The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has announced the appointment of Shenay Bridges-Carter as the new executive director for the UIC Counseling Center. Her role will commence on January 13, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

Bridges-Carter transitions to UIC from Northwestern University, where she held the position of senior director of clinical services in student affairs. At Northwestern, her responsibilities included overseeing clinical services operations, providing culturally sensitive direct services, supervising clinical trainees, managing crisis coverage, and consulting with medical staff regarding client care.

With two decades of experience in college counseling centers and student affairs across two higher-education institutions, Bridges-Carter is well-prepared for her new role at UIC. She has developed an appreciation for working within a diverse institution and values the contributions made by counseling centers to campus communities.

At UIC's Counseling Center, which operates under the Office of Health and Well-being, Bridges-Carter will be responsible for leading cultural change initiatives aimed at improving health and wellness outcomes for students. Her focus will include mental health issues related to identity and inclusion.

Bridges-Carter expressed her enthusiasm about collaborating with key leaders in health and well-being at UIC. She aims to enhance understanding of the student experience and foster a more inclusive learning environment that connects to campus wellness. Her objectives also involve gaining support from staff, addressing service perspectives, and showcasing skills offered by the Counseling Center.

"We are always meeting people who are transitioning at some time or another in these exciting and challenging times," Bridges-Carter stated. She hopes to create a welcoming environment within the Counseling Center—a place where individuals can enjoy themselves while discussing positive developments in their lives.

Bridges-Carter holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from Pennsylvania State University and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. An Aurora native, she is married with three daughters and owns a pitbull-mastiff mix named Ramie.