Charli Kennedy

Dr. Charnequa Austin Kennedy is currently the director of counseling services at North Carolina Central University. Her experience in higher education includes collegiate mental health, student success, and student leadership development. Dr. Kennedy is a national board-certified (NCC) licensed professional counselor with a mental health service provider (LPC-MHSP) designation and a licensed clinical mental health counselor and supervisor (LCMHCS).

Along with her national board certification and professional licensure, Dr. Kennedy also holds additional national certifications as a clinical supervisor, telemental health provider, and career development facilitator. Dr. Kennedy is committed to approaching the mental health wellness of the campus from a collaborative care model approach and championing advocates across the campus community to promote well-being and be supportive and responsive to others.

Dr. Kennedy has worked in educational and clinical settings as a counseling administrator and provider, including in private practice, integrated behavioral health, K–12, and collegiate mental health. Additionally, Dr. Kennedy also has experience in non-profit management prior to working directly in counseling.

Dr. Kennedy earned her Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Educational Psychology and her Ed.S. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Educational Psychology. She received her M.Ed. in Counselor Education and her B.S. in Psychology. She has also completed additional post-master's studies in clinical mental health counseling and pursued training in sports counseling and the mental wellness of student-athletes.

Dr. Kennedy’s professional interests include achievement for students of color, learning, behavior, and development for adults in educational and work settings, student-athlete mental wellness and giftedness and performance domains, and clinical supervision and training.