Meet the Staff
Marcie C. Wiseman, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Director
Dr. Marcie Wiseman graduated from the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Florida in 2009. Prior to joining the staff at the College of Charleston, she held appointments as the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Aurora University, and as a Staff Psychologist at both the University of Central Florida and Valdosta State University. Her professional interests include working with survivors of interpersonal trauma, supervision of clinical trainees, group therapy, and working with first-generation college students. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, oil painting, spending time outdoors, and DIY home renovation/interior design.
Andrew R. Alkis, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Medical University of South Carolina
Psychiatrist, College of Charleston
Andrew Alkis, MD graduated from Clemson University in 2007, completing a bachelor's degree in psychology. During his time at Clemson, he became a member of the Psi Chi honor society in psychology as well as the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society. He earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, where he is now a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences as well as assistant psychiatry clerkship director for third year medical students. He completed residency at the University of Virginia Health System, where he also served as chief resident. He is board-certified in Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, having completed his C-L training at George Washington University/Inova Fairfax Hospital. His dedication to compassionate patient care has been recognized by peers through selection to the Gold Humanism Honor Society and being honored as a Humanitarianism Award recipient by the University of Virginia Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences. His teaching accolades include two MUSC Psychiatry Golden Apple Awards for outstanding medical student didactic teaching by a faculty member. He has also been recognized by the Clemson University Department of Psychology as a Distinguished Early Career Achievement award recipient. Dr. Alkis has extensive direct clinical experience working with patients with on-going serious medical illness. His career interests also include collaborative care in medicine, telepsychiatry, and student mental health.
Elizabeth J. Dixon, M.A., LPC/S
Training Coordinator/Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor/Supervisor
Elizabeth holds a Master's degree in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Counseling from The Citadel. As an alum of the College of Charleston, Elizabeth understands the unique needs and experiences of college students, making her exceptionally well-suited to support and guide this demographic. Her interests include anxiety, depression, family of origin concerns, and adjustment issues.
She also serves as the Coordinator of the Training Program at the Counseling Center, where she overlooks the professional development of student interns while working in the Counseling Center.
Outside of her professional life, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her family and being in the outdoors. She also enjoys reading (especially audiobooks) and riding her e-bike.
Susana Sharpley, M.Ed, M.A., LPC
Clinical Director / Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor
Susana earned her Master's degrees in Community Counseling and Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago and the Georgia School of Professional Psychology. She brings with her over ten years of clinical experience in various other settings, and is able to provide counseling services in English, Spanish or Spanglish. She was recently promoted to the role of Clinical Director and is passionate about supporting college students as they navigate the complexities of the modern-day college experience. Her warm and empathic approach helps students feel heard and understood, fostering an environment where they can build upon strengths and overcome barriers to success. In her personal time, she enjoys the simple pleasures of being outdoors, listening to live music, and embarking on playful adventures with her children and their loyal canine companion, Stella.
Randall Geddings, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker/Counselor
Randall Geddings is a Licensed Master Social Worker and alum of the College of Charleston. Their journey into counseling began as a peer counselor with Students 4 Support where they fostered their passion for helping others. Graduating from the University of South Carolina's School of Social Work in 2021, Randall has worked in the field of private practice before returning to their roots at the College. Randall's area of interest encompasses anxiety, neurodiversity, religious trauma, and LGBTQ+ issues. Outside of his professional role, Randall is a sci-fi enthusiast who enjoys creative writing projects, collecting gemstones, and rocking out to symphonic metal.
Patrick Ramsay
Office Manager
Phone: 843.953.5640
Email: counseling@cofc.edu
Patrick Ramsay is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Counseling at Wake Forest University. Having worked at the college for over five years, Patrick has become drawn to helping college students on a deeper level and giving them the tools to finding success in everyday life. This inspired Patrick to want to get his foot in the door at the Counseling Center, and serve as the Office Manager while getting his masters. He hopes that once he is starts working with clients, he can focus in areas such as toxic masculinity, depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, LGBTQ support, and pornography addiction. For fun, Patrick likes to garden, take his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Charlie) to the beach, and read fictional book series. His office is inspired by the Gryffindor Common Room in the Harry Potter series.
Constance Nelson-Gilbert
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 843.953.5640
Email: counseling@cofc.edu
Constance serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Counseling Center. She has worked in the Counseling Center for 3 years, and has worked at the College for 18 years. For fun, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren on the weekends.
Katie Drees, M.A., LPC/S
Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor
Katie earned a Master's degree in Counseling from Southwestern Seminary and is an alum of the University of South Carolina. After 13 years of clinical work with children, adolescents, and families in various settings across Texas, she ventured back to her home state of South Carolina to work with college students. Katie uses a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused approach to provide clients with evidence -based, practical strategies for anxiety, depression, stress management, and more. She has a passion for working with people on the Autism Spectrum and the special needs community. In her free time, she enjoys all things outdoors, eating good food, relaxing with a good book or tv series, and exploring new places with her rescue hound mix, Humphrey.
Elise Hussey, LPCA
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Elise is an alumna of the college, and recently graduated from The Citadel, obtaining her Master's in Clinical Counseling. During her time in the CofC counseling center as a practicum student, Elise fell in love with working with college students, finding it a unique and impactful time for young adults to benefit from therapy. Elise primarily uses Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) in her practice, and focuses on values identification, self-worth, and energy management. In her spare time, Elise loves to bake, travel, read, and explore with her two daughters.
Anne Gutshall, PhD, LPCA
Faculty Fellow
Anne Gutshall is a school psychologist and licensed professional counselor-associate (LPC-A). A professor in the School of Education, Anne has been faculty member for 17 years at the College of Charleston teaching both undergraduate and graduate level psychology courses. Currently, Anne is the Mental Health Faculty Fellow to the Counseling Center where in addition to providing counseling services to students she also provides outreach and support to faculty who have questions about how best to support students' mental health and wellbeing. In her free time, Anne enjoys walking her two poodles, Rodney and Perla, at the beach, reading nerdy books and cooking food for friends and family.
Lynn Smith, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Lynn Smith holds an MA in Psychology from The Citadel and is a Licensed Professional Counselor whose experience includes PTSD assessment and treatment at The Medical University of SC, inpatient substance use disorder counseling, and coordinating research in Pediatric Epidemiology. Lynn is a Certified Grief Educator and has been volunteering as a community health worker for over 12 years. Before entering healthcare, she was a high school English teacher who discovered that she preferred being in a helping/listening role for students much more than teaching grammar. In her practice, Lynn uses an integrative approach that depends on the needs of each client and may include Mindfulness, meditation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She works with clients experiencing anxiety, grief & loss, and trauma. Lynn’s personal time is spent reading, writing fiction, hanging out with Thomas the bunny, and traveling with her family.
Rainie Gordon, EdS, LPCA, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Rainie holds an Education Specialist’s degree in Counselor Education with a focus on Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling from the University of South Carolina (USC). She gained clinical experience working with college students at USC’s Counseling and Psychiatry department, where she was dedicated to reducing barriers for students of color in accessing mental health services. Currently, Rainie works at the Counseling Center and Multicultural Center, continuing her mission to support marginalized voices. Her areas of interest include racial trauma, anxiety/stress, and relationship and family concerns. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, watching anime and true crime documentaries, and exploring local restaurants.
Erin Benson, LPCA
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Erin Benson holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling and Communication Studies. She is passionate about empowering young people and, since 2014, has worked closely with thousands of students as a counselor, an adjunct professor, and a mentor to youth advocates for a nonprofit organization she founded to advance treatment for pediatric cancer. She believes self-awareness and self-compassion are the key to mental wellness and feels honored to help individuals navigate challenging experiences. On the weekends, Erin spends time reading fantasy series, writing personal essays and memoir, and spending time with her twin daughters and husband.
Jessie Luttrell
Triage Counselor
Jessie Luttrell is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Counseling at Wake Forest University. Despite being born and raised in the North, Jessie often refers to herself as a "misplaced southerner at heart," after falling in love with the city of Charleston. She is passionate about empowering and supporting college students in this complex chapter of life. Her areas of interest in counseling include depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, family conflict, and relationship issues. For fun, Jessie likes to try out new recipes, binge Netflix series, get lost in a good book on the beach, and volunteer at her local church.
Amanda Spivey
Graduate Intern, Wake Forest University
Amanda Spivey is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Counseling at Wake Forest University. She also holds a Master of Science in Human Development and Early Childhood Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has devoted her professional life to a local therapeutic riding center where she continues to share her passion for horses with children and adults with disabilities. Amanda aspires to empower clients to recognize, embrace, and develop their individual strengths. Areas of interest in counseling include depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships, family conflict, and substance use. In her free time, Amanda enjoys riding horses, reading, watching baseball, and spending time with her family.
Ayana Walker
Graduate Intern, University of South Carolina
Ayana Walker is a counseling trainee earning a Master’s of Arts in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of South Carolina. Her interests are specifically in substance use/addiction and grief, though she employs a holistic approach to care, considering the entirety of the clients’ experiences, identities, and backgrounds. A Sociology and African American Studies alum of the College, pursuing counseling was a great fit after being employed in many fields such as corrections, early childhood education, and mental health billing to name a few. These experiences simply add to being able to relate to clients from all walks of life, which is another extension of her humanistic approach. Ayana’s theories of choice include Humanistic/Existential and Narrative therapies, Motivational Interviewing, and a Solution Focused approach has been seen in her counseling as well. In her spare time, Ayana likes to write music and poetry, enjoying singing and playing the bass guitar. When not at home with her partner, Mason, she likes to see live music, try out restaurants, but most especially enjoys having time to do absolutely nothing.
Nicole Maldonado
Graduate Intern, The Citadel
Nicole Maldonado is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Counseling at The Citadel. She received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology at The College of Charleston. She is also working on her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training certification. Nicole is passionate about helping students adjust to college life and all the challenges associated with it. Her areas of therapeutic interest include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness practices. In her free time, Nicole enjoys yoga, reading, walking her dogs, and spending time with family and friends.
May Manalo Smith, M.Ed, LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Triage Counselor
May earned her Master's degree from William Paterson University in New Jersey, and has clinical experience from residential behavioral health, comprehensive DBT, private practice, elementary school, and college settings. Recognizing college as a unique stage of life, May is passionate about seeing students thrive, acquire new skills, and reach their goals. Areas of interest in counseling include: depression, anxiety, adjustment, stress management, and relationship issues. In her personal time, she enjoys traveling, trying new foodie spots, spending time with family and friends, and cuddling on the couch with her cat Charlie.
Rachel Bilbo, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker/Counselor
Triage Counselor
Rachel earned her Master's in Social Work from Western Carolina University in Asheville. Her clinical experience includes crisis stabilization, addiction treatment, and outpatient therapy. Rachel is inspired by clients' courage to ask for support and willingness to show up for themselves during difficult times. In her free time Rachel enjoys cuddling with her two cats, doing "Yoga with Adriene" on YouTube, and eating delicious food with her family.
Samantha Chambers, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker/Counselor
Triage Counselor
Since moving to the Lowcountry in 2022 and subsequently receiving her LMSW, Samantha has worked in substance abuse treatment, medical social work, and inpatient psychiatric care. Samantha’s career interests are substance abuse, anxiety, depression, interpersonal violence, relationship issues, suicide prevention, stress management, LGBTQ+ support, life transitions, and trauma. Samantha is currently working toward her LISW-CP. Outside of her career, she enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs, going to the beach, walking, hiking, going to museums and cultural events, listening to live music, and relaxing by the fire pit.
Pam Phelan, LPCA
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Triage Counselor
Pam is a compassionate counselor with a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health from Liberty University. With a background in trauma and substance use recovery, Pam has garnered a wealth of experience in both inpatient facilities and private practice, where she has also gained priceless multicultural experiences. With several wellness certifications, including yoga and mindfulness, she believes in the power of a person-centered approach, recognizing the individuality of each client. Outside of her practice, Pam nurtures her passion for gardening and stays grounded through yoga. She also enjoys reading, and spending time outdoors with her two boys, husband and soon-to-be therapy dog, Pumpkin.