STUDENT AFFAIRS 15 ANNUAL REPORT Similarly, the “You Are Not Alone” Campaign was communicated to students by posters, table tents, and social media posts with the message that students have access to resources and are never truly alone. “Isolation and loneliness are significant risk factors for suicide,” said Sean Blackburn, Dean of Students. This campaign hopes to inspire a sense of community and support for those who feel alone and desperate. Shilman, Mathews, and Geist become Licensed Professional Counselors Christina Shilman met the requirements to obtain a license to practice within the State of South Dakota as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in January of 2024. Candidates for licensure must have a 48-hour master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution, a board-approved LPC Plan of Supervision on file, completed at least 2,000 hours post-graduate supervised experience and 100 hours of supervision, and passed the National Counselor Examination (NCE). “We are extremely proud of Christina’s accomplishments and grateful for her commitment to offering students the best quality of care available in higher education,” said Sean Blackburn, dean of students. Dr. Shalini Mathew met the requirements to obtain a license to practice within the State of South Dakota as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in April 2024. Dr. Mathew joined the Counseling Services staff in the spring semester of 2023, providing counseling to Northern students. Dr. Mathew is an assistant professor, field coordinator and Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) liaison for the master’s in counseling program. She is a National Board of Certified Counselors nationally certified counselor. She is serving as a member of the CACREP team of site visitors. “We are grateful for Dr. Mathew,” said Becky Kuch, director of counseling and health services. Shilman and Mathews were supported and supervised by Becky Kuch, director of health and counseling services, for their licensure. Ashley Geist, LPC-MH SupV, LPC, NCC, QMHP, M.S.Ed., met the requirements to obtain a license to practice within the State of South Dakota as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in November 2024 and completed her QMHP certification in the spring 2024. Ashley joined the Counseling Services team in September 2023 to support Becky and Christina with the demand for personal counseling on campus. Ashley serves up to 19 hours per week. She is a two-time graduate of Northern State University and is also employed at The Support Circle. Previously, she was an adjunct faculty member for the Psychology and Human Services Department at Presentation College and served their students as a clinical mental health counselor prior to Presentation’s closure in August 2023.
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