When researchers gather for a conference, the format is often familiar: presentations, brief Q&As and hurried conversations over coffee. But at Virginia Commonwealth University, Waganesh “Waggy” Zeleke is intentionally disrupting that model.
As casinos open and online betting accelerates, the state needs to invest in treatment and public awareness before more lives are upended.
The annual VACES (Virginia Association for Counselor Education and Supervision) student conference was held in the College of Health Professions on Saturday, March 21, 2026. This conference was hosted in a collaborative effort between VACES and the joint Chi Sigma Iota chapter of the Departments of Rehabilitation Counseling and Counseling and Special Education.
At the heart of Rehabilitation Counseling is a simple but powerful belief. When we combine rigorous scholarship with deep compassion, we can expand access to care, strengthen communities and change lives in lasting ways.
Gene H. Pearson spent decades carrying what he calls the depression, anxiety and fear that followed his U.S. Army service from 1969-71. Those feelings, he said, pushed him into silence and isolation. He wanted to explain what was happening inside him, but talking felt impossible, so counseling didn’t help much.
What once required a trip to a casino or racetrack now lives on a smartphone – a shift that is reshaping how young people encounter gambling and raising new concerns for educators across Virginia.
Each year, thousands of Virginians gain access to vital mental-health and rehabilitation services they might not otherwise receive, thanks to VCU’s Department of Rehabilitation Counseling.
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Rehabilitation Counseling has earned six federal awards totaling more than $5.6 million through the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), reinforcing its reputation as a national leader in preparing the next generation of rehabilitation professionals.
The VCU College of Health Professions (CHP) Department of Rehabilitation Counseling recently hosted its second annual agency fair. Representatives from all over the local Richmond community attended, bringing together a day of connection and professional development.
This spotlight video showcases Virginia Commonwealth University students from the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, who are enrolled in the Master's in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program, volunteering at the Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC). Through weekly life skills workshops, these future counselors and rehabilitation specialists guide youth in building essential skills such as communication, decision-making, emotional regulation, and teamwork.
This inaugural issue of our Rehabilitation Counseling newsletter is 70 years in the making. At this incredible milestone, we’re excited to have this time to reflect, celebrate and look ahead.
In just a few short years, legalized gambling in Virginia has exploded, most notably with the opening of casinos across the state and booming online sports betting.
When Waganesh “Waggy” Zeleke, Ph.D., returned to her native Ethiopia as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, she brought her personal history, native language and a deep commitment to healing trauma through culturally responsive care.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) researcher and survivor Kelli Talley, Ph.D., recently joined national experts and advocates at the U.S. Capitol to help shape the conversation on brain injury recovery and research.
Kelli Talley, Ph.D., has a story fit for Hollywood.
Dr. Carolyn Hawley, President of VA Council on Problem Gambling joined CBS 6 WTVR along with Sean Fournia, a peer counselor with VA Partnership on Gaming & Health to share their insight on this important topic. For more information, call the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-888-532-3500 or visit the The Virginia Council on Problem Gambling website.
Joe Bamisile, a graduate student at the VCU College of Health Professions and VCU basketball player, was featured in the New York Times article NCAA Tournament's 13 most intriguing players.
VCU men’s basketball redshirt player Martin Carrere has a clear vision of his future.
Building a Personal Brand with Prof. Renee Lamb, Assistant Professor, VCU School of Arts, Fashion Design + Merchandising
Mon, 2/3/25 from 2:30p-3:30p, CHP 1013
Master's degree graduate from VCU College of Health Professions counseling program is serving her community in Northern Virginia.
Sean Fournia, a peer recovery specialist for the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, is part of a group of recovered addicts helping problem gamblers in Virginia. He shares his personal journey and the strategies he employs to assist those in need, emphasizing the importance of support systems and awareness in overcoming gambling addiction.
Joe Bamisile, a graduate student at the VCU College of Health Professions and VCU basketball player, was featured on Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association's Patients Come First podcast. Listen to him talk about mental wellness and his development of the mental health app, Maunda.
Courtney Holmes, PhD, LPC, LMFT, NCC, CRC, associate professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Health Professions Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, has been awarded a grant from the 2024 VCU Quest Fund.
Joe Bamisile launched a new social media mental health app called Maunda as part of his interdisciplinary studies capstone at VCU.
Bamisile, who graduated this spring with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from University College, is now pursuing a master’s in rehabilitation and mental health counseling in the College of Health Professions.
The Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health (VPGH) has developed a treatment system for problem gambling. “What we’ve seen since 2019 to 2023, an increase of 973% of callers,” said Carolyn Hawley, Director of the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, part of the state’s effort to combat problem gambling.
By Malorie Burkett
May 6, 2024
Fifty years ago, Mary Tucker stepped on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus to study art education. In May, she steps away from a professional role on campus – and an education and career that spanned nearly all those years.
Lauren Fatigate, Jay Fueglein, Ramsha Hamid, Alana Harris, Carley Harrison, Kelsi James, Katori Jones, Serenity Mcmahand, Simran Singh, Alex Taurel, and Karina Vences
We are very pleased to announce that The Department of Rehabilitation Counseling has been officially granted a full 8-year CACREP accreditation for their MS degree with concentrations in Clinical Mental Health and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. This was a tremendous effort by all faculty, students, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders.
Shruti Sampath, an MS student in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, presented at the Virginia Association for Counselor Education and Supervision in Richmond, VA on March 16. Her presentation was entitled, "Parents of Children with Medical Complexity: Personal Perspectives of the Impact of Toxic Stress and Medical Trauma".
In this episode of CHP Conversations, Dr. Jared Schultz from the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling discusses how to maintain wellness and balance as a student in the College of Health Professions.
We would like to share the recent obituary of a long-time supporter, friend, and colleague of the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling. As a testament to her dedication to the department and the work done by rehabilitation and mental health counselors, Anne started the "Anne Chandler Scholarship Fund" to support students working toward their master's degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Anne was an incredible person and she touched the lives of countless people.
Project Belong will provide mental health, education and vocational support to 75 youth transitioning out of Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center.
Ariana Samuel and Taylor Davis will be presenting a paper symposium with the VCU AYA research team titled, "Novel Approaches to Understanding Racial Socialization as a Resilience Factor for Black Americans" at the 2023 SCRA Biennial Conference on Community Research and Action. The team will be presenting a total of 4 papers that focus on racial socialization and coping among Black Americans and families. Ariana Samuel's paper is titled, "The Mediating Effect of Racial Socialization on the Relationship between Immigration Status and Black Identity Development." Taylor Davis' paper is titled, "The Impact of Discrimination and Racial Socialization on Black Emerging Adults' Trust in Institutions."
Photos courtesy of VCU’s Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness and Success
Congratulations to Ashton Barnes, Cloey Bibbs, Ashley Cherry, Heather Figueiredo, Wilber Galindo, Destiny Geer, Abigail Heller, Annalise Livingston, Naomi Othman, Shruti Sampath, Nicole Sanderson, Finn Smyth, Grace Via, and Bree Young who are all being initiated into Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), the counseling honor society, this month!
Graduate students Shruti Sampath and Jenna Schiferl have been accepted to the 26th Annual Graduate Research Symposium and Exhibit and are presenting a project entitled "Psychometric Validation of the Stress Appraisal Measure in a Sample of Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis".
The VCU College of Health Professions Department of Rehabilitation Counseling recently appointed Courtney Holmes, Ph.D., as the new associate chair for academic affairs. She also serves as associate professor in the Department.
James Rothrock, former commissioner of the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, spent his career advocating for people with disabilities. A sledding accident as a teenager left Rothrock paraplegic, yet anyone who met him most remembered Jim for his booming laughter and indomitable spirit.
Two students, Sonia Meyer and Sophia Hartman, have been accepted into the Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) Summer 2022 Leadership Academy. "The Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) Leadership Academy was designed to provide graduate counseling students with meaningful experiences that support leadership skill and competency development, and diverse opportunities to actively participate in VCA Executive Board meetings, serve on a committee, special committees, and/or engage in projects of interest, receive mentorship, build professional networks, and gain exposure to the responsibilities associated with fulfilling elected leadership positions. Overall, this experience is designed to help facilitate professional identity development as a leader in the counseling profession."
The Rehabilitation Counseling Department is pleased to announce that Khoredia Thiam received the 2022 Graduate Student Scholarship for underrepresented students pursuing a master's degree or students participating in specialized masters initiatives.
Denise Hall, LPC, NCC, CRC, with the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, was featured in a podcast, Continuing Conversations: Counseling and Behavioral Health Program, where she discussed the VCU Counseling and Behavioral Health Continuing Education Program.
Link for registration, and for more information: http://ocpe.vcu.edu/addictionce
Carolyn E. Hawley, Ph.D., C.R.C., offers her insight on addressing problem gambling for Virginians.