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Marsha Wiggins, a former Counseling program faculty member in the School of Education & Human Development at CU Denver, has made a legacy gift to support students pursuing master’s degrees in the Couple and Family Therapy program. Her transformative career—from pastor to church-based counseling to academia to executive leadership—was shaped by a deep commitment to helping others heal and grow. Now, her generosity will empower future therapists to do the same.

From the Pulpit to the Classroom

Marsha Wiggins’ journey into counseling began unexpectedly in the mid-1980s, when she served as a pastor at a large United Methodist church in Florida. Encouraged by her senior pastor to focus on church-based counseling, she enrolled in courses at the University of Florida—despite feeling unprepared. That leap of faith led to a master’s degree, a PhD, and eventually, a career in higher education.

“I didn’t set out to become a professor,” Wiggins said. “I just wanted to be more qualified for the work I was already doing.”

Dr. Marsha Wiggins (right) with a CU Denver Counseling program alum Dr. Jennifer Cook in 2014, celebrating her former student’s PhD achievement. Dr. Cook is now an associate professor of Counseling at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Building a Career at CU Denver

Wiggins joined CU Denver in 1993 and taught in the Counseling program for 18 years. She became known for her engaging, relationship-centered teaching style and her dedication to student success. She taught the course Counseling Theories 42 times and helped shape the couple and family therapy curriculum.

“I believed I had to build a relationship with students before they would give me the authority to teach them,” she said. “It was always a mutual learning experience.”

Her commitment to inclusive education led to retreats and trainings focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion—efforts that helped define the program’s culture and success.

Expanding Access to Counseling

Wiggins played a key role in developing CU Denver’s Student and Community Counseling Center, which began as a small internal clinic and grew into a community-serving resource. The center still provides low-cost counseling to university students and local couples and families, giving future counselors and therapists real-world experience with faculty supervision, while meeting community needs.

“All of our students did their practicum in the center,” she said. “It gave us a chance to observe their skills and connect theory to practice.”

A Scholar and Advocate

Wiggins is widely recognized for her pioneering research. Her 2003 book titled Integrating Religion and Spirituality into Counseling helped shift professional norms and inspired a popular elective course at CU Denver.

“I came from a spiritual background, and I knew how important those beliefs were to clients,” she said. “Ignoring them wasn’t an option.”

After rewiring her career in 2011, Wiggins continued to serve the field as executive director of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) from 2012 - 2019, and she remains active to this day in grief education and advocacy.

A treasured moment between Dr. Marsha Wiggins and her late son, Cameron. His passing led Wiggins to establish a legacy gift supporting future couple and family therapists.

Honoring Her Son Through a Legacy Gift

Wiggins’ decision to establish a scholarship fund is rooted in a deeply personal journey. Following the tragic loss of her son, Cameron, to an overdose, she authored From Heroin to Hope: Making Sense of the Loss of a Child to support other grieving parents. Her legacy gift to CU Denver is a powerful tribute to Cameron’s memory—one that not only honors his life but also empowers future therapists through scholarship support, ultimately impacting the lives of their future clients.

“I wanted to give back to CU Denver, a place that gave me so much—growth, identity, belonging,” she said. “And help students who could use some additional financial support to become therapists.”

Her scholarship will prioritize first-generation college students and those from underserved communities pursuing a degree in Couple and Family Therapy.

Are you also interested in supporting CU students through a legacy gift? Contact Susan Cleveland at susan.cleveland@cu.edu.