Sandy Dixon

Dr. Sandy Acheampong is a native of Ayden, NC. She earned a B.A. in Secondary English Education at UNC-Chapel Hill, M.Ed. in Counselor Education with a concentration in School Counseling at East Carolina University, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education with a minor in Psychology at North Carolina State University. She has 22 years’ combined experience as counselor and counselor educator. She has worked as a middle school and high school counselor, university counselor for medical students and resident physicians, clinical counselor in the community mental health, and in the international setting. She completed her doctoral counseling internship at the University of Ghana-Legon in Ghana, West Africa where she taught, counseled and supervised U.S. college students from N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the University of Kansas. She has also consulted with Ghanaian school teachers and foster workers at Christ Faith School in the Frafraha region of Accra, Ghana. Sandy works at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine where she has served in different roles including: Director of Student Development and Academic Counseling, Academic Counselor, Director of Academic Support Services for resident physicians at Vidant Medical Center, and Learning Skills Specialist. Her interests include: school counseling, underrepresented minority learners and faculty, critical race theory scholarship, and mental health issues of the African Diaspora. A member of the American College Counseling Association, the American College Personnel Association, and the North Carolina College Counseling Association, Sandy has presented at state and national conferences on topics related to student advising and development, counseling, and success of underrepresented minority students.

Courses Taught

COUN 6100 - Introduction to Mental Health Counseling

COUN 6316 - Techniques of Counseling

COUN 6101 - Foundations in Counseling

COUN 6215 - Lifespan Development

COUN 6671 - Counseling Practicum

RESI 8801 - M.S. Counseling Residency

Education

PhD, North Carolina State University

MEd, East Carolina University

BA, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Public Service

2017-18 East Carolina University Research and Creatiivity Week, Judge -

McGregor-Downs Rehabilitation Center, Volunteer - Greenville

Awards / Honors

East Carolina University Chancellor's Leadership A, East Carolina University, 2008

Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic & Professional, North Carolina State University, 2006

Publications

Dixon, C. (2018). An Exploratory Study of Stress Coping of Black Men in Medical School: A Critical Race Theory Perspective. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

Dixon, C. Do teaching focused medical schools perpetuate the thinking that black faculty should not be researchers?. Southern Medical Journal

Dixon, C. (2018). Happenstance Capitalized Through Cultural Immersion in Ghana. Adult Learning

Dixon, C. (2018). Happenstance Capitalized Through Cultural Immersion in Ghana. Adult Learning

Presentations

Acheampong, C. (2018). Broaching the Topics of Race, Ethnicity & Culture in College Student Support. East Carolina University Division of Academic Affairs & Student Affairs

Jackson, I., Dixon, C. (2016). Counseling Liberian Americans: Healing the Wounds of War. North Carolina Counseling Association

Acheampong, C., Horton, S. (2016). Preparing Them for the Best and Not the Worst of Times: Emotional Readiness & College Bound Students. North Carolina Counseling Association

Dixon, C. (2018). Professional Identity Development: Reflections on Past Realities & Future Possibilities. Eastern Area Health Education Center, ECU Brody School of Medicine & Elizabeth City State University

Alston, B., Dixon, E., Acheampong, C. (2018). I Took A Detour at Psych 101: The Roadmap to Resilience for Learners Experiencing Barriers to Success. East Carolina University Division of Academic Affairs & Student Affairs

Acheampong, C. (2018). Mentoring Learners for Success. Eastern Area Health Education Center, ECU Brody School of Medicine & Elizabeth City State University

Acheampong, C. (2018). Promoting the Resilience of African American Male Students in Professional School: Findings from a Pilot Study at ECU Brody School of Medicine . American College Counseling Association