BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College has hired a new faculty member ahead of the launch of its new Master’s of Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Dr. Ariel Williams will be an assistant professor in the program, working under director Dr. Jen Randall Reyes, who was hired in April. The new program is a collaborative effort made possible through a $1.2 million investment by Aetna Better Health of West Virginia and Community Care of West Virginia.

Graduates of the master’s program are eligible to receive employment opportunities through Community Care of West Virginia. West Virginia has one mental health and behavioral provider for every 770 people, while the national average has at least one provider for every 400 people.

Williams is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor. She earned her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from the University of Montana in 2019. Passionate about teaching novice counselors, Williams strives to create inclusive, challenging, and inspiring experiences. She believes that strong relationships are at the core of learning, both in the classroom and in the counseling room.

Williams has provided clinical counseling since 2012, but pivoted recently to a telehealth platform with a holistic model of healing. Her research interests relate to the experience and process of counseling supervision, creativity in teaching and counseling, and counselor wellness.

To learn more about the program and register for updates, visit www.wvwc.edu/cmhm