Founded in 1991 | A division of the American Counseling Association

Meritorious Service Award

The Meritorious Service Award is presented to an individual that has Demonstrated service to the profession of college counseling and/or to ACCA; this award will be offered in three categories: community/technical college setting; college or university population under 5000; and college or university population over 5000.

Past Award Recipients

2025

Alexis Huisman, Northeast Community College

2024

Greg Peterson; University of Portland

2021

Arlene Rivero-Carr

2020

Kathleen Brien Douthat

2018

Timothy Bond; Community/Technical College
Steffanie Grossman; Four Year College

2017

Amy Ralston-Beike; Community/Technical College
Heidi Rae O'Connor; Four Year College

2015

Jon Edwards
Mark Tovar; Community/Technical College
Taffey Cunnien; University Population Under 5,000

2014

Janelle Johnson

2013

Danielle Turk
Leslie Stewart
Patrick Mooney

2012

Taffey Cunnien
Gloria Hines
Julie Lineburgh
Melissa Nard
Joyce Thomas
Betty Varghese

2011

Taffey Cunnien

2010

Taffey Cunnien
Sarah Evans
Marcia Hanlon
Julia Porter
Joyce Thomas
Joshua Watson

2005

Kevin Gaw
Shannon Andreas

2004

June Williams

2003

Cynthia Bing

2002

Joyce Thomas

2001

Rebecca Kuhn
Michelle Stefanisko

2000

Peggy Simpkins

1999

Steve Brown
Carolyn Thomas

1998

Rhonda Perry
Patricia Neumann
Joyce Thomas

1997

Michael Bucell
Chuck Goodrum
Laura Pascal

1996

Cheryl Bond; Community/Technical College
Kelly Clark; University population under 5,000
James Pitts; University population over 5,000

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2026 ACCA Annual Conference
Myrtle Beach, SC
March 5-8, 2026

Announcements

View the press release on HEMHA's new guide to Animals on Campus

Click here to access the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources

ACCA joins the 4th edition of Health and Well being in Higher Education: A Commitment to Student Success

Please note the addition of the College Counseling & Psychological Services Knowledge Base to the resources page.

ACCA Members in the News

Becca Smith is quoted in the Washington Post article "College mental health centers are swamped. Here's what parents can do."

Andrew Lee is quoted in the Inside Higher Ed article on Suicidal Ideation

Steffanie Grrossman is quoted in Online Counseling article College Students Diet and Mental Health

Janelle Johnson comments on the state of mental services at community colleges.

Janelle Johnson on College Counseling” Psychotherapy.net Interview. Follow the link to read the full interview.