Bellevue University Student and Professor Team Up to Present at National Counselor Education Conference
BU’s Dr. Kristin Erickson Recognized With 2021 NCACES Mentoring Award
BELLEVUE, Neb. - Bellevue University Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s Student Asha L. Khan-Snyder (They/Them) and Associate Professor Dr. Kristin Erickson (She/Hers) recently presented “Navigating LGBTQIA+ Issues in the Classroom” at the 2021 Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) national conference held in Atlanta, Oct. 5-11.
ACES is considered the premier organization dedicated to quality education and supervision of counselors in all work settings. According to ACES, graduate students play an especially important role in the organization and there are opportunities for graduate students to work with and learn from current faculty members and counseling professionals at conferences.
Dr. Erickson was also recognized with the Deanna Hawes Outstanding Mentoring Award. The award is presented bi-annually by the North Central ACES and honors an individual who exemplifies genuine, empathetic, accessible, reliable and culturally sensitive care and concern for others. Dr. Erickson was nominated by Khan-Snyder, who wrote: “Dr. Erickson has encouraged me to utilize my research and writing skills and my passion for working with the LGBTQIA+ community, to submit presentations to several professional conferences and to submit a paper to a professional academic journal… Because of Dr. Erickson’s support, I feel confident in broadening my professional pursuits while I am still a master’s student.”
I feel human working with Dr. Erickson; I never feel 'less than' because I am her student.
Khan-Snyder and Dr. Erickson also co-presented in September at the American Counseling Association of Iowa on “LGBTQIA+ Awareness: Inviting Safe Conversations and Building Inclusive Spaces.” Dr. Erickson added, “We hope to continue to spread the message of the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces at other workshops or conferences in the future.”
Bellevue University’s CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling helps students learn and develop the four key skills of a clinical mental health counselor -- assessment, case conceptualization, diagnosis and treatment planning. Students gain field experience through practicums, clinical internships near their homes, and on-campus residencies.
Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a non-profit university with more than 60,000 graduates worldwide. The University is a recognized national leader in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills, while making college affordable. Routinely ranked among the nation’s top military and accessible institutions, the University serves residential students at its main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska, and everywhere online with more than 80 degree programs uniquely designed for working adults. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).