The University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) announced the addition of three new faculty members on Jan. 19 to provide psychiatric services for students across all campuses.
The new faculty members are Joyce Southern, Zsuzsa Nagy, and Stephanie Koempel.
“Joyce Southers, APN, is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, with over 20 years of experience in healthcare,” according to an announcement on the University’s website. Southers is licensed in the states of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
The announcement added that Zsuzsa Nagy, a licensed clinical social worker, will mainly work with students at the law school’s campus in Newark. It also said that Nagy recently served as the director of counseling services at Saint Elizabeth University and in the emergency room of Morristown Medical Center.
Joining the clinical staff on the South Orange campus is Stephanie Koempel. According to the University’s announcement, Koempel was Fairleigh Dickinson University’s director of Counseling and Psychological Services for the past eight years.
Student Government Association president Jayde Dieu commended the announcement.
“Simply put, the additions made in CAPS aid in broadening its capacity to help students, and we are happy to see the University move to fill these positions,” Dieu said. “Unique problems require unique. The University is working to meet students where they are, but there is always room to improve. Mental health on college campuses is complex and it doesn’t start or end with counseling services.”
Dieu, whose 2022-23 presidential campaign was vehement about improving mental health services and their accessibility, created a CAPS working group with an elected liaison to ask questions, share concerns and discuss solutions to meet students’ needs.
Dieu said she is looking to include more non-SGA student members into the CAPS task force to broaden their reach and welcome new perspectives. She also said she wants to implement more therapy groups, including those for women of color, international students and individuals living with stress and anxiety.
“Campus inclusivity and quality of life can gravely impact the trajectory of a student’s mental health, and I believe this is where the University must place more focus,” Dieu said.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is a free resource, offering a wide range of therapeutic services designed to foster the psychological health and well-being of students. To contact CAPS, schedule an appointment at (973) 761-9500 or stop by Mooney Hall, Room 27.
Jiaqi Liu can be reached at Jiaqi.liu@student.shu.edu.
