Department of Counseling News
Counseling Professor LaVelle Hendricks Named 2026 Addictions Educator of the Year
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks has been named the first recipient of the 2026 Peter Bell Premier Addictions Educator of the Year Award by the Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery.
Governor Abbott Reappoints ETAMU Alum to Texas Commission on Jail Standards
East Texas A&M University alumna Patricia M. Anthony was recently reappointed to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Strong Standards, Bright Futures: ETAMU Counseling Programs Reaccredited
East Texas A&M University’s graduate counseling programs have once again earned national recognition for excellence.
ETAMU Adjunct Professor Desiree Stephens Featured in Voyage Dallas Interview
Dr. Desiree Stephens, adjunct professor of counseling at East Texas A&M University, was recently featured in Voyage Dallas, a regional publication known for spotlighting the stories of local entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders.
THECB Taps East Texas A&M Professor to Evaluate Workforce Training Initiative
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, a professor of counseling at East Texas A&M University, has been awarded a $200,000 grant by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), to evaluate the Texas Innovative Adult Career Educational (ACE) Grant Program.
East Texas A&M Researchers Link Pollution Exposure to Mental Health Risks
A new peer-reviewed study involving East Texas A&M researchers is drawing urgent attention to the mental health consequences of environmental pollution in rural, underserved communities across the South.
Staff Member Appointed to Texas Association of Play Therapy Board of Directors
On March 20, Dr. Candace Chuyou-Campbell, clinical director for the Department of Counseling at East Texas A&M University, was appointed to the board of directors of the Texas Association for Play Therapy (TxAPT).
Reactivated Chi Sigma Iota Chapter at East Texas A&M Initiates New Members
The Epsilon Tau Honor Society, which promotes professionalism in counseling, will hold initiation ceremonies each fall and spring semester to induct new members.
Interdisciplinary Team of Faculty Publish Title on Hispanic Leadership
The book is a result of a joint effort between the provost and the College of Education and Human Services to promote cross-discipline collaboration at A&M-Commerce.
Pair of TAMUC Alumni Named to Quinlan ISD Hall of Fame
The Quinlan Independent School District in Quinlan, Texas recently announced their 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, which include a pair of Texas A&M University-Commerce alumni.
Sucked Into the Vortex: Social Media and Mental Health Q&A with a TAMUC Counselor
In a world obsessed with likes, comments and views, how can we find a little peace and quiet in our minds?
Social media: we all know and love it. And, if you're like me, maybe you love it a little…
A&M-Commerce Alum Shares Tips for a Career in Health and Wellness
A&M-Commerce alum Angela P. Harper (‘09) recently sat for an interview featured in Authority Magazine.
In the article, Harper shares five keys for building a successful career in health and wellness. She also emphasizes the importance of authenticity, self-care strategies…
A&M-Commerce Doctoral Students Honored by International Association
Two A&M-Commerce doctoral students, Diana Rodriguez and Duc Huy, were recently named 2024 Emerging Leaders by the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC). IAMFC is a division of the American Counseling Association consisting of counselors, therapists, social workers,…
“Winter Blues”: Seasonal Affective Disorder and Tips to Fight It
Winter can be a beautiful season. The air gets colder; the holidays arrive, and a snow flurry might even appear. But for many, the feeling of “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” isn’t always pleasant. In fact, during the colder…
A&M-Commerce Professors Team to Publish Book on Mental Health
Drs. Dimitra Smith and LaVelle Hendricks have published their latest book “Changing the Stigma of Mental Health Among African Americans: Moving from Denial to Acceptance.”
Published through IGI Global, the book describes the history of mental health in the African…
A&M-Commerce Counseling Professor Earns Humanistic Teaching Award
A&M-Commerce faculty Dr. Ajitha Kumaran is the recipient of the 2023 Humanistic Educator/Supervisor of the Year award, presented by the Association for Humanistic Counseling, a division of the American Counseling Association.
The award honors a member who showcases a humanistic…
A&M-Commerce Counseling Professor Discusses Benefits of Master’s Degree
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, professor and head of the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce, is featured in two Fortune.com articles discussing the merits of earning a master's degree in counseling.
In the article: “How much can you earn with a master's…
A&M-Commerce Professors Team Up for New Children’s Book
Drs. Dimitra J. Smith and LaVelle Hendricks have teamed up again to co-author and illustrate their latest children's book, “Domestic Violence: Smiling Faces Don't Always Tell the Truth.”
Released by First Service Publishers and available through Amazon, the book tells…
A&M-Commerce Faculty Members Co-Author Book on Black Leadership in Higher Education
A&M-Commerce faculty members Dr. Dimitra Smith and Dr. LaVelle Hendricks are co-authors of the recently released book “The Future of Black Leadership in Higher Education: Firsthand Experiences and Global Impact.”
Published through IGI Global, the book highlights the importance of…
A&M-Commerce Professor Honored with Academic Award
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks recently received the Erma J. Hadley Academic Award from the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE). The award recognizes faculty who achieve academic success via curricular and co-curricular experiences.
TABPHE also selected Hendricks to…
TAMUC Department of Counseling Honors Mesquite ISD School Counselors, Mental Health Professionals
The A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling honored more than 200 Mesquite ISD school counselors and mental health professionals on Friday, Dec. 9 at the K. David Belt Professional Development Center in Mesquite, Texas.
The event is part of the department's ongoing…
A&M-Commerce Professors Co-Author, Illustrate Children’s Book
A&M-Commerce Professors LaVelle Hendricks and Dimitra J. Smith are co-authors of a new children's book, “Stan the Can Has No Magic: An educational way to learn about the impact of alcohol use and the road to recovery.”
Available through Amazon,…
TAMUC Alum Featured for Impactful Work as Big Brother Mentor
A recent YouTube video by Arnold Ventures features Dr. Weldon Elbert, Jr., an A&M-Commerce alum, as a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) community mentoring program in Houston, Texas.
The video highlights the positive relationship between Elbert and…
A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling Recognizes, Honors School Counselors
Texas A&M University-Commerce and the Department of Counseling hosted a luncheon in Dallas on Thursday, October 20, to recognize school counselors and celebrate their vital role in the education system. The event honored counselors and mental health professionals from Desoto,…
TAMUC College of Education and Human Services Publishes Online Journal
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce has published the first issue of Literature Reviews in Education and Human Services. The peer-reviewed, online journal endeavors to provide a collection of high-quality literature reviews for topics related to education…
A&M-Commerce Personnel, Alumni Honored by Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education
The Texas A&M University-Commerce chapter of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE) honored several of the university's personnel and alumni at an awards ceremony on April 30 in the Rayburn Student Center on campus.
Awards and…
TAMUC Counseling Professors Honored with Endowed Professorships
The Department of Counseling at Texas A&M University-Commerce recently appointed its first-ever endowed professorships.
Zaidy MohdZain, Ph.D., and LaVelle Hendricks, Ed.D., received the Chilcote Endowed Professorship and the Rosalie and Frank Turner Race and Reconciliation Endowed Professorship, respectively. Endowed professorships…
A&M-Commerce Counseling Professor Honored by Faculty Senate
Edith Gonzalez, Ph.D., received the Paul W. Barrus Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching at the A&M-Commerce Faculty Senate Awards Ceremony on April 20. The annual award recognizes faculty who have performed in an outstanding manner in teaching. Gonzalez is an…
A&M-Commerce Counseling Student Presents at Pathways Research Symposium
A&M-Commerce student Su Gordh presented her research, “How to help couples who are covert narcissists,” at the 17th annual Texas A&M University System Pathways Student Research Symposium held March 3-4 in College Station.
Gordh is a first-year graduate student in…
TAMUC Doctoral Student Recognized by School Counselor Association
The Texas School Counselor Association voted to select A&M-Commerce doctoral student Cheryl Loving as the 2022 Counselor Supervisor of the Year. Loving was recognized at the association's annual conference on Feb. 13.
Loving is a second-year student in the Counselor…
A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling Presents at International Conference
Representatives from the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce delivered two presentations at the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors World Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from Jan. 27 through 29.
Professors LaVelle Hendricks, Ph.D., and Zaidy MohdZain, Ph.D.,…
A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling Shines at State Conference
Faculty and students representing the Department of Counseling at Texas A&M University-Commerce recently attended the Texas Counseling Association's (TCA) annual Professional Growth Conference in Galveston, Texas, where they made several presentations and brought home two awards.
Second-year doctoral student Sarah…
A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling Represents at National Conference
The Department of Counseling at Texas A&M University-Commerce was well represented at the 2021 Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) national conference in Atlanta, Georgia, this past October, with several faculty members, current students and alumni in attendance.
Erika…
Multiple TAMUC Faculty Members to be Recognized at Virtual Ceremony
Eight faculty members at A&M-Commerce will be awarded the 2021 Dr. Augustine “Chuck” Arize Junior Faculty Award in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
Dean Kimberly McLeod in the College of Education and Human Services will serve as keynote…
Multiple A&M-Commerce Professors to Receive Junior Faculty Award
The A&M-Commerce Faculty Senate and the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education have selected eight outstanding faculty members to receive the 2021 Dr. Augustine “Chuck” Arize Junior Faculty Award.
The award recognizes A&M-Commerce faculty who exhibit professional excellence.…
University Flag Flies at Half-Staff in Memory of Dr. Chester Robinson
The university flag at A&M-Commerce will fly at half-staff Monday, July 12 in memory of Dr. Chester Robinson, associate professor of counseling, who passed away on the morning of Friday, July 9. Originally from Bluefield, Virginia, Robinson joined the A&M-Commerce…
TAMUC’s Hendricks Interviewed for Social Justice Study
Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, head and professor in the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce is featured in a recent episode of Here & Now on Fox 4 News in Dallas, Texas. The segment discussed a study Hendricks and colleagues performed in…
TAMUC Doctoral Counseling Students Place Second at Ethics Competition
Joy Teles Oliveira, Danielle McGarrh and Sarah Silveus, a team of three doctoral students representing the A&M-Commerce Department of Counseling, were recently named second-place finishers in the American Counseling Association (ACA) 2021 Graduate Student Ethics Awards competition.
The award competition…
TAMUC College of Education and Human Services Names New Department Heads
The College of Education and Human Services at A&M-Commerce recently announced the appointment of three new department heads.
Laura Isbell, Ph.D.Dimitra Smith, Ph.D.LaVelle Hendricks, Ed.D
Dean Kimberly McLeod named Dr. Laura Isbell as head of the Department of Curriculum and…
Rosalie and Frank Turner Establish Endowed Professorship for Race Education at TAMUC
Award-winning novelist Rosalie Turner and her husband, Texas A&M University-Commerce alumnus Frank Turner, are doing their part to end systemic racism in America through education.
The Turners, who live in Durham, North Carolina, have established the Rosalie and Frank Turner…
A&M-Commerce Introduces New Cultural Competency Course
Cultural competency among students, faculty and staff is a top priority for University President Mark Rudin.
This spring, A&M-Commerce launched its first offering of a new cultural competency course, which garnered a lot of interest from students and university employees.…
Governor Names TAMUC Alumna to State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently appointed A&M-Commerce alumna Jodie Elder, Ph.D., to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists for a term set to expire in 2027. The board licenses and regulates Marriage and Family Therapists…
Harold Murphy Counseling Center Expands Services to Collin County
The Harold Murphy Counseling Center (HMCC) in McKinney, Texas, invites residents of Collin County and surrounding areas to elevate their mental health and empower their lives. As a partnership between the Department of Counseling at Texas A&M University-Commerce and McKinney…
A&M-Commerce Alum Joins Counseling Center Staff
Matthew Richardson, a graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce, has joined the campus Counseling Center as a physician assistant. He is a part of the interdisciplinary team that provides compassionate and caring mental health services to A&M-Commerce students. Richardson began working…
A&M-Commerce Professor Featured on WFAA News Segment
A&M-Commerce associate professor, Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, recently participated in a news segment featured on WFAA.com to address the dire need for quality internet access for students in minority communities. The segment stressed that reliable access to the internet has become…
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee at A&M-Commerce to Host Race Relations Webinar
Amid increased attention on race relations in America, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee will host a one-hour town hall webinar titled “White Panel: What Should White America Do to Improve Race Relations?” on Tuesday, June 23,…
Brad Chilcote Establishes First-Ever Professorship in Counseling at A&M-Commerce
A&M-Commerce graduate student Brad Chilcote gifted the first-ever professorship in counseling to the university in February.
Chilcote and his wife, Candy Chilcote, visited the campus on February 14 to sign the gift agreement.
The Chilcote Professorship in Counseling will fund…
A&M-Commerce Well-Represented at TACES Mid-Winter Conference
Texas A&M University-Commerce doctoral students
representing the Department of Counseling recently attended the Texas
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (TACES) Mid-Winter Conference.
The conference was held February 27-28, 2020 with the theme
of Counselor Educators and Supervisors
Helping Communities…