Palo Alto University

10/29/2026

There's a lot to celebrate at Palo Alto University this fall!

We welcomed 324 new students, a 13% increase from last year, with particularly strong growth in our PhD in Clinical Psychology and Master of Social Work programs.

Every student brings their own experiences, perspectives, and reasons for pursuing an education in behavioral science. Together, they're part of a growing community preparing to make a difference in mental health and beyond.

We're proud to welcome them to PAU and excited to see what they'll accomplish.

Read the full story: https://hubs.li/Q04CNnsp0

10/27/2026

We love getting to know the students who make up our PAU community!

Michelle is currently pursuing their MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is sharing a little about their experience in the program.

From the people they meet to the experiences that shape their time here, every student's journey is different, and Michelle has their own perspective to share.

Watch the video to hear from Michelle about their time at PAU.

10/25/2026

Stephanie Crockett, PsyD graduated from the PAU-Stanford PsyD Consortium in 2016. Today, she's back in the same program, this time helping educate future psychologists.

As a licensed clinical psychologist, Stephanie has worked with veterans and people affected by trauma, experiences that have shaped both her approach to clinical care and the way she mentors students.

Her career has also given her a unique perspective on the importance of supporting mental health professionals as they grow in their work.

We're proud to have Stephanie as both a PAU alumna and faculty member, and to see her sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation.

Read more about Stephanie's work and journey: https://hubs.li/Q04Cf5C_0

10/23/2026

Interested in shaping Palo Alto University Counseling Department programs! Check out this opportunity.

Looking for Advisory Board members for our Counseling programs! Do you have a mentor, supervisor, or other Bay Area stakeholder interested in helping shape the programs we offer? The time commitment is minimal to serve as a community representative on our Counseling Program Advisory Committee at Palo Alto University.

Our Advisory Committee is a small group of faculty, current students, alumni, and we are looking for community professionals to meet quarterly to discuss what is happening within our counseling programs and offer feedback about how we can continue strengthening our curriculum, clinical training, and connection with the counseling community.

The commitment is fairly minimal—we meet approximately once per academic quarter—and the goal is not to create additional work for committee members, but rather to hear perspectives, ideas, and recommendations as we continue evaluating and developing our programs. Please reach out to Dr. Rachel Jacoby at [email protected]

10/22/2026

Madison Ledda-Simmons knew she wanted to become a therapist long before she ever stepped into a graduate classroom.

That early interest eventually led her to Palo Alto University, where she earned her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2022.

Today, Madison runs her own private practice, working with teens and young adults as they navigate anxiety, relationships, and the challenges of growing up.

She's built a career doing something she genuinely cares about, and along the way, she's learned a great deal about herself, her clients, and the kind of therapist she wants to be.

Madison shares her journey into counseling, what running a private practice has taught her, and the advice she'd give someone following a similar path.

Read her story: https://hubs.ly/Q04C2cYZ0

10/20/2026

Everyone has their own reasons for choosing the path they're on, and we love hearing what brings our students to Palo Alto University.

Today, we're introducing Rachel, a student in our PhD in Clinical Psychology program!

Rachel shares what inspired her to pursue clinical psychology, how she'd describe PAU to others, and her thoughts on what it means to be human.

Take a moment to get to know Rachel and hear about her journey in her own words.

10/18/2026

Meet Briana Cousins, a student in our MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program!

We love getting to know the people who make up our PAU community, and today we're introducing you to Briana.

In this video, she shares what she loves about PAU, how she'd describe the university to someone new, and why human understanding matters to her.

Take a moment to get to know Briana and hear about her experience in her own words.

10/15/2026

A proud moment for PAU student Tracy L. Hayes!

Tracy, who is pursuing her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, recently presented her poster, Not a Deficit: Supervising for Neuro-Affirming ADHD Care, at the 2026 Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES) Conference in Reno, Nevada.

Her poster explores how counseling supervision can better prepare future counselors to support people with ADHD through neuro-affirming approaches that look beyond deficits.

Tracy shared that WACES was a very positive experience that left her with a million more ideas to pursue. She also expressed her gratitude for PAU faculty member Dr. Donna Sheperis, whose encouragement and continued support have made a meaningful difference in her career.

"I am loving the journey," Tracy shared.

We're proud of Tracy for sharing her work and excited to see where her ideas take her next! 💙👏

10/13/2026

What does it mean to be human? We asked people across the PAU community.

A smile for someone in the grocery store. Checking that the people you work with are having a good day. Being open and curious about other people’s stories.

10/11/2026

Every student brings their own story and perspective to PAU, and we love getting the chance to share them.

This time, we're hearing from Ryan Ramos, a student in our MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Ryan talks about how he'd introduce PAU to someone who's never heard of us, what makes it different, and what he's enjoyed along the way.

We're glad you're part of our community, Ryan! 💙