A student representative from each cohort was asked to provide good news in each of their classmates’ personal and professional lives including all awards, honors and personal milestones that members of their respective cohorts have accomplished since our last publication.  Our hope is that the good news will encourage our readers and current students alike by being a witness to all the great things happening in your lives!

If you don’t see your name, or your cohort is not represented, please consider “spreading the news” for inclusion in the next edition of the CSPS newsletter!

The 2015 Cohort:

Rebecca Eaker welcomed a new baby girl, Elaine Ashley Eaker, 8lbs and 1 oz. 20 in. long on October 18, 2012.  Rebecca brought a beautiful sweet baby girl into the world in her second semester of the doctoral program and did not miss a beat!

Shauna Nefos-Webb was named Georgia College Personnel Association’s Outstanding New Professional for 2012-2013.

Several Cohort members united in the Hot Chocolate Run 5K/15K in January 2013.  The runners included: Brandee Appling, Rebecca Eaker, Camile Irving, Taryne Mingo, Lonika Crumb, and Cheryl Sewell.

The race, which sponsors the Ronald McDonald House charities, started at Turner Field and ended with a post-race party with food, hot chocolate and dancing!  All participants finished strong!

Brandee Appling will complete her term as Gwinnett County Public Schools Middle School Level Chair in June 2013.  As middle school level chair, Brandee was responsible for representing all the middle school counselors in GCPS in the development and refinement of professional development.

The 2014 Cohort:

Nathaniel Brown was appointed doctoral assistant in healthcare policy to the Director of Government Relations at Morehouse School of Medicine. In this appointment, he will work closely with the director by conducting legislative research that will support the execution of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other health equity programs.

Kim Lee Hughes opened a private counseling practice in Downtown Decatur, GA.  Her practice specializes in women’s issues around sexuality, relationships, and life span transitions. She was also invited as guest speaker for Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Psi Chapter’s – Annual Scholars Banquet.  The event was held at UGA and sponsored by Abeenefoo Kou Honor Society & The Black Educational Support Team (BEST).

The 2013 Cohort

Gerry Crete served as a Graduate Student Representative and was named an Emerging Leader for the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.  Additionally, he received a research grant from Association for Counselor Education and Supervision and a Doctoral Research Award through Marriage and Family Therapy.  Gerry has plans to speak about sex addiction in the military in Ann Arbor, MI at the 2013 American Men’s Studies Association conference. Finally, he is also participating in a symposium on men and trauma in Hawaii this summer at the American Psychological Association convention.

Annissa Howard became a Licensed Professional Counselor in January, 2013.  She is excited about the new professional opportunities this licensure will provide for her.

Vivia Hill-Silcott recently received the Georgia College Personnel Association’s ‘Outstanding Doctoral Student’ award for the 2012-2013 academic year. Her research title is “The essence of mentoring which causes African American gay male students to persist in college.”  She is also the recipient of a Southern Regional Education Board dissertation fellowship for 2012-2013.

Lauren Moss received an Educator Scholarship to attend “Supporting Students – Saving Lives,” a national conference held in San Diego by the Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership to provide, training opportunities, consultation and support for educators seeking knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to advocate for LGBTQIA youth.   She also serves as the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision School Counseling Interest Group Co-Chair.

The 2012 Cohort:

Leonissa Johnson will be presenting at the American School Counselor Association conference in Philadelphia this summer.

Michael Anderson was elected as Chair-Elect of the Regents Administrative Committee on Disability Services (RACDS). The RACDS is composed of disability services providers from the University System of Georgia. The primary purpose of this professional organization is to make recommendations to the Board of Regents concerning disability related matters for individuals with disabilities within the University System of Georgia.

LaVonna Groce has become a Georgia Certified Christian Counselor.  Talladega College contacted her to be amongst the group of speakers reviewed for selection to speak at the Talladega College Alumni Banquet–May 2013.  She also started a website www.lavonnagroce.com for her speaking business.

Kim Molee was thoroughly enjoying her time away from reading, writing papers and more reading! But recently decided she needed the challenge of working full-time as a counselor at Emory University and teaching part-time evening classes. She is busy once again but now with teaching, reading, grading papers/exams and even more reading! She currently teaches Research Methods and Professional Ethics, to undergraduates in the Psychology Department at Clayton State University. Despite her complaints about having two jobs, she is challenged, fulfilled and really loves the work she is doing.

Ken Jackson’s has been busy!  He is currently an adjunct professor at UGA, a guest lecturer at Georgia State University,  a presenter for the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition and has coordinated the Steering Committee for the GSA Statewide Summit.

Michele Harding recently created an Academic & Life Skills course at Milton High School.  She is in the process of collecting quantitative and qualitative data for the current semester. Administrators at her school have been sharing the course with other principals in the county and have indicated that they would like more sections of the course next school year!

Leonissa Johnson, LaVonna Groce, Ken Shell, and Frank Gaertner are preparing for the National Counselor Examination in April.  We wish them all the best!

The 2011 Cohort:

Ben Perlman and wife are expecting their first child.

Lee Grimes served as Assistant Professor at Georgia Southern University since August 2012. She has accepted a new position as Assistant Professor at Valdosta State University, effective August, 2013.

Paul Johnson, as Georgia’s Counselor Advocate of the Year for 2012, was a featured speaker at the annual Gwinnett County Counselors Recognition in Feburary, 2013.

Natasha Moon was named Head Counselor at Tucker Middle School.

Karen Griffith was named as a Lead RAMP Reviewer by ASCA. She has also conducted a webinar for ASCA on the Delivery component of the ASCA National Model. In addition, she serves on the Editorial Review for ASCA’s Professional School Counseling Journal.

Candace Norris Brown is an Adjunct Professor for Mercer University.

Rodney Parks accepted the position of Registrar and Ass. Professor at Elon University in January. Rodney recently received the Margaret Ruthven Perry Distinguished SACRAO Journalism Award. He has also published several articles on topics including career consultation and policy creation in higher education.