Team Members
Philip B. Gnilka, Ph.D. – Director
Philip is currently an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Counselor Education Programs and Doctoral Program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Before joining VCU, he held academic positions at DePaul University and Kent State University. He has over 24 articles and 60 presentations in the counseling and psychology fields focusing on stress, coping, and perfectionism. Dr. Gnilka’s clinical experience has primarily been in community mental health centers and college counseling centers. He currently is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia, a Nationally Certified Counselor, and a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor. He received his Bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his Masters degree from Wake Forest University, and his Doctorate from Georgia State University.
Lindsay Kozachuk, M.A. – Lab Coordinator
Lindsay is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Practice program. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood Education and Development, and her M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy with a certificate in Play Therapy. Lindsay’s research interests include families of children with special needs, couples, stress and coping, play therapy, and college students.
Amy L. Sarcinella, ME.d.
Amy is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education program. She received her M.Ed. in College Student Development and Counseling from VCU.
Autumn L. Randell, ME.d.
Autumn is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Practice program. Autumn went to Florida State University for her undergraduate degree, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Biology and Child Development. While at FSU, her interest in suicide research was sparked and has remained a topic she has continued to focus on. Autumn went to George Washing University for her Master’s in School Counseling and developed research interests in the school counselors’ role in suicide prevention, multicultural competency training of school counselors, and the factors leading to school counselor burnout.
Jared Crist, B.S.
Jared Crist is a Master’s student in the Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education studying College Counseling and Student Affairs. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the same institution. Jared is currently working full time at the Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing as an Academic Counselor.
Marsha Rutledge, ME.d., NCC
Marsha is a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Practice program. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling. Marsha has served as a Professional School Counselor for over 15 years on both the high and middle school levels. She currently serves as a Regional Representative on the board of the Virginia School Counselors Association, Awards Chairperson on the board of Chi Sigma Iota, and is an Emerging Leader with the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling. Marsha’s research interests are working with minority youth in career development and academic achievement.
Michael Deitz, M.Ed.
Michael is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program. He graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. In 2015, he graduated from the College of William and Mary with a B.A. in Psychology and Kinesiology with a Concentration in Health. His passion lays in collegiate development, and as a former NCAA Division I student-athlete and coach, enjoys focusing research on mental health and athletics.
Nika Anwell, M.A.
Nika Anwell is a doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision program and a Graduate Assistant at the VCU Center for School and Community Collaboration. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2015 with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling with a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. Nika is a Nationally Certified Counselor. Her research interests include: wellness, couples, identity, parenting, chronic illness, and invisible diseases.