Asterisk signifies Core Faculty.
Cheri Meder*
Chair
School Counselor Education Director
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, Regent University
- M.A., Counseling: School Counseling, Adams State University
- B.A., Sociology and Psychology, Western State College of Colorado
Areas of Interest
Professional school counseling; online counselor education and pedagogical practices; play/filial therapy; counseling assessment; legal/ethical issues in professional school counseling; ASCA RAMP certification; counseling adolescents; and sex offender assessment.
Certifications
Licensed Professional School Counselor (CO); Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (CO); National Certified School Counselor; National Certified Counselor
Toni Martinez
Counselor Ed – Budget Analyst/Office Manager
719-587-8138
Please contact with questions regarding
- Student Labs
- Ph.D. Admissions
- Ph.D. Questions
- Budget
- Counseling Services Reimbursement
Melissa Moeller
Senior Advisor/Operations Director
ceadvising@adams.edu (preferred)
mmoeller@adams.edu
- Supervises Academic Advisor
- Oversees and manages cohort plans of study
- School of Counselor Education liaison of special projects within Adams State and SLV community
- Operations management of Counselor Education School
- Supervision, oversight, integration, and delivery of clinical labs
- Supervise, maintain, and implement enrollment management
Esperanza Orozco
Counselor Education Administrative Specialist
ceonline@adams.edu
eorozco@adams.edu
(719) 587-8376
Please contact with questions regarding
- Clinical Mental Health Admissions questions
- School Counseling Admissions questions
- Admissions/Deferments
- Student Labs
Shelly Polzin
Clinical Coordinator
counseloredcc@adams.edu
719-587-7607
Please contact with questions regarding
- Adams State Clinical Manual
- Practicum/Internship requirements
- Training for site supervisors
- Due dates for Practicum and Internship
Bethany Adams*
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, Adams State University
- M.A., Clinical Mental Health, Denver Seminary
- B.A., Psychology, University of Colorado
Areas of Interest
Online counselor education and andragogy; Legal/ethical issues in clinical counseling; Counseling student dispositions and skill development; Clinical training program development; Professional Counselor Identity Development; Counseling Supervision
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (CO); National Certified Counselor; Approved Clinical Supervisor
Courtney Allen*
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counseling and Counselor Education, University of Florida
- Ed.S., School Counseling and Guidance, University of Florida
- M.Ed., School Counseling and Guidance, University of Florida
- B.A., Psychology, University of Florida
Areas of Interest
Counselor development, Counseling theories, Research in school counseling, Counseling children and adolescents, Substance abuse counseling, Pedagogical practices, Qualitative research, Counselor supervision
Certifications
National Certified Counseling (NCC)
Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern (Florida)
Laura Bruneau*
Ph.D. Program Chair
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, Kent State University
- M.Ed., Community Counseling, Kent State University
- B.A., Psychology, Miami University
Areas of Interest
Creativity in counseling; therapeutic reading; Animal assisted therapy; Counseling theory; Diagnosis; Women’s issues; Counseling children
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (CO); Licensed School Counselor (CO)
Rebecca Caple*
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education & Supervision, Adams State University
- M.Ed., Master of Education Mental Health Counseling
- B.S., Psychology, Bridgewater State University
Areas of Interest
At-Risk Youth; Mental Health and Advocacy in Schools; Developing Adolescent Resiliency; School Counseling; Creativity in Counseling
Certifications
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MA), Licensed School Counselor (NC)
Carol Cotter*
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, Adams State University
- Master of Social Work, University of Houston
- B.A., Psychology, University of Houston – Clear Lake
Areas of Interest
Counselor Development, Counseling Assessment, Relational Cultural Theory, Trauma and Resilience, Social Justice Issues, Mindfulness & Self-Compassion
Certifications
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CO); Certified EMDR practitioner
Sandra Gavin*
Student Equity and Support Coordinator
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, Northern Illinois University
- M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Northern Iowa
- B.S., Psychology and Human Services, Upper Iowa University
Areas of Interest
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Supervision, Counselor Development, Multicultural Counseling Self-Efficacy and Competencies, Online Counselor Education, Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQIA+
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (Illinois)
National Certified Counselor
Christina Harrell*
CMH Program Chair
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education & Supervision, Adams State University
- M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Adams State University
- BA in Business Administration; Minor in Health Care Administration
Areas of Interest
Mindfulness & Psychotherapy; Play Therapy; Child and Adolescent Issues; Grief and Loss; Professional Counselor Identity Development; Multicultural Competencies; Creativity in Counseling
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (CO); National Certified Counselor
Janessa Henninger*
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, University of Northern Colorado
- M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Northern Colorado
- B.S, Psychology, College of Charleston
Areas of Interest
Play Therapy and play therapy supervision; Crisis and trauma education; program evaluation; Research and statistics
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (CO); Registered play therapist- Supervisor; Registered Play therapist.
Mark Manzanares*
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Education and Human Resources Studies, Colorado State University
- M.A., Community Counseling, Adams State University
- B.A., Psychology, Adams State University
Areas of Interest
Parenting Training; generation issues; Adult Learning Theory and Technology in Counselor Education
Certifications
Becoming a Love and Logic, Instructor Training
Becky Meidinger*
School Counseling Program Chair
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, Adams State University
- M.S., School Counseling, University of Mary
- B.S., Psychology, North Dakota State University
Areas of Interest
School Counseling, Collaboration in K12 education with school counselors, Education and supervision of school counselors, School counselor roles, Online counselor education
Certifications
- National Certified Counselor (NCC)
- National Certified School Counselor (NCSC)
- Licensed School Counselor (CO, ND)
Theresa O’Halloran*
Degrees Awarded
- Ed.D. Counselor Education, University of Northern Colorado
- M.C. Counseling, Arizona State University
- B.S. Communication, Arizona State University
Areas of Interest
Mindfulness in counseling practice; Meditation and MBSR; Stress management; Treatment of anxiety; Anxiety in counselor training; and Counselor Development.
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (CO); Licensed Addiction Counselor (CO); Master Addiction Counselor (NAADAC); Licensed Independent Mental Health Counselor (NE); Qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher; Certified EMDR practitioner
Melissa O’Neill*
Degrees Awarded:
- Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision, Adams State University
- M.A. Counseling, Eastern New Mexico University
- B.A. Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Areas of Interest
Eating Disorders and Related Issues; Diet Culture, Weight Stigma, and Body Acceptance; Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT); Counselor Identity Development; Counseling and Supervision Theory; Cultural Humility and Social Justice Issues
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (AK), Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Supervisor, Clinical Military Counseling Certificate
Johnsa Phares*
Assistant School Counselor Education Director
Degrees Awarded:
- Ph.D., Counselor Education & Supervision, Adams State University
- M.A., School Counseling, Adams State University
- B.A., Psychology, Ouachita Baptist University
Areas of Interest
Counseling issues related to law enforcement and other first responders; International School Counseling; School Counseling; Multicultural Competencies; Ethics; Skills Training
Neil Rigsbee*
Assessment Chair
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education, University of New Mexico
- M.A., Counseling, Webster University
- B.A., Psychology, College of Santa Fe
Areas of Interest
Quantitative research methods in counseling; Online suicide assessment training; Veterans issues; Community mental health.
Certifications
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NM)
Penny Sanders*
Degrees Awarded
- Ed.D., Counseling, Texas A&M University-Commerce
- M.A. in Education/Student Personnel, Northern Arizona University
- B.S., Radio/TV Communication, Eastern New Mexico University
Areas of Interest
Cultural Humility, LGBTQ+ Issues in Counseling, Social Justice, Grief and Loss, Women’s Issues, Cultural Identity and Othering
Certifications
- Licensed Professional Counselor (CO); Certified EMDR practitioner
Madeleine (Maddy) Stevens*
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision, Adams State University
- M.A. Art Therapy, Southwestern College
- B.A. Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Studio Arts, University of Colorado Denver
Areas of Interest
Arts and Expressive Arts in Counseling; Client Agency; Interdisciplinary Education in Counselor Education; Qualitative Research; Contemplative Psychotherapy
Certifications
- Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC NM)
- Licensed Professional Art Therapist (LPAT NM)
- ATR-BC (Art Therapist Registered- Board Certified)
Jared Thiemann*
Technology Chair
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and
Counseling, Idaho State University - M.Coun, Marital, Couple,
and Family Counseling, Idaho State University - B.A., General
Studies, Idaho State University
Areas of Interest
Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling; Counseling Adolescents; Group Counseling; Treatment of Sexual Offenders; Existential Counseling; Technology and Counseling.
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (CO); National Certified Counselor (NCC)
Kirk Thiemann*
Degrees Awarded
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, University of Wyoming
- M.COUN., Student Affairs Counseling, Idaho State University
- B.A., General Studies, Idaho State University
Areas of Interest
Career Counseling, Counseling Theories, Grief and Loss, Person-Centered Counseling, Existentialism, Phenomenological Research Methods
Certifications
Licensed Professional Counselor (ID)
Mark Vander Ley*
Degrees awarded:
- Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision, Adams State University
- M.A. Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy, University of Phoenix
- B.A. Business Administration, Dordt College
Areas of Interest:
Counseling Adolescents, Couples Counseling, Fatherhood, Parenting, Trauma & Attachment, Private Practice Development
Certifications:
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (IL), Licensed Professional Counselor (MO)
