DeBerard named director of Counseling Services and Student Health

Utah State University psychology professor Scott DeBerard has been named the executive director of Counseling Services and Student Health at USU. 

DeBerard officially started in the role of executive director on April 1.

A newly created position, the executive director is charged with providing strategic direction for and day-to-day management of the Student Health and Wellness Center and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). 

“The Division of Student Affairs is very pleased to welcome Scott to the division and to this important new leadership role,” Vice President for Student Affairs James Morales said. “The health and well-being of our students is of paramount importance because it is one of the foundational elements of student success. 

“Scott will provide leadership to two departments that are at the forefront of the university’s ongoing efforts to enhance the services, tools, and opportunities provided to students to ensure their health and well-being. Scott is well prepared to serve in this key role as a result of his experience as both an academic leader and a health and wellness practitioner.”

A professor in the Department of Psychology, DeBerard completed a doctorate in Combined Psychology at Utah State in 1998. After spending two years as an assistant professor at the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon, DeBerard returned to USU as an assistant professor of psychology in 2001. He became an associate professor in 2005 and a full professor in July 2018. 

In addition, DeBerard has recently served as the director of the Utah State University Psychology Community Clinic and the practicum supervisor of Behavioral Health Services at the Student Health and Wellness Center.  

“I am extremely excited to start in this new role,” DeBerard said. “This position represents an exciting opportunity to optimize and enhance healthcare services for USU students in the coming years. Some of my initial goals are to enhance care coordination between the two departments and improve accessibility of mental health services for students.”

As executive director of Counseling Services and Student Health, DeBerard is expected to lead the implementation of a collaborative and integrated model of holistic wellness that will meet the needs of the student population through services that address the physical and emotional healthcare needs of USU students. 

Comprised of 10 licensed psychologists, graduate assistants and several support personnel, CAPS has been accredited since 1994 by the International Association of Counseling Services and delivers an APA accredited pre-doctoral internship program. Services include consultations, workshops, group therapy sessions, individual or couples counseling, and crisis intervention. CAPS also provides presentations and training for the university community on student mental health topics and conducts psychoeducational assessments. 

The Student Health & Wellness Center at Utah State provides an array of medical services, including general medical and urgent care, psychiatry and mental health counseling, women's and men's health, physical exams, sports medicine, laboratory testing, X-rays and onsite physical therapy. In addition, Student Health delivers educational opportunities on general health information and prevention, stress management, sexual health, healthy relationships, substance abuse and dependence, and minor in possession classes. The Student Health team currently includes a psychiatrist, a family physician, a physician assistant, a radiologist, two nurse practitioners, a drug and alcohol educator, a nutritionist, an administrative nurse, three licensed nurses, doctoral psychology graduate assistants, physical therapists and support staff.