Valerie Gifford was welcomed in August 2019 by the UAF Student Health and Counseling Center as the new Director.  Originally from Wyoming, Dr. Gifford relocated to Alaska in 1994. The majority of her time in Alaska has been committed to living and providing services in rural communities.  Dr. Gifford earned her Bachelor’s of Social Work degree from UAF, Master’s of Social Work degree from Wurweiler School of School Work at Yeshiva University, and her Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology with a Rural and Indigenous Emphasis from UAF.  In addition to her work with UAF Student Health and Counseling, Dr. Gifford serves on UAF’s faculty for the School of Education’s Counseling Program and the College of Liberal Arts’ Psychology Department. She is licensed in Alaska as a psychologist and clinical social worker.   

Stacey is the Associate Director for Counseling and has been with UAF Student Health and Counseling since 2013. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Washington and obtained her clinical licensure shortly thereafter. Stacey has twenty years of experience working in the mental health field and is formally trained as a Cognitive Behavior Therapist with a specialty in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She started her career working with incarcerated youth and young adults in Seattle, and later moved on to Harborview Medical Center's inpatient psychiatry. In 2009, Stacey relocated to Fairbanks where she worked with active duty members and their families on Eielson Air Force Base. Believing that the relationship is a fundamental part of therapy, Stacey builds upon strengths and resilience to assist with change and achieving personal goals. She has experience with crisis intervention, mood disorders, anxiety, interpersonal relationships and adjustment concerns. Stacey is holistic in her approach, utilizing self-awareness and mindfulness as a foundation for practice.

Adrienne recently joined the staff at SHCC in Fall 2023. She has worked in various capacities and contexts in mental health care for over a decade, but she most enjoys providing care in collegiate settings. Adrienne recognizes the specialness of college life and understands the unique challenges and opportunities that higher education pursuits can bring. She enjoys collaborating with students to find solutions to their challenges and make meaning of those experiences as well. Adrienne most often uses cognitive, behavioral, and mindfulness approaches to help clients. Adrienne is skilled at treating social and general anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, and relationship problems. She can also help clients understand how early experiences and family patterns impact them in the here-and-now, and she enjoys helping clients learn about themselves and set boundaries with others in healthy, adaptive ways. Adrienne earned a Master’s of Education in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, AL. She also earned a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Adrienne is a current doctoral candidate for a degree in Clinical-Community Psychology with a Rural and Indigenous Emphasis at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and she is completing her dissertation research. In her free time, she enjoys watching re-runs of Bob’s Burgers, cooking, reading, and listening to her favorite music on repeat.

Nikki is the embedded mental health counselor for Student Support Services, the on-campus organization serving students from low income backgrounds, first generation college students, and students experiencing disabilities. Nikki earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from UAF in 2021. She is currently working toward LPC licensure under the supervision of Dr. Valerie Gifford, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, LCSW, LPCS. Nikki utilizes psychodynamic psychotherapy to assist individuals in understanding their internal psychic structure through self-reflection and collaborative exploration.  Relying on a mutually trusting relationship, Nikki works with students to uncover the unconscious drivers of their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. She believes in the inherent resilience of the human spirit and in reconnecting individuals with their inner wisdom. She is particularly passionate about helping students regain a sense of safety in their physical and emotional experiences, while internalizing a belief in their own abilities to achieve the meaningful lives of their choosing.

Kiana has been with Student Health & Counseling since 2018 and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Trinity Christian College and her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. Kiana has more than 18 years of experience in the field of mental health and is licensed in both Alaska and California. Kiana most often uses an Humanistic approach to mental health that focuses on the person in the room and how that person is affected and influenced by the world around them. She also utilizes cognitive behavioral techniques, solution-focused, existential and person-centered approaches. Kiana’s passion in counseling is working with those experiencing grief and loss, walking alongside them on their journey and holding space for them to express all the nuances of the grief process. Her interests also include working through college adjustment, relationship issues, trauma, self-esteem, life transitions, anxiety, depression, stress management, working with Alaska Native populations and building resiliency. Kiana was born in Fairbanks and spent her childhood in a small village north of the Arctic Circle. In her spare time, she enjoys interior design, gardening, music, spending time on the coast, reading, writing, travel and photography.

Angelica is the embedded mental health counselor at the MBS complex.  Angelica is Licensed as a Professional Counselor and a Certified Addictions Specialist. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Colorado State University and her Master's Degree in Community Counseling, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, from the University of Northern Colorado and is in the process of obtaining licensure in Alaska.  Angelica has over 10 years of experience in the mental health and substance use field in a variety of settings. She has experience working with mood disorders, addictions, couple's and family counseling, PTSD, stress management, and relationship and adjustment issues.  Angelica relies on a variety of therapeutic styles and intervention strategies such as CBT, DBT, Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing, and EMDR.  Her treatment philosophy is that change occurs through learning to identify and label difficult emotions that lead to distress as well the needs behind them.  Through the process of therapy  her clients learn and practice the skills necessary to manage stress and difficult emotions effectively, which supports getting their needs met in healthy and realistic ways.  She is upfront, honest, and logical with her clients while guiding them toward making positive change in their lives.

Hannah joined Student Health and Counseling in 2023 as an intern mental health counselor. She is a graduate student in the UAF Counseling Master’s Degree program. Hannah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English Literature and was commissioned from the University of Delaware Army ROTC program in 2012.  She completed active-duty service in 2016, and has been a part of the UAF community since Fall 2018.  Hannah is currently stationed with her family in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and provides counseling to UAF students through telehealth.  She believes that connection with self and others is the foundation of resiliency and growth, and her approach is person-centered and relational.  She is especially interested in giving back to the military community and helping students experiencing major life transitions, trauma, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal challenges. 

Emily is a student in the Counseling Master’s Degree program at UAF, studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a new addition to the Student Health and Counseling Center’s team, joining us in the Fall of 2023. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, alongside a minor in Spanish from UAF in the Spring of 2021. She began working towards her Master’s Degree here at UAF in the Fall of 2021. Emily was born and raised in Chugiak, Alaska where she spent most of her time playing volleyball, spending time in nature, and connecting with others. As a former UAF Nanook athlete herself, Emily hopes to give back to the athletic community through her work at Student Health and Counseling. In her practice, Emily usually takes on a humanistic perspective as she believes in providing space for the whole person. She also enjoys working with college students, by building a collaborative relationship where students can feel welcomed. She enjoys providing psychoeducation through outreach opportunities, and teaching distress tolerance skills to people experiencing stress.

Claire has been a part of the Student Health & Counseling team since January of 2023 as a Student Clinician. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UAF and has been a part of the UAF community since Fall 2016. Claire started her work towards the M.Ed in counseling program in January of 2021. She was raised in south central Alaska and loves the beauty that Alaska has to offer. Claire spends her time outside of work enjoying nature, reading and community. Claire utilizes an existential approach to therapy, with some person-centered, cognitive behavioral, and Adlerian techniques. She loves working with all populations, and especially those experiencing major transitions in life that may be inducing symptoms of stress and anxiety. Her interests also include self esteem, relationship issues, depression, and stress management.