Ivory Brooks-Seay
A SUNY Fredonia counselor has earned statewide recognition for her work with students and the campus community.
Ivory Brooks-Seay, a mental health counselor with the Counseling Center at Fredonia, is the 2026 recipient of the SUNY Council of Senior Student Affairs Officers Mental Health Champion Award.
The award recognizes faculty and staff who “go above and beyond their job responsibilities to demonstrate exceptional dedication and advocacy for mental health awareness and support within the campus community.”
“This is a well-deserved recognition of Ivory’s outstanding commitment to the well-being of our students and the Fredonia community,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Tracy Stenger.
Mrs. Brooks-Seay has been at Fredonia since 2017. Jeffrey Janicki, director of Health and Counseling Services, said her work has been distinguished by her commitment to “fostering access, belonging, and mental health equity for students from historically underserved and marginalized populations.”
“Through her clinical practice, campus outreach efforts, and leadership within diversity, equity, accessibility, and belonging initiatives, Ivory has helped create affirming spaces where students of diverse identities feel seen, supported, and connected to care,” Mr. Janicki said. “Her clinical caseload reflects engagement with a broad cross-section of the student population, including first-generation college students, students from racial and ethnic minority groups, and students identifying across diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. By intentionally reducing barriers to support and promoting culturally responsive care, she has contributed meaningfully to a campus environment where all students have greater opportunity to thrive and succeed.”
"Building trust, fostering collaboration, and providing support in ways that are meaningful and accessible to each person are what ultimately help facilitate growth and lasting change.” - Ivory Brooks-Seay
Brooks-Seay said what she enjoys most about her work is the opportunity to build genuine relationships with students and watch them grow over time.
“Whether it’s helping someone navigate a difficult chapter, celebrate a milestone, or discover strengths they didn’t know they had, those moments remind me why I chose this profession,” she said. “I also value the relationships I’ve built with campus and community partners. When passionate people come together with a shared goal of improving student well-being, it creates meaningful change and reinforces the importance of collaboration.”
Janicki said among Brooks-Seay’s most meaningful contributions has been her weekly facilitation of the “Let’s Talk” consultation program, which provides informal access to mental health support and helps students connect with resources before concerns escalate.
“She also integrates mental wellness into broader campus initiatives and community-building efforts, helping create a culture in which seeking support is normalized and encouraged,” Janicki said. “Her leadership, advocacy, and service have had a measurable impact on both student well-being and campus climate, making her exceptionally deserving of this recognition.”
Brooks-Seay said she finds it rewarding to be part of a campus community that values student growth, well-being, and success.
“Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across campus and in the community to develop programs and initiatives that support students in meaningful ways,” she said.
Effective counseling, Brooks-Seay explained, begins with “creating a space where people feel safe, respected, and heard.”
“Active listening is essential, not just hearing someone’s words, but understanding the meaning and emotion behind them,” she said. “I also believe that flexibility is key. Every individual brings a unique story, culture, and set of experiences, so it’s important to adapt to your approach to meet each client where they are. Building trust, fostering collaboration, and providing support in ways that are meaningful and accessible to each person are what ultimately help facilitate growth and lasting change.”
The Fredonia Counseling Center served 566 unique students during the 2025-2026 academic year, representing approximately 18 percent of the student body, Janicki noted.
“The center provided 3,220 total clinical appointments, including individual and group counseling sessions,” he said. “The average wait-time for an initial appointment was three business days. These utilization numbers have been relatively consistent over the past five years.”
The SUNY CCSAO Mental Health Champion Award recognizes individuals who promote mental health awareness, lead initiatives to reduce stigma, advocate for mental health resources, foster a positive campus environment, and advance wellness and suicide prevention efforts.
Brooks-Seay’s selection for this award reflects a sustained commitment to advancing student mental health, well-being, and belonging at SUNY Fredonia, according to Janicki.
“As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Ivory has distinguished herself not only through her clinical work but also through her leadership of campus-wide outreach and prevention initiatives,” he said. “During the 2025-26 academic year, Ivory coordinated major programming efforts that engaged students, faculty, and staff in conversations about mental health, resilience, and help-seeking, while also serving in leadership roles that promoted equity, accessibility, and inclusion across campus. Her work consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to reducing barriers to care and ensuring that all students feel supported and connected.”
Brooks-Seay will be formally recognized during the College Student Personnel Association of New York annual conference from Oct. 25 to 27 in Buffalo, NY, at which time she will receive a commemorative plaque.
