Our Staff and Board

Staff

Director of Finance and Operations Nicole Almeida, Clinical Manager Pam Penland, Executive Director Meredith Switzer, and Development Director Brendan Hughes

Meredith Switzer, M.Ed.

Executive Director

meredith@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 108

Meredith has over 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit arena and has served in leadership capacities – either on staff, Board of Directors, or Advisory Council – for more than 15 regional nonprofits. She has dedicated her career to finding solutions to challenging community issues including food insecurity, access to mental health services, affordable quality childcare, public education, and housing and homelessness.

Meredith is a graduate of Leadership Asheville and Leadership North Carolina and currently serves on the WomanUP Committee for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. She was recognized as the Chamber’s “Outstanding Woman in Nonprofit Leadership” in January 2021 and received a COVID Humanitarian Award in October 2021 for her executive leadership at Homeward Bound of WNC during the pandemic.

She holds a B.A. in Broadcast Communications from UNC Chapel Hill and a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When not engaged in nonprofit work, she enjoys discovering a new hiking or running spot in the beautiful WNC mountains, spending time with friends, cheering on her children in their sporting endeavors (go Black Hawks!), and practically any activity that includes her husband, three sons, and terrier, Scout.

Pam Penland

Clinical Manager

pam@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 101

Pam’s background is in psychiatric nursing where she worked a number of years in psychiatric inpatient settings and community mental health. She has been with All Souls Counseling Center for more than 17 years and is dedicated to continuing the mission.

Nicole Almeida

Director of Finance & Operations

nicole@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 104

Before joining the staff of ASCC in October 2019, she has many years of experience in office management and leadership. She is passionate about the work of ASCC and is dedicated to supporting its mission of providing mental health counseling for the uninsured and underinsured of our communities.

Brendan Hughes

Development Director

brendan@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 109

Brendan has over 11 years of experience in nonprofit development and management in the mental health, social entrepreneurship, youth development, and affordable housing fields. He received an MBA from UC San Diego and served in the Peace Corps. He is committed to supporting the compassionate mental health services that ASCC provides. In his free time, Brendan enjoys tennis, nerdy books and videogames, and hikes with his dog Zoe.

Victoria Hensley

Outreach and Community Engagement Manager

victoria@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 112

Victoria was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA and moved to North Carolina in 2011 to attend High Point University. In 2015 she graduated from HPU with a B.A in Business Administration and minors in Marketing and Anthropology. From 2015-2021 she worked in High Point on food security and local food initiatives and started her own non-profit called Growing High Point. Victoria and her husband now live in Asheville and enjoy hiking with their two dogs Lady and Theo, exploring the local food scene, and traveling. She is excited to be joining the ASCC team and engaging with underserved members of our community. 

Donna Lockaby-Morrow

Clinical Program Administrator

donna@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369

Donna has 20 years of experience in counseling and leadership. She received her BA in Psychology from Augusta State University and her Masters in Counseling from East TN State University. Donna is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in TN, VA, and NC. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, pilates and spending time with friends, family, and her dogs, Bogie and Lucca. She is excited to join the staff and support the mission of ASCC.

Board of Directors

Several members of our Board of Directors at our Annual Board Retreat

Chad Donnahoo, Esq.

Board Chair

The Law Offices of  Elston, Donnahoo, & Williams

Peter Best

Treasurer

First Horizon Bank

Stephanie Citron, Ph.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Richard Gloor, D.O.

Melissa Stamatiades

CAPTRUST

Chris Smith

Beverly-Grant, Inc.

Heather Johnson

Vice Chair

Kudzu Brands

Kristy Smith

Secretary

Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)

MC Ellis

Resources for Resilience

Kristin Scott

Capstone Health Alliance

Larry Thompson

Community Volunteer

Client Testimonials

I'm so glad I found ASCC. I had been in therapy/counseling before, but it had become too expensive. It was important that I had a therapist and I have felt an improvement in my mental health.

[My counselor] brought so much light to our marital issues. He helped us work through years of built up negativity. With his guidance, we were able to find our love and compassion for each other again.

I am so glad to have found All Souls. I would not have been able to receive therapy otherwise!

[My counselor] has been a vital part of working my way out of a very difficult time in my life. She listened attentively, asked difficult questions that needed to be asked and with a sincere sense of compassion.

My experience here at All Souls has been so life changing. The amount of compassion and dedication I feel here is so comforting. I wasn’t sure I would ever get my mind and life back but I did and I’m so grateful for this place, I love it!

I have come for both individual as well as couples therapy and I love the level of care I receive here. So thankful to have found you guys.

This place has been a literal life-saver. I have never felt more respected or understood by a counselor. Now that I’ve come here I can’t imagine what I’d do without this place.

I feel very safe talking with [my therapist]. She always listens to everything I need to say and responds with great empathy and understanding. She has helped me open up more and revisit things that I thought I had dealt with but in fact are still challenging my mental health more than I thought they were. We have been working very hard to get to the root of my problems instead of just fixing whats more visible on the surface.

ASCC has helped my partner and I have a better quality of life that we otherwise would not have been able to afford. Thank you.

I am so thankful for ASCC. [My counselor] has been amazing to work with...it's been so helpful to be able to utilize this service and the much needed support I've been searching for. 

I’ve noticed the changes in my personal life have gotten better and with the help of counseling I’m more happier and able to see growth.

[My counselor] is very likely saving my life. My gratitude has no measure. Thank you.

[My counselor’s] calm accepting demeanor helped me feel comfortable and safe in discussing anything. Her suggestions were pivotal and realistic in helping me deal more successfully with my anxiety.

My sessions with [my therapist] have really changed a lot for me. Eliza is always knowledgeable, nonjudgemental, unbiased, and thoroughly insightful. I have never been happier with a therapist.