The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) selected Dr. Monica Williams as the winner of the 2015 Commission for Counseling and Psychological Services (CCAPS) – Early Career Achievement Award.

The award honors the “exemplary achievements of an individual’s early significant contributions to the field of college and university counseling and psychological services.”

The ACPA boasts nearly 7,500 members from 1,200 public and private institutions across the U.S. and around the world. The CCAPS Awards Committee received nominations in the form of personal letters, discussing the significance of Williams’ contributions to the field.

“It’s exciting, but it hasn’t completely hit me yet,” Williams said. “I was shocked because I work with so many wonderful people at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and I’m sure there was some stiff competition.”

Williams revamped the graduate training program as well as created the Field Experience program for undergraduate students to get exposure to mental health in several specializations.

Williams will travel to Tampa, Florida on March 6 to the ACPA Conference and Awards Ceremony to receive her honorary certificate and lapel pin.