Campus News

UGA-Gwinnett counseling students receive SACES graduate fellowships

Athens, Ga. – Two University of Georgia counseling students have received the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Emerging Leaders Graduate Fellowship.

Monica Coleman is in her first year and Ken Jackson in his second year in the College of Education’s counseling and student personnel services doctoral program at UGA’s Gwinnett Campus.

SACES Emerging Leaders Fellows receive a stipend of $200 to attend the ACES national convention and Emerging Leaders workshop. Candidates for the fellowship are committed to enhancing diversity, with particular attention to racial/ethnic diversity. Selection criteria include the nominees’ commitment to the profession of counselor education and supervision, their leadership experience and potential, and their participation in state, regional and/or national ACES organizations and conferences.

Coleman, of McDonough, has been a school counselor at Henry County’s Dutchtown Elementary School for the past five years and is a licensed professional counselor. Prior to her present position, she was a counselor at Luella Middle School for three years and before that, was a special education teacher.

Coleman received her master’s and educational specialist degree in counseling from Florida State University. She received her B.S. in interrelated special education from Alabama A&M University.

Jackson, of Atlanta, has been head counselor at Decatur High School since 2008. He has worked in education for 25 years as a counselor, principal and English teacher. He has led workshops/seminars for local schools and national conferences in diversity, presenting extensively in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, most recently at the ASCA national conference in July. His research interests include LGBTQ student advocacy, counselor training and attitude, and social justice issues in K-16 settings.

Jackson received his M.Ed. in guidance/counseling from the University of North Florida. He earned a B.A. in communications/speech from Mercer University.