Emory University’s division of Campus Life has named G. Keilan Rickard as executive director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Keilan brings 18 years of counseling and leadership experience to his new role, which includes supervising CAPS’ mental health providers, administrative staff, graduate interns, and post-graduate trainees.

The executive director will also manage delivery of individual, group, and couples counseling services to a diverse student body of nearly 15,000. As a member of the Health and Well-being Leadership Team, he will report to James Raper, associate vice president of health, well-being, access, and prevention. Keilan will officially join the Emory community on August 16.

Supporting Emory’s holistic approach to student well-being, Keilan will partner with Campus Life’s Student Health Services, including psychiatry, and the offices of Health Promotion and Respect, as well as academic departments and deans’ offices across campus. He will also collaborate with Student Health Services and Counseling on Emory’s Oxford College campus.

“Throughout the recruitment and evaluation process, Keilan consistently demonstrated thoughtfulness, creativity, clarity of vision, and kindness of heart – qualities we know to be critical in the leadership of a university-based counseling center,” says James Raper. “He will serve our students well – drawing on his nearly 20 years of experience as we enhance our holistic approach to student well-being and advance our commitment to student flourishing.”

Keilan served most recently with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) as director of the Counseling Center with a faculty appointment in the counselor education program. He is also founder and former co-director of UTC’s Mocs Recovery Program, which provides support for students in all phases of recovery from substance dependence.

Prior to UTC, Keilan served as director of counseling services with Guilford College and earlier as a staff psychologist and training coordinator with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The new CAPS executive director also has several years of experience as a private practice clinician, among other roles in counseling environments. 

“I’m more than delighted to join the Emory University family,” Keilan said. “I’ve long been aware of the excellent work that the university and Campus Life deliver to Emory students – and I look forward to working with the exceptional CAPS team and contributing to their pacesetting work in collegiate mental health. Moreover, joining a leadership team focused on holistic and collaborative health and wellbeing strategy is equally exciting.”

Keilan has delivered and co-delivered more than 20 scholarly presentations in his field and authored and co-authored a range of publications and book reviews. He holds both a PhD and master’s in clinical psychology, a master’s in counseling, and a bachelor’s in music and French.

When he is not pursuing his passion to ensure that students receive world-class counseling or his related passion to eradicate disparities in health outcomes for marginalized populations, Keilan enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, hosting get-togethers, and making music.