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The both/and of setting expectations and meeting student needs: inspiration for AY 2025-26

As you prepare for the start of the 2025-26 AY, join us for insight and inspiration into the “both/and” of setting expectations and meeting student needs. 

Since expectations and responding to them can require a different approach relative to the context of your campus, culture, and student body, host Kate Wolfe-Lyga will be joined by two guests to offer different perspectives – followed by Q&A to support your current messaging and expectation setting challenges and opportunities. 

Guest John Ward, Ph.D., Director of the Student Counseling Service at Miami University, a public institution in Oxford, Ohio with 18K enrollment, will provide insights on messaging and expectation setting with parents and guardians. 

Guest Gizelle Tircuit, Ph.D., Director of Health and Wellness at Mitchell College, a small private school in New London, CT with ~400 enrollment (and a national leader for their innovative academic support programs benefiting neurodivergent learners), will share from her experience in expectation setting when supporting neurodiverse populations. 

We hope you can join us and set yourself up for expectation-setting-success in the AY ahead!  

Seats are limited, so secure your spot!

About the Guests and Host

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Gizelle Tircuit, Ph.D.

Director of Health and Wellness

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Gizelle Tircuit is a licensed psychotherapist and Director of Health and Wellness at Mitchell College. She completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Walden University in May 2021. She received an M.S. in General Psychology from Walden University in 2007, an M.S. in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University in 1997, and a B.A. in Psychology from Southern University at New Orleans. She coordinated a professional intensive out-patient, dual-diagnosis program with Care Plus, Natchaug Hospital, a division of Hartford Hospital.  A strong advocate for emotional disabled students and dual diagnosed individuals, she is a member of the American Psychological Association, Positive Parenting of Connecticut, and the North American Society for Adlerian Psychology (NASAP), a certified Dialectal Behavioral Therapist, and a board-certified grief counselor, as well as a SMART Recovery therapist. She believes in an individual’s ability to strive for success and overcome misdirected goals. Areas of professional interests are brain-based learning, mindful meditation, and positive psychology. Her current projects include supporting the Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) group to address the historic trauma and social changes in their communities. She is an honored member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology since 2007.

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John Ward, Ph.D.

Director of Student Counseling Service

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John Ward is a licensed clinical psychologist and serves as the Director of the Student Counseling Service. He approaches therapy from multicultural, interpersonal process, and cognitive-behavioral perspectives. His clinical and professional expertise are in diversity and inclusion, psychological supervision and training, gatekeeper training, as well as establishing campus and community mental health partnerships.

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Kate Wolfe-Lyga (she/her), LMHC, ACS

Vice President, Clinical Operations

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As Vice President of Clinical Operations at BetterMynd, Kate serves as the subject matter expert for the company, oversees affiliated counselor credentialing, compliance, quality assurance, support and professional development, provides consultation to prospective and partner campuses, and leads company-wide assessment activities. 

Prior to BetterMynd, Kate was the Director of Counseling at SUNY Oswego for 7 years.  During her time at SUNY Oswego, she served as the president of the SUNY Counseling Directors, secretary for the board of the Association for University and College Counseling Directors and as a member of the SUNY Mental Health Task Force.  Kate has also served on the board of the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD).  She has owned and operated a small private practice in Camillus, NY since 2018. 

Kate obtained their Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Justice from the State University of New York College at Oswego and her Master of Science degree in Community Counseling from Syracuse University.

About College Counseling Leaders "Discuss This"

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BetterMynd’s “College Counseling Leaders Discuss This Series” began in fall 2023 and is a recurring, remote (Zoom) meeting focused on bringing the community together for a focused participatory conversation on important topics in college counseling.

BetterMynd is providing this space because we believe the role of college counseling leadership on campus is critical and irreplaceable in ensuring students receive the mental health support they need.    

Through this recurring series, we want to deepen our existing campus relationships, create new ones, and learn from this community of professionals.  No sales pitch (we promise), just Kate, community, and salient topics.