Counseling and Psychological Services Staff

Welcome to the Kennesaw State University Wellbeing and Counseling Services staff directory page. Here, you can get to know the dedicated and compassionate professionals who are here to support your mental and emotional wellbeing. Our team is committed to providing you with the resources and assistance you need to thrive during your time at KSU. Whether you're seeking counseling, therapy, or simply want to connect with someone who can help, our staff members are here to guide you on your journey towards improved mental health and overall wellbeing.

Explore the profiles of our experienced team to find the right fit for your needs and embark on a path to wellness and personal growth.

Administrative Staff

Name
Position
  • CoryViehl headshot

    Director, Counseling and Psychological Services & Part-Time Assistant Professor of Psychology

    cviehl@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2427

    Joined CPS: 2024

    Education: Ph.D. Counselor Education and Practice, Georgia State University; M.S. Community Counseling, University of North Georgia; B.S. Psychology, University of North Georgia.

    Licenses and Certifications: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS), Board Certified in Telemental Health (BC-TMH).

  • Lunden Hawkins Headshot

    Associate Director, Embedded Counseling Services

    lhawki31@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2425

    Joined CPS: 2022

    Education: Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Chaminade University of Honolulu; M.S. Clinical Psychology, Argosy University Hawai'i; B.S. Family Studies and Human Development, Towson University

  • Associate Director, Case Management and Operations

    ehickey1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CPS: 2023 

    Education: MSW in Social Work, Kennesaw State University, B.S. Psychology, Kennesaw State University

    Licenses and Trainings: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Intensively Trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through PsychWire

  • Nicole Phillips headshot

    Associate Director, Outreach and Engagement & Part-Time Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies

    nphill10@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-3546
    KH 2422

    Joined CPS: 2023 
     
    Education: Ed.D. Student Affairs Leadership, University of Georgia; M.S. College Student Personnel, Indiana University; B.A., University of California, Irvine, CA, Social Sciences  
     
    Training and Certifications: Question. Persuade. Refer (QPR), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Title IX Hearing Officer Training, University System of Georgia, Conflict Dynamic Profile (CDP), KSU Executive Leadership for Women, KSU EXCEL Leadership Program,  KSU Ethical Leadership Certificate Program, Georgia State University's College of Law Consortium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Training, Leadership for Results, National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), and Social Justice Training Institute (SJTI). 
     

  • Gregory Stevens

    Associate Director, Clinical Services

    gsteve17@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CPS: 2015

    Education: Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Auburn University; M.S. Mental Health Counseling, Lee University; B.A. Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Lee University

  • Wayne Strother

    Associate Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

    wstrothe@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-7391
    A 170h

    Joined CPS: 2017

    Education: Doctor of Public Administration, Valdosta State University; M.A. Marriage and Family Counseling, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Master of Business Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham; B.S. Industrial Management, Auburn University

 

Clinical Staff

Name
Position
  • Staff Therapist

    dbutle89@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

  • Emily Croft headshot

    Staff Therapist

    ecroft2@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2422

  • Jeff Earle Headshot

    Clinical Recovery Specialist & Part-Time Instructor of Social Work

    jearle2@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-2892
    UV 6139C

    Joined KSU CYAAR in 2016 and became a part of CAPS in 2024

    Education: Master of Social Work with addiction specialization, Kennesaw State University; B.S. Psychology, Minor in alternative dispute resolution, Kennesaw State University.

    Office Location: Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery on Kennesaw Campus, University Village, rm UV 6138C.

  • Thalia Escobedo

    Student Affairs Case Manager

    tescobed@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    A 170F

    Joined CAPS: 2024

    Education:  Master of Social Work, Asbury University; B.S. Psychology, Florida Gulf Coast University.  

    Office Location: Marietta Campus

  • Elisheva Funk

    Staff Therapist

    efunk4@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    A 170I

    Joined CAPS: 2018

    Education: Master of Social Work with Family Therapy certificate, Boston University; B.A. Psychology, University of North Carolina

    Office Location:  Marietta Campus

  • Jace Mitcham headstot

    Staff Therapist, Student Health Services

    jmitcha4@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CAPS: 2025 

    Education: M.S. Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Georgia State University; B.S. Psychology, Minor in Substance Addiction Education, Troy University 

    Office Location:  Marietta Campus, Student Health Services 

  • Latrice Lewis

    Staff Therapist, Athletics

    llewis40@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CAPS: 2024

    Education: M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Georgia State University; M.S. Kinesiology, Specialization: Sports Psychology and Motor Behavior, University of Tennessee-Knoxville; B.S. Psychology, Minor in Sociology, Georgia State University; A.S. Liberal Arts, North Country Community College

    Office Location: Kennesaw Campus, Athletics

  • MK Martin image

    Staff Therapist, Health and Wellbeing & Part-Time Instructor of Social Work

    mmart297@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-3582
    ST 261A

    MK Martin, LCSW, RYT-200

    Joined CAPS: 2017

    Office Location: Kennesaw

  • Maureen O

    Staff Therapist

    modonn10@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2413

    Joined CAPS: 2017

    Education: M.S. Professional Counseling, Georgia State University; B.M. Music Therapy, Florida State University

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

  • Opal Ojeda

    Interim Associate Director, Training

    oojeda@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    A 170

    Joined CAPS: 2019

    Education: Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, University of Minnesota; M.A. Community Counseling, Gonzaga University; B.A. Psychology, Brigham Young University-Idaho

    Office Location:  Marietta Campus

  • Sheldon Rifkin

    Psychologist & Part-Time Assistant Professor of Psychology

    srifkin@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2419

    Joined CAPS: July, 2010

    Education: Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Tennessee; M.S. Psychology, Temple University; B.S. Psychology, Brooklyn College

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

  • Ramsey Rutherford headshot

    Staff Therapist

    rruther6@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2404

    Joined CAPS: 2023

    Education: M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Mercer University; B.S. Psychology, Minor in Religious Studies, Kennesaw State University; The Body Positive Facilitator

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

  • Afton Storno headshot

    Staff Therapist

    astorno@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2415

    Joined CAPS: 2018

    Education: M.A. Clinical Psychology with a Marriage and Family Therapy emphasis, Pepperdine University; B.A. Clinical Psychology, Clark Atlanta University

    Office Location:  Kennesaw Campus

 

Doctoral Internship Staff

Kennesaw State University's Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) Doctoral Internship in Health Services Psychology.

Name
Position
  • DJ Johannesson headshot image

    Counseling and Psychology Doctoral Intern

    djohanne@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CAPS: 2024

    Education: Doctoral candidate, Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, Ponce Health and Sciences University; B.S. Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign  

    Office Location:  Marietta Campus and Kennesaw Campus

  • Patrick Lei headshop image

    Counseling and Psychology Doctoral Intern

    plei@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CAPS: 2024

    Education: Psy.D. Candidate Clinical Psychology, Azusa Pacific University; M.A. Psychology, Azusa Pacific University; B.S. Clinical Psychology, University of California San Diego

    Office Location: Marietta Campus and Kennesaw Campus

  • Tara Pope headshot image

    Counseling and Psychology Doctoral Intern

    tpope24@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6600
    KH 2401

    Joined CAPS: 2024

    Education: Currently working on Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Michigan School of Psychology; M.A. Clinical Psychology with ABA certification, Michigan School of Psychology; B.S. Biology, minor in Psychology and Spanish, University of Michigan-Flint

    Office Location: Marietta Campus and Kennesaw Campus

Clinical Trainees

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office of Kennesaw State University (KSU) offers training experiences for masters and doctoral students in counseling, social work and psychology. 

Our new Practicum Trainees for the 25/26 acadeic year will be starting on August 18, 2025.  We look forward to introducing them soon! 

 

 

Counseling and Psychological Services is a function of the Division of Student Affairs.