Richmont Annual Report 2023-2024 - Flipbook - Page 21
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
RICHMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY
20
The Peterson Award
Amanda M. Blackburn
The Peterson Award is named after its first recipient, Dr. Donna Peterson. It is given to honor
individuals whose commitment and service to the institution far exceeds job demands or
institutional expectations. Designation of this award is determined by peer nomination and
can be awarded to any volunteer, graduate assistant, staff, or administrator of the school.
Dr. Amanda Blackburn is the Vice President of Student Affairs and Professor
of Counseling at Richmont Graduate University. Dr. Blackburn enjoys serving
Richmont students through providing opportunities for students to connect to
each other, to the university faculty and staff, and to God throughout their tenure
at the university. She teaches counseling skills classes, conducts group supervision
classes, and serves on various faculty committees. Her research interests include
graduate student wellness and Christian integration in counselor education. Dr.
Blackburn was Co-Director of the university-wide Quality Enhancement Project,
THRIVE: Wellness & Self-Care, and provided leadership in the university-wide
initiative to promote employee and student wellness.
Amanda M. Blackburn, Psy.D.
Vice President of Student Affairs
Professor of Counseling
Dr. Blackburn began at Richmont in 2009 as a full-time clinician at Henegar
Counseling Center in Chattanooga. Shortly after, she became a full-time professor
in the School of Counseling and joined the Office of Student Affairs as the Assistant
Dean of Student Affairs. In 2014, Dr. Blackburn was promoted to the Dean of
Students, and she has had the privilege of leading the Office of Student Affairs for
over ten years. Dr. Blackburn is married to Scottie Blackburn and is the mom of
three elementary-aged children – Rhys, Emme, and Jace. She spends her weekends
watching her kids’ baseball games and tennis matches and volunteering with the
student ministry at her church.