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.

Alyssa Clements-Hickman

M.S., Doctoral Psychology Intern

Alyssa is a doctoral psychology intern from the University of Kentucky (UK), where she is earning her Ph.D. in counseling psychology. Prior to enrolling at UK, she earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Augusta University and worked at a college counseling center. During her training at UK, she was able to work in a variety of clinical settings, including the Lexington VA, Eastern State Hospital, and a private practice specializing in LGBTQ+ issues. Alyssa’s professional interests include relationship issues, developmental issues, depression, and anxiety. She also conducts research on psychotherapy process and outcome and training/supervision. Her approach to treatment is integrative, incorporating interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral techniques.

Aja Davis

M.A., Doctoral Psychology Intern

Aja is in the process of completing her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (D.C. Campus). She has experience working in private practice, high school, and college/university settings. In these settings, Aja has had the opportunity to work with clients that vary in presenting issues, ages, and backgrounds. Although Aja mainly works from a Cognitive-Behavioral orientation, she also incorporates relational and multicultural theory into her work with students. In her free time, Aja likes to try do-it-yourself projects, listen to music, and spend time with her family.

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.

Adria Hickson

Ed.S., Doctoral Psychology Intern

Adria Hickson is a doctoral psychology intern from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she is earning her PsyD. Originally from Florida, Adria obtained her B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College and her master’s and specialist’s degrees from Georgia State University. Adria enjoys working with individuals in various stages of development. She has a background as a School Psychologist working with children and families in the public school system, and has experience working with young and older adults in community mental health and private practice settings. Adria uses a Cognitive-Behavioral approach with undertones of Humanistic theory to collaboratively work with clients and their various needs. In addition to counseling, Adria enjoys spending time with family and friends, pursuing musical interests, and trying new cuisine and restaurants.

Alex Hughes

Ph.D., Senior Staff Clinician

Alex obtained his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where he also completed a Master’s degree in Theology. He completed his internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Idaho. Alex’s clinical interests include existential issues, religion/spirituality, identity development, relational concerns, and anxiety/panic. He uses an integrative approach in therapy, drawing primarily from Humanistic-Existential Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Interpersonal-Process Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. He is a widely published poet and dabbles in too many other artistic activities to be very good at them.

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

LICSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

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.

Carolyn Miller

LICSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Carolyn completed her Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in New York City. She gained experience working with students in a college counseling center through her master’s internship at Hunter College. Carolyn is now licensed in the state of Alabama, where she has conducted therapy in community mental health and hospital settings. Her clinical interests include anxiety, grief and loss, relationship issues, developmental concerns, trauma, and social justice. Her approach to counseling centers on an empathetic working relationship and draws from systemic, psychodynamic, interpersonal, and cognitive-behavioral modalities. Outside of work, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog in the great outdoors.

Dr. Moose

TDI Certified & CGC (AKC Canine Good Citizen)

Moose is an 12-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.

Kristy Morgan

Administrative Assistant

Kristy is an Administrative Assistant for Student Counseling & Psychological Services. One of the highlights of her job is assisting her favorite coworkers, Drs. Moose and Nessie. She has an associate degree in Administration and Paralegal and has worked in the field for over fifteen years. Kristy is a native of DeKalb County, Alabama and has resided in Auburn for the past twenty-five years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets. She also enjoys attending church, traveling and baking.

Christina Newberry

Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist

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.

Melissa Sawyer

M.S., Counselor and Support Services Coordinator

Melissa earned her Master of Science in Clinical Counseling from Eastern Illinois University. She has clinical experiences in community mental health, federal adult drug court, an inpatient psychiatric unit, and college counseling centers. Melissa has additional professional experience providing support and crisis intervention to victims/survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. Her clinical interests include trauma, identity development, relationship issues, social justice, advocacy, and crisis intervention. Melissa practices from an existential framework and embraces psychodynamic, feminist, and relational concepts.

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.

Scott Smith

M.A., Doctoral Psychology Intern

Scott is a doctoral intern who is completing his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia, where he focused on Humanistic Psychology. Scott’s theoretical orientation is integrative, combining a person-centered approach with cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. With strong interests in health psychology and behavioral health, he often incorporates a biopsychosocial perspective in his clinical work.

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.

Kristee Treadwell

Ph.D., Assistant Director for Clinical Services, Licensed Psychologist

Kristee completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from West Virginia University in 2006. After completing her degree, Kristee worked as an inpatient psychologist at a community mental health center in Tallahassee, Florida for four years. Kristee joined SCPS in December 2010 and was excited to return to her alma mater since she received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. Her clinical interests include working with survivors of trauma, anger management and other presenting concerns relative to the college student population, crisis intervention, group counseling, graduate student training and outreach and instruction within the university and larger community. Kristee approaches her clinical work from an integrative perspective as informed by cognitive- behavioral theory and techniques, interpersonal and other psychodynamic perspectives (e.g., object relations).

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

2020-2021

Chelsi Battle, M.A.

Christine Dyas, M.A.

Alexis Jones, M.A.

Sharon Kramper, B.A.

Mary Anne Messer, M.S.

Kaylee Short, B.S.

Kareema M. Smith, M.S.

Harley Stenzel, B.S.

Shirnelle Wilks, M.S.Ed.