Mission.

Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) acknowledges the systemic barriers within our society and profession that impact clients, students, counselors, schools, families, and communities. We use personal and collective activism as a vehicle to address disparities through collaboration with communities, schools, mental health practitioners, and other service providers, as well as involvement in political, regulatory, and legislative processes. Our mission is to incorporate social justice advocacy into our roles as clinicians, supervisors, educators, and researchers by:
1) building relationships within the schools and communities in which we work; 2) addressing institutional and educational barriers at all levels; 3) uplifting marginalized and minoritized voices; and 4) producing anti-racist and anti-oppressive research and theory that address inequities and promote social change.

Who  is  CSJ?

CSJ has been a consistent voice for counselors involved in social justice work. CSJ members have successfully advocated on a number of issues including: healthcare for women & TGNC, equal access for disabled, issues of discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community, racism, classism, and immigration. CSJ has:

Design by Kate Madden

• Published strong organizational position statements 
• Developed and lead to ACA’s endorsement of the Social Justice Advocacy Competencies
• Promoted Multicultural Competencies and socially responsible approaches to counseling

CSJ   Programs

As a social justice organization, CSJ actively leads many programs for counselor advocates and activists. You can find more information on these programs on their respective linked pages here on our website:

• Chapter Town Halls - announced on our main page and social media
• Membership Events - announced on our main page and social media
• Committees - see Get Involved -> Committees
• Mentorship Program - applications usually open in the Spring - see Get Involved -> Mentorship
• Doctoral Internship Program
• Advocacy Events - announced on our main page and social media
• Professional Development Webinars - announced on our main page and social media
• Conference Events - announced on our main page and social media
• Annual Awards and Grants - see Connect -> Awards & Grants
• Quarterly Newsletters - see Resources -> Newsletter
• Organizational Position Statements - see Resources -> Statements
• Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology - see Resources -> Journal

READ THE CSJ BYLAWS

READ THE CSJ CODE OF ETHICS

READ THE HISTORY

Moving  ​Forward

Social justice is an issue that touches all lives. In 2018, CSJ joined with AMCD, SAIGE, ASGW, and ASERVIC in solidarity to begin a new practice of joint webinars, advocacy statements, and service days as well as continued collaboration and support of social justice. 

Looking forward, CSJ strives to achieve a larger impact through:

• Mentorship & Leadership
• Education & Training Opportunities
• Outreach 
• Collaboration

---

Leadership 2026-2027

---

Dr.   SAILUME  WALO-ROBERTS

​CSJ President (2026-2027)

Dr. Sailume Walo-Roberts is a Counselor Educator and Licensed Professional Counselor based in New Jersey. She earned her PhD from Montclair State University and serves as adjunct faculty in the Applied Psychology Department at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and is owner in private practice at Sankofa Counseling Services LLC.

The daughter of refugees and immigrants, and an immigrant herself, Dr. Walo-Roberts draws deeply on her lived experiences in shaping her work. These roots inspire her commitment to ensuring that marginalized and under-resourced communities are not just acknowledged, but actively centered in the provision of mental health services.

Her research, teaching, advocacy, and counseling practice focus on trauma, refugee experiences, gender-based violence, decolonization, multicultural counseling, and the experiences of people of color in higher education. Before earning her PhD, Dr. Walo-Roberts served for more than a decade as the director of a countywide rape crisis center, where she provided counseling, advocacy, and prevention programming for survivors of sexual violence. In that role, she collaborated with community partners to develop training and strategies to prevent sexual violence and served on the New Jersey Attorney General’s Committee that created statewide standards for how sexual assault survivors are treated.

A dedicated social justice advocate, Dr. Walo-Roberts previously served as the Co-Chair of CSJ's Advocacy Committee and is truly honored to serve as President-Elect. Guided by Arundhati Roy’s words that “there’s really no such thing as the ‘voiceless,’ there are only the deliberately silenced and the preferably unheard,” she continues to use her platform to amplify voices, challenge inequities, and advance equity and inclusion in mental health care and education.

DR.  ALFONSO   FERGUSON

CSJ Past-President (2025 - 2026)

Dr. Alfonso Ferguson is an Afro-Caribbean male who migrated to the U.S. during his formative years. His Caribbean heritage has shaped his identity as an adult, partner and professional in multiple ways. Dr. Ferguson’s personal mission is to provide brave and safe spaces for marginalized to communities to feel heard, affirmed and celebrated.
 
Dr. Ferguson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (NY), Licensed Professional Counselor (NJ), Approved Clinical Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor. Dr. Ferguson prides himself on providing counseling services to underserved communities. He earned his Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida and Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling from Montclair State University. Dr. Ferguson is a core faculty member at Saybrook University.
 
As a counselor educator, Dr. Ferguson aspires to contribute to the diversity readiness of the counseling field by preparing counselors in training to be culturally responsive in their work with intersectionally underserved communities. Dr. Ferguson intentionally teaches all courses through a social justice lens. He believes that if we effectively prepare counselors of tomorrow, we are all more likely to have a better future.
 
Dr. Ferguson has gained a variety of experiences in individual and family counseling services to those who are experiencing psychosocial stressors, family issues, and mood disorders. He has a strong interest to work with LGBTQ+ Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) struggling with mood disorders and psychosocial stressors. His clinical experiences include case management, inpatient therapy, outpatient therapy, private practice owner, supervision, and consultation. Dr. Ferguson owns and operates his own psychotherapy private practice providing culturally responsive care to individuals living in the New York, New Jersey, and Florida area.

Dr.  TINA ONIKOYI

CSJ President-Elect (2027 - 2028)

Dr. Tina Onikoyi is a healer, social justice advocate, transformational speaker, and Licensed Professional Counselor whose work bridges mental health, leadership, and liberation. As the proud daughter of a Nigerian (Yorùbá) immigrant father and a Barbadian and Vincentian mother, she brings a multicultural perspective that informs her commitment to equity, belonging, and culturally affirming care. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of Wellness Meets World and a leadership and organizational wellness strategist with expertise in anxiety and burnout, partnering with healthcare organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and corporate leaders to strengthen leadership capacity and build healthier, more equitable, and sustainable cultures. Dr. Onikoyi has served in national leadership roles with Counselors for Social Justice and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated, and currently serves on the Monmouth University Alumni Association Board of Directors, advancing advocacy, leadership development, mentorship, and community engagement. Through her clinical practice, organizational work, scholarship, and service, she remains committed to empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and transforming systems so all people have the opportunity to heal, thrive, and belong.

---

 2026-2027    executive   board 

President: Dr. Sailume Walo-Roberts
President-Elect: Dr. Tina Onikoyi 
Past President: Dr. Alfonso Ferguson
Treasurer: Dr. Jose Lopez 
Secretary: Dr. Marisa White
Communications Officer: TinMuk Li
Community Representative: Dr. LaShawn Adams
ACA Governing Council Representative: Dr. Lauren Shure
Retiree/Limited Means Representative: Dr. Colette Dollarhide
School Representative: Temi Unonu
Graduate Student Representative: Lauren Boyd

---

Thank you   2025-2026    executive   board 

President: Dr. Alfonso Ferguson
President Elect: Dr. Sailume Walo-Roberts
Past President: Chiquita Long Holmes
Treasurer: Dr. LaShawn Adams
Secretary: Dr. Jared Lau
Communications Officer: Li (Lee), Tin Muk
Community Representative: Dr. Kshipra Jain
ACA Governing Council Rep: Dr. Lauren Shure
Retiree Representative: Dr. Colette Dollarhide
School Representative: Temi Unonu
Graduate Student Representative: vacant

---

  Committee   CHAIRS

Advocacy Committee, co-chairs: Miss Sravya Gummaluri and Dr. Frank Gorritz
Awards Committee, chair: vacant
Conference Committee, chair: Dr. Jared Lau; Proposals, chair: Dr. Jared Lau
Marketing, Media, and Public Relations, chair: Li (Lee), Tin Muk
Membership Committee, co-chairs: Dr. Rieko Miyakuni 
Chapters Subcommittee, chair: Dr. Lisa Wenninger
Mentoring Committee, chair: Dr. Betsy Perez
Newsletter Committee, co-chairs: Dr. Darius Green, Dr. Sam Steen & Dr. Ebony White
Professional Development Committee, co-chairs: Dr. Aja Burks & Dr. LaTisha Brown
Research Committee, co-chair: Dr. Suni Sharma & Dr. Dae'Quawn Landrum
Journal of Social Action in Counseling and Psychology (JSACP), Editors: Dr. Lawrence Hal Gerstein & Dr. Pina Marsico
Strategic Planning Committee, chair: Dr. Alfonso Ferguson

connect  with  csj

Join CSJ on social media @CSJNational and join our community on ACA Connect!

Still have questions? Email [email protected]