A two-time Illinois alumna, Beard completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the College of Education and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She received her master’s degree in Counseling and Counselor Education from Indiana University, Bloomington.

Tell us about your professional interests and experience.

After I completed my doctorate from Education at Illinois, I served as interim director of Eastern Illinois University’s Counseling Center. Most recently, I spent the last 10 years working as a staff psychologist here at the University of Illinois' McKinley Health Center, where I provided individual therapy and crisis services to university students. My clinical interests include trauma, shame, LGBTQIA identity development, addictions, and graduate student concerns.