Kate is an Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the Department of Counseling, with a specialization in Addictions.  Kate received her Master’s of Rehabilitation Counseling and worked for several years with youth and families suffering from substance use disorders.  Through her clinical work, Kate developed a passion for better understanding the needs of individuals and families diagnosed with substance use disorders, which led her to UNCG where she earned her PhD in Counselor Education in 2015.  While at UNCG, Kate taught an undergraduate course in Career and Life Planning as well as a graduate course in Substance Abuse Counseling.  Her research followed her passion and focused on a better understanding of family dynamics and substance abuse using an Adlerian theoretical lens.  Much of Kate’s clinical work during her doctoral studies occurred through the Institute to Promote Athlete Health and Wellness at UNCG, where she worked with student-athletes, both individually and as a team, on mental health and substance abuse concerns.  Through this work, Kate has developed an interest in the unique needs of student-athletes and is interested in promoting and incorporating these unique needs into the counseling profession.  While at UNCC, Kate plans to enhance the field of addictions by addressing the distinct needs of families and student-athletes.  She hopes to achieve this through training future counselors, research, and consultation.