Mar 27, 2024
Alexandria, Virginia (March 27, 2024) — Each year, the American Counseling Association (ACA) recognizes excellence in research, career and humanitarian achievement among counseling professionals and students with its awards and honors program. This year’s awards will be presented at ACA’s 2024 Conference & Expo in New Orleans, held April 11–April 13.
The ACA Fellows Award is a distinctive honor that recognizes ACA members who have advanced the counseling profession throughout their career. We welcome the 2024 Fellows cohort:
ACA recognizes best practices research projects conducted by a practicing counselor, faculty member and student.
Julia Conroy, LAC, The Joshua Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Jennifer D. Deaton, PhD, LCMHC, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Cheolwoo Park, PhD, University of Florida
Charmayne Adams, PhD, Gonzaga University
Melissa M. Luke, PhD, LMHC, Syracuse University
Malti S. Tuttle, PhD, LPC, Auburn University
Yusen Zhai, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Yoon Suh Moh, PhD, LPC, Thomas Jefferson University
Jordan B. Westcott, PhD, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Tianka Pharaoh, PhD, University of Central Florida
Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, PhD, American University
Szu-Yu (Darlene) Chen, PhD, LPCC, Palo Alto University
Connie Jones, PhD, LCMHCA, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Amanda L. Giordano, PhD, LPC, University of Georgia
Gene N. Dockery, PhD, LPCC, Seattle University
Azadeh Ahmadi, The Pennsylvania State University
Stephanie F. Dailey, EdD, LPC, George Mason University
Gon Ratanashevorn, PLPC, University of Missouri, St. Louis
Paul L. Nelson, Retired
Matthew L. Nice, PhD, LPC, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Anita Young, PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Beatrice Tatem, PhD, LPC, Wellness Initiatives LLC
L. DiAnne Borders, PhD, LCMHC, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Shawn L. Spurgeon, PhD, LPC, St. Mary’s University
These awards recognize exceptional, demonstrable understanding of the ACA Code of Ethics — the foundation of ethical professional counseling practice — in both master’s and doctoral student categories.
University of Texas at San Antonio
Travis Walker, Emma Tharp, Elaine Oyama (Barbara Herlihy, PhD, Adviser)
Johns Hopkins University
Cindy Bui, John-Henry Strong, Tanya P. Vasunia, TW Cherry Ng (Sterling P. Travis, PhD, LCPC, LPC, Adviser)
University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Erica Hoyer, Hayden Petee, Samantha Haering (Christine Sacco-Bene, PhD, LMHC, LPC, Adviser)
Oakland University
Kaitlin Farver, Hayley Ostlund, Stefan Radke (James Hansen, PhD, Adviser)
University of the Cumberlands
Alicia Spomer, Pete Stern, Beth Bell, Jennifer Hartman (Colleen Grunhaus, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, Adviser)
Bowie State University
Emilia Henry, Xiomara Medina, Carolyn Thorpe (Kimberly Mills, PhD, LCPC, Adviser)
This competition recognizes graduate counseling students with exceptional insight and understanding about the counseling profession and the work of professional counselors in mental health, private practice, community agency, agency, organization or related counseling settings.
Clinta Stanislaus
University of Massachusetts Global
Gracie Edler
Loyola Marymount University
Peter Simon Walsh
The George Washington University
Joan Bambrick
Bellevue University
Barry Gibson
University of New Orleans
This competition recognizes graduate counseling students with exceptional insight and understanding about the school counseling profession and the work of professional school counselors who interact with elementary, middle or high school students.
Sanjana Sheth
Merrimack College
Jennifer Russell
Lamar University
Carlie Carter
College of William and Mary
James Harris
Regent University
Tiffnie Sevin
Nicholls State University
The American Counseling Association is a not-for-profit professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. Founded in 1952, ACA represents nearly 60,000 members and is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings.