New counseling services manager aims to bring greater involvement on STC campuses
STC’s new Counseling Services Manager Armando Medrano, LPC, brings experience from an academic setting as well as from the private sector to the college.
The new South Texas College Counseling Services Manager Armando Medrano, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) believes in compassion through action.
Now in charge of overseeing STC’s Office of Counseling and Student Accessibility Services, Medrano said staff is ready to do their very best for students as they gauge the emotional or mental health factors impacting academic performance.
“As I begin to manage the counseling services department and work with our counselors in all our campuses, I see that the most important responsibility I have is ensuring the quality of the services we provide for students. I want them to know we are here for them,” Medrano said. “We do this by making sure our counselors are supportive and making sure they also have what they need to be most effective.”
Medrano comes to STC with a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology as well as expertise as a counselor. He also brings knowledge from an academic setting and from the private sector.
He previously worked at Donna Independent School District conducting, planning and coordinating services for students, parents and school personnel.
“As I begin to manage the counseling services department and work with our counselors in all our campuses, I see that the most important responsibility I have is ensuring the quality of the services we provide for students. I want them to know we are here for them.”
He also served at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen as the Program Manager for the hospital system’s Senior Intensive Outpatient Program, which enabled him to gain experience in program operations including budgetary needs, while also providing direct patient care in the form of individual, group and family counseling.
“When it comes to the job, I believe it starts with caring about people, listening to them and following up. We do whatever we can to help them,” Medrano said. “It’s important that students and the staff recognize this through my actions.”
Since the pandemic, one in three college students has suffered from mental health issues. A study by Deloitte, an international auditing firm, reports that rates of depression and anxiety among college students have doubled in the last decade. In 2019, 13% of students reported seriously considering suicide, according to the same study.
When it comes to the overall mental health of students, up to 44% of those in college reported having symptoms of depression and anxiety, but as many as 75% of students who struggle with depression and anxiety are reluctant to seek help, according to a study by the Mayo Clinic.
This increases the risk of harmful outcomes, such as dropping out of college, poor academic performance, suicide and substance abuse.
Medrano said students can expect to see a counseling department that is highly involved in the culture on campus.
“Students can expect more visibility from our department,” Medrano said. “We're welcoming students back to campus and this is giving us more opportunity to meet with students and organize things like in-person workshops. One of our counselors is meeting and speaking to classes about our services and strategies for coping, so we are hoping to do more of those types of things.”
For more information about counseling as well as student accessibility services, please visit studentservices.southtexascollege.edu/counseling/.