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University Counseling Center

Transition Leadership

Vice Provost for Learning and Residential Affairs, Cynthia Cyrus, and Associate Provost and Dean of Students, Mark Bandas are leading the efforts on behalf of the university to establish the new University Counseling Center. However, this work is deeply collaborative and involves leadership across a variety of campus constituents, including students, faculty, and staff.

Implementation Planning Group

The Implementation Planning Group (IPG) is charged with making recommendations regarding the strategic development of the University Counseling Center and the enhancement of Vanderbilt’s Student Care Network.

Membership

  • Mark Bandas, Associate Provost and Dean of Students
  • G. L. Black, Associate Dean of Students
  • Cynthia J. Cyrus, Vice Provost for Learning and Residential Affairs
  • Rachel Eskridge, Director, Center for Student Wellbeing
  • Gina Frieden, Assistant Professor of the Practice, Department of Human & Organizational Development
  • Louise Hanson, Director, Student Health Center
  • Adriana Kipper-Smith, Interim Director, Psychological & Counseling Center
  • Jonathan Metzl, Frederick B. Rentschler II Professor of Sociology and Medicine, Health, and Society, Director, Center for Medicine, Health, and Society, Professor of Psychiatry
  • Melissa Porter, Assistant Director of Access, Psychological & Counseling Center
  • Dawn Vanderhoef, Assistant Professor & Academic Director PMHNP Program; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
  • Laura Walaszek Dermody, Director, Assessment & Special Projects

UCC Professional Student Advisory Group

The UCC Professional Student Advisory Group consists of nominated student leaders from Vanderbilt’s professional schools, including the Divinity School, the Law School, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the Owen Graduate School of Management, and Peabody College. This body provides biweekly feedback on the mental health and wellness needs of professional students.

Membership

  • Jessica Burris, School of Medicine
  • Skyler Carpenter, School of Nursing
  • Adam Gottlieb, Peabody College of Education and Human Development
  • Lindsey Messmore, Owen Graduate School of Management
  • Shannon Vreeland, Law School
  • Anne Yanda, School of Nursing
  • Emma Zyriek, Divinity School

Vanderbilt Student Government (VSG)

The Vanderbilt Student Government is invested in the health and wellness of the undergraduate student body. Samantha Garfield, Chair of VSG’s Student Health and Wellness Committee, offers biweekly feedback on the health and wellness needs of undergraduate students and the development of the UCC.

Graduate Student Council (GSC)

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) seeks to promote mental health and wellness for Vanderbilt graduate students. With the leadership of Chris Tasich, GSC President, and Chelsea Peters, GSC Student Life Liaison, the GSC provides biweekly feedback on the development of the UCC. The GSC welcomes feedback pertaining to the development of the UCC. Please email gsc@vanderbilt.edu to provide feedback.

PyraMED Implementation Team

The PyraMED Implementation Team is working to review, test, and ultimately implement the new electronic health record system at the UCC, produced by PyraMED.

Membership:

  • Shannon Adkins, Process and Solution Implementations Team
  • Matt Dean, Process and Solution Implementations Team
  • Adriana Kipper-Smith, Psychological and Counseling Center
  • Greg Kyle, Process and Solution Implementations Team
  • Brian Murray, Process and Solution Implementations Team
  • Charlottes Norris, Process and Solution Implementations Team
  • Brian Pollock, Psychological and Counseling Center
  • Melissa Porter, Psychological and Counseling Center

PCC Administrative Team

PCC Administrative Team, consisting of both university and medical center leaders, provides a forum for collaborative discussion and decision making.

Membership

  • Mark Bandas, Associate Provost and Dean of Students
  • Elizabeth Boyd, Project Manager
  • Nathaniel Clark, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  • Cynthia Cyrus, Vice Provost for Learning and Residential Affairs
  • Stephan Heckers, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Adriana Kipper-Smith, Interim Director of the Psychological and Counseling Center
  • Laura Walaszek Dermody, Director of Assessment and Special Projects, Office of the Dean of Students

PCC Expert Advice

Individual topics are addressed through direct consultation with existing PCC staff on an ad-hoc basis.