UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Natalie Hernandez DePalma was named as the new senior director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), a unit of Student Affairs, at Penn State University Park. Hernandez DePalma began her new role on March 16.
“Natalie DePalma’s acceptance of this key leadership position in Student Affairs extends the extraordinary run of senior directors responsible for our CAPS operation,” said Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs. “Dennis Heitzmann’s leadership brought us his protégé Ben Locke, and now Ben’s leadership has given us a natural successor in Natalie. This critically important service for our students has been in good hands for a long, long time, and I am glad to know that good fortune will not change in the years ahead.”
The senior director of CAPS is responsible for a center that provides clinical services to more than 4,500 students, has over 10,000 outreach contacts annually and operates in three locations on campus. Hernandez DePalma oversees the administrative operations of CAPS, which includes supervising more than 60 full- and part-time staff — such as psychologists, psychiatric providers, social workers, case managers, doctoral-level interns, and support staff — and managing an annual budget of more than $5 million. She is also responsible for the evaluation and assessment of the center’s programs and services, including individual and group therapy, psychological assessments, crisis intervention, consultation and support regarding complex crises and mental health concerns to the University community.
DePalma said she is deeply committed and motivated to provide Penn State students the most effective and comprehensive mental health services possible.
“For over a dozen years at CAPS, I've benefitted from working in multiple direct-service roles. In that time, I have developed invaluable relationships with campus partners to support collaborative care and look forward to refinement of the systemic and holistic programming we offer,” DePalma said. “CAPS has had the privilege of devoted, caring, and innovative leaders and I feel humbled to share the title with them. CAPS will continue to provide thoughtful stewardship of the institutional resources that serve the campus community.”
DePalma began her time at Penn State in 2006 as a doctoral practicum counselor and later served as a staff psychologist for six years. Her responsibilities included coordinating multicultural programs and group counseling as well as serving on the Gender Diverse Care Team, the University Park CARE Team and the Behavior Threat Management Team. In 2016, she was named the assistant director of clinical services and a member of the CAPS leadership team. Beginning in September 2021, she shared the interim director role with Brett Scofield, associate director for CAPS and the executive director for the Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Penn State.
DePalma earned her undergraduate degree from Tufts University, a master’s in mental health counseling from Boston College, and her doctorate in counseling psychology from Penn State.
“CAPS is a multidisciplinary center here to support the continuum of students’ mental health and wellness. We utilize a diverse array of theories and programs to empower students to identify their concerns and connect with the best next step in their journey toward their goals,” Hernandez DePalma said. “We love what we do and are grateful to serve in this vital campus role; especially with the recent return to more robust in-person experiences.”
CAPS offers a wide range of services, including wellness and self-help options; group, individual, and couples counseling; crisis intervention; psychiatric services; and community education and outreach services for the University community.