University Counseling Services Staff

Suzanne Burks, Ph.D., LPC, is the Director of University Counseling Services. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Behavioral Studies of Education with an emphasis in Counseling and Development from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Burks enjoys directing such a diverse department and is active in the community through involvement on various boards and task forces. Also, Dr. Burks is known for being an active participant and coordinator of a 24-hour crisis intervention response program. She has served in various roles at University Counseling Services since 1986.

Dylan Burns, Ph.D., is a Senior Clinical Counselor. He received his doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology in 2009 from Oklahoma State University and his Master's in Community Counseling in 2002 from Oklahoma State University. He received a B.S. degree in Journalism at Oklahoma State University in 1999. Special interest areas include multicultural issues, sports psychology, inter-generational trauma and resilience, men’s issues and relationship issues.

Carol Challenger, Ph.D., is a Senior Clinical Counselor at the Student Counseling Center. She received her doctorate in Counseling and School Psychology from Florida State University and obtained the M.Ed. in Counseling and a B.Sc. in Business Education from Florida A&M University. She also has certificates in crisis management and general education. Her work experience has spanned the fields of education, residential life and counseling. Dr. Challenger characterizes herself as an individual with a passion for helping others maximize their potential. Her areas of professional interest include adjustment issues, anxiety disorders, crisis management, depression, diversity issues, grief & loss, self-esteem, stress management and women's issues. She enjoys traveling, cooking, listening to music, dancing, interior decorating and other types of creative work. Her theoretical orientation is described as integrative, with emphasis on humanistic/existential/cognitive behavioral approaches.

Joseph Dunnigan, Ph.D., is a Senior Clinical Counselor. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kent State University in 2000 and doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University. His areas of professional interest include career counseling, anger and aggression, sexual diversity and multicultural issues. He enjoys playing and listening to music, sculpting and watching films.

Baiba Ercum, M.D., is Board Certified in Psychiatry in the U.S. and in Poland. Dr. Ercum received her M.D. from the Medical Academy of Warsaw. She has considerable experience with both in-patient and out-patient psychiatry and has been on the SCC staff since 1992. Special areas of interest include mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Dr. Ercum is available for appointments on a referral basis. She enjoys classical and ethnic music, spending time with her dogs and the outdoors.

Joni Hays, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, is Coordinator of the Academic and Career Development Center. She earned a Ph.D. from Kansas State University in Student Counseling and Personnel Services as well as M.S.and B.S. degrees in Psychology from Pittsburg State University. Joni is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). She has been on staff since 1989.

Kara Niccum, LMFT, LADC, is an Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She received her M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Oklahoma State University in 2007. She received her B.A. in Psychology in 2003 also from OSU. Special interest areas include substance abuse and dependence, the impact of substance abuse and dependence on the family and marital and family therapy, specifically parent-child interaction.

Kim Poslick, MHR, LPC, LADC, is the Coordinator of the Alcohol & Substance Abuse Center. She received her Master of Human Relations with an emphasis in Chemical Dependency from the University of Oklahoma. She also received a B.S. in Journalism Education from OU. Ms. Poslick has spent more than 20 years working with substance abuse clients in both in-patient and out-patient settings. In addition to being a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Alcohol/Drug Counselor, she is also certified to provide the full array of ADSAC/DUI assessments and classes. Special areas of interest include the impact of substance use on adjustment, relationships, self-esteem, anxiety and depression. She also has a special affinity for the friends and family of those afflicted with addiction.

Tamara Richardson, Ph.D., is a Licensed Psychologist and Senior Clinical Counselor at the OSU Student Counseling Center. She is the Training Director for student interns, coordinator for the Oklahoma State University GLBT Safe Zone program and member of the OSU Gay/Straight Faculty Alliance. She is a founding board member and secretary for the Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association. She received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2007 and a B.S. degree in Psychology/Family Science from Cameron University in 2002. Dr. Richardson's special clinical interest areas include body image and eating disorder issues, clinical supervision and training, gender identity and sexual orientation issues, grief, trauma, sexual assault and domestic violence, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, family and/or relationship concerns, group therapy and couple counseling.

Trevor Richardson, Ph.D., is a Licensed Psychologist and Coordinator of Counseling at the Student Counseling Center. He completed his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2008 and M.S. in Community Counseling in 2001 both at Oklahoma State University. He completed a B.A. in Psychology at Central College (Pella, IA) in 1998. Special interest areas include multicultural issues, relationship issues, sport and exercise psychology and the use of biofeedback in arousal regulation/stress management.

Veronica Sutton, M.S., J.D., is the Outreach Specialist for the Academic Career Development Center. She earned a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 1993 and her M.S. in Agency Counseling from Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1983. Veronica relocated with her family to Stillwater in 2002 and has previously done work with a local counseling agency and been involved in various roles in the Stillwater Public School system. Special interests include volunteering and serving as a board member for Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue, spending time with her husband and three children and caring for her own animals.

Cindy K. Washington, M.S., LPC, CT, is a Clinical Counselor at the Student Counseling Center. She received her Master's in Counseling and Student Personnel from Oklahoma State University in 1993. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Oklahoma and is a Certified Thanatologist (CT). She is a member of EQuAL (Employee Queers and Allies) and a member of ADEC (Association of Death Education and Counseling). Special interests include Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual issues and Transgender issues; Death, Dying and the Grieving process; Career and Major decision-making; Anxiety and Depression; Trauma and Sexual Assault and Eating Disorders. She has been a member of the staff since 1995.

Jason White, Ph.D., is a Senior Clinical Counselor and Licensed Psychologist. He received his Ph.D. from Texas Tech University in August, 2003 in Counseling Psychology; M.A. from Texas Tech University in August, 2000 in Psychology; and B.A. from the University of North Texas in May, 1996 in Psychology. Special interest areas include relationship issues, couples counseling and research, suicide prevention, heterosexism and homophobia, men's issues and career counseling.

002 University Health Services
405-744-5458 phone
405-744-3629 fax

Hours: M-F, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 to 5 p.m.

If you are a student in crisis, an on-call counselor is available. After 5 p.m. and on weekends, counseling staff may be reached through the OSU Police, 405-744-6523.