Dr. Susan Adams, an alumna of Louisiana Tech University’s College of Education, will receive the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from the Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA) this month at the national American Counseling Association’s conference in San Francisco, California. Adams, who earned an associate’s degree in general studies and a bachelor of arts in psychology from Louisiana Tech, is being recognized for her “exceptional service to the counseling profession and exemplifies the mission of AADA for promoting development across the lifespan.” “The College of Education commends Dr. Adams for her continued and exemplary endeavors in the field of counseling,” said Dr. Don Schillinger, associate dean of undergraduate studies and associate professor of secondary education at Louisiana Tech.  “The psychology department at Louisiana Tech University strives to provide service through efforts such as the Psychological Services Clinic, which offers high quality and low cost help to the community at large, and the preparation of dedicated professionals such as Dr. Adams.” Dr. Tilman Sheets, head of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Tech adds, “It is always gratifying and reaffirming to faculty to see a student go on to succeed in her career and make significant contributions to our field.” According to her nominator, Carolyn Greer, Adams has contributed to the profession providing leadership at the local, state and national levels, as a writer of numerous articles, chapters and books, as a volunteer to her community with a variety of efforts, and as a teacher and mentor to her students. “She works as a volunteer in her community to give information, access, and support to those facing the issue of grief and various crises situations,” said Greer.  “She has used her skills to develop numerous articles that are appropriate for all ages on how to deal with grief situations and crises.  Also, she has offered her interests and skills to work as a reviewer and editor for several publications including AADA’s Across the Lifespan” In addition to the Distinguished Service Award, Adams has been recognized for her work as a counselor and as a professor.  In 2008, the Texas Association named her the Counselor Educator of the Year for Counselor Education and Supervision (TACES), a division of the TCA.  In 2007, she received the Texas Counselors Association’s Presidential Award and the Texas Counselors’ Association Professional Writing Award. Adams is currently an associate professor of counseling and development at Texas Women’s University. The AADA Distinguished Service Award requires “evidence of substantive work, beyond the call of duty, to improve professional practices and the contributions of counselors to meeting the needs of adults across the life span.  There should also be a history of substantial efforts to create and improve opportunities for adults and especially older adults to realize their full potential.”