OSU Counselor Education Alumni News

Ann Raffay (M.A. ’08) has accepted a position as a school counselor at Granville High School (Granville, Ohio).

Anita Young (Ph.D., ’04) was named ASCA School Counseling Director/Coordinator of the Year for 2008. Click here for full story.

Rachel Zufall (M.A. ’08) is a K-8 School Counselor at Columbus Preparatory Academy (a Columbus Charter School).

Michelle Hunnicutt (M.A. ’06) and Chad Hollenbaugh (M.A. ’06) were married on May 24, 2008.

Jason Durell (M.A. ’08) has accepted a middle school guidance counseling position at Olentangy Liberty Middle School in Delaware County."

Erin Bruno (M.A. ’05) is now Erin Ahrens. She was married on August 5, 2006, to Curtis Ahrens. She moved back to Northeast Ohio, where she is currently working at the University of Akron as an Educational Specialist for a Trio Program called Education Talent Search. She works with low-income/first generation college students in the Akron Public Schools to prepare them for post-secondary education.

Diane Burrows (M.A. '03) has been working at Belmont Pines Hospital for children and adolescents with emotional, mental, and behavioral problems for about three years. She specifically work on the residential unit with adolescents. Just last year, she took a leave and went to the Philippines to go to Bible school and do missionary work. Diane says “that was quite an experience!”

Matt Fleming (MA, ’07) is a Clinical Fellow at OSU Counseling and Consultation. After Matt passed his licensure exam this summer, he and his wife, Carol, hiked through Switzerland, France, and Italy. For some amazing pictures, check out their website.

Amber Gahn (M.A. ’07) is a Forensic Case Manager/Community Support Specialist for
Community Connections in Washington, D.C. Community Connections serves approximately 2000 clients with severe mental health diagnoses, many of whom are also victims of homelessness, substance abuse, trauma, and victimization.

Melissa Green (M.A. ‘06) is Assistant Director of Student Activities and Leadership Programs at Western Michigan University.

Michelle Hunnicut ('06) and Chad Hollenbaugh ('06) are engaged. They will be married in May of 2008. Picture.

Conny Kirsch (M.A. ‘06) is the first rower to be inducted into the Buckeye Hall of Fame.

Michael Lewis (MA, ‘03) is the Director of Counseling at Ohio Dominican College.

Anne Lombardi (M.A. ‘05) is the new associate director of counseling at Ohio Dominican University.

Tricia Love (M.A. ’07) is pleased to announce the birth of her son, Joseph Allen Kinser. Joseph was born on January 18th and weighed in at 11 lbs. 14 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. Tricia reports “he is doing great and is already holding his head up and looking around at everything.”
Pictures of Joseph Kinser:

Priscilla March (MA '98) is a career counselor at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell, where she loves the diversity and variety of counseling everyone from first generation college students, to new immigrant students, to non-traditional students, to PhD candidates, and all others studying everything from nuclear engineering to philosophy. She also serves on two non-profit boards, Cantemus Chamber Chorus (www.cantemus.org) in which she also sings, and the Friends of the Lynnfield Public Library (www.foll.org). Forever trying to balance her love of counseling and writing, she also contributes articles to several publications, including The Boston Globe's online job site for college students (www.boston.com/jobs/college), where she regularly writes "Tips from Campus" columns.

Kristin Matthews (M.A. ’05) is a program director at an emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth in Virginia.

Andrew Moss ('07) was hired as Administrative Coordinator/Supervisor of Residential Detoxification and Ambulatory Detoxification at Maryhaven in July, 2007. He is responsible for supervising the counseling staff, medical clerks, case aides, and student interns in both programs.

Julie Nelson (ABD) has accepted the position of School Counselor & Dean of Students at Focus Learning Academy in Columbus.

Dawnaka Overly (M.A. ‘99) and her husband, Kevin, had a little girl, Kylah in October, 2007. Dawnaka reported that the big excitement in their home in January was that Kylah rolled over on her own! Enjoy these pictures, and go to their website for even more!

Jenny Renfro (M.A. ’07) is living in New York City and working with adolescents in a mental health setting located in Spanish Harlem. She says she loves it. She gets to spend most of her time with her clients out in the community, and she having a blast learning about the Hispanic culture – she just wishes that she could speak Spanish!

Tom Sweeney (Ph.D. ’64) received the OSU Counselor Education Susan Jones Sears Distinguished Alumni Award at the OSU Reception at the All Ohio Counselor’s Conference.

Keith Valerius (M.A. ’05) is a counselor in private practice at Sundstrom Clinical Services in Portland, Oregon, where he has recently moved with his family. Kristin (Keith’s wife) completed her post-doc fellowship in Kansas City, and she is now preparing for the Oregon Boards.

Beth (Webster) Whitaker (M.A. ‘04) is a staff therapist and Alcohol and Drug Education Coordinator at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

Sarah Williams ('06) has been hired as a school counselor (grades 7-12) in the Union-Scioto District in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Larry Binkovitz (M.A. '00) is a radiologist at Children's Hospital in Columbus. He noted that he finds his counseling skills particularly useful when working with physicians for brain imaging of patients with behavioral disorders or prior head injury. Larry says his brood is growing up - his youngest daughter starts high school next fall, his oldest daughter graduates from Oberlin this year, and his middle daughter will start college at Berkeley in the fall. Larry's son, Isaac, will be a junior at McGill in Montreal next fall. For the past 6 year, Larry has engaged in long distance running, which has become a passion.

Jennifer Bostic (M.A. '06) is the Consultation and Training Coordinator for GRADcis, LLC in Dublin.

Jan Carlson (M.A. '01) is a PCC-S at Whitehall City Schools in Rosemore Middle School. Jan won the "Friend of Education Award" from Whitehall City Schools in 2004-5 and again in 2005-6.

Anne Deffenbaugh (M.A. '03, currently a doctoral candidate) has accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Walsh University in Ohio.

Amanda Fox (M.A. 06) is a full-time career counselor at New Directions Career Center (formerly Center for New Directions). She works with adults in career transition with a focus on helping women.

Danielle Hayes (M.A. '06) is a counselor at Consolidated Care, a community counseling center in Marysville. She will be doing individual and group counseling with adults and adolescents.

Chad Hollenbaugh (M.A. '06) is an intensive family therapist at the Buckeye Ranch

Michelle Hunnicutt (M.A. '05) is a counselor at North Community Counseling, West, in Columbus.

Susan Norris Huss (Stevens) (Ph.D. '72) is an associate professor in Counselor Education at Bowling Green State University.

Dallas Jensen (M.A. '02) received his Ph.D. from Brigham Young University in 2005. After a year working in the Counseling Center of Southern Utah University, he has been hired as a counselor at Brigham Young University, starting in autumn, 2007. When Dallas began his M.A. work at OSU, his stated goal was to get a PhD and join the counseling center at BYU, and now, very soon after he received his doctorate, he will be doing just that! Dallas, Robyn, and their children will make the move to BYU this summer.

Connie Kirsch (M.A. '06) decided to change her focus a bit from school counseling to coaching. She was offered a position as Assistant Coach for the University of Massachusetts Rowing Team. Conny says "I have been a coach for almost a month now, and I love it more and more everyday. I also get to use my counseling skills building rapport and solving problems, be it personal, academic, or team issues. I love the fact that I can recruit high school girls and convince them to join the team by talking about the variety of majors and excellent academic support at UMass." Click here for the announcement.

Sarah Kozich (M.A. '06) is a counselor at the Buckeye Ranch Cross Creek Day Treatment Program.

Kathy (Wida) Moore (M.A. '98; Ph.D. '04) has moved with her family to New York, where she is working on getting licensure as a counselor. She gave birth to her third child, Caden Brian, on March 26th. Mom and kids are doing well, and Kathy says she hopes to get back to OSU for her tenth reunion from the program!

Alexa Murray (M.A. '05) has accepted a position as a Professional Development Specialist for the Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics, Science, and Reading in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University. She will be developing curriculum and conducting research in secondary and postsecondary education to promote best practices in literacy instruction.

Beth Myerholtz (M.A. '04) has worked in the inpatient psychiatric unit of Riverside Hospital for almost 6 years. She is an RN, PC, and she performs nursing duties, leads group therapy, and conducts patient education. She says she loves it and that is why she is still there. Beth is about to finish her masters in nursing and will be able to diagnose as well as treat medical and psychiatric conditions. When she is done with school next June, Beth plans to become a clinical instructor and teach the undergraduate students and work in an outpatient setting.

William Nemec (Ph.D., '74) received the OSU Counselor Education "Susan Sears Distinguished Alumni Award" at the OSU reception at AOCC in November, 2006.

Raeanna O'Brien (M.A. '03) is an adjunct instructor at Ohio University-Chillicothe in the Human Services Technology Department.

Amy Pfeiffer (M.A. '06) is a clinical fellow at OSU Counseling & Consultation Services and will work in private practice at Affirmations in Columbus.

Jessica Sparks (M.A. '06) accepted the KIDS Treatment Team Leader Position at Southeast, Inc. in Columbus Ohio.

Terra Tadlock-Smith (M.A. '04) has taken over the position as Director of Programs and Services at New Directions Career Center. Terra was selected to participate in the Fellowship for Emerging Women Leaders in Nonprofits, sponsored by the Academy for Leadership and Governance. The Fellowship will focus on the issues of leadership: what is required, the variety of styles, and the core attributes. Other topics that will be explored include self-management, work-life balance, cultural competency, partnership building, fund development, finance, and board relations. The program is specifically for young women in the nonprofit field who have the potential to one day lead a non-profit. The Fellowship begins in June, 2007.

Nikki Taich (M.A. '06) got married to John Herbert on August 5, 2006. The couple honeymooned in the Dominican Republic and currently resides in Columbus with their dog, Mickey. Nikki accepted a position as an Academic Counselor and Staff Assistant with the College of Pharmacy at The Ohio State University.

Amanda Washel (M.A. '06) had a baby boy, Rowen Brenner, on Sunday, October 22 at 1:52pm. 7 lbs, 4 oz. CONGRATULATIONS, AMANDA, and WELCOME, ROWEN!

Beth (Webster) Whittaker (M.A. '04) is an addictions counselor at a local agency in Michigan City, Michigan, where she works mostly with clients from the state and federal prison system. But, according to Beth, the big news is actually something really small - Carson James Whittaker, born May 4, 2007, and weighing in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces. What a cutie, and he already has his own website: www.carsonwhitaker.zoomshare.com

Jenn Whitney (M.A. '03; Ph.D., '06)) is a clinical fellow at OSU Counseling & Consultation Services and taught in the OSU Counselor Education program during autumn, 2006 and spring, 2007. She accepted a position as a senior staff therapist at University of North Carolina-Greensboro beginning autumn, 2007..

Keith Valerius (M.A. '05) and his wife, Kristin, welcomed their second child, Emmalyene (pronounced Emma-line) Grace Valerius, on October 24, 2006. Keith is a counselor at Truman Medical Center Behavioral Health Center in Kansas City. He primarily provides individual therapy as well as perform some psychosocial assessments for the program.

Jessica (Levy) Auslander (M.A. '04) is in her second year as a high school counselor for the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (a new certification through NBCC). She and Dan are expecting their first child in June.

Sarah Brown (M.A. '05) is a Program Specialist for JamesCare for Life. She and Brian got engaged over Labor Day weekend and have a wedding date set for September 23, 2006.

David Dagg (M.A. '01) is the Director for Program Development at the Center for Eating Disorders and Psychotherapy in Worthington.

Karen Larson Dimmick (M.A. '90) has been an Academic Counselor in Industrial, Interior and Visual Communication Design at OSU since 1990.

Rochelle Dunn (M.A. '99; Ph.D. '03) is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Northern Kentucky University.

Wendy Hanson-Smith (M.A. '04) is manager of Adult Education, Employment and Case Services at Godman Guild in Columbus. She just completed the 2005 Columbus Marathon!

Jackie Hatten (M.A '02) is Intake Coordinator at OSU/Harding Behavioral Healthcare

Lisa Hinkelman (M.A. '01; Ph.D. '04) is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at OSU. Check out her homepage!

Dallas Jensen (M.A. '02) successfully defended his dissertation in Counseling Psychology at Brigham Young University! He is a counseling center intern at Iowa State University. Check out his homepage for updates and pictures!

Lisa Kapp (M.A. '00) is Director of Programs and Services for Center for New Directions, Columbus.

Stacie Stormer Krueckeberg (M.A. '05) is a Career Counselor at Career Connections, OSU.

Kristin Matthews (M.A. '05) works in Academic Advancement for Minority Affairs at Buckeye Village.

Kathy Wida Moore (M.A. '98; Ph.D. '04) is a Counselor at Gahanna Schools and an adjunct professor for OSU Counselor Education.

Alexa Murray (M.A. '05) is Project Coordinator for the Nisonger Center in Columbus.

Sarah Offenbaker (M.A. '05) is Treatment Coordinator for the School-Age Partial Hospitalization Program at St. Vincent Family Center in Columbus.

Mary Runyan (M.A. '01) is the recipient of the OSU Counselor Education Community Counseling Outstanding Community Partner Award. Mary is Director of Counseling and Wellness at Columbus College of Art & Design.

Cristian Shofar (M.A. '05) is a Multisystemic Treatment Therapist at the Berea Children's Home and Family Services in Cleveland.

Bob Towner-Larsen (PhD '97) is Consultant and Coordinator of Management Development for OSU Medical School.

Chiung-Yi Tseng (M.A. '01) is a Ph.D. student at The New School for Social Research in New York.

Keith Valerius (M.A. '05) is an Intensive In-home Therapist with KVC Behavioral Healthcare in Kansas City, MO.

Lyndsey White (M.A. '04) is an Academic Advisor at The Ohio State University in Mansfield.

Have alumni news to share? Send it to: granello.1@osu.edu and we'll get it posted to the website!

An Alumni Listserv is currently under development. Please contact Dr. Darcy Haag Granello (granello.1@osu.edu) if you wish to be included in the OSU Counselor Education Alumni List!


		Please Note: This information may change without notification to the recipient of these materials. The appropriate academic unit advisor can determine requirements based upon the year of matriculation to OSU. The Graduate School Bulletin, and the OSU Course Offerings Bulletin are the official University documents that apply to programs in the School. Although a thorough review of this document has occurred, if mistakes exist, the information in the relevant University bulletin prevails.