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Cara Cerullo has been named director of the WIU Counseling Center.
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Cerullo Named WIU Counseling Center Director

May 9, 2023

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University Interim Counseling Center Director Cara Cerullo has been named the center's permanent director, effective May 1.

Cerullo has been interim director of the Counseling Center since June 2022. She began working at WIU in 2008 as heath education administrator and prevention coordinator of WIU's Alcohol and Other Drug Resource Center.

"Cara has done an amazing job as interim director of the University Counseling Center," said Interim Vice President for Student Success John Smith. "She has demonstrated initiative in improving and expanding services for our students, and the UCC will continue to thrive under her leadership."

Prior to coming to WIU, Cerullo was an inpatient/outpatient program manager for the mental health unit, and an addictions counselor, at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, IA.

"I look forward to continuing to lead my University Counseling Center colleagues to provide compassionate care to our students, supporting their overall mental well being, while simultaneously working in collaboration with the Division of Student Success using a whole systems approach to student success," she said.

Cerullo is also part of a WIU team that recently won grant money from the NCAA to conduct campus training in suicide prevention and awareness for student-athletes.

"We're excited to develop new initiatives over the upcoming academic year to expand our support to students with grant funding provided for the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, as well as the NCAA grant," she said.

Cerullo is a licensed clinical social worker, a certified alcohol and other drug counselor and a certified management and aggressive behavior instructor. She also serves as an adjunct instructor in the WIU Department of Health Sciences and Social Work.

Cerullo is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Education (Ed Leadership) program at WIU, with a focus on organizational justice, equity and inclusion. She received her master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Iowa.

The University Counseling Center has the primary responsibility for the delivery of counseling services, assessment services, consultation, training, public relations and outreach activities to WIU students.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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