Counseling Center Staff

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.

Francine is a doctoral candidate from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her previous clinical experiences include university counseling centers, suicidality assessment, and geriatric inpatient care. Her research is primarily focused on religious coping styles and understanding how religion can impact an individual’s mental health and well-being. Her theoretical orientation is grounded in existential and phenomenological philosophies, with an overall goal of understanding her client’s unique perception of the human experience. In her free time she likes to read, camp, and binge watch Netflix.

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.   

Kirstin Elliott-Noon received her bachelor’s from the University of Toledo in 2015, her master’s in clinical psychology from Columbia University in 2017 and is currently working toward her doctorate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has worked in a variety of settings including, inpatient hospitals, community mental health, and private practice. She is interested in numerous presenting concerns in her therapeutic work but is especially interested in working with the LGBTQ+ community, women’s issues, trauma, and life transition and adjustment. She approaches therapy from an existential-phenomenological and feminist/relational manner. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with loved ones.

Kirstin’s pronouns are She/Her/Hers

Riley received her bachelor's degree in Education focusing on Individual Studies from Bowling Green State University in May of 2020. Currently, Riley is a graduate student at Bowling Green State University in her second year of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Riley loves being a part of the BGSU community. Areas of interest that Riley is expanding knowledge upon are depression, anxiety, women's issues, grief and loss. 

Riley's Pronouns are she/her/hers

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.

Phil Hughes earned his Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Bowling Green State University in 2013 and is a Licensed Professional Clinical 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.  At the center, Phil is the coordinator for Community Intervention or outreach, as some individuals call it, on campus. He has served 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.  In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing video games, watching movies, and baking.

Phil's pronouns are he/him/his 

Kate earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Heidelberg University in 2014 and is licensed in the state of Ohio as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a supervising designation. Kate has worked as the Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Specialist at the BGSU Counseling Center since 2018 and has previous experience working with adolescents and adults in a community mental health setting. She has core clinical training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and uses an integrated approach to counseling that centers on Cognitive-Behavioral interventions. Her areas of special interest include substance use and behavioral addiction, trauma, and personality disorders.

Kate’s pronouns are She/Her/Hers

Joe earned his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan School of Psychology in 2017. He has worked with a diverse range of clients in a variety of settings including, college counseling centers, community mental health, and hospitals. His clinical practice has included clients experiencing addiction and recovery, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, and spirituality. He utilizes and integrative approach to therapy with an emphasis on cognitive behavioral and person-centered treatment modalities. He works collaboratively with clients to create a safe, non-judgmental space, that fosters personal growth and empowerment.

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.

Denise received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State University in 2001 and is a licensed psychologist in the state of Ohio. She has worked with college students for most of her career and has experience working with a diversity of clients and client struggles. She specializes in the treatment of individuals with eating disorders, body image, and disordered eating but also frequently works with members of the LGBTQ+ community, with abuse, trauma, and family of origin issues, grief and loss, and spirituality. She has a feminist, interpersonal, multicultural approach to working with her clients and providing supervision. She is active in providing comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy services. Denise currently serves as Assistant Director/Training Director and oversees training programs at the center. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her wife, kids, and menagerie of pets and loves to read and to bake.

Chelsea Martinez earned her Master's degrees in Counseling and Art Therapy from Ursuline College in 2019 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Ohio. She also earned her Bachelor's Degrees in Fine Arts and Psychology from the University of Toledo. Chelsea has experience working in inpatient, intensive out-patient, and out-patient settings with adults and college students. She currently serves on the Greater Cincinnati Counseling Association as their Membership Chair. She is passionate about helping her clients cope and succeed in their lives.

Kaitie earned her Master of Arts in Psychology from Marshall University in 2019 and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has worked with individuals who experience a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, difficulties with life adjustments, and relationship challenges. She has particular interest and experience working with those struggling with problematic substance use and recovery maintenance, as well as individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. She takes an integrative approach in her work with clients, applying primarily third-wave Cognitive-Behavioral techniques such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, while also incorporating various other perspectives in order to best meet each student’s individual needs.

Kaitie’s pronouns are she/her/hers.

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.

Bridgett Rivera earned a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Heidelberg University in 2015 and is licensed in the State of Ohio as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor. Bridgett has previous experience working in elementary and high school settings as well as community mental health. She also has several years’ experience working with substance abuse disorder and providing medication-assisted treatment. She is excited to bring her education and work experience to campus. Her areas of interest include but are not limited to substance abuse, grief/loss, adjustment, life transitions, women’s issues, depression and anxiety. She utilizes an integrative approach to therapy with an emphasis on person-centered and cognitive behavioral treatment.

Bridgett’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.

Emily earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology in 2021. She has experience working with college students as well as clients ranging in age from preschoolers to middle-aged adults. Emily has experience working in settings including university counseling centers, community mental health, and private practice. Her clinical interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, identity development, family problems, disability, and social justice issues. Emily practices from an integrated humanistic and intersectional feminist framework and regularly incorporates self-care, self-compassion, and mindfulness into her work. She is committed to forming authentic relationships with her clients and providing them with a space to receive validation, care, and solidarity.

Emily’s pronouns are she/her/hers