Director of Counseling and Psychological Services

The University of Texas at Arlington seeks a strategic, student-centered leader to serve as Director of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). This role presents a compelling opportunity to shape, elevate, and lead comprehensive mental health services that are foundational to student success, persistence, and holistic wellbeing. Providing administrative and clinical leadership, the Director will play a critical role in advancing a campus culture that prioritizes care, access, and responsiveness to the evolving mental health needs of a multifaceted student community.

As the institution's senior mental health leader, this Director will shape a compelling vision and long-term strategy for counseling and psychological services, advancing a holistic and proactive approach to student mental health. Through thoughtful strategic planning, policy leadership, and continuous assessment, this leader elevates CAPS as a central driver of student well-being. A strong commitment to data-informed leadership underpins the work, translating Counseling Center outcomes into actionable insights for senior student affairs leadership through annual analysis and presentations of service data.

This Director will cultivate and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary team by fostering professional growth, accountability, and a shared sense of purpose among clinical and administrative staff. The role provides strategic oversight of a comprehensive continuum of mental health services, spanning counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, and outreach, to ensure students receive timely, ethical, and culturally responsive care. By remaining clinically engaged through a limited counseling caseload, this leader stays grounded in students' lived experiences.

In moments of acute need, this leader provides calm, visible leadership during student mental health crises. Availability for on-call response, by phone and, when necessary, in person, underscores a deep commitment to student safety, coordinated care, and institutional risk management.

This role serves as a strategic steward of CAPS resources, providing thoughtful leadership in budget development, financial planning, and contract oversight to ensure the long-term sustainability, innovation, and alignment of services with university priorities. A strong commitment to ongoing professional development is expected, with continuous engagement in emerging research, best practices, and evolving mental health trends impacting college-aged students.

Collaboration sits at the center of this role's institutional impact. As a trusted campus consultant and educator, this leader partners closely with colleagues across the university and within the broader community to navigate complex mental health situations, support risk assessment, and strengthen prevention and outreach efforts. Through service on university committees and leadership forums, this role ensures CAPS has a strong and visible voice in shaping institutional strategy related to student wellbeing, safety, and crisis management, including active participation on the Division of Student Affairs' SALT team.

Additional key leadership responsibilities include:

• Setting strategic vision and direction for Counseling & Psychological Services
• Advancing assessment, transparency, and data-informed decision-making
• Building, supporting, and developing a strong clinical and administrative team
• Overseeing counseling, crisis response, consultation, and outreach services
• Providing executive-level leadership during student mental health crises
• Ensuring ethical practice, compliance, and effective risk management
• Managing budget, financial resources, and external partnerships
• Remaining clinically engaged through a limited counseling caseload
• Collaborating across campus and with community partners to advance student well-being
• Contributing to university-wide committees and strategic initiatives

More information about the Counseling and Psychological Services office can be found here: https://www.uta.edu/student-affairs/caps

Pamela Pezzoli is leading this search with Lehman Robinson and Melissa Barravecchio.