Paula Keeton, Ph.D., director of UNC Charlotte’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), was elected recently to the Board of Directors of the Association of University and College Counseling Centers (AUCCCD). The association is a professional community of campus mental health leaders that fosters director development and success.
As a board member, Keeton will be able to guide collegiate campus mental health policy and initiatives at the highest levels.
“I feel it is critical for counseling centers to enable and nurture campuses to be communities of care wherein all members of that community (students, staff, faculty and administrators) become articulate about mental health concerns in the collegiate environment,” Keeton said. “Utilizing AUCCCD as a platform for normalization of the range of mental health experiences of students and enabling faculty and staff to be advocates are goals that I whole-heartedly embrace.”
Keeton, who joined CAPS as director in 2019, has more than 25 years of experience in university and college counseling centers; 11 years have been as a clinical director, during which time, she was on the governing board for the Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services (ACCCCS) for more than a decade, serving in various roles including president.
“My desire to be part of the AUCCCD Board of Directors is a natural next step from my prior experience and is directly linked to my personal and professional values,” Keeton said. “I believe it is vital for those of us who are willing and able to lean into leadership should do so when the opportunity arises.”