LSU New Orleans - Counselor Education Program

08/22/2026

We know her!
Happy first week, Dr. Rachlinski!

As we start our Fall 2026 semester, we would like to first welcome our newest faculty member, Dr. Rachel Rachlinski.

Dr. Rachlinski is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Counseling Program, where she brings a deep passion for animals and the human-animal bond to her work in counselor education. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of New Orleans and a Post-Master's Certificate in Human-Animal Interaction from the University of Denver, and her research and clinical practice center on the ethical and therapeutic use of animals in mental health counseling. Outside the classroom, she can often be found spending time with her dogs and tending her garden, a hobby that mirrors her belief in the quiet, restorative power of nurturing living things.

Please help us welcome Dr. Rachel Rachlinski! We are so excited that you are joining our faculty here at Southeastern Louisiana University.

08/17/2026

08/11/2026

August 11th is National Play in the Sand Day! To celebrate, we’re highlighting a ton of new sand play items in our play room made possible by a grant from the Keller Family Foundation.

These items and much more will get some good use this fall in our Introduction to Play Therapy course.

07/10/2026

In case you missed it…

Last week, Dr. Chris Belser, Associate Professor in the Counselor Education Graduate Program, was presented with the 2026 Merit Award by the National Career Development Association at their annual conference in Minneapolis, MN.

The awards committee noted that they were “deeply impressed by [Dr. Belser’s] depth of scholarship with applications to practical work and the wide reaching impact of [his] numerous presentations and publications.” The Merit Award has four criteria: (1) Education and mentoring of career counseling students; (2) Development of, or leadership in, exemplary career programs; (3) Conduct significant research in the field; (4) Advocacy efforts to inform and persuade policy makers about career development.

Dr. Belser’s research primarily centers on career and workforce initiatives in STEM, as well as connections between green career development and eco-wellness. His scholarship has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Louisiana School Counselor Association, and the UNO Office of Research and previously earned the 2020 Edwin Herr Fellowship from Chi Sigma Iota International, among other honors. He is a past-president and current board member for the Louisiana Career Development Association.

One of the oldest organizations in the counseling profession, the National Career Development Association was founded in 1913 and is the leading organization for career counselors, school counselors, counselor educators, and researchers.

UNO College of Liberal Arts, Education and Human Development
LSU New Orleans Graduate School
School of Education, LSU-New Orleans
UNO Office of Research

07/07/2026

Interested in learning more about connections between gardening, mental health, and wellness? Dr. Chris Belser, who happens to be a Louisiana Master Gardener, will be speaking at two upcoming free events open to the public.

Wednesday, July 8th from 5:30-6:30pm at the Latter Memorial Library https://neworleans.libnet.info/event/16542821

Tuesday, July 14th from 1:00-2:00pm at the Lakeshore Library https://calendar.jplibrary.net/event/master-gardeners-presents-gardening-wellness-and-you-28309

Description:
Discover many wellness benefits (physical, mental, emotional, social, etc.) of gardening and, more generally, being in nature. You will learn garden setup and design tips that will help you promote your own wellness. In addition, you will learn five concrete wellness practices you can do in your garden.

07/06/2026

Our friends over in the Teacher Education program are looking for a new faculty colleague focused on math and science education.

Thank you for your interest in LSU New Orleans. Once you start the application process, you will not be able to save your work, so you should collect all required information before you begin. The required information is listed below in the job posting. You must complete all required portions of the...

07/01/2026

As today is our official transition day to the LSU System, it seems fitting to highlight this collaboration that spans two LSU System campuses.

The National Career Development Association just premiered a new monograph focusing on the intersection of career and mental health, edited by LSU Counselor Education faculty members Dr. Jennifer Curry and Dr. Jodi Manton.

The monograph includes chapter contributions by two LSU New Orleans faculty (Drs. Chris Belser & Michelle Wade), three doctoral alumni (Drs. Heather Olivier, Victoria Rodriguez, and Rachel Rachlinski) and two current doctoral students (Scott Ephemere and Amanda Maas).

Pictured are Drs. Curry, Manton, and Belser at the official book signing at the NCDA Conference in Minneapolis.

School of Education, LSU-New Orleans
LSU New Orleans Graduate School
UNO Alumni Association