Suzanne Burks, Ph.D., LPC, is the Director of University Counseling Services. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Behavioral Studies of Education with an emphasis in Counseling and Development from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Burks enjoys directing such a diverse department and is active in the community through involvement on various boards and task forces. Also, Dr. Burks is known for being an active participant and coordinator of a 24-hour crisis intervention response program. Hobbies: Dr. Burks enjoys traveling to the Missouri Ozarks and enjoying the music and entertainment that the region is known for. She also works with stain glass stepping stones in her spare time. She has served in various roles at University Counseling Services since 1986.

Dylan Burns, M.S., is a Senior Clinical Counselor. He received his Master's in Community Counseling in 2002 and is currently completing his doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. He received a B.S. degree in Journalism at Oklahoma State University. Special interest areas include multicultural issues, sports psychology, inter-generational trauma and resilience and relationship issues.

Carol Challenger, Ph.D., is a Senior Clinical Counselor at the Student Counseling Center. She received her doctorate in Counseling and School Psychology from Florida State University and obtained the M.Ed. in Counseling and a B.Sc. in Business Education from Florida A&M University. She also has certificates in crisis management and general education. Her work experience has spanned the fields of education, residential life and counseling. Dr. Challenger characterizes herself as an individual with a passion for helping others maximize their potential. Her areas of professional interest include adjustment issues, anxiety disorders, crisis management, depression, diversity issues, grief & loss, self-esteem, stress management and women's issues. She enjoys traveling, cooking, listening to music, dancing, interior decorating and other types of creative work. Her theoretical orientation is described as integrative, with emphasis on humanistic/existential/cognitive behavioral approaches.

Joseph Dunnigan, B.A., is a Senior Clinical Counselor. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kent State University in 2000 and is currently completing his doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. His areas of professional interest include career counseling, anger and aggression, sexual diversity and multicultural issues. He enjoys playing and listening to music, sculpting and watching films.

Baiba Ercum, M.D., is Board Certified in Psychiatry in the U.S. and in Poland. Dr. Ercum received her M.D. from the University of Warsaw in Poland. She has considerable experience with both in-patient and out-patient psychiatry and has been on the SCC staff since 1992. Special areas of interest include mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Dr. Ercum is available for appointments on a referral basis. She enjoys classical and ethnic music and spending time with her dogs. Also, she says her hobbies include "back yard work, not garden work.

Joni Hays, Ph.D., LPC, is Coordinator of the Career Resource Center and Senior Clinical Counselor. She received a Ph.D. from Kansas State University in Student Counseling and Personnel Services, M.S. in Psychology from Pittsburg State University and B.S. in Psychology from Pittsburg State University. Joni has been on staff since 1989.

Ren Hong, M.A., is a Practicum Counselor at the Student Counseling Center. He received his M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy at Texas State University in 2007 and his B.B.A. in Management Information Systems at The University of Texas at Austin in 2005. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. Professional interest areas include career counseling, I/O psychology, assessments, multicultural issues, and couples counseling. He enjoys playing the guitar, ballroom dancing, and exploring Oklahoma.

Linda Myers, M.A., LCADC, earned a Master of Arts degree in Human Skills and Counseling from Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia. She has been an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor since September, 1999. She is a State Certified DUI Assessor/Evaluator and State Certified Clinical Supervisor. Areas of interest include alcohol and drug education and counseling, substance abuse family issues, spirituality and 12-step programs.

Andrea Nael, M.Ed., is a practicum intern at the student counseling center. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She received her M.Ed. in counseling from the University of Oklahoma and her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. Andrea's clinical areas of interest are in multicultural issues, GLBTQ, trauma, body image, eating disorders, gender roles, anxiety, and adjustment issues. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, playing with her dogs, cooking, photography and traveling.

Kara Niccum, M.S., is an alcohol and substance abuse counselor. She received her M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Oklahoma State University in 2007 She received her B.A. in Psychology in 2003 also from OSU. Special interest areas include substance abuse and dependence, the impact of substance abuse and dependence on the family and marital and family therapy, specifically parent-child interaction.

Tamara Richardson, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and senior clinical counselor at the OSU Student Counseling Center. She is the training director for student interns, coordinator for the Oklahoma State University GLBT Safe Zone program, and member of the OSU Gay/Straight Faculty Alliance. She is a founding board member and secretary for the Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association. She received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2007 and a B.S. degree in Psychology/Family Science from Cameron University in 2002. Dr. Richardson's special clinical interest areas include body image and eating disorder issues, clinical supervision and training, gender identity and sexual orientation issues, grief, trauma, sexual assault and domestic violence, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, family and/or relationship concerns, group therapy, and couple counseling.

Trevor Richardson, Ph.D., is a Senior Clinical Counselor. He received his Master's in Community Counseling in 2001 and is currently completing his doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. He received a B.A. degree in Psychology at Central College (Pella, IA). Special interest areas include multicultural issues, relationship issues, sport and exercise psychology and the use of biofeedback in arousal regulation/stress management.

Alicia Severe, M.Ed., is the Outreach Specialist for University Counseling Services. She assists students, faculty and staff in his or her career explorations and improving his or her study skills. She is also responsible for designing and implementing publicity and marketing strategies for the UCS. In 2008, she received her M.Ed. in Adult Education, Management and Administration, with an emphasis in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and her B.S. in Public Relations from Oklahoma State University in 2006. In 2006, Alicia married John Thomas Severe, III, an OSU Civil Engineer major. Alicia joined our staff in 2008.

Stephanie Scott, B.S., is a Practicum Intern at the Student Counseling Center. She received her B.S. in psychology from Oklahoma State University and is pursuing an M.S. in counseling with an option in Community Counseling. After graduating, she will pursue licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). Stephanie's special interests include eating disorders, children and adolescents and domestic violence issues.

Cindy K. Washington, M.S., LPC, is a Clinical Counselor at the Student Counseling Center. She received her Master's in Counseling and Student Personnel from OSU and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Oklahoma. Special interests include gay/lesbian/bisexual issues, the grieving process as it relates to death of a loved one or loss of a relationship and career/major decision making. She has been a member of the staff since 1995.

Anne Weese, M.S., is an Intake Counselor at the Student Counseling Center. She received her Master in Educational Psychology from Oklahoma State University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from OSU. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame. Anne is from Salina, Kansas. Her special interest areas include sport psychology, LGBT issues, relationships, adjustment, depression and group counseling. In her spare time, Anne enjoys reading, playing games, spend time with her niece and nephew and going to the lake.

Jason White, Ph.D., is the Coordinator of Counseling and a Licensed Psychologist. He received his Ph.D. from Texas Tech University in August, 2003 in Counseling Psychology; M.A. from Texas Tech University in August, 2000 in Psychology; and B.A. from the University of North Texas in May, 1996 in Psychology. Special interest areas include relationship issues, couples counseling and research, suicide prevention, heterosexism and homophobia, men's issues and career counseling.

Rich Zamora, B.A., is a Practicum Intern at the Student Counseling Center. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Texas Tech University. Rich is currently a master's student in Counseling with an emphasis on Community Counseling here at Oklahoma State University. Rich's special clinical interests include lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender issues, depression, anxiety, romantic relationships, couples counseling, family counseling and career counseling. His research interests include love and romantic attachment, multicultural issues, working with kids and adolescents and parent-child interaction. He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology after finishing the master's program. Rich likes to read books, watch TV and movies and hang out with friends during his free time. Rich is fluent in Tagalog, American Sign Language (ASL), and English.

Student Counseling Center
316 Student Union
Stillwater, OK 74078
405-744-5472 phone
405-744-8380 fax

If you are in crisis, an on-call counselor is available. After 5:00 pm and on weekends, counseling staff may be reached through the OSU Police, 405-744-6523.