Dr. Katrina Ruggles is Clinical Faculty in the School of Counselor Education at Adams State University and is licensed in Colorado as both a Professional Counselor and School Counselor. With 26 years of experience in clinical mental health and school counseling, she brings practice-informed insight into counselor preparation. She teaches both clinical mental health and school counseling students across a variety of synchronous and asynchronous courses and intentionally works to infuse leadership and advocacy competencies throughout the curriculum. Dr. Ruggles has served on multiple counselor leadership boards and professional committees, including the Colorado School Counselor Association Professional Development Committee and Government Relations, supporting advocacy efforts at the state school board and within legislative committees. She also serves on a statewide leadership board of school counselor educators across higher education institutions and has contributed as a regional career curriculum leadership committee. Her work emphasizes preparing counselors-in-training to develop a strong professional identity as advocates and systems change agents.