{"id":1397,"date":"2021-08-09T18:35:43","date_gmt":"2021-08-09T22:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/?page_id=1397"},"modified":"2026-02-02T11:28:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:28:14","slug":"meet-the-counseling-services-staff","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/meet-the-counseling-services-staff\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Counseling Services Staff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Counseling Services is staffed by licensed professional clinicians including a consulting psychiatrist. The staff members of Counseling Services are committed to providing comprehensive care in an atmosphere of confidentiality and respect. It is our belief that the whole person (mind, body and spirit) must be addressed for the individual to achieve wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malkia Johnson, DSW, LCSW-C
Director <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Malkia Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Leisure Studies with a concentration in Recreation Therapy from East Carolina University in 1998. She obtained her Master of Social Work degree from Salisbury University in 2008 and completed her Doctorate in Social Work at Capella University in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Johnson has over 20 years of experience in community mental health and has worked with individuals throughout their lifespan. Her professional expertise includes supporting individuals with chronic and severe mental health disorders, with a strong emphasis on recovery-oriented, person-centered care. She is deeply committed to dispelling stereotypes, combating mental health stigma, and providing compassionate, culturally responsive services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her career, Dr. Johnson has participated in numerous committee workgroups focused on addressing mental health disparities, disproportionality, advocacy, community outreach and engagement, and cultural competence. Her professional interests include promoting mental wellness; bridging mental health gaps within ethnic communities and communities of color; supporting children, youth, and families; and providing training in resilience and spirituality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justin T King, M.Ed, LCPC,CPRP, Counselor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Justin King obtained a bachelor\u2019s degree in behavioral science from Wilmington University. He subsequently obtained his master’s in clinical Mental Health Counseling from THE University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Before taking his current role at UMES, Mr. King spent thirteen years at the Worcester County Health Department. He had various roles in Mental Health Case Management and the Adult and Adolescent Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program working with diverse populations. Justin co-facilitated several specialty mental health groups which included Anger Management, Sex Offenders and Co-Occurring disorders. Mr. King offers a collaborative, structured approach to therapy focused on practical change and real-life skills. He integrates Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and mindfulness-based strategies to help college students manage anxiety, academic stress, relationship challenges, and transitions. He works with students who struggle with self-doubt, perfectionism, executive functioning, and difficulty communicating needs or setting boundaries. His goal is to help students develop flexible thinking, emotional regulation, and self-advocacy skills they can use both in school and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Paul E. Klaverweiden, Jr., Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I have spent my lifetime trying to encourage others. First, as a Pastor and a Nurse for many years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my years in the Army, I worked in the Chaplain’s Division providing counseling and support to soldiers who were entering military life, facing deployment, and in a Critical Care Medical center for wounded and critically ill military personnel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning to Salisbury in 1989, I learned there wasn’t support available for individuals with HIV\/AIDS.  I became the first President and Counselor of Eastern Shore AIDS Foundation.  In that capacity I provided one-on-one and group therapy support for Children, Women and Men who were diagnosed with HIV\/AIDS.  Additionally, I provided caregiver and family support for family and friends of HIV\/AIDS patients.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After becoming a nurse, I worked in many critical areas that have greatly influenced my drive and compassion to provide inspiration.  Whether I was in the Emergency Room, ICU, working as a Hospice Nurse or in Corrections, I felt it crucial to not only provide care that would meet the medical needs of my patients, but also to provide care that would inspire them to move forward in complete wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I find myself in a role of not just providing medication but providing Inspiration.  While medical interventions play an important role in the treatment of Psychiatric \/ Behavioral conditions and Substance Abuse Treatment, I find it vital that with fundamental education it would give people the power to understand their condition and become the person they always dreamed of being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deborah Williams, M.S., Case Manager Specialist\/Support Counselor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mrs. Deborah Williams earned both her Master\u2019s degree in Rehabilitation and Counseling and her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In her role as Case Manager Specialist, she facilitates continuity of care by coordinating services and support resources both on and off campus, utilizing a positive and optimistic approach to improve individuals’ quality of life. With 22 years of experience at the counseling center, she has provided administrative support and created a welcoming atmosphere for all UMES students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, Mrs. Williams transitioned to the role of Mental Health Counselor within the counseling team, where she is equipped to provide initial support to individuals experiencing mental health issues. Her areas of interest include self-esteem, depression, anxiety, grief, and stress management, and she is dedicated to the ongoing enhancement of her skills and knowledge in these fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Sturgis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jessica earned both her bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees from Salisbury University. Before transitioning into her current role, she served as a School Social Worker and spent 14 years with the Worcester County Health Department, where she held multiple positions focused on co\u2011occurring disorders. During her tenure, she developed a specialization in supporting pregnant and postpartum women and their children, providing comprehensive and compassionate care to a highly vulnerable population. Jessica is committed to promoting mental health and advocating for individuals facing mental health challenges, ensuring they receive equitable, person\u2011centered support. Her clinical work centers on helping individuals build and strengthen coping skills for managing chronic mental health concerns, guided by a collaborative and empowering therapeutic approach.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aarti Tiwari, Administrative Assistant I<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aarti Tiwari holds a master\u2019s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, which she completed in 2023. With over 9 years of extensive experience in rehabilitation and behavioral health, she has worked with multiple local rehabilitation and behavioral services. Currently, she serves as an administrative assistant at the counseling office of the university, where her positive attitude and tireless energy are noted to be contagious. Additionally, Ms. Tiwari enjoys cooking, traveling, and shopping in her free time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Counseling Services is staffed by licensed professional clinicians including a consulting psychiatrist. The staff members of Counseling Services are committed to providing comprehensive care in an atmosphere of confidentiality and respect. It is our belief that the whole person (mind, body and spirit) must be addressed for the individual to achieve wellness. Malkia Johnson, DSW, LCSW-CDirector …Read more Meet the Counseling Services Staff<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"folder":[],"class_list":["post-1397","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1397\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=1397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}