Ardith Burkes is now a direct resource for pharmacy students in Kerr Hall. She was introduced by Counseling and Psychological Services as a new embedded counselor in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
The program was previously introduced to the School of Medicine, the School of Law and, recently, the Hussman School of Journalism and Media.
Burkes said she is excited to be in a position to help students with their many stressors during their time at UNC.
"For me that just feels fulfilling to be able to provide that space for students when they’ve worked really hard to accomplish their goal," Burkes said.
In her initial hiring interview, Burkes said she felt a sense of cohesion within the administration and student body with an emphasis on "thriving."
The intention of the program is to provide Eshelman students and faculty with a cultivated counseling experience based on anticipated course load and the dynamics of the community, Suzanne Harris, the director of well-being and resilience at Eshelman, said.
“I think having Ardith embedded in our school allows her to learn the culture of our school, as well as gain a better understanding of some of the challenges or stressors that students within our program might be facing, both professionally and personally,” she said.
Burkes earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2000 and her master’s in social work and public health in maternal and child health in 2007, each from UNC. She previously worked with the Orange County Rape Crisis Center and the Compass Center in Chapel Hill for relationship violence counseling.
“I really like being able to be a safe and comfortable person to connect with to explore challenging topics,” Burkes said.
