3/14/24

By University Communications

HAYS, Kan. - Dr. Reade Dowda, FHSU associate professor of advanced education programs, was named Kansas Counselor of the Year at the 2024 Kansas Counseling Association Conference.

“I was grateful and surprised to win the award,” Dowda said.

When asked what might have contributed to his being selected for the award, Dowda referred to his work as CACREP liaison.  CACREP serves as an institutional degree-specific accreditation that reviews professional preparation programs. Dowda’s work as a liaison involves helping his department meet student-to-faculty ratios, aligning his program with CACREP standards, and preparing many reports.

He pointed out that his team of seven counseling faculty members in the Department of Advanced Education Programs has contributed significantly to his department's success in attaining accreditation.

“There is no way we could do that without them,” he said. 

Dowda was nominated for the award by Kenton Olliff, counseling faculty member. Olliff, who won the KCA Counselor of the Year award for the Kansas Counseling Association five years ago, said that he has been impressed by Dowda’s humbleness and eagerness to learn how best to serve his students.

“Working directly with Reade has been a true joy,” Olliff said. “His knowledge and understanding of counseling is a blessing. Although I am almost 20 years his senior, I have learned a lot from him.”

Dowda’s diligence in ensuring FHSU’s compliance with CACREP Accreditation and his efforts to present at FHSU Professional Development Days and counseling conferences distinguished him as a deserving recipient of the Kansas Counselor of the Year, according to Olliff. However, his ability to work with students of diverse backgrounds and his caring attitude really set him apart.

“Most of all, Reade is a good listener,” Olliff said. “I really believe that everyone needs to be heard. Reade listens to folks without interruption, and that is a unique quality. That is genuine caring, and we need more of that these days.”