The Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board professional counseling advisory committee on May 12 recommended three candidates to fill upcoming vacancies after reviewing 22 letters of interest and resumes.

Committee members discussed geographic balance and educator representation as priorities, noting that four current advisory members are leaving at monthend and that the committee prefers to preserve educator representation. Multiple members voiced support for several candidates; after a limited voting process (members were allowed up to three votes), the committee coalesced around recommending Amanda Patrick Gardner, Amanda Brown and Jason Lee to the board chair for formal appointment.

Chair Laura Shaughnessy explained the advisory committee's role: it recommends candidates but does not make final appointments. "If those individuals are appointed by the chair of the board in July, we'll notify them and prepare for the next meeting," staff said. The committee also agreed to encourage other qualified applicants to reapply when future vacancies occur.

The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the board chair for formal appointment at the July meeting; no formal appointment votes occurred during the advisory committee meeting.