The University of Illinois at Chicago – Counseling Center is excited to host the 5th Annual National Outreach Conference for Counseling Centers, sponsored by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Outreach (AUCCCO). “The Windy City,” known as a cultural haven, and conveniently located as a domestic travel hub, will serve as a rich and exciting place for this year’s conference. We are pleased to announce the theme for the 5th Annual National Outreach Conference for Counseling Centers: “New Heights in Prevention, Awareness, and Education.” We believe this theme will provide a rich space for discussing ground-breaking and fresh ideas, research, and experiences in regards to outreach. Chicago and its thriving youthfulness, skyline full of modern architecture, and celebrated diversity lend itself well to a theme regarding new heights and innovation.
Elizabeth Vera is a Professor in the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The Ohio State University in 1993 and teaches undergraduate education courses and graduate courses in the counseling programs at Loyola including Prevention, Advocacy, and Outreach; Human Development; Clinical Supervision; and Adolescent Psychology. Her research interests include urban youth development, subjective well-being of ethnic minority adolescents, prevention, and social justice in psychology. Dr. Vera has been on the editorial boards of the Journal of Counseling Psychology, Training and Education in Professional Psychology, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Child Development, and The Counseling Psychologist. She is an active member of several divisions of the American Psychological Association including 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology), 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women), and 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues) and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. She was also elected to the American Psychological Association‚s Board of Convention Affairs where she served as Chair for 3 years and has also served APA as a member of the Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs. Dr. Vera was the recipient of the Fritz and Lyn Kuder Early Career Scientist Practitioner Award from Division 17 of the APA. Dr. Vera has been active in community outreach and prevention efforts in the Chicagoland area that have focused on increasing school retention of Latino students, improving the educational experiences of English language learners and their parents, and promoting healthy development in urban, ethnic minority adolescents.
The Conference will take place from June 6 to June 8, 2012 at The University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, IL. All counseling center professionals interested in outreach, programming, education, marketing, and consultation work are cordially invited to attend. This website hosts all relevant conference information, including accommodations, directions, the itinerary, proposal submission, etc.
We hope you will join us for what is likely to be a renewing, energizing, and edifying conference. In addition, June is a beautiful time of the year to be by the lake in Chicago. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Take good care,
Nicholas M. McCarley, Psy.D.
Assistant Director for Outreach/Psychoeducation
University of Illinois at Chicago – Counseling Center
On behalf of the Association for University and College Counseling Center Outreach (AUCCCO), thank you for visiting and for your interest in the 5th National Outreach Conference for Counseling Centers, “New Heights in Prevention, Awareness, and Education.” I want to personally thank Dr. Nic McCarley and the staff at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Counseling Center for hosting this year’s conference. Hosting is no small feat and I want to acknowledge the amount of time and positive energy Nic and his team have dedicated to this important event. I also want to recognize the numerous colleagues from across the country who are helping make this conference and organization a reality through their membership, conference support and on-going commitment and enthusiasm.
The conference will take place from June 6-8, 2012. I look forward to reconnecting with old friends, meeting new colleagues and learning about the innovative outreach practices across the country. I encourage you to submit proposals and share your ideas with all of us.
Also, if your institution is not a member of the AUCCCO, I encourage you to visit www.auccco.com, learn more about our organization and get involved.
Best,
Christine Asidao, Ph.D.
Association for University and College Counseling Center Outreach (AUCCCO), Chair
Assistant Director of Outreach and Education
Email: asidao@umich.edu
The Association for University and College Counseling Center Outreach (AUCCCO), is a national organization of counseling center professionals who are passionate about outreach. We are akin to the counseling center associations for Directors, Training Directors and Clinical Directors. We officially announced the establishment of our organization on June 5, 2009 at the University of Michigan during the closing ceremonies of our 2nd National Outreach Conference for Counseling Centers.
The mission of the AUCCCO is to assist professionals involved in the leadership of outreach, consultation, and campus community interventions. AUCCCO provides opportunities for networking, professional identity development, idea exchange and creating standards for quality outreach services. AUCCCO promotes a broad understanding of outreach, prevention and education services based on the assumption that outreach must extend the expertise of counseling centers to the larger campus community. AUCCCO recognizes that, as the campus climate has a profound influence on students' lives, outreach services must be informed by perspectives that address the intersection of multiple social identities, promote social justice, and celebrate diversity in all its forms.
You can learn more about how you and your center can get involved with the AUCCCO by visiting www.auccco.com