Deena Crawford, L.M.S.W.
Director, Student Counseling Services
University of Southern Mississippi
Deena Crawford, L.M.S.W., is the director of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Student
Counseling Services. She was hired as a clinical therapist in the Counseling Center in 2005 and
then served in the role of Program Administrator in 2007 until her recent move to directorship.
She is also the project director for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration
(SAMHSA) Suicide Prevention grant that provides mental health training and prevention on the
Southern Miss campus. She works collaboratively within student affairs and academic affairs to
promote healthy mind iniatives and currently serves as chair of the Southern Miss CARE team, a
student-centered approach to providing services to students with mental health issues and
behaviors that interrupt the learning environment. She chairs the Campus Mental Health
Coalition and co-chairs the Southern Mississippi Campus Council for Alcohol Abuse Prevention.
She is an adjunct faculty member in the School of Social Work. Mrs. Crawford is currently
pursuing her L.C.S.W. certification and continues to see students at Student Counseling
Services.
Prior to her work in higher education, Mrs. Crawford was a clinical therapist with Pine Grove
Addiction and Behavioral Services in Hattiesburg, MS, working with adolescents, eating
disorders, addictions, and professionals in crisis. She continues to serve as a training and
development speaker for Pine Grove. Her prior administrative experience includes grant writing
and management and educational outreach for the Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention Center in
Hattiesburg, MS. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with her bachelor’s
degree in English and taught high school English and creative writing at Oak Grove High School
before returning to Southern Miss for her Master’s degree in Social Work. She currently serves
as treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention. She lives in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi with her husband and two sons.