Associate Director, Outreach Services
Calena serves as the Associate Director of Outreach at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), bringing over 16 years of experience in higher education outreach and mental health promotion. In this role, she develops and leads campus-wide initiatives focused on student well-being, mental health awareness, and increasing access to supportive resources. She has extensive experience collaborating with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners to create inclusive, engaging, and responsive programming that supports the diverse needs of the university community.
In addition to Calena’s outreach leadership, she is a co-director of the CAPS’ Peer Empowerment Program, which supports peer educators trained to provide mental health education, advocacy, and outreach across campus. She is passionate about empowering students to foster a culture of connection, care, and help-seeking behaviors within the university community.
Calena is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and board approved supervisor in Virginia. Her clinical work is grounded in an integrative theoretical orientation, incorporating cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness and acceptance-based techniques using a strengths-based approach. Her professional interests include anxiety and mood disorders, interpersonal concerns, resiliency-building, and trauma-informed care. Outside of work, Calena enjoys exploring new restaurants, taking walks, and karaoke with friends.