Board of Directors

The VCA Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of Officers, Directors, and Ex-Officio Directors. In addition, in March 2010 the Board amended the bylaws to recognize Emeritus members for their outstanding service and commitment to the Foundation. All of the Board members represent substantial involvement in the counseling profession in a variety of roles, as well as their service to the VCA Foundation. 

At the June 2013 meeting, the Foundation Board decided to add three additional positions to the Board, one in 2013, another in 2014, and a third in 2015.

More information on the Board positions and responsibilities is available in the VCAF Bylaws. The VCA Foundation Board adopted the new bylaws on May 29, 2020. 

In recognition of the contributions of the original VCA Foundation Board (1991) and founding members in making the work of VCAF possible, we created this Tribute to Founding Members and First Board of Directors.

To honor the service and memory of Board members who have passed away, we have listed them at the end of this listing.  May they rest in peace.

To connect with any member of the VCA Foundation Board, email vcaf@vcafoundation.org

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VCA Foundation Board
OfficersDirectors
Renee Staton, Ph. D.
Renee Staton, President		 Liz Beatley, MEd., NBCT
Kysha Washington, LPC, ACS
Kysha Washington, Presiden-elect		 Rick Gressard, Ph. D.
Summer Tetterton, M.Ed., LPC
Summer Tetterton, Treasurer		 Lorraine K. Hall, M.A.
Linda Grubba, M.A.
Linda Grubba, Secretary		 Terri Mason, Ph.D.
VCA Officers (Ex-Officio) Josie Olson, M.A.
Coming Soon
Lakesha Rhoney, VCA President, (2024-25		 Ellissia Price-Fagin, M.A.T
Coming Soon
Mike Takacs, PhD, VCA Past-President		 Mikhal Salzberg, M.Ed.
Coming Soon
Corey Grewe, VCA President-Elect		 Sam Steen, PhD.
Coming Soon
Vicky Wheeler, VCA Executive Director		 Celeste Hall, M.Ed.
VCAF Director of Digital Services
Coming Soon
Mia Futrell		Emeritus (Ex-Officio)
Manny Bartolotta, M.A. , Feb. 2024
Gary Waynick, M.Ed. , Feb. 2024
Etta Jane Hall, M.Ed. , Sept. 2021

 Kevin Doyle, Ed.D. , July 2021
Adele Walker-Blue, LPC , July 2021
Bryan Carr , Sept. 2019
Celeste Hall, M.Ed. , 2019-2023 (Currently Active Board Member)
Manny Bartolotta, M.A. , February 2024
Gary Waynick, M.Ed. , February 2024
Emeritus (In Memoriam)
Paul Galvin
John Cook
Pete Warren
Don Ayers

Renee Staton

Renee Staton is a Professor in the Department of Graduate Psychology’s Counseling Programs at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Renee is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Board Certified Counselor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor. She has served as president of the Virginia Counselors Association, the Virginia Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the Central Valley Counselors Association, and was co-president of the Virginia Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development.

She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Virginia. Her research and practice interests include multicultural counseling; international education; and gender issues in counseling, particularly gender affirmative counseling practice with young people.

Renee served as Secretary on the VCA Foundation Board from July 2019-December 2022 and began her term as President in January 2023.

Elizabeth Beatley

Liz Beatley is currently serving in her seventh year as a school counselor at The Georgetown School, Hanover County’s secondary alternative school.  She finds that the students in this setting ignite her passion as a school counselor and inspire her to be a better person. Prior to working at The Georgetown School, Liz was a school counselor at Pole Green Elementary School for 16 years, served as an adjunct professor of Counselor Education at VCU for 8 years, and worked in a variety of capacities at a crisis shelter for teens for 6 years.

Liz’s particular areas of interest in the realm of school counseling include Trauma Responsive Care, Social Emotional Learning, and Service Projects for students. She enjoys providing PD for her colleagues on these topics and creating school wide initiatives that support these areas. She believes that a critical element of building relationships with students is to laugh and have fun with them.

Liz earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Randolph Macon College in 1995 and her Master’s degree in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000. She achieved National Board Certification in 2005, was recognized as the VSCA Elementary Counselor of the Year in 2012, and an ASCA Counselor of the Year Semi-finalist in 2015. She is a member of VCA, VSCA, and RACA.

Liz lives in New Kent with her husband, two amazing daughters, her dog, and two cats. She enjoys the beach, reading, eating on the deck of a good seafood restaurant, and an occasional true-crime show.

Kysha Washington

Kysha Washington completed her undergraduate coursework in Psychology and continued to pursue an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling concurrently with a Certificate in Aging Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. After graduating she began her career in community mental health at local Community Services Boards. Her passion to serve the underserved led her to Daily Planet Health Services, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center in Richmond which provides services to anyone regardless of their financial, housing, or insurance status where she served for 14 years. She currently serves as a Program Coordinator at Hanover County Community Services Board.

Some of Kysha’s work in the community includes volunteering with the American Red Cross – Services to the Armed Forces and Disaster Mental Health. Kysha has been a member of VCA since 2006 and has served in various capacities throughout the years including the Virginia Clinical Counselors Alliance, and the Virginia Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (VAMCD). Kysha has also served on the Leadership of SisterFund of Richmond, VA, which seeks to invest in nonprofits and community-based organizations helping to pave a positive future for African American women and girls through gains in education, workforce and leadership development. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Rick Gressard

Dr. Rick Gressard is a Chancellor Professor in the Counselor Education Program at William & Mary. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, Dr. Gressard taught for seven years in the counseling program at the University of Virginia and for five years in Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at the UVA School of Medicine. In 1993, Dr. Gressard came to William & Mary where he coordinated the addiction counseling emphasis for twenty-three years and where he developed and directed the New Leaf Clinic. His clinical and research interests include addiction counseling and prevention, counseling ethics, and transpersonal counseling.

Dr. Gressard has also been active in the area of credentialing, having served as chair of the Virginia Board of Counseling, chair of the National Board of Certified Counselors, vice-chair of CACREP and chair of the steering committee for CACREP’s International Registry for Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP). In addition, he was the Interim President/CEO of CACREP from July 2017 to June 2018. He is an ACA Fellow, the recipient of Chi Sigma Iota’s Thomas J. Sweeney National Professional Leadership Award, ACES’ Robert O. Stripling Award for Excellence in Standards, and SACES’ Locke-Paisley Outstanding Mentor Award. Dr. Gressard is the 2020 recipient of the VCA Foundation’s John R. Cook Award for “long and meritorious service to VCA and the Counseling profession”.

Summer Tetterton, M.A., LPC

Summer Tetterton works full-time as a therapist at Rivermont School in Lynchburg and part-time in a private practice setting. Summer has provided outpatient counseling services in a private practice setting and has over 15 years of experience working with individuals impacted by trauma in the community agency setting. 

Summer completed a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling at Lynchburg College in 2007 and was licensed in 2011. She is a Past-President and current member of the Virginia Counselors Association and Lynchburg Area Counselors Association. She has served on the executive board for both organizations in various capacities. She is also a member of Chi Sigma Iota. Summer serves on numerous committees and coalitions on the local and regional levels that work toward raising awareness about the impact of violence against women. When she is not working, Summer loves to travel, be outdoors, watch sports (especially ice hockey), and spend time with her husband and their furry, four-legged “children.”

Lorraine K. Hall, M.A.

Lorraine currently serves as the Assistant Dean of the Luter School of Business at Christopher Newport University. Since October 2000, she has worked in a number of administrative capacities at Christopher Newport, including  Director of Curriculum Management and Course Evaluations, Assistant to the Provost and Assistant to the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Prior to employment at Christopher Newport, Lorraine coordinated the Project FOCUS career partnership at Thomas Nelson Community College (now Virginia Peninsula Community College), working with students at Phoebus High School in Hampton, Virginia. She also worked at a group home for children awaiting foster care and taught community college student development courses. Prior to moving to Virginia, Lorraine was a career counselor at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.V.

Lorraine previously served in various leadership positions in the Virginia College Personnel Association, Virginia School Counselor Association, Virginia Counselors Association, Peninsula Counselors Association, and the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She is an Emeritus Director of the Virginia Peninsula SPCA and serves on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Living Museum. Lorraine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Student Personnel from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

Linda Grubba, M.A.

Linda Grubba retired from public education after 37 years of experience as a teacher, then a counselor and district counselor supervisor. She taught at the college level in Sydney, Australia and is currently an adjunct professor in the Graduate Counseling Program at the University of Lynchburg. While in Australia she led a community action coalition focused on improving child care in the Blue Mountain Region of New South Wales. She is one of the first school counselors in Virginia to earn the credential of School Based Registered Play Therapist from the Association for Play Therapy. She currently serves on the Administrative Board of the Campbell County Department of Social Services.

Linda has presented trainings and workshops in a variety of settings all over Virginia. Her topics have included issues related to community collaboration, emotional intelligence, parenting, creating positive school climate and safety, conflict resolution, program development, play therapy and developing resiliency.

Her professional involvement includes the Virginia Counselors Association, Lynchburg Area Counselors Association, Virginia Alliance for School Counseling, Virginia Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors, Association for Play Therapy, and the Virginia Association for Play Therapy. She has been the recipient of the American Counseling Association Emerging Leader Award, the Virginia Counselors Association Van Hoose Career Service Award, the Lynchburg College Outstanding Alumni Award, the Virginia School Counselor Spirit Award and most recently the Virginia Counselors Association John R. Cook Award.

She is married to an Australian who has also retired after forty years in education and has a son who resides in Pittsburgh with his family. Free time is spent traveling, biking, hiking and just enjoying time with friends.

Terri Mason, Ph.D.

Dr. Terri Mason is a Professional School Counselor at Hunt Valley Elementary School in Springfield, Virginia. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the VCAF. In addition to her credentials as an American School Counselors Association Mental Health Specialist, Anxiety and Stress Management Specialist, and Trauma and Crisis Management Specialist, Terri also serves as an Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling Board Trustee for School Counseling.

Terri previously served as Virginia Association of Specialists in Group Work President in 2020-2021 and a counselor education adjunct professor at George Mason University. She was voted VCA Counselor of the Year in 2018 and has provided a variety of presentations at VCA conferences. She is also actively involved in peer mediation. She has taught peer mediation to elementary school students, facilitated sessions at the annual Fairfax County Public Schools-sponsored Peer Mediation/Peace Conference held at GMU and was selected to travel to Israel and the West Bank to present peer mediation programs to school personnel.

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Josie Olson, M.A.
Director, VCA Foundation Board


Welcome to the VCAF Board, Josie Olson!

Josie Olson has worked in the mental health field for over ten years in a variety of practice settings serving communities across Virginia.  She holds a licensure in Virginia as a Licensed Professional Counselor.  She is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and enjoys working with children and adolescents struggling with a variety of mental health diagnoses and trauma related difficulties.  Josie enjoys working with families; she has written grants to provide Filial Therapy to promote healthy attachments within foster and adoptive families.  She also holds a national certification in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and finds this treatment modality helpful with adolescents and young adults who suffer from depression, anxiety, personality, and relational issues.  Josie is also certified in EMDR and is passionate about creating a safe space for individuals to work through their traumas; she holds trauma certifications from Regent Center for Trauma Studies.  She has served as an adjunct instructor at Liberty University and regularly provides supervision to counselors in training.  Josie believes that evidence-based practice can be enhanced by integrating biblical principles and is dedicated to cultivating holistic transformation in the individuals she serves.

Josie is a native of Long Island, New York.  She has an undergraduate degree from Liberty University in Communication Studies with a minor in Psychology.  She completed her graduate work at Regent University and earned degrees in Clinical, Marriage and Family Therapy, and School Counseling.  During her time as a school counselor, she served as Child Study Chair and since has been contracted by her local school division to complete assessments for children identified as needing special education services and is a helpful resource for parents navigating this process.  Josie is a member of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) and serves on the Board of Directors of Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) as President for the family counseling division (VACFC).  She is also a member of American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).

Josie lives in Forest, VA and has been married to Erik since 2003 and they have been blessed with 2 teenage daughters and one fur baby, a Siberian Husky named Aspen.  She enjoys traveling abroad, hiking, Holy Yoga, decorating and antiquing, and making jewelry out of recycled items.  She has had the privilege of speaking at local, regional, national, and international professional conferences on best practices for Play Therapy, Dialectical Therapy, Trauma Informed Care and integrating biblical principles into evidence base practice.

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Ellissia Price-Fagin, M.A.T.

Ellissia Price-Fagin is a retired Elementary Counseling Specialist, elementary school counselor and elementary teacher (Fairfax County Public Schools and Washington, D. C. Public Schools) with extensive experience with diverse populations and learning environments. She is particularly adept at assessing needs, developing, and implementing innovative programs and resources, writing curriculum, and providing guidance and counseling to school counseling professionals.

Professionally, she was awarded the VCA Van Hoose Career Service Award, Emeritus membership status and VCA Division Member of the Year. She was also VSCA Supervisor of the Year and ASCA Counselor of the Year. She has served as vice president of Virginia Counselors Association Foundation (VCAF) and is newsletter editor and past president of the Virginia Association for Specialists in Group Work (VASGW). She is married and enjoys an active retirement that includes reading, participating with her alumni association, singing, and volunteering at her Church and its school.  The VCA Foundation honored Ellissia at VCA Convention 2023, by awarding her the John Cook Award “…In Appreciation for Long and Meritorious service to VCA and the Counseling Profession.”

Mikhal Salzberg

Miki is a professional school counselor at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, VA. She received her B.A. from the College of William and Mary and her M.Ed. from The University of Virginia. She currently holds ASCA specialist training certificates in Cultural Competency, College Admissions, and Closing the Achievement Gap. She began her career working with high school students at a Technical and Vocational high school and has a deep passion for assisting students with post-high school transition plans.

Miki previously served as the Virginia Alliance for School Counseling (VASC) treasurer in 2013 and then secretary in 2014. In 2015 she was elected to the executive board of the Virginia Counselor Association serving a two-year term in the role of secretary. She has presented at the annual VCA convention several times and, over the years, has twice been a recipient of grant funding through the VCAF.

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Sam Steen, PhD.
Director, VCA Foundation
Dr. Sam Steen (he/him) holds a bachelors in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in School Counseling and a Ph.D. in Education with a specialty in preparing school counselors and mental health professionals. He holds the rank of Professor and is a licensed Professional School Counselor, the Director of the Diversity Research Action Consortium, and the Director of the Child, Family, Community Engagement Division at George Mason University. Dr. Steen specializes in school counseling, group counseling and cultivating Black students’ academic identity development. 
 
Dr. Steen was a school counselor for 10 years and this experience shapes his research agenda, approach to teaching, and service. Dr. Steen is a Fellow for the Association for Specialists in Group Work and is the recipient of the Al Dye Research Award and the Professional Advancement Award both from ASGW. He received the Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) Advocacy of the Year Award and has written over 70 articles and book chapters and is the co-author of the following 4 books: 
–  Group Counseling Leadership Skills for School Counselors; Stretching Beyond Interventions (2021); 
–  Anti-Black Racism in Contemporary Society (2022), 
–  Introduction to Group Counseling: A Culturally Sustaining and Inclusive Framework (2023), and 
–  Advancing Equity-Focused School Counseling for All Students (2024). 
Dr. Steen’s research has been funded by the National Science Foundation which aims to advance programs, knowledge, and skills targeting Black male middle school students for better accessibility, and higher likelihood for success in Algebra 1 and future STEM related careers.
 
Dr. Steen’s research experience and skills, and his long time interest in technology applications will be welcomed assets to the VCA Foundation Board!

Celeste Hall, M.Ed.

Celeste currently works part time for The Virginia Community System as the Career Coach Specialist supporting the high school and adult career coaching programs across the state. She worked as a Teacher, School Counselor and Career Counselor in Hanover County Public Schools for a total of 31 years, retiring 2011. She grew up in Henrico County, Virginia, attended Douglas S. Freeman High School, The College of William and Mary (B.A. in History/Social Science) and Virginia Commonwealth University ( Master of Education in Counseling). In addition Celeste taught the graduate level course in Career Information/Exploration in the Counselor Education Department at VCU on an adjunct basis for 12 years. In 2006 she earned National Board Certification in the School Counseling K-12 area and became certified as a Career Development Facilitator Instructor in the fall of 2010.

Celeste is a long time member of a number of professional organizations including The Virginia Counselors Association (VCA), The Virginia School Counselors Association (VSCA), The Virginia Career Development Association (VCDA), American School Counselors Association (ASCA) and the National Career Development Association (NCDA). She has held a variety of elected offices in VCA, VSCA and VCDA including the offices of secretary, treasurer, awards chair, newsletter editor and president. She currently serves as Treasurer of VDCA. She has also served on the Advisory Council for the National Career Development Association’s Facilitating Career Development program and is currently the Trustee for K-12 School Counselors and Career Specialists.

Celeste is married to Ron Hall and they have two grown daughters, and proud to be a grandmother of two.

Manny Bartolotta

Manny is an “actively retired” former high school counselor from Fairfax County Public Schools. Following his retirement from FCPS in 2005, he worked as a part-time Counselor with the Northern Virginia Community College Extended Learning Institute (now NOVA Online) until 2016.

Manny has enjoyed teaching technology skills to senior citizens as a volunteer. In addition, as a native Italian, he is proud to have created and taught an Italian for Beginners class for seniors at Hollin Hall Senior Center in Alexandria.

Manny has been an active member of VCA for more  than 35 years, serving as President of:
–  Northern Virginia Counselors Association (NVCA),
–  the Virginia School Counselors Association (VSCA), and
–  3 separate terms as Virginia Career Development Association President.

Manny has especially enjoyed the role he has played to increase awareness of the importance of technology in the work of counselors. Manny founded and developed the original websites for VCA and VSCA and was involved in the rebuilding of the VCDA website. When joining the VCA Foundation, he created and managed its website until 2020.  In 2012, he established VCA school counselor organization website for the VASC. As Technology Chair for VCA for a number of years, Manny has established the domain name for VCA, VSCA, VCDA, VASC, and the VCA Foundation. He has served on the VCA Foundation Board as Vice President from 2009-2019, President from 2019-2022, and served a one-year term as Past President. He continues to assist as a volunteer for special assignments and on special committees.  In February 2024, Manny was bestowed the honor of VCA Foundation Emeritus Director, by the Foundation Board of Directors.

Gary Waynick

Gary Waynick is a retired Professional Elementary School Counselor from Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. He served as the Coordinator of Guidance Programs and as Supervisor, Guidance Programs and Career/Technical Education for 6 years in the same school system.

Gary’s professional experience includes Adjunct Instructor at the College of William and Mary, and Adjunct Instructor at Hampton University. Gary has served as Secretary of VCA, Post-Secondary Vice President of VSCA, President of VESCA, and Middle School Vice President of VSCA. He was on the Writing Team for the Standards for School Counseling Programs in Virginia for the Virginia Department of Education.

Gary has been honored by VCA with the William Van Hoose Career Service Award and the Counselor of the Year award. He also was named the Elementary School Counselor of the Year by VSCA.
Gary Waynick received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and his M.Ed. in Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Etta Jane Hall, M.Ed.

Etta Jane retired as Supervisor Elementary Counseling and Related Services for Prince William County Schools in 2007 after 37 years in public education. Etta Jane’s father served in the U.S. Navy and as a military dependent she has lived in many different places, including Morocco in North Africa. Etta Jane received her BA in Education from Morehead State University, M.Ed. in Education of the Emotionally Disturbed and Counseling at the University of Louisville, and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from George Mason University. Etta Jane maintains membership in VCA, VASC, VSCA, ASCA, and PWRCA.

Etta Jane has served on VCA, PWRCA, and VSCA boards in several positions that included VCA Awards Co-Chair, PWRCA President, and VSCA Vice President Post-Secondary, and VSCA Inter-professional Relations/Ethics Chair. She served on the VCA Foundation Board for 11 years. Etta Jane’s awards include VCA 2009 John R. Cook Award, PWRCA 2009 Career Service Award, VSCA 2008 Spirit Award, and VSCA 2004 Supportive Administrator of the Year.

Kevin Doyle

Kevin Doyle is the President and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies in Center City, MN. Prior to his current role, he was the Chair of the Department of Education and Counseling and a professor in the Counselor Education program at Longwood University in Farmville, VA, from 2012 to 2020, following a 26-year career in addiction treatment in Virginia. He is licensed as a professional counselor (LPC) and a substance abuse treatment practitioner (LSATP) in Virginia, and as a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) in Minnesota, and served four terms on the Virginia Board of Counseling (with three terms a Chair), and two terms on the Virginia Board of Health Professions. He currently serves as Past-President of the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB) and recently completed his term as the senior Co-Chair of the Ethics Committee of the American Counseling Association.

Adele Walker-Blue, LPC

Adele is an LPC who grew up on a dairy farm in Powhatan County, the youngest of four sisters. She attended Huguendot Academy (now Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot), Mary Baldwin College (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) and the College of William and Mary (Master of Education in Counseling). Adele has worked in corporate, healthcare, and community mental settings. Adele has spent much of her clinical career honing her expertise in Motivational Interviewing, and other Humanistic counseling approaches, and has worked with many populations, including adolescents with substance abuse issues and their families; individuals with medical, as well as mental health diagnoses; and youth under social services care. Currently, Adele is a Manager in Behavioral Health Care Management at Anthem. Adele manages a team of clinicians who assist clients in connecting to treatment resources in their communities, and provide coaching on lifestyle changes to assist in improving both mental health and medical conditions.

Adele’s professional contributions to the Virginia Counselors Association include serving as President, two terms as Treasurer, Challenge Fund Chair, and Advocacy Co-Chair. Adele is currently serving on the Convention Committee. Additionally, Adele has served on the leadership team of the Virginia Clinical Counselors Alliance. After serving two terms as the VCA Foundation Treasurer and 5 years as President.

Bryan Carr

Bryan has been a member of the VCA Foundation since 2001, serving as a Director-at-large, Secretary and president of the Board of Directors from 2010-2013. His experience, knowledge and leadership have provided direction and vision for the Foundation. During his presidency, Bryan lead the Board in a reorganization effort to revise the Foundation’s By-Laws, recruit new members, create a strategic plan, and build a solid financial base.

Bryan is currently Instructional Specialist for School Counseling in Chesterfield County Public Schools, where he oversees the implementation of the counseling program for K-12 students. Previously, he was the School Counseling Coordinator at two high schools in CCPS, and he served as both a high school counselor and instructor in several Chesterfield County schools. Bryan and his wife, Julia, have two adult children, Winston and Andrew.