Mitchell to be recognized for work in mental health

Sharon Mitchell, senior director of student wellness and director of counseling services, will be recognized for her work in campus mental health by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD).

Mitchell will receive the organization’s Scholarship Award at its 75th annual conference in Phoenix on Oct. 15.

The AUCCCD, which is the largest organization of campus mental health leaders in the world, each year recognizes “member achievements that exemplify excellence in the promotion of campus mental health.”

“The AUCCCD award is a national recognition and highlights not only Dr. Mitchell’s contribution to the field of campus mental health but is a significant recognition of her as a national leader,” the organization said in a press release.

The award will be bestowed upon Mitchell for her peer-reviewed manuscript, “The Work of College Counseling Centers in the Early 21st Century,” which was published in American Psychologist.

“I wrote the article at the invitation of the American Psychological Association after receiving their award for distinguished professional contributions to institutional practice,” says Mitchell, who is a past president of the AUCCCD.

“The paper is a research-informed reflection of how changing student demographics and sociocultural factors have shaped the way college mental health services are defined and delivered in this point in time.”

Brian Hamluk, vice president for student life, says he is thrilled Mitchell is being honored with the AUCCCD Scholarship Award.

“Not only is it representative of her significant academic contributions in the field of college mental health, but it is also a testament to the commitment she has made to the well-being of college students over the course of her entire career,” Hamluk says. “Our students at the University at Buffalo have benefited greatly from Sharon’s talents and contributions, and it is wonderful to see that others recognize this as well.”