Evelyn Varner Whitehead, EdD, LPC, LSATP
Coordinator of Substance Abuse and Sexual Assault PreventionVirginia State University
Coordinator of Substance Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention Virginia State University
Dr. Evelyn V. Whitehead is employed by Virginia State University (VSU) as the Coordinator of Substance Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention in the University Counseling Center. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner with over 30 years of service in behavior health for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to her current position, Dr. Whitehead was a Psychologist at Southside Virginia Training Center, Clinician at Poplar Springs Hospital and District 19 Community Services Board and an adjunct faculty member at VSU and South University. She is an approved supervisor by the VA Board of Counseling for Residents in Counseling, a graduate practicum supervisor for doctoral students in clinical health psychology and serves on thesis and dissertation committees. An accomplished grant writer, she was the principal investigator for several grants to curb underage drinking, including Virginia Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, HBCU Center for Excellence in Behavior Health through SAMHSA, and VSU’s $300,000 grant from the Office on Violence against Women, U.S. Dept. of Justice.
Her work with VSU students in dating violence prevention and The Red Flag Campaign was nationally recognized and garnered two invitations from the former Vice President, now President-elect, Joe Biden. Dr. Whitehead chaired VSUs’ Coordinated Community Response on Sexual Assault and Threat Assessment Teams and led multidisciplinary teams in various settings to holistically address policies, training, protocols, education and awareness, and the needs of special populations. She currently serves on the Human Services Board at John Tyler Community College, Chesterfield Sexual Assault Response Team, Coalition against Alcohol Nicotine and Drug Underage Use, and Virginia Suicide Prevention Interagency Advisory Group. Dr. Whitehead earned a MS degree in clinical psychology from Virginia State University and a Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology. In addition, she studied at Purdue University on a MARC Fellowship and George Mason University in applied behavior analysis. She is a fellow in the Virginia Network of Women in Higher Education, 2015-16 Senior Leadership Seminar of the American Council on Education. Dr. Whitehead has research interests in health disparities and professional help-seeking attitudes among minorities.
As a board member, Dr. Whitehead values collaboration, relationship building and evaluation to inform decision-making. She strives to make a valuable contribution in the lives of Virginians and work cooperatively to optimize the learning experience of health care professionals, create opportunities for advancement, and promote readiness to enter the workforce.
