Laura Jean Lewis, MA, LPCC-S

Candidate Statement:

Fellow ACA members, it is my sincere honor and pleasure to be considered for one of the 11 at-large directors on the new ACA Board of Directors and to potentially serve on this governing body of ACA. I am seeking this position for several reasons. First, I truly appreciate that our professional organization is visionary and adaptive to the changing needs of its membership, including its governance structure. I want to work alongside such committed colleagues who are helping to ethically, professionally and creatively shape our organizational culture. Secondly, as our counseling profession continues to face its challenges, it is essential that ACA identifies and welcomes committed leaders who can provide excellent oversight into the operations of our association. I want to be at the forefront of the evolution of ACA's vision and mission in this regard. Thirdly, I believe that my skillset aligns well with what this position would entail. My prior and current leadership experiences to this point are underscored by forward-thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation. I demonstrate a visionary style of leadership that engages long-term strategic planning, provides clear direction, champions and motivates others to work toward accomplishing shared goals, and celebrates the achievements. I'm known as someone who can be creative and inventive, while grounded in my core values and the mission of the organization. I excel at building partnerships and collaborating with leaders in a variety of contexts. Lastly, as a passionate private practitioner and professional in higher education, my priorities if elected include strengthening professional counselor identity, hands-on legislative engagement, policy leadership and advancement, and advocating for the needs of diverse client populations. I am extremely grateful to ACA for creating this opportunity and to membership for considering my nomination.

Candidate Biography:

Laura Lewis, MA, LPCC-S received her Master of Arts in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University in 2010. She currently directs the day-to-day operations for the Ohio State University Suicide Prevention Program, coordinating a campus wide comprehensive model designed to educate and train students, staff, and faculty in suicide prevention education, outreach, and advocacy. Laura supervises a large staff engaged in research initiatives, mental health screenings, and outreach programs, and maintains 250+ campus and community partnerships. She has presented on the topic at the state and national level over 50 times and holds leadership roles in national, state and local suicide prevention organizations, such as the State of Ohio Suicide Prevention Plan Writing & Implementation Teams. Laura also co-owns a counseling private practice and is often asked to consult and present on a variety of mental health topics to school educators, parents, and clergy in both public and private settings. Additionally, since 2020 Laura has been the Victim Assistance Coordinator for clergy sexual abuse allegations for the Catholic Diocese of Columbus. Within the Ohio Counseling Association (OCA) she is the current Chair of the Leadership Development Committee and past president of the Central Ohio Counseling Association (2016-2017). In 2023 Laura was awarded the Ohio Counseling Association Professional Leadership Award for her work designing and implementing the OCA Leadership Certificate Program, a free membership benefit for graduate students, new professionals, and seasoned professionals that equips them with the most important tools and information they need to successfully hold a volunteer leadership position within OCA. Laura has been a proud member of the American Counseling Association and the Ohio Counseling Association since 2009 and looks forward to continuing to serve both in future leadership endeavors.