Counseling Center Staff

Jackie is a doctoral intern at BGSU; she comes to us from her graduate program at the University of Utah.  She completed her practicum training at the University Counseling Center and the Women’s Resource Center at the University of Utah, working with students of diverse backgrounds and clinical presentations. She also has experience working as a Licensed Professional Counselor on the Ute Indian Tribe’s Alcohol/Substance Abuse Prevention Program on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation and at Salt Lake Behavioral Health Hospital in Utah with a range of clinical presentations, including substance use disorders, childhood and adult trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidality. She has gained experience at a private practice working with clients on clinical issues of identity and trauma, including transgender clients.  Jackie’s therapeutic approach is integrative and includes feminist multicultural therapy, mindfulness-meditation, and motivational interviewing. She affirms clients identities and strengths. She works together with her clients to identify goals, develop coping skills, and understand how their social context, cultural background, and community structures impact distress, relationships, and other areas of life functioning. Her clinical interests include working with suicidality, substance use disorders, and students of color.

Carnessca Butler earned her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Northern Illinois University in 2009 and is licensed in the State of Ohio. Following graduation she worked in a variety of settings including community mental health, schools and jails. Carnessca is excited to help individuals recognize their strengths and areas for growth to improve their overall quality of life. She is passionate about providing therapy to culturally and ethnically diverse populations. Her areas of interest include but are not limited to depression, interpersonal relationships, life transitions, cultural integration and identity development.

Ms. Cramer received her Master of Social Work from the Ohio State University in 2003.  She completed her bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from the University of Toledo in 1997.  Stephanie has previous experience working with children, families and adults in the mental health, foster care and disability arenas.  She has several years of case management experience and is excited to be working with a diverse student population.   Her job is to help students identify needs and supports, navigate university procedures, and coordinate support services both on and off campus.   

Dr. Gilmer earned his doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Washington State University. He joined the staff of the BGSU Counseling Center in the Summer of 2007. He is a licensed psychologist in the State of Ohio and also serves as the Center’s director with responsibility for the overall operations of the department. Garrett is a gay man of both Mexican-American and European-American ancestry. His areas of special interest include depression, interpersonal relationships, identity issues, childhood abuse, group therapy, clinical supervision and community intervention. Garrett enjoys working with a diverse student body and actively promotes social justice in the campus and local communities. He a member of the Counseling Center’s Social Justice Action Committee and of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center Advisory Board. In addition to individual and group therapy that he provides in the Counseling Center, Garrett co-facilitates the Out Falcons support group in the LGBTQ+ Resource Center. He also serves on the Division of Student Affairs' Diversity Strategic Plan Implementation Team, Strategic Planning and Assessment Committee, Mental Health Awareness and Education Committee, and CARE Team.

Garrett's pronouns are he/him/his.

Dr. Hathaway earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2005, and she is a licensed psychologist in the State of Ohio.  She worked in Counseling Centers in Missouri and Tennessee during her training, then joined the BGSU Counseling Center in 2005.  She started as a therapist and liaison between the Counseling Center and Residence Life, and she coordinated educational programming for the Center for many years.  In 2019 she became Assistant Director of the Counseling Center, serving as an administrator for clinical/counseling services.  She is passionate about training and coordinates the experience for our Graduate Assistants in Psychology.  As a therapist, she works with students with a wide variety of presenting problems, and she is especially interested in women's issues, relational issues, and trauma.  She is committed to diversity and social justice, and trained with the National Coalition-Building Institute, a diversity education organization.

Dorissa earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mount Holyoke College in 2013. She is currently a doctoral intern enrolled in the Clinical Psychology program at Nova Southeastern University. She has previous experience working with diverse populations such as children and adults in community mental health, hospitals, and private practice.  She is excited to help individuals navigate emerging adulthood by transforming their relationships with inner and outer experiences to eventually take action and enhance quality of life. Her areas of interest include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, social skills, eating disorders, people of color, LGBTQ+, interpersonal relationships, identity development and grief.

Phil Hughes earned his Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Bowling Green State University in 2013 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2009 from the University of Cincinnati. Before joining the Counseling Center, Phil worked in community mental health settings providing services to children, adolescents, and adults. He currently serves on several state counseling divisions that focus specifically on LGBTQ+ issues in counseling, counseling in college counseling centers, and spiritual/religious issues in counseling. Some of his areas of interest are affirmative therapy, anxiety, depression, and LGBT issues.

Phil's pronouns are he/him/his 

Katherine Hutson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Ohio Northern University in 2009 and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Heidelberg University in 2014. Katherine has previous experience working with adolescents and adults in a community mental health setting. Katherine uses an integrated approach to counseling that centers on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness. Her areas of interest include, but are not limited to, substance use and addiction, trauma, and anxiety/depression. 

Mrs. Johnson enjoys meeting new people and welcoming students with a friendly smile. She moved to Toledo area from metro Detroit with her family 12 years ago. She is a National Park enthusiast and has hiked in over 27 US National Parks with plans to visit them all.

Ms. LaPolt is a graduate of BGSU.  She has lived in Bowling Green for over 35 years.  She enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family.

Alexis earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from William James College in Newton, Massachusetts in 2018. She is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program at William James College with a concentration in Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience, and an emphasis in African & Caribbean Mental Health. Alexis also earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2014 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has previous experience working in middle and high school settings as well as community mental health providing services to children, adolescents, and adults. Alexis is passionate about providing therapy to culturally and ethnically diverse populations, and committed to social justice issues. Her areas of focus include but are not limited to trauma, depression, anxiety, LGBTQ+, identity development, and grief and loss.

Dr. Litterer received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State University in 2001 and is a licensed psychologist in the state of Ohio.  Denise has provided counseling services to students at Iowa State University, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Arkansas.  She also worked as a psychologist for several years in a clinic specializing in the treatment of individuals with eating disorders.  At BGSU she serves as a liaison between the Counseling Center and the College of Arts and Sciences, providing training, consultation, and programming for Arts and Sciences faculty, staff, and students.  Her areas of interest include eating disorders, body image, LGBTQ issues, abuse and trauma, grief and loss, women's issues, and spirituality.  Denise enjoys working with a diverse student body and is a co-facilitator for the LGBT Resource Center Coming Out Support Group. 

James is a Clinical Psychology doctoral trainee at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). He earned a B.S. in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Psychology from Utah Valley University. James values working with clients collaboratively to create treatment goals and plans that work for them, while implementing current empirically-supported treatments into therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and cognitive-processing therapy (CPT). His areas of interest include, but are not limited to, suicide and self-harm, LGBTQ identity development and mental health, trauma, and religious/spiritual issues.

Mrs. Perez enjoys working, interacting and serving the students and staff of BGSU. She is a member of Classified Staff and has worked at the university for 30 years. She enjoys her family life and gardening.

Rachel earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University in 2015. She later earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Houston-Downtown in 2018.  She is currently enrolled in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at BGSU, with a Health Psychology emphasis. Her areas of interest include, but are not limited to, disordered eating, body image concerns, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, and childhood trauma.

Melissa is a Clinical Psychology doctoral trainee at BGSU on the Community Psychology track. She previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in German from Dartmouth College and a Masters of Divinity from Harvard University. Her areas of interest include but are not limited to trauma, serious mental illness, ADHD, women's issues, and religious and spiritual issues.

Dr. Schaad earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University, School of Professional Psychology in 2016 and is a licensed psychologist in the state of Ohio. Schaad serves as the Community Intervention Coordinator at the Counseling Center which includes providing various programming on Counseling Center Services, suicide prevention, diversity and social justice training, and GRIT. Schaad is a white, cisgender, temporarily able-bodied, pansexual woman. Her areas of focus include LGBTQ+, sexuality, interpersonal relationships, intersectionality of various marginalized identities, Deafness, and disability. Schaad co-facilitates the center’s DBT Skills Class, and therapy process groups. She is comprehensively involved in the Counseling Center’s Training Program, serves on the Training Committee, and Diversity Committee.

Schaad’s pronouns are she/her/hers

Ms. Sherife-Kekulah earned her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from The University of Toledo in 2010 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Ohio.  She also earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from the University of Toledo. Mandisa sits on the Toledo Pride committee, as well as volunteers her time at PRIDE Center 419.  Mandisa has previous experience working in elementary and high school settings as well as community mental health, with adolescents and adults.  Her areas of interest include but are not limited to anxiety, grief, trauma, interpersonal relationships and empowerment.

Tiffany is a counselor trainee who received her undergraduate degree in psychology at BGSU in 2014. Her love for the campus brought her back to pursue her master’s degree in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at BGSU. For four years, she worked at a behavioral health facility helping individuals in early recovery with addiction and mental illness. Her areas of interest are depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. She is excited to provide a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to the student population.

Kelly earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology in 2016 from the Florida School of Professional Psychology in Tampa, Florida and is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree. Kelly’s previous experiences have been primarily at college counseling centers as well as conducting assessments at a community mental health center. Her areas of interest include working with the LGBTQ+ population, underserved populations, gender and identity issues, anxiety-related difficulties, and eating and body image concerns. She works from an integrative and interpersonal theoretical orientation, incorporating mindfulness-based approaches. Kelly strives to help her clients towards becoming their authentic selves and living life true to who they want to be.