Emerging Leaders 2022-2023

Diana Gallardo, PhD., NCC

Diana Gallardo, PhD., NCC, is an assistant professor in counselor education at Northeastern Illinois University. Dr. Gallardo has been a recipient of the 2021 NBCC Minority Fellow and 2020 Holmes Scholar. Her line of research and passion is embedded in advocating and examining recruitment and retention for Latinx students and faculty in counselor education. Dr. Gallardo is also interested in mental health service use disparities among Latinx populations, and cross-cultural mentorship in counselor education. She earned her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from The Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Northwestern University. Dr. Gallardo believes that representation is part of the puzzle toward more equitable spaces within academia, leadership, and mental health use.

Angela Mensink, Ed.D., LPCC/LPC, ACS, IMH-E®

Angela Mensink, Ed.D, LPCC/LPC, ACS, IMH-E®, has nearly a decade of experience working in community-based and private practice clinical settings providing mental health services to individuals and families of all ages. She specializes in providing services to underserved populations residing in rural Minnesota and offers consultation and clinical supervision to practitioners, graduate students, and post-master’s clinicians. She has served as an adjunct instructor at Viterbo University, Lakeland University, and Antioch University-Seattle. She also served as the Graduate Assistant Editor of the Wisconsin Counseling Journal (WCJ) in 2019 and 2020.

Tyler W. Secor, MS, LPC

Tyler W. Secor, MS, LPC is a professional counselor and a doctoral student for Counselor Education and Supervision at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, WI. Tyler has diverse professional and academic experience including education, counseling (mental health and career), supervised visitation, clinical and administrative supervision, and research. His counseling experience has primarily been with children and families, though he has worked with clients of all ages and many walks of life. He is a collaborator and guest author with Geek Therapeutics. Tyler is passionate about competent clinical supervision, counselor education, and mental health counseling. He is also passionate about lifting negative stigma surrounding video gamers and games, and recognizes the therapeutic potential of video gaming.

Sailee Karkhanis, M.Ed

Sailee Karkhanis is a second-year PhD student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at the University of Iowa. As a Licensed Professional School Counselor, she earned her Master’s in Human Development Counseling (specialization- School Counseling) from Vanderbilt University. Sailee is in the NCACES graduate student committee and is President-Elect for the Rho-Upsilon Chapter of CSI at the University of Iowa. Sailee also serves on the university International Student Advisory Board (ISAB). With eight years of experience in both Indian and American K-12 educational settings, her work emphasizes helping K-12 school students achieve well-rounded success. Sailee researches counselor education and practice, specifically Cyber Safety Competencies (CSCs) preparedness. Her research is at the intersection of culture, identity, minoritized community and their vulnerability on the internet. She is interested in the ramifications of social media and internet usage on adolescent well-being.

Chantel Johnson, NCC

Chantel Johnson is a nationally certified counselor and temporarily licensed counselor in the state of Iowa. She obtained her master's degree in counselor education with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Georgia Southern University. Chantel is currently a doctoral student at the University of Iowa. Chantel's research interests include the infusion of trauma-informed care into addiction services for women who abuse substances and the lived experiences of minority students in counselor education programs. Chantel is also interested in research involving advocacy for persons with severe and persistent mental illness and students with disabilities in the postsecondary setting.

Abigail Van Patten-Freeman, MA, tLMHC, NCC

Abigail Van Patten-Freeman, MA, tLMHC, NCC, is a third-year doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at the University of Iowa. She works as a temporary licensed counselor in an outpatient setting working with children, teens, and adults. Her research interests include novice counselor and counselor-in-training burnout, the interactions between the supervisory alliance, perceived organizational support, and work environment on burnout, as well as how graduate programs teach and promote wellness to counselors-in-training. She is passionate about modeling and promoting wellness within those around her and in the field.