About Student Counseling & Psychological Services Staff

Doug Hankes

Ph.D., Director, Licensed Psychologist

Doug completed his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Texas in 1996. He is a licensed psychologist in Alabama and Tennessee. Doug returned to his alma mater in 1998 after working at the University of Tennessee. He holds graduate faculty status in the Department of Psychology, the Department of Kinesiology, and the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling. Doug describes his therapy approach as mindfully eclectic and fosters a collaborative relationship with clients to promote change. He has been actively involved at the national level in sport and exercise psychology and has served on the Executive Boards of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 Society for Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Doug is currently the President of Division 47. He is an AASP Fellow and CMPC and is listed on the 2016-2020 United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. When he’s not at work, you can find him hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Kwoneathia Boswell

Ph.D., Senior Staff Clinician

Kwoneathia completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Mississippi. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Western Kentucky University’s Counseling and Testing Center and also has experience working with college students at the University of Mississippi. Kwoneathia’s professional and clinical interests include academic issues, developmental concerns, relationship issues, depression, and anxiety. Her approach to counseling focuses on creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment, incorporating cognitive-behavioral, humanistic/existential, and person-centered techniques.

Emily Hancock

Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist

Emily completed her Psy.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has previously provided counseling in a hospital setting and community mental health center before joining SCPS. Her areas of professional interest include working with survivors of trauma, relationship issues, substance abuse, crisis intervention, psychological assessment, group counseling, social justice and advocacy, and graduate student training. Emily uses an integrative approach utilizing psychodynamic, interpersonal, and cognitive-behavioral treatment modalities to meet the unique needs of each student. Outside of work, Emily enjoys college football season, attempting new recipes, and traveling.

Alisia Hansell

LMSW, Senior Staff Clinician

Alisia is a native of Auburn, Alabama. She earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. Alisia has more than 10 years of experience in mental health, working in community and inpatient settings. She is a licensed as a social worker in Mississippi and Alabama. She has a passion for promoting mental health and wellness and takes a holistic approach in treatment. She likes to ‘think outside of the box” while collaborating with clients to identify solutions that best meet their needs. Her clinical and professional interests include trauma, relationship issues, crisis intervention, and support for young adults and families experiencing mental health issues for the first time. In her free time, Alisia enjoys traveling, DIY projects, and spending time with family and friends. Alisia is excited to return back home and be a part of the Auburn family.

Dustin Johnson

Ph.D., Assistant Director for Outreach and Mental Health Initiatives, Licensed Psychologist

Dustin completed his doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Texas and arrived at SCPS in 2011. He emphasizes creating strong, genuine, collaborative, and open working relationships with his clients, helping them to develop, address, and maintain progress toward their personal goals. With a performance psychology background, Dustin enjoys helping clients develop practical strategies to meet life challenges and perform at their very best. As the Assistant Director for Outreach, Dustin helps to lead the A Sound Mind initiative, Auburn’s collaborative, campus-wide mental health awareness and prevention strategy. He is also a proud co-advisor to Active Minds, Auburn’s student organization for mental health.  A native New Orleanian, Dustin enjoys his fair share of gumbos, king cakes, jazz music, and especially, his beloved New Orleans Saints.

Priscilla Little

Office Manager

Priscilla is the Office Manager for the counseling center. She is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of non-clinical personnel. She oversees the business, financial, and human resource aspects of the office. Previously she has worked as a paralegal, which provided her with training and knowledge in the area of HIPPA and patient privacy. Originally from Brandon, MS, Priscilla has lived in Birmingham, AL, Memphis, TN, Austin, TX and Louisville, KY before moving to Auburn in 2007. Outside of work, she enjoys outdoor activities such as cycling, kayaking, concerts, and tailgating.

Nathan Maddox

LMSW, Senior Staff Clinician

Nathan earned his Master of Social Work degree from Savanah State University and is a Licensed Social Worker. He gained experience working with college students through his master’s internship at Savannah College of Art and Design, and he has professional experience providing clinical services to adolescents and young adults in hospital and community-based settings. His clinical and professional interests include trauma recovery, developmental issues, identity formation, emotional disturbance, anxiety, and the relationship between creativity and psychological well-being. Nathan’s clinical approach is eclectic and informed by psychodynamic, existential, and attachment-oriented theoretical traditions. Nathan thinks of counseling as a co-creative process of working through life challenges, and he sees his role as assisting students with developing self-awareness, achieving their goals, and forming more authentic and creative ways of living. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing, exercising, and all things Americana music.

Josh McLaughlin

M.Div., Doctoral Psychology Intern

Josh is a doctoral psychology intern from the University of Denver, where he is earning his Psy.D. in clinical psychology. His training history includes working with college-aged persons with disabilities (e.g., Autism, ADHD, mood, physical, etc.), survivors of sexual trauma, and persons with chronic mental health concerns. Before pursuing a career in psychology, Josh received a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and worked as a hospital chaplain. His professional interests include depression, anxiety, trauma, and spirituality. Clinically, Josh uses a relational approach that aims to empower the client to courageously choose a more rich and meaningful life. Specifically, he draws from a combination of contextual behaviorism and relational psychoanalysis.

Jan Miller

Ph.D., Eating Concerns Treatment Team Coordinator, Licensed Psychologist

Jan earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from West Virginia University in 2013. She has worked in college counseling centers, provided in-home intensive therapy to children in foster care, and in a private practice setting. Her clinical and professional interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, shame, LGBTQ+ issues, eating and body image concerns, vocational issues, substance abuse, and training/supervision of psychologists; however, she is trained as a generalist and has experience with a wide variety of presenting issues. Jan uses an integrated clinical approach, specifically drawing from cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, mindfulness, and feminist perspectives. Students can expect a collaborative, safe space for all who enter her plant filled office as she works with them to make changes based on their own strengths and agency. Jan is also the coordinator of AU’s multidisciplinary Eating Concerns Treatment Team (ECTT).

Dr. Moose

TDI Certified & CGC (AKC Canine Good Citizen)

Moose is an 11-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever. He was trained by Auburn University Canine Performance Sciences as an explosive detection dog. During his time at Canine Performance Sciences, Moose worked on a Department of Justice research project studying the effects of nutrition on olfaction detection, and on a Department of Defense project. Moose is one of the only two dogs in the world who has been shown to be able to detect a live virus. In collaboration with Student Counseling & Psychological Services, Canine Performance Sciences trained him to be a therapy dog and donated him to SCPS so that he can work with Auburn students. Moose has passed his AKC Canine Good Citizen test and his Therapy Dogs International evaluation and is now a registered therapy dog. At SCPS, Moose works with students in individual and group counseling sessions. Additionally, Moose is involved in outreach events on campus. Moose’s therapeutic approach includes mindfulness, warmth, and acceptance without judgment.

Christina Newberry

Psy.D., Senior Staff Clinician

Christy earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Chicago. She has experience working with students at university counseling centers including Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she also received a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Christy uses a strengths-based and collaborative approach to meet the unique needs of each student. Consistent with a brief therapy model, she seeks to decrease distress, increase coping strategies, and build on the student’s strengths.

Sarah Schwartz

M.A., Doctoral Psychology Intern

Sarah is a doctoral psychology intern from Marywood University where she is earning her Psy.D. in clinical psychology. She is enthusiastic about working with college students and has enjoyed working with students at Marywood University. She has also worked in private practice with clients of diverse backgrounds and ages. Sarah has found that she is passionate about the college population and the unique experiences students will face. Her clinical and professional interests include body image concerns, anxiety, depression, relationship issues and emotional regulation. Sarah works from an integrative approach, utilizing interpersonal, psychodynamic, emotion-focused and cognitive-behavioral techniques. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends, DIY projects, watching movies, and swimming.

Jared Smendik

M.A., Doctoral Psychology Intern

Jared is a doctoral psychology intern from the Michigan School of Psychology where he is earning a Psy.D. in clinical psychology. Jared has previously enjoyed working in a college setting with students at the Albion College Counseling Center in Michigan. His clinical focus is helping students work through and cope with their depression and anxiety. His additional interests include LGBTQ+ advocacy and the impact of diet and health on mental wellness. Jared finds that mindfulness techniques and having a safe space to understand our personal story are important elements of the therapeutic process. Jared’s clinical work is informed by humanistic and psychodynamic theories, in addition to including CBT coping skills to facilitate change in students’ lives. Outside of the office Jared enjoys biking, cooking, playing board games, and connecting with friends and family!

Brandy Smith

Ph.D., Assistant Director for Training, Licensed Psychologist

Brandy (originally from Olive Branch, MS) completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from University of Memphis in 2008. Most recently, she worked with university students at University of Oregon (during her pre-doctoral internship) and then as a permanent staff member at New Mexico State University for almost 3 years. At NMSU Brandy also served as the Diversity Coordinator. Brandy joined SCPS in August 2011. Her clinical interests include developmental and relationship issues; grief and loss; supervision; multiculturalism (including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, body size, religion, spirituality, age, gender, ability level, socioeconomic status); and social justice and advocacy. She has a strengths-focused approach to counseling that stems from a humanistic/existential perspective with feminist and multicultural components included.

Erica Sotilleo

M.S., Psychology Doctoral Intern

Erica is a doctoral psychology intern from Fielding Graduate University. Erica enjoys partnering with clients who are experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, substance use/abuse, veterans affairs, developmental-related symptoms, spiritual concerns and legal issues, clients who identify as LGBTQIA, and issues related to intersectionality regarding their minority status. While Erica’s theoretical approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), she also incorporates humanistic, interpersonal, and feminist theories. Multicultural theory is optimal in her work with all students, and Erica welcomes working with students from all walks of life. Erica has conducted research in domestic violence, co-authored two published papers about transphobia, and authored a book on social skills interventions for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders. Erica’s favorite motto is “Know thyself.”

Tracy Thomas

Administrative Assistant

Tracy is an essential part of the Administrative Support team at SCPS. Born and raised in Detroit, MI, she has been a part of the Auburn community for over 20 years. With comprehensive leadership and customer relations skills, she is a valuable asset to the counseling center. Tracy has served the local community both professionally and personally in our local public schools as a parent. Her ability to be a positive role model attracts young people naturally to her for engagement and direction. Outside of work, she appreciates family outings and good eating, while taking joy in being a devoted mother and grandmother.

Mary Catherine Turner

ME.d., College of Veterinary Medicine Embedded Clinician, Licensed Professional Counselor

Mary Catherine graduated from Auburn University in 2014 with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health counseling. After graduation, she gained experience with individuals of all ages while working in community mental health for over 3 years. Mary Catherine predominantly worked in a public school setting with school-aged clients and became interested in individuals in the age of transition from high school to college. Areas of professional interest include transition and adjustment, relationship issues, and family/peer conflict.  She is also very interested in outreach and advocacy. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and relaxing at Lake Martin. Mary Catherine is excited to be back in Auburn and looking forward to working with students as the Case Manager.

Charlotte Windom

M.S., Counselor and Support Services Coordinator, Licensed Professional Counselor

Charlotte graduated from Troy University (Troy) in 2007 with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. In 2016, she became a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has 11 years of counseling experience working in Community Mental Health and in Private Practice. She has provided Individual, Family, Couples, Group and Crisis Counseling services to children, adolescents and adults. While working in Community Mental Health, as the Program Coordinator, she created and implemented the Jackson County location’s first Child/Adolescent Day Treatment Program. In 2019, the Program will celebrate 10 years of service to children with Mental Health concerns. Charlotte feels honored to be a part of the SCPS family and is looking forward to working with college students. Outside of work, she enjoys creating pottery, listening to music, and time with family and friends.

Doctoral Practicum Clinicians

2019-2020

Elizabeth Casey, B.S.

LaJae Coleman, B.S.

Jade Dario, B.S.

Jessica Goergen, B.S.

Aleah Horton, M.Ed.

Bridget Nelson, M.A.