ALAMOSA – As a service to her profession, Adams State University Associate Professor of Counselor Education Cheri Meder, Ph.D., has accepted an appointment to the Board of Directors for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Meder, who holds a doctorate in counselor education and supervision, has been involved in ASU’s Counselor Education accreditation process for the past six years. “CACREP accreditation is something I enjoy in terms of the process, collaboration and concrete expectations,” she said.

The mission of CACREP is to promote the professional competence of counseling and related practitioners through the development of preparation standards; the encouragement of excellence in program development; and the accreditation of professional preparation programs.

During the past year CACREP began the process of seeking new board members for a five-year term. Current President and CEO encouraged faculty in the Rocky Mountain Region to apply for the board. “Nationally the region is often underrepresented,” Meder said. “It’s important and crucial the region have a voice representing the unique needs of rural institutions serving diverse student bodies.”

Holding one of the faculty positions on the board, Meder said she will be a part of reviewing initial accreditation applications to determine a program’s readiness for an on-site visit while serving on various subcommittees. “This is considered a working board, which is exciting and appealing to me. It means active collaboration and involvement are crucial and essential. I’m excited to contribute to the profession while representing ASU.” All board directors serve for one (1) five year term and are not eligible for reappointment.

The CACREP Board of Directors believes in advancing the counseling profession through quality and excellence in counselor education; ensuring a fair, consistent, and ethical decision-making process; serving as a responsible leader in protecting the public; promoting practices that reflect openness to growth, change and collaboration; and, creating and strengthening standards that reflect the needs of society, respect the diversity of instructional approaches and strategies, and encourage program improvement and best practices.

The Adams State Counselor Education program has been accredited since 1995. “Our program has a long-standing history and strong reputation with CACREP,” Meder added. “I strongly believe in our department’s mission, and that of Adams State’s, to serve marginalized and underserved students who would otherwise not have access to higher education. We do great things as a department to serve students, which is what I love about Adams State.”

Meder completed her Master of Arts in Counselor Education at Adams State in 2008 and then earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University.