Advisory committee recommends two new members to diversify geography and expertise

The Marriage and Family Therapy Advisory Committee reached consensus on Aug. 15 to recommend two candidates for appointment to the advisory committee: Stacy Hodges and Renisha (Ranisha) Hunter.

David Fye walked members through policy constraints (two-year fiscal terms, maximum committee size, geographic and licensing-level considerations). Committee members discussed multiple candidates and prioritized geographic representation, clinical settings experience and practitioner diversity. Members said Hodges VA experience and attention to policy detail would be valuable, while Hunters practice and outreach to women and community groups would broaden representation.

Committee members agreed to recommend two appointments now to avoid a large simultaneous turnover in future years and to stagger terms so institutional knowledge is preserved. The recommendation was recorded as consensus rather than a formal roll-call vote. Fye said the advisory committee recommendation will be routed to the board chair for final appointment, and that new appointees would likely begin service in the next fiscal cycle.