News and Media

Published: Feb 15, 2012

The Georgia College Counseling Association has named Karen Adkins, M.S., NCC, LPC, counselor and disability services specialist at SCAD Atlanta, its "Counselor of the Year" - the top award bestowed by the organization.

"It is an honor, a compliment, and a challenge to keep growing and improving as a professional counselor," Adkins said.

Adkins, who joined the counseling and student support services staff at SCAD Atlanta in October 2010, is a licensed professional counselor and, most importantly, an advocate for SCAD students.

"I think it would have to be those times when I get to witness a student's 'AHA!' moment," Adkins said of the most rewarding aspects of her job. "That moment when they find a solution or a way of coping with a challenge or obstacle that originally appeared unconquerable."

In addition to providing personal counseling, substance abuse counseling and disability counseling for SCAD students, Adkins also has successfully implemented Sources of Strength, a comprehensive wellness program and suicide prevention model, at SCAD. She serves as adviser to SCOPE (Student Council of Peer Educators), which has evolved in the last year under her guidance.

"SCOPE's growth has happened as a result of the members of SCOPE taking ownership of the group, having a clear vision of what they want SCOPE to be and focusing on what they want to accomplish as a group," Adkins said.

"The advisers, Laura Dietrich and I, simply give them the support, training and tools to make it happen," she added. "I think the thing I enjoy most is being able to interact with such a fun-loving, hardworking group of leaders, watching them work together to make a difference."