We are delighted to recognize the following individuals as

AHC’s 2025-2026 Emerging Leaders:

• Laura Barker: Laura Barker (xe/xir) is a doctoral student at the University of New Mexico where xe also works as a counselor at the  Student Health and Counseling center. As a student, Laura served a term as the treasurer of the Upsilon Nu Mu chapter of CSI, and has presented at AHC and ACES. In xir role as a counselor at SHAC, Laura enjoys working with an interdisciplinary collegiate health team and as a part of the government relations committee, identifying and bringing student health needs to the state. In previous roles Laura has led the planning and celebration of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, been a founding member of committees, and led food insecurity initiatives. 

• Katie Burns: A 2024 graduate of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania- Lock Haven, Katie was the Director of the Graduate Peer Mentor Program as well as the founder and Director of "The Culture Collective", a supportive community of graduate students striving to promote cultural awareness, exercise advocacy skills, and provide a safe space for growth and conversation. Katie has presented at a variety of conferences including the Pennsylvania Counseling Association Conference, Rocky Mountain and Northeast Association of Counselor Educator and Supervision Conference, Association for Humanistic Counseling Conference and was most recently an Invited Panelist for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit in Shippensburg, PA. Katie is currently a mental health therapist based out of Denver, Colorado where she specializes in working with the religious trauma and grief populations. 

• Dr. Rachel Ellenberger: Dr. Rachel Ellenberger is a Counselor Educator and LCMHCA. She teaches at Prescott College in the Counseling Program, where she mentors counseling students and leads courses in various areas of clinical counseling. Alongside her academic role, Dr. Ellenberger maintains a clinical caseload at a private practice, providing individual therapy to a diverse range of clients. Her professional interests include trauma-informed care, the connection between mind and body, and navigating complicated relationships. Ellenberger has presented on neuroscience-informed approaches to working with children and adolescents at various professional organizations including RMACES, Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling, Prescott College, and Chicago School of Psychology. Currently, Dr. Ellenberger lives in Southern Pines, North Carolina, where she has resided for the past three years with her husband and family.

• Dr. Renee Haskins: Renee Haskins, PhD, NCC, LCPC, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. In addition to her academic and clinical roles, she collaborates closely with middle school counselors in her local school district. Renee’s research interests focus on cultural humility, restorative practices, and integrating critical pedagogy into counselor training. Her dissertation employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of counselor educators who demonstrated cultural humility while navigating critical incidents in the classroom. A dedicated advocate for culturally humble counselor training, restorative practices, and the de-stigmatization of mental health services in minority communities, Renee is committed to advancing these efforts through her scholarship and professional service. She is also honored to serve as an AHC Emerging Leader, furthering her dedication to advocacy, cultural humility, and counselor education.

• Kim Hughes: Kim Hughes (she / her) is a current doctoral student at William & Mary, pursuing her Ph.D. in Counselor Education. She is a recent graduate of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.A. / Ed.S. program at James Madison University where she was awarded the Helen Moore Award for the Pursuit of Counseling Excellence. Kim’s research and clinical interests center around anti-fat bias and body dissatisfaction, with an emphasis on social justice. Kim has presented at the state and national levels on anti-fat bias, body presentation and disordered eating, sexual desire and temperament, race-based trauma, and psychedelics.

• Catalina Kraft: Catalina Kraft is a Resident in Counseling and National Certified Counselor in Virginia. She is currently in her second year as a doctoral student at Old Dominion University where she studies Education with a Counseling concentration. She has volunteered with several organizations including Counselors for Social Justice National, Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and her university's LGBTQIA+ Initiatives program. Catalina is the secretary of her university's LGBT Caucus and the secretary of her university's Counselors for Social Justice chapter where she co-founded a diversity-based book club for counseling graduate students.

• Zhi Jie Lee: Lee (he/him/his) is a dedicated international doctoral student in Counselor Education at The Ohio State University. With extensive experience in school counseling, Lee has supported students from diverse backgrounds in their academic, social, and emotional development across various educational settings. Passionate about advocacy and professional development, Lee has provided training to school counselors, equipping them with effective strategies to better meet the needs of their students. Before coming to the United States, Lee contributed to federal policymaking initiatives aimed at advancing counseling practices within the educational sector. Lee has also been involved in projects leveraging large-scale data to inform national policies that amplify the vital role of counselors in fostering student success.

• Dr. Lillian Martz: Lillian C. Martz, Ph.D., PCLC, is an assistant professor in the Counselor Education Department at Portland State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from The University of Montana in 2024, and has a background in school counseling. Her research interests reflect the strengths-based humanistic principles, focusing on promoting wellbeing and positive psychology among adolescents and educators. Dr. Martz’s work is also deeply rooted in equity and anti-racist practices in school counselor training. She is a past board member of the Montana School Counselor Association (MSCA), where she served as co-chair of the conference committee and chair of the professional development committee. Currently, she serves as an editorial assistant for the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Teaching Practice Briefs publication.

• Hillary Mugabo Mukula: Hillary Mugabo Mukula is a first-year doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Ohio University. Before joining the program, he earned a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, where he graduated top of his class with first-class honors during his undergraduate studies. Recently, he completed the Winter 2025 Ohio Counseling Association Leadership Certificate Program. Passionate about research, Hillary has contributed to several projects, some of which have been published in peer-reviewed journals. His current research focuses on supervision and the experiences of international students topics he is passionate about. Hillary is also an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Counseling Association, the Ohio Counseling Association, the Association for Specialists in Group Work, the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors, the Allied Health Professionals Council, and the Association of Humanistic Counselors.

• Gahyun Park: Gahyun Park, M.A., is a second-year doctoral student at The Ohio State University. Her research focuses on building protective factors such as social support and a sense of belonging, especially for adolescents and youths. She is passionate about exploring these factors through a humanistic lens. Her work has been published in counseling and psychology journals, covering topics such as social support, self-injury, and adverse childhood experiences. Outside of academia, she is a viola player and often performs on campus and in the local community.

• Emonie Reviere: Emonie Reviere is a second-year doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the Counseling and Educational Development department. Emonie is a licensed clinical mental health counselor associate in North Carolina, where she sees clients at a local private practice. In addition to her clinical work, Emonie is the president of her Chi Sigma Iota Chapter, Upsilon Nu Chi, for the 2024-2025 academic school year. She also is heavily involved in community work with Greensboro Police Department where they work together to reduce violence and crime in the community with funding from a federal grant. While in this community activist role, Emonie aids in allocating resources for meeting food insecurity, daily hygiene needs, and youth programming for members in the community. Emonie’s research interests are centered around examining generational survival techniques, the mother-daughter relationship, and Afrocentric hair from a strengths-based approach. When not engaged in school or work, Emonie enjoys traveling, eating good cuisine, and spending time with her family and friends.

• Ildico Tamakloe: Ildico Tamakloe, M.A., LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Ohio and a first-year Ph.D. student in Counselor Education & Supervision at Ohio State University (OSU). Originally from Ghana, she brings a unique cultural perspective to her work. Ildico is the past president of OSU's Chi Sigma Iota (Alpha Lambda Rho Chapter), where she developed community-building initiatives, led a mentorship program, and facilitated impactful seminars. She also co-founded V.O.I.C.E. (Valuing Our Identities, Cultivating Empowerment), a student organization dedicated to creating a safe space for counseling students of color to connect and support each other. Her research interests focus on mental wellness for immigrants, including culturally sensitive practices and suicide prevention strategies. Alongside her studies, Ildico works as a counselor at a non-profit serving immigrants and refugees.

• Tricia Wolfe: Trisha Wolfe is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Ph.D. candidate at The Ohio State University. She specializes in working with complex trauma in private practice, integrating neuroscience and trauma-informed care to support well-being and resilience. Her research focuses on the neurobiological impacts of trauma, resilience, and counselor wellness and burnout. With advanced training in Somatic Experiencing and the NeuroAffective Relational Model, she approaches her work through a humanistic lens, emphasizing each individual's innate capacity for healing. Through her counseling, teaching, and research, she strives to create spaces where individuals can reconnect with their resilience and well-being.