Penfield College Professor Dr. Caroline Brackette Receives American Counseling Association Southern Region Leadership Award

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ATLANTA – Dr. Caroline M. Brackette, associate professor of counseling in Mercer University’s Penfield College, recently received the 2018 American Counseling Association (ACA) Southern Region Leadership Award for her leadership and advocacy as branch president of the ACA of Georgia.

Dr. Brackette also gave the welcome address to more than 5,000 counselors at the 66th American Counseling Association Annual Conference and Expo held April 26-29 at the World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The conference’s keynote speakers included American labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, as well as distinguished educator and past president of Spelman College Dr. Johnetta Cole.

This year, Dr. Brackette will conclude her two-year term as president of ACA of Georgia having accomplished her goal to revitalize what is currently the newest ACA state entity.

“It has been an honor to serve as president and lead the process of revitalizing the Georgia branch of ACA,” said Dr. Brackette. “To be able to start the process with an initial inquiry and see it through to fruition has been very rewarding. It would not have been possible without the support and great collaborative effort of many ACA national, regional and state leaders and staff. I am grateful to have had the support of Penfield College Dean Dr. Priscilla Danheiser and many colleagues across Mercer University. There has been a lot of excitement and interest from Georgia counselors to learn more about engaging in leadership and volunteer with the branch. I am excited about the new leadership team and look forward to continuing to serve ACA of Georgia as past-president.”

Dr. Caroline Brackette at ACADr. Brackette, a native of Toledo, Ohio, is a licensed professional counselor and licensed/certified school counselor in the states of Georgia and Ohio. She has experience as an administrator in higher education, a clinical mental health therapist and a high school counselor. She is also a disaster mental health counselor volunteer and counselor officer on call for the American Red Cross.

A published researcher and frequent presenter at conferences and symposia, her teaching and research interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning, intercultural competence, conflict resolution, advocacy, leadership and professional development, community students with psychiatric disabilities, intercultural competence, and disaster mental health counseling.

She received the 2010-2011 Penfield College (formerly College of Continuing and Professional Studies) Excellence in Teaching Award.

“I am incredibly pleased that ACA has recognized Dr. Brackette’s dedication to the profession of counseling and how hard and effectively she has worked to build a strong Georgia presence for this prestigious counseling professional organization,” said Dr. Danheiser. “Her success will mean a great deal to counseling graduate students and to professional counselors and their clients throughout the state of Georgia.”

Dr. Brackette earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees, her Master of Education degree, and her Ph.D. from the University of Toledo.

Penfield College’s Department of Counseling offers Master of Science degrees in clinical mental health counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling and school counseling, as well as a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision. For more information, visit penfield.mercer.edu/programs.

ACA is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. Founded in 1952, it is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings. For more information, visit www.counseling.org.

About Penfield College

Mercer University’s Penfield College, established as the College of Continuing and Professional Studies in 2003, is committed to serving post-traditional learners. Undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are offered to adult learners seeking professional advancement into leadership roles in and beyond their communities. Penfield’s programs provide students with distinctive, multidisciplinary experiences that integrate theory and practice. In addition to providing general education and elective courses for various colleges and schools at Mercer, Penfield offers degree programs in areas including technology, public safety, public and human services, leadership and administration, healthcare and liberal arts. Programs are offered on Mercer’s campuses in Atlanta and Macon, as well as Regional Academic Centers in Douglas County and Henry County, and online. To learn more, visit penfield.mercer.edu.