACES’s mission.
Mark Stauffer
Core Faculty
Walden University
Discuss your qualifications and reasons for seeking the office for which you have been nominated.
I have served ACES since 2020 as Chair of ACES Financial Investment Committee and in the same capacity as part of the ACES Budget Committee. In this role, I assisted the ACES board and each president, as well as the Executive Director (ED) over these years to create and then support an investment strategy and protocol, which includes clear policies and monitoring of investments and use of investment funds, for example, on budgeting for DEI initiatives. This included helping ACES transition to sustainable investing practices with a focus on investments that had environmental, social, and governance (ESG) implications while also providing stability of our investments. During this time, I monitored investments monthly and advised the ED, ACES regional treasurers, and the Governing Council on various budgetary matters, including helping ACES create investment accounts for ACES branches. I hope to continue supporting ACES through the role as treasurer with those key initiatives and also to encourage value-added measures for members.
In addition to this role, as President of the Association of Humanistic Counseling (AHC, 2018-2019) I worked with budgets, including conference budgeting and contracts, as well as budgeting in relation to multiyear strategic planning. I also have experience as past co-chair of the American Counseling Association International Committee, and ACA’s climate change taskforce. I also draw on leadership experiences as a Lay Dharma teacher in the Soto Zen tradition as a core faculty member at Walden University.
The counseling profession has been faced with many challenges in the past year. How will you promote Professional Counselor Identity if elected?
Counselor identity has various aspects that should be supported by the ACES board. Foremost, that our profession and professional association is representative of and provides opportunities for a wide range of social locations. Our identity should also reflect a commitment to care and well-being in our collective efforts against systemic forms of oppression. Within the helping professions and in relationship to insurance parity and licensure portability, ACES must take a stand with effective professional advocacy, policies, and practices that continue to open access to the diverse counselors that have been well-trained and supported by counselor educators, supervisors, counseling programs, field settings, and accrediting bodies.
Candidates For ACES Member-At-Large: DEI-Elect
Jose Tapia
Assistant Professor
University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
How will you contribute to promoting a lens of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice if elected to this position?
Given the current state of the country, it is important to invite and include the disenfranchised, suppressed, and discarded voices of our community. As a first-generation Latine gay college graduate, I learned the privilege that comes with existing in a system that wasn’t made for me. Knowing that I represent a small sector of membership within ACES and my region, RMACES, I have an opportunity to engage with the organization and to welcome the voices of those who can guide us to a more inclusive profession. Similar to professional counselors, counselor educators are called to create a safe environment for the diverse and often marginalized individuals in their classrooms, environments where lasting change and learning can occur.
If elected, I will continuously seek opportunities to include voices that represent the membership at large and amplify wants, needs, and wishes to maintain and sustain the work they are seeking to achieve. Additionally, I will ensure the strategic plan set by ACES is continuously upheld to promote access and opportunities to members who represent the most silenced.
The counseling profession has been faced with many challenges in the past year. How will you promote Professional Counselor Identity if elected?
As an actively practicing professional counselor since 2014, serving clients across the lifespan, I am also a counselor educator teaching graduate students the meaning of being a professional counselor. I began my journey as a rehabilitation counselor with a strong rehab identity which, over time, grew to be more centralized to a professional counselor identity. My identify as a professional counselor solidified along with critical changes in my personal identity; my Latine identity, by gay identity, and my identity and orientation in attachment theory. These areas of development were crucial to solidifying my professional counselor identity.
I take pride in advocating for self-of-the-counselor work that comes with examining all the identities we possess and how those are reflected in the work we do as practitioners and educators. If elected, I will identify opportunities to support the training and education for members wanting to assist in advancing the professional counselor identity development with themselves and their students. Lastly, if elected, I will support the needs of the organization in enhancing the promotion of professional counselor identity with the focus of the uniqueness of each practitioner serving the community.
Donya Wallace
Assistant Professor
Palo Alto University
How will you contribute to promoting a lens of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice if elected to this position?
Promoting a lens of DEI and Justice requires calling out the insidious ways that white supremacy, racism, misogyny, heterosexism, and ableism are upheld within the profession. As DEIJ MAL, my contribution would always aim to ensure the work of ACES never diverges from its commitment to equity, the dismantling of oppressive systems, and the work of antiracism. So whether this means ensuring that DEIJ principles are weaved into counselor education curricula, hosting webinars on anti-racism and implicit bias, or offering guidance on best practices for supporting counselor educators and supervisors with marginalized identities, I would ensure that DEIJ is not an add-on consideration but that it undergirds ACES’ commitment to developing counselors, promoting dignity and diversity, and advancing the profession.
The counseling profession has been faced with many challenges in the past year. How will you promote Professional Counselor Identity if elected?
The counseling profession’s core values of enhancing human development, social justice and diversity, practicing with competence, and safeguarding the client/counselor relationship differentiate our identity as Professional Counselors from the identities of other helping professionals. In recent years, legislation has allowed professionals trained in other helping professions to seek and obtain licensure as Professional Counselors in some states. While not intended to harm, permitting individuals who have not been trained as Professional Counselors to practice and obtain licensure increases the risk of harm related to issues of power and oppression inherent in client/counselor relationships. To promote Professional Counselor Identity and protect clients, I will join the efforts of ACES, ACA, CSI, CACREP, and other organizations to advocate at the State and Federal levels for legislation that respects and protects the licensing and titles of Professional Counselors. As DEIJ MAL, I will highlight the potential harm to clients through the lens of social justice, as those most likely to be harmed are clients with identities that the mental health profession has historically harmed. Further, I will support efforts to highlight the positive work of Professional Counselors and educate the public on the benefits of professional counseling as a standalone or enhancement to existing healthcare practices. Lastly, and most importantly, I will advocate for the inclusion of best practices for fostering professional identity development as a social justice mandate in alignment with the values of the counseling profession.
Candidates For ACES Representative To The ACA Governing Council
Mariamee’ Gonzalez
Core Faculty
Antioch University – Seattle
Discuss your qualifications and reasons for seeking the office for which you have been nominated.
I am passionate about the transformative work that the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) undertakes to advance counselor education, promote the professional development of supervisors, and enhance the overall practice of counseling. I am eager to contribute to the organization’s continued success, growth and community by serving as your ACES ACA Governing Council Rep Elect. I believe I am well suited to serve as ACES ACA Governing Council Representative based on my 18 years in higher education, as well as my service and leadership experience in ACES and the American Counseling Association (ACA). Serving for ACES and ACA, has strengthened my understanding of the complex challenges we face as a profession and the collaborative efforts needed to address them. I have had the opportunity to advocate for policies and standards that elevate counselor identity, maintain high ethical standards, and promote licensure reciprocity, all of which I believe are vital to our collective progress. I am also dedicated to advancing initiatives that support underrepresented groups within counseling, including students, faculty, and clients from diverse backgrounds. My work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) has shaped my commitment to fostering environments where all voices are heard and valued, a perspective I would be honored to bring to the ACES ACA Governing Council Rep Elect position.
Currently, I am licensed professor counselor, clinical supervisor, co-founder of the Latinx Social Justice Mental Health Institute and serve as the Executive Director, Clinical Operations and Community Outreach at Antioch University Seattle. Previously I served as the Chair of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program and served on our Leadership Chair Committee, a collaborative leadership model, for the PhD in Counseling and Supervision program. I was the president of the American Counseling Association (ACA) of Washington State, president for the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES) (2023-24), chair of the ACA International Committee (2021-22), ACA Foundation Member (2022-2025), and served on the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision- Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision (JTCES) as a board member (2020-2023). During the Covid epidemic, I served as a United Nations Delegate (2020-2021) advocating for global mental health support and currently I focus on indigenous health and human rights. I have published articles and book chapters in counseling education and in 2020 co-published a book for educators titled, Experiential Activities for Teaching Social Justice and Advocacy Competence in Counseling. When I served as the WACES President from 2023-24, we focused on Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives and built an anti-racist strategic plan for three years. I was honored to serve on the ACES Governing Council (2023-24) in which I served in community with other leaders to support our ACES members and create systems to foster association agency. I served on the ACES Professional Counselor Identity and Advocacy Report tasks force, and currently serve on the ACES Supervision, and Nominations & Elections committees. While serving for ACES, I also was on the ACA leadership team for former Presidents Kent Butler (201-22) and Edil Torres Rivera (2023-24), where I learned a lot about ACA’s structure, policies, and procedures, which were helpful when navigating the different associations. I believe my vast range of experiences and my passion make me uniquely qualified to serve for ACESACA Governing Council Rep Elect.
The counseling profession has been faced with many challenges in the past year. How will you promote Professional Counselor Identity if elected?
I believe that promoting a strong counselor identity is essential to enhance professional recognition, advocate for the counseling profession, and ensure that counselors are seen as distinct, qualified mental health professionals. Educating clients, stakeholders, and policymakers about these differences can enhance understanding and appreciation for the counseling field. I have been lobbying and advocating for human rights and health rights for over 20 years, and plan to continue this path as a way forward to promote our professional counselor identity. Many legislators and policymakers may not fully understand the distinct role and qualifications of counselors compared to other mental health providers. Therefore, lobbying for a strong professional identity for counselors is essential to advance the field, improve recognition, and protect the rights and scope of practice for counselors within the mental health profession. I will work with professional associations for unified advocacy. I will work with the American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), and other associations in lobbying for counselor identity. By aligning with these groups, counselors can benefit from organized, large-scale advocacy efforts that have the resources, contacts, and experience to influence policy. I will also support ACES with their initiatives to promote our professional identity, such as continuing to serve on ACES committees, writing up reports, attending town halls & conferences, providing continuing education, and other forms of service. Professionally, I will continue to publish, teach, supervise, advocate and provide consultation on the importance of our Professional Counselor Identity.
ACA is creating a new governance structure. How do you feel you can contribute to a more collaborative relationship between ACA and ACES?
I had the honor to serve on the American Counseling Association leadership team for former Presidents Kent Butler (201-22) and Edil Torres Rivera (2023-24). For both tenures of my service, we focused on the ACA’s strategic planning, new governance structure, partnerships, DEIA initiates, advocacy support and action, budgetary decisions, membership support and resources, and conversations focused on evolving our profession. While serving on the ACA leadership, I also served for ACES and WACES, and learning ACA’s strategic plan was very informative when planning for future initiatives and advocacy for all associations, since they intersect. Based on my experience serving ACA and ACES, I believe in creating collaborative relationships between the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and the American Counseling Association (ACA) as part of ACA’s new governance structure will require strategic initiatives to foster alignment, mutual support, and shared goals.
I feel ACA and ACES are facing a number of federal and state-level legislation which can impact counselors’ licensure, funding, scope of practice, teaching, research, academic freedom, counselor & supervisor confidentiality, and culturally ethical responsive services for our communities. We also are looking at a shift in student enrollment in counseling programs due to APA licensing Master level Psychology programs, the ongoing conversation around professional identity, upcoming budget cuts impacting universities and clinics, and other systemic barriers impacting both ACA and ACES members. I have lobbying experience on a state and federal level and I have had the opportunity to collaborate with ACA’s Government Affairs and Public Policy office. I hope to use my past experience advocating for change, and years of building relationships in both ACA and ACES, to help co-create a community in which we will focus on our members and the communities we serve. I will bring my passion, cultural assets, and expertise to these spaces, so together we can have honest conversations about ways to address these concerns, so ACES and ACA can help strengthen the counseling profession and ensure counselors are well-positioned to meet the mental health needs of diverse communities, and counselor educators and supervisors can provide quality education and supervision of counselors in all work settings.
Dodie Limberg
Associate Professor
University of South Carolina
iscuss your qualifications and reasons for seeking the office for which you have been nominated.
Hello ACES Members! I am excited to be running for the ACES Representative to ACA Governing Council. I am in this role now and I have been honored to serve the members of ACES and ACA. I am currently an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina, and I a Past-President of the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) As part of my role as SACES President I served on the ACES Governing Council for two years and was the chair of the ACES Chief Diversity Officer task force and I’m currently on the ACES strategic planning committee. I was a mentor for the ACES journal, Counselor Education and Supervision fellows program, and I am an editorial review board member. Additionally, I am an associate editor for Professional School Counseling, and Counseling and Values Journal. I previously served on the ACA Governing Council and the ACA Executive Committee as a graduate student representative. I am grateful for all these ACES leadership experiences, and I’m honored to be considered to continue to serve. I am interested in continuing to serve the members of ACES as your ACA Governing Council Representative because I know how important this role is firsthand. I believe this role is integral in ensuring that ACA understands ACES members’ needs and concerns.
The counseling profession has been faced with many challenges in the past year. How will you promote Professional Counselor Identity if elected?
Challenges to the counseling profession are not new, and that’s why I believe advocacy is at the center of our work. I believe a primary role of the ACES ACA Governing Council Representative is to be an advocate for ACES members but also all ACA members whose professional identity is rooted in counseling. Historically, leaders before us have fought hard to differentiate who counselors are and what we do. I believe it would be my primary responsibility to continue these efforts in my role as ACES ACA Governing Council. I think continued and improved collaboration between ACA other professional counseling organizations such as CACREP, NBCC, and Chi Sigma Iota is crucial to promote professional counselor identity. I also think collaboration amongst divisions of ACA and enhancing engagement of members who are not part of divisions is fundamental to ensure we are all working together to bring awareness to the counseling profession. I recognize the importance of supporting each other within the profession and appreciating the similarities and differences across our expertise. I think it is important for ACA to focus on the value-add of membership and to ensure that all counselors feel included and recognized while not losing sight of the professional counselor identity.
ACA is creating a new governance structure. How do you feel you can contribute to a more collaborative relationship between ACA and ACES?
I am well aware of the new governance structure, because I have been part of the ACA Governing Council’s decision process to implement the change. I understand that challenges this change has, but I am hopeful for the direction it is headed. The details of the restructure are still being decided, but I think my prior involvement and understanding of the process would be beneficial if I continued in this position. I view the ACES ACA Governing Council position as a connector between ACES and ACA, but also between ACES and other divisions in ACA. I think it is important that we don’t function in silos and that all divisions work together for the counseling community and most importantly the clients and students we work with. I recognize that each region in ACES has different needs, and they need to be represented not only to the ACES Governing Council but also to ACA. In this role, I intend to continue to be a voice and liaison for all ACES regions, members, and leadership. I hope to facilitate more communication and collaboration between ACES and ACA emphasizing our shared goals and strengths and finding tangible ways we can work together. I believe my professional and service experiences, research interests, and servant leadership attributes will be beneficial in increasing collaboration.
Candidates for ACES Graduate Student Representative-Elect
Saiber Shaikh
I am a third-year international doctoral student at the Counselor Education program at Penn State. As a candidate for the ACES Graduate Student Representative position, my goal is to champion graduate student engagement, amplify diverse perspectives, and foster meaningful connections across our community.
Goals for Engagement and Connection with Graduate Students
My primary objective is to enhance graduate student engagement through initiatives that bridge regional divides, fostering a national ACES graduate student community built on support, resource-sharing, and collaborative growth. I believe that active involvement in our community helps students feel a sense of belonging, connect with resources, mentors, and peers, which are crucial for professional and personal development. To achieve this, I envision implementing inter-regional programs such as virtual meets up, dedicated writing groups, and shared research initiatives, creating spaces for students from diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds to collaborate, share knowledge, and learn from each other’s experiences. These programs will not only support individual growth but also build a strong, interconnected network of emerging professionals in counselor education and supervision, furthering the goals of ACES to advance the field on a national scale. I aim to strengthen the connections between graduate students across the ACES regions. This will not only empower our students to learn from and support one another, but also lay the groundwork for a more cohesive and engaged national ACES community and future counselor educators.
Additionally, I aim to establish a feedback mechanism through which graduate students can easily share their needs and ideas with ACES leadership. This platform would ensure that all voices are heard, facilitating a responsive and adaptable environment where students feel empowered to contribute to the evolution of our profession. I plan to work closely with regional leadership and GSR to understand unique needs, organize targeted events, and promote inclusive dialogues that reflect the diversity within our community.
Leadership Style
My leadership style is collaborative and adapts the philosophy of servant leadership. I also apply systems thinking within my leadership initiatives that are grounded in empathy. I believe effective leaders uplift those around them by creating environments where everyone feels valued and encouraged to contribute. In my previous leadership roles, I’ve been able to work alongside students and professionals, listening to their perspectives and advocating for changes that reflect their needs. My approach emphasizes creating spaces that are inclusive and supportive, where every participant feels empowered to share openly. As ACES Graduate Student Representative, I will bring this same approach to facilitate collaboration and foster a supportive network.
Experiences and Skills
I worked with the conference planning committee for the NARACES 2024 conference, as well as serve as the Editorial Fellow for the NARACES’s Journal of Counselor Education and Preparation. I have also previously served in leadership roles within CSI (Secretary 2019-2021 Psi Upsilon Chi; Editor in Chief for Rho Alpha Mu), and at departmental (programming such as mentorship program) and college (Grad Rep – DEI initiative for inclusivity; By Students, For Students COVID19 support group creator, Grad Rep – Counselor Ed, Ed Psychology and Special Education Representative for the College of Education Graduate Student Council). I am currently the Graduate Rep Elect for NARACES. My major focus through my past roles was to amplify graduate student voices and concerns as well as advocate for their needs through planning programming events, collaboration, and connection opportunities. Moreover, my extensive volunteer work with organizations such as Chi Sigma Iota, JCPS and NARACES has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of organizational operations. These roles have developed my skills in project management, collaboration, and effective communication, preparing me to organize impactful events and foster connections.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
My commitment to DEIA is rooted in my own experiences. Having grown up in a rural community in India where educational opportunities for women were limited, I am deeply aware of the systemic barriers that marginalized individuals face as well as the hidden curriculum limiting opportunities. This personal history drives my commitment to advocate for equitable access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities for all students within ACES. My hope is to create spaces where community can flourish and support can be provided for students no matter their background.
Conclusion
As ACES Graduate Student Representative, I am dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive community that empowers every graduate student to thrive. With a leadership style centered on collaboration and empathy, a background rich in experience and skills tailored to this role, and a commitment to DEIA, I am prepared to advocate for and connect with my peers, strengthening ACES as a national community. If chosen, I’d be honored to have the opportunity to serve and contribute to the growth and success of future counselor education and supervision, advancing the shared goals of ACES and supporting the next generation of leaders in our field.
Joshua Simpson
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” In this ultimate measure, I am compelled to go beyond the comfort of my well-being to serve and amplify the voice of our student community. Throughout my academic and professional career, I have sought to leverage every opportunity to advocate for and innovate for the communities I serve. My leadership experiences as a licensed clinician, dedicated PhD student, social justice advocate, and faith leader have given me the profound privilege of engaging with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, my person-centered approach to leadership informs the lens by which I aspire to intricately know those from diverse backgrounds within the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) graduate student population. This multifaceted background and unwavering passion for advocacy will contribute significantly to ACES and drive meaningful change.
Experiences and Skills
Gaining this opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant during my first year as a PhD student honed my ability to address the unique needs of graduate students, particularly those who identify as marginalized. As a teaching assistant, I identified a critical gap in the clinical skills training of master students within my department and took the initiative to establish a clinical skills lab. Helping students by creating the clinical skills lab was an advocacy intervention for students who desired additional training. Advocating for this resource provided additional practice opportunities for their development as competent clinicians. Though my commitment to the graduate assistant role was for only one year, the department chair has made the lab a continual effort due to its effectiveness. I plan to incorporate innovative initiatives like the ones as a graduate assistant should I become a graduate student representative that may transcend my tenure. By proactively creating innovative resources based on the needs of graduate students, I not only addressed a training deficiency but advocated for the success and progression of all students, demonstrating my commitment to an equitable learning environment. Also, while fulfilling my role as a graduate assistant, I developed and implemented workshops and seminars designed to fortify the professional development of master students. These sessions covered various topics, including building a private practice, navigating the complex licensure application process, and managing seasonal grief as a counselor. Each workshop was carefully crafted to enhance students’ clinical identities and equip them with pragmatic tools necessary for future success. In addition to several seminars, I worked with faculty to plan heritage affirming events, celebrating the cultural diversity of students within our department.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
My experience as President of the Student Government Association during my undergraduate years and as the inaugural Mister Clark Atlanta University taught me the importance of visionary leadership and the power of creative advocacy. These roles equipped me with the skills to navigate complex organizational dynamics, promote inclusivity, and spearhead initiatives that resonate with diverse student populations. My commitment to professional and personal development and awareness aligns seamlessly with my dedication to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) within counselor education.
Leadership Philosophy and Goals for Engagement and Connection with Graduate Students
My leadership philosophy is anchored in servant leadership and transformational leadership. As a servant leader, I prioritize the needs and growth of the students I represent, ensuring their voices are heard and their challenges addressed. This empathetic approach involves active listening, genuine collaboration, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and supported. In tandem with this, my transformational leadership style inspires others to transcend their limitations and strive for excellence. By fostering a shared vision and empowerment culture, I aim to cultivate an environment where innovation through research can thrive amongst the graduate student body. As Graduate Student Representative, my goals for engagement include amplifying the voices of graduate students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. I intend to facilitate open forums and workshops within ACES that promote dialogue, inclusivity, and reflection on the barriers and opportunities within counselor education. I aim to forge strong connections among graduate students and build a significant network of support that extends beyond academia.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my unique blend of experiences as a licensed clinician, faith leader, and dedicated advocate, combined with my proven leadership abilities, foster my commitment to being an effective Graduate Student Representative for ACES. Reflecting on the famous quote by Dr. King, I realize that my ultimate measure is genuinely equipped to face the circumstances that may arise while serving as a graduate student representative. My dedication to eliminating educational disparities through innovative interventions and my commitment to servant and transformational leadership uniquely positions me to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of counselor education and supervision.