Dr. Catherine Roland, age 74, of Metairie, LA, passed away peacefully on November 5th, 2021 at Tulane Medical Center. Dr. Roland was born in Huntington, New York, on March 18th, 1947, to Dominic and Judith (Arleo) Buffalino. Catherine spent her early years on Long Island, NY, and after graduating high school, she attended Marshall University, Huntington, WV, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Education. She was a high school English teacher and school counselor for two years in Cincinnati before completing her master’s degree and a doctorate in Counseling and Counselor Education, respectively, from the University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Catherine Roland was a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and served as President of the American Counseling Association (ACA) from 2016-2017. She worked as a private practitioner and clinical supervisor for over 30 years. Dr. Roland’s clinical specialties included counseling young to midlife adults in trauma, older adults, couples and families, and counseling diverse populations.
Dr. Roland first moved to New Orleans in the 1980s, and served as a volunteer HIV testing counselor for NO/AIDS Task Force during the height of the epidemic. She also served on their Board of Directors. She was a founder and Chair of New Orleans Women Against AIDS (NOWAA). NOWAA was founded as a women’s effort to raise money for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Greater New Orleans Metro area. With Dr. Roland’s efforts, NOWAA planned and executed numerous fundraising activities within the community, raising thousands of dollars for people living with HIV/AIDS. She also served as Chair of Community Relief for People with AIDS in New Orleans in the early 1990s.
As a Counselor Educator for over 25 years, her career included service as Professor and Chair of the Counseling program at The Chicago School for Professional Psychology, in Washington DC; Professor and Department Chair, Montclair State University in New Jersey, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, and at the University of New Orleans. Her Student Affairs positions have been at Temple University in Philadelphia, Manhattanville College in New York, and St. Mary’s Dominican College in New Orleans.
Dr. Roland was active for over 30 years with the American Counseling Association, including President of ACA; President of the Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA); and ACA Governing Council Representative for three terms. She was editor of ADULTSPAN Journal, the national peer-reviewed journal of the Association for Adult Development and Aging, for 12 years, and most recently served on multiple national scholarly journal review boards, as well as the Publications Committee of the American Counseling Association. She also published dozens of articles in peer-reviewed journals over the course of her long career.
Dr. Roland had been the recipient of many awards, including the prestigious Fellow Award of the American Counseling Association (2018); Outstanding Alumna from the University of Cincinnati (2018); the 2016 AADA Presidential Mentor Award and AADA Distinguished Service to the Profession Award; 2014 ACES and SACES Locke-Paisley Awards for Outstanding Mentoring; 2013 Presidential Professional Leadership Award from the American College Counseling Association (ACCA).
In 2017, Dr. Roland returned to New Orleans, where she was an active board member CrescentCare, the Metairie Towers Condominium Association, and SAGE New Orleans (formerly NOAGE). She served as the moderator for SAGE New Orleans’ Coffee Talks for the last several years. She was also a columnist for Ambush Magazine.
Catherine Roland is survived by her chosen family, Ada Christine Franz, John Patrick McKinney (Christopher Fagot), Brenda Baker, and Jane Rheineck (Anne MacArthur). She is also survived by her cousin, Roseanne Sheehan. Catherine also leaves behind many dear friends who have been touched by her generosity, kindness, and love. There will be a celebration of her life on what would have been her 75th birthday, March 18, 2022, in New Orleans. Those wishing to honor her memory are encouraged to make donations to CrescentCare and/or SAGE New Orleans.
