Counseling Center Staff
Dr. Allicia Baum
Dr. Allicia Baum (she/her) has been the Director of the Counseling Center since June 2023. She is a licensed psychologist and has worked in clinical practice and school-based mental health in southwest Missouri for over 20 years. She has Masters and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology. Dr. Baum’s professional expertise is in trauma-focused therapy, attachment theory, neurodevelopmental disorders, assessment and diagnosis, as well as emotional/behavioral functioning and executive functioning. She has been an instructor at the collegiate level for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a guest lecturer and featured speaker on many occasions throughout her career. She proudly volunteers and serves as an Education Angel at the Springfield Little Theatre. Dr. Baum loves to travel and experience new places. She and her family also love helping others plan their dream vacations (including Disney and Universal) through their family travel business. In her free time, Dr. Baum enjoys reading, attending live theatre and music performances, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. She loves to try new coffee spots everywhere she visits – especially local small businesses.
Tammy Dixon
Tammy (she/her/hers) is the Counseling Center’s Assistant Director, and she came to the Missouri State University Counseling Center in 2003 as a Mental Health Clinician following a short career working in therapeutic foster care in Oklahoma. She obtained both of her degrees from Oklahoma State University with her masters being in Counseling and Student Personnel. She has been licensed in the state of Missouri since 2004 and has provided supervision for graduate assistants and provisionally licensed clinicians for the past 20 years. Areas of interest for Tammy include student development, eating concerns, LGBTQ+ support, and trauma. Tammy enjoys spending her free time with her family (yes, the dogs are considered family), volunteering in the community, reading, and enjoying the beauty of the Ozarks.
Chiara Citterio
Chiara (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor and EMDR-trained clinician. She moved to Springfield, MO from Milan, Italy in 2012, and she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Gerontology from Missouri State University in 2016. She then completed her Master of Science in Clinical Psychology in 2018 at Missouri State University. Chiara has been working as a mental health clinician at the Counseling Center since 2019. Chiara’s areas of clinical interest include LGBTQIA+ community, diversity, trauma, life transitions, and relationship concerns. In her free time, Chiara enjoys reading, woodworking, and practicing her espresso making skills.
Julie Brauch
Julie Brauch (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri and has worked at the Missouri State Counseling Center since 2022. Julie is a Missouri State Alumni and earned three degrees in Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Counseling and Assessment. Julie typically employs a trauma-informed, cognitive-behavioral, and motivational therapeutic approach tailored to meet each client’s individual needs. While passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of all her clients, Julie’s professional areas of interest include anxiety disorders, developmental and childhood trauma, family and relational issues, and post-partum depression. Outside of the Counseling Center, Julie happily works under the command of her feisty, yet adorable toddler who requires play time to be all the time.
Holly Reynolds
Holly (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist as well as an EMDR trained clinician. In 2016, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Peru State College. She earned her Master of Science in Family Therapy in 2020 at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. Holly gained experience in therapy working with individuals, couples, and families within both the State and Federal judicial and corrections system. After moving to Missouri in 2020, she worked in a private practice outside of Springfield. Holly joined the Missouri State University Counseling Center in January 2023 as a Mental Health Clinician. Her areas of interest include relationships and attachment, trauma, diversity conflict and mood disorders. When not on campus, Holly enjoys reading, spending time at the lake and playing with her animals.
Sara Wolf
Sara Wolf (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who joined the Counseling Center in the fall of 2023. A Kansas City native, she earned her BSW from Park University before moving to Springfield in 2005 to complete her MSW at Missouri State. After working her way through various roles in an inpatient mental health setting, she transitioned to virtual practice during the pandemic and started Make It So Counseling. Through these experiences, Sara saw the great potential for change that exists in transitional phases, which is why she is so excited to work with university students now. Sara offers a humanistic approach while incorporating a variety of modalities in order to best meet the needs of her clients. Sara is committed to being an advocate and an ally and strives to provide culturally, ethically, and socially competent care by listening first, keeping an open mind, and continuing to educate herself. In her free time, Sara enjoys cycling through creative pursuits, playing with pets, video games, cult classics, and walking outside.
Laura Foster
Laura Foster (she/her) is a National Certified Counselor who joined the Counseling Center staff in 2021 and serves as the Victim Services and Advocacy Specialist. A double Missouri State University alumna, Laura earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Theatre Education and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Laura has worked with every age group from toddlers to adults and is passionate about connecting with students and creating a space for them to feel heard and understood.
As the Victim Services and Advocacy Specialist, Laura focuses on the prevention of and healing from interpersonal violence such as sexual misconduct (assault, coercion, harassment), stalking, and domestic or dating violence. Laura utilizes a variety of trauma-informed evidence-based approaches to meet clients’ needs, including expressive arts and somatic therapy. In addition to interpersonal violence treatment and prevention, her professional interests include developmental trauma, perfectionism, non-traditional students, and religious trauma.
In her free time, Laura enjoys cooking, 90s music, cheering on St. Louis sports teams, and reading. She will happily discuss theories concerning the Sarah J. Maas-verse with anyone who will listen (and even some who do not want to listen).
Shai Kopas
Shai (she/her) is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor who joined the MSU Counseling Center in 2024. Shai is a Missouri State Alumni, where she obtained her Master of Science in Counseling. Shai creates a counseling space that is welcoming for each individual to express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. This space is cultivated by being nonjudgmental, supportive, and empowering you to make positive changes in your life. She is experienced in working with youths, young adults, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Her approach as a therapist is tailored to each client to include techniques that are most helpful to each individual. In her free time, Shai enjoys being outdoors in any capacity, reading, and attempting a wide variety of crafts.