Education

• M.A., counseling psychology, Western Michigan University
• B.A., social studies composite for secondary education, religion minor, Hope College

Professional Experience

• Private practice, Grand Haven and Holland, Michigan
• Program coordinator at Mosaic Counseling (previously TCM Counseling), Grand Haven, Michigan 
• Adjunct instructor, CLS 100 Introduction to College and CLS 102 Practicing Strategies for Academic Success, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Teaching assistant, CEP 260:  Dynamics of Personal Adjustment, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 
• Access clinician at Allegan County Community Mental Health Services, Allegan, Michigan

Professional Involvement

• American College Counseling Association
• American Psychological Association
• Michigan Psychological Association
• Regular attendee at the American College Counseling Association (ACCA) Annual Conference
• ACCA Annual Conference presentation: “Changing course without losing direction: One center’s flexible, efficient and sustainable response to meeting rising student mental health needs”
• Certified QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor

Campus Involvement

• Hope College Culture Action Team (overall CAT management and Processes & Policies Team facilitator)
• Rx Racial Healing Circle facilitator

Approach to Wellness

Aaron (he/him) says that he runs races because physical activity and time in nature are protective factors for his mental health (not because he is fast or trying to compete with anyone else). He also enjoys the t-shirts, the courses, the traditions, and the friends and family he runs with. Aaron also likes to re-read books from his childhood and youth so that he can enjoy the comfort of the familiar narratives and the new insights he picks up at this point in life.

Why I Love Hope

Hope is a place where students can become more of who they want to be within the provided amount of support and given their own personal agency. As an alumnus, Aaron’s desire is for Hope to continue to grow and live into its aspirations, which, ultimately, involve the development and flourishing of every student.