2023 Speakers
Dr. Natasha Barnes, Ed.D., GCDF, CCC, NCC
Using a Wellness Approach to Address Substance Use in Adolescents Who Have Been Incarcerated
Dr. Natasha Barnes is an assistant professor at Delta State University. She is also the president-elect of the Military and Government Counseling Associations. Her research interests include mental health issues in military families and career development and planning.
Dr. Kenya Johns, LPC, NCC, CAADC, CCTP, ACS
Using a Wellness Approach to Address Substance Use in Adolescents Who Have Been Incarcerated
Kenya Johns has worked in the counseling field for 10+ years with a diverse portfolio of experience. Kenya has a passion for change and education and serves as a program supervisor and educator in various community organizations and in private consultations.
Dr. Startasha Dillard, Ed.D., LPC, CAC-II, NCC
Navigating Conversations on Marijuana Use
Dr. Startasha Dillard is a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Addiction Counselor in District of Columbia, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia & District of Columbia. She is an approved supervisor for Virginia, and the District of Columbia. She has over 14 years of professional experience to include community mental health, private practice and providing direct services to children, adolescents, and adults.
Dr. Arien K. Muzacz, PhD., NCC, LMHC
Substance Use Risks, Prevention, and Intervention: Reaching Older Adults in Rural Communities
Arien K. Muzacz, Ph.D., NCC, PCMHC (NM), LPC (OR), LMHC (NY), BC-TMH, ACS, has 12 years of experience as a State-licensed professional counselor, 10 years of experience as a clinical supervisor, and 6 years of experience teaching and supervising in master’s-level courses as a full-time faculty member in CACREP-accredited counseling programs. She is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at Oregon State University who teaches, mentors, and supervises M.Coun and Ph.D. students, many of whom live in rural communities and have marginalized identities.
Dr. Victoria Giegerich, Ph.D., LPCC, LICDC
Ethical Practices in Supervision Specific to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
Victoria Giegerich is an Assistant Professor of Counseling and Psychology at Malone University and maintains a private practice in Ohio. Her clinical background includes the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of adults with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders with a specific focus on trauma-informed care. Her teaching and curriculum development focus on addictions counseling and overseeing students’ practicum and internship experiences as Clinical Coordinator.
Dr. Andrea McGrath, Ph.D., LAC, LIMHP
Ethical and Legal Issues in Addiction Counseling
Andrea McGrath, PhD, LPC, LAC, LIMHP is currently an Assistant Professor of Counseling. She is a Licensed Addiction Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor and has over 10 years of clinical experience working with clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Dr. Michele Mahr, Ph.D, CRC
Ethical Responsibility and Decision-Making: Wellness and Self-Care for Addiction Counselors
Dr. Michele M. Mahr, PhD, CRC, is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling in the department of Rehabilitation Counseling and Special Education at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Mahr has published over 10 peer-reviewed publications, and two edited textbooks on topics related to substance abuse, mental health, addiction, and counseling. Dr. Mahr’s research is embedded in the principles that align with positive psychology, social cognitive theory, and self-determination theory.
Robert Paul Maddox II, Ph.D., Ed.S. LPC, NCC
Ethical Responsibility and Decision-Making: Wellness and Self-Care for Addiction Counselors
Dr. Robert Paul Maddox II is a counselor educator at the University of Wyoming at Casper. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, an Ed.S. in Counseling Education, and a M.A. in Community Counseling. Additionally, he is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) with experience in school and clinical mental health counseling. He currently serves as the Play Therapy Online Graduate Certificate Program Coordinator at the University of Wyoming, and he also coordinates the counselor education program's school counseling track at the University of Wyoming's Casper branch campus.
Dr. Jonathan W. Carrier, Ph.D
Ethical Responsibility and Decision-Making: Wellness and Self-Care for Addiction Counselors
Jonathan W. Carrier, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of higher education administration at the University of Wyoming. During his career in higher education, Jonathan has served in the roles of counselor, advisor, faculty, department chair, school chair, assistant director, academic dean,CARE Team member, and Title IX investigator. In addition to his teaching and advising roles as an assistant professor, Jonathan pursues scholarly work in the areas of adult education,counseling, leadership, and issues pertaining to community colleges.
Dr. Sofia Georgiadou, Ph.D. LPC-S, LMFT, NCC
A Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) Approach for Counselors Treating Equity-Seeking Foster Youth with Addiction Issues
Dr. Georgiadou completed her B.A. in Psychology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. As a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Georgiadou graduated with her M.A. and Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. For the last six years, Dr. Georgiadou served as the Clinical Director of Positive Steps Residential Treatment Center, where she helped female youth with addiction and trauma experiences. Dr. Georgiadou is currently serving as Assistant Professor of Family Therapy at the University of Houston at Clear Lake.
Dr. Mark Schwarze, Ph.D., NCC, LCAS, CSS, LCMHC-S
Three Things You Need to Know about the Neurobiology of Addiction: A Primer
Dr. Mark Schwarze is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He also coordinates the Addiction Counseling Certificate housed in the CMHC Program. He is currently serving as the Chair of the North Carolina Board for Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors.
LaRhonda Flowers,MA, LIMHP, LADC, SAP
Barriers to Addiction Treatment for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
LaRhonda Flowers MA, LIMHP, LADC, SAP has worked in the counseling field for 7 years with a diverse portfolio of experience working with formerly incarcerated individuals and addiction. She is an Adjunct professor in the Master of Counseling program at Crown College in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a Regent University doctoral candidate and is working on her dissertation. She also is the owner of Restore Rebuild Reconnect Counseling Center group practice in Omaha, Nebraska.
Erica L. McLean, MA, LMHC, SUDP
Barriers to Addiction Treatment for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Erica L. McLean, MA, LMHC, SUDP is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Substance Use Disorder Professional. She is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Regent University. She has over 15 years of clinical experience as a Child and Family Therapist and Addictions Specialist working with Soldiers and families.
Dr. Jennifer Smith Ramey, Ed.S., LPC
Creative Approaches to Addiction Treatment: School and Community Collaboration
Jennifer Smith Ramey, Ed.S., has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 1999 and a clinical supervisor since 2001. She has served as project director and principal investigator on multiple federal grants in the past 14 years. She and Dr. Volk have co-authored peer-reviewed manuscripts on drug treatment court, evidence-based practice implementation in rural settings, and community/school collaboration.
Dr. Frederick Volk, Ph.D.
Creative Approaches to Addiction Treatment: School and Community Collaboration
Dr. Volk joined Liberty University in 2006 and currently teaches multivariate statistics and research design to doctoral students. He earned his Master’s in Community/Clinical Psychology, and his Ph.D. in Human Factors Psychology from Wichita State University. Dr. Volk has conducted research and provides community program evaluation on four federal grants in urban and rural Central Virginia on substance use disorders and implementation of evidence-based practice.
Wendy F. Mincer, MS, MA, LPC, NCC
Multicultural Competence and Ethical Approaches in the Treatment, Assessment and Prevention of Substance Use Disorders, based on The Portugal Model of Harm Reduction
Wendy Mincer is currently completing her dissertation in "Sustainable Healthcare Provider Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Assessment and Management, in Rural Native American Communities: Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Approaches" at the University of North Texas (UNT). She works full-time as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and is a Teaching Fellow at UNT. She has a MS in Gerontology from UNT, and a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. Wendy serves as a consultant and clinical supervisor with regional Area Agency on Aging (AAA) offices in Texas and is a Master Trainer for Diabetes, Chronic Pain, HIV/AIDS, and Caregiver Stress Self-Management Programs.
Lexi Heringer Wimmer, MA, LPC, LAC
Religion and Spirituality in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Cultural Humility Perspective
Lexi is a licensed professional counselor and licensed addictions counselor in Colorado, and is a doctoral student in counselor education and supervision. She has clinical and research experience in religion and spirituality in counseling, including its interaction with substance use disorders.
Dr. Amanda Giordano, Ph.D. LPC
Sex, Cybersex, and Pornography Addiction: How to Conceptualize and Treat Sexually Based Behavioral Addictions
Amanda Giordano, PhD, LPC is an associate professor of counseling at the University of Georgia. She specializes in addictions counseling and is the sole author of a clinical reference book titled, A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions and co-author of a textbook titled, Addiction Counseling: A Practical Approach. Dr. Giordano works to advance the counseling field with rigorous research and has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Dr. Chad Luke II, Ph.D., LPC-MHSP, NCC, ACS, MAC
Beyond BioPsychoSocial: An 8-Factor Neuroscience-Based Model of Addiction and Its Treatment
Chad Luke PhD, LPC-MHSP, NCC, ACS, MAC has been a clinician for 20 years and a supervisor, educator, researcher for the past 12 years. He is the author of “Neuroscience for Counselors and Therapists:” (2nd ed.) and Applying Neuroscience for Child and Adolescent Counselors (with Chris Schimmel).
Sai Snigdha Talluri, MS, MA, CRC, LPC
Understanding and Reducing the Stigma of SUD: Strategies for Practicing Counselors
Sai Snigdha Talluri, MS, MA, CRC, LPC, is currently a doctoral candidate in the Rehabilitation Counseling Education program at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). She works full-time as a clinical research associate at the National Consortium on Stigma and Empowerment (NCSE) and the Center for Health Equity and Education Research (CHEER). She received her MA in General Psychology from Boston University and MS in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from IIT.
Jessica Backus, M.S.
Understanding and Reducing the Stigma of SUD: Strategies for Practicing Counselors
Jessica Backus has a Masters of Science in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a certificate in Addictions Counseling. She is currently a PhD student at Illinois Institute of Technology and working as a Clinical Research Associate for the Center for Health Equity and Research (CHEER). She has experience conducting research in the healthcare policy, biomedical and psychology fields.
Registration Now Open
Conference Presented By:
The Counseling and Human Resource Development program at South Dakota State University has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Prover, ACEP No. 4142. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Counseling and Human Resource Department is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 1 H79 TI083272-01. SDSU Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer in accordance with the nondiscrimination policies of South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents and the United States Department of Agriculture. County commissions, North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to Vice Provost, Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, 701-231-7881.