Dr. Kari Mika-Lude oversees strategy and evaluation for The Training Center at Marshall University, and she is also an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Counseling Department.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Adler University in Chicago, and her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Northern Illinois University.  She has over 10 years of experience as a professional counselor, much of which was spent in community mental health.  She is independently licensed in both West Virginia (LPC) and Illinois (LCPC) and holds addiction counseling credentials in both states.  Her primary clinical specialization is trauma, with a focus on first responders, and she is trained in EMDR.  In 2018, she founded and now oversees a private group practice, where she provides clinical supervision and consultation services.  She has provided consultation on trauma-sensitive screening procedures for the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration.  She and her husband, who is a firefighter/EMT, have provided trainings on first responder wellness, PTSD recovery, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed workplaces for police, fire, EMS, and 911/dispatch.  Dr. Mika-Lude has also developed and delivered trainings on a variety of topics for both professionals and community members, including psychological disaster preparedness, sexual violence and addiction, intimate partner violence, gatekeeping in counselor education, and more.  She serves on the Cabell County Critical Incident Stress Management team and on the Executive Board of the West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association, and she is the current President of the West Virginia Counseling Association (2024-25).