A former university-based counseling psychologist in Georgia is the new director of the Mississippi State University Counseling Center.
Linda M. Cox recently began her administrative duties on the Starkville campus. She previously was on staff in the Counseling and Career Development Center at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.
At MSU, Cox is directing a Division of Student Affairs unit that includes four full-time professional counselors, two support staff and a group of graduate assistants, practicum students and interns. She succeeds Leland E. Fager, who recently retired.
Cox, who holds master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, earlier held professional positions with Father Flanagan's Home for Boys in Boystown, Neb., and with the DREAM Community Partnership in Hattiesburg.
Located in the historic YMCA Building in the center of the Starkville campus, the MSU Counseling Center offers a variety of services and programs free to all full-time students. Services also are provided to staff and faculty by special arrangement.
"We are very proud of the long and valuable service provided to the Mississippi State community by our counseling center staff," said Roy H. Ruby, vice president for student affairs. "Its clinical and outreach programs are a critical part of the mission of this division.
"Dr. Cox was selected from among a group of top candidates," he added. "Because of her background and experience, we feel she can provide the kind of leadership that will make our program the very best it can be."
In addition to personal counseling, the center offers programs in group and career counseling. It also is campus coordinator for the American College Test, Graduate Record Examination, Law School Admission Test, and other national testing programs.
Cox, who also holds a bachelor's degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, is a New Orleans native.
