Meet the Staff

Angela Cupido
Angela Cupido has been working as a Counsellor at Nipissing University since 1995. Prior to her work as a Counsellor at Nipissing University, Angela worked as a Social Worker in a psychiatric hospital. She also has several additional experiences in the field of mental health with both adults and children, varied experiences within the field of developmental disabilities, and within the fields of both crisis work and domestic violence. 

Angela is naturally person-centered and this is exemplified in her ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding within each professional counselling relationship.  She is knowledgeable and skilled in offering and using a variety of counselling intervention strategies that she ensures are personally tailored as she develops an understanding of each student with whom she works. Angela seeks alternative and creative ways to practice counselling drawing from various theoretical orientations and practices, including those from humanistic, cognitive, behavioral, developmental, feminist, and post-modern paradigms.

Outside of her work as a Counsellor, Angela spends much of her time with her husband and 2 children. She also enjoys playing golf, being outdoors in nature, gardening, and reading. 


Julie Coote

Julie Coote is an alumni of Nipissing University where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare. She went on to complete an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree in the Native Human Services program at Laurentian University and then a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Calgary. Julie is a member of Nipissing First Nation.

Prior to working as a Counsellor at Nipissing University, Julie worked in various capacities with First Nations, Metis and Inuit students at the post-secondary, secondary and elementary school levels in Alberta and Ontario. Julie has also worked with women and children who are homeless and/or experiencing domestic violence, with adults and children with developmental disabilities, and with children and youth in foster care. She is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Julie is passionate about supporting students on their own path of healing and growth. She enjoys building relationships with people and offering guidance to enhance one’s self-awareness as a first step in creating change to work toward reaching an identified goal. Her approach to counselling is guided by the Anishnaabe Seven Grandfather Teachings of respect, wisdom, love, humility, bravery, honesty and truth.

With her calm demeanor, Julie can offer a safe, supportive space for students at Nipissing University to explore the life difficulty that they may find themselves facing.  Julie also enjoys working with students to explore career opportunities and develop their own career path.

Julie enjoys spending time outdoors and participating in community events with her family.

Andrea has been working in the social work field for 16 years.  Prior to working at Nipissing University, she worked as a Crisis Worker at a hospital where she gained valuable experience supporting clients in the areas of mental health issues and crisis situations.   Andrea also has experience working with children and families in her role as a Child Protection Worker where she developed extensive skills in assessment, family intervention, advocacy, and community liaison.

Andrea is a very warm, non-judgmental, and caring person.  She is very skillful and astute in crisis situations.  Andrea is eclectic in her counselling practice with students and uses the theoretical approach that would be best tailored to the individual as opposed to “one theory fits all”. Thus, Andrea has a knowledge and skill base from several theories with a particular passion for cognitive behavioral and solution focused approaches.  Andrea is passionate about prevention and enjoys developing and facilitating psycho-educational seminars and workshops on several topics that benefit students and promote their success.

Andrea has three children and enjoys family time, being a soccer/football mom and walking

Josée Zwicker

Office of Student Development & Services - Counsellor

Ext. 4437

E-Mail: ​joseez@nipissingu.ca​

Josée Zwicker completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Social Welfare from Nipissing University in 1994.  She is currently pursuing a Masters of Education degree at Nipissing University. ​ 

Josée has worked in the Social Work field for over 17 years with people with severe and persistent mental illness.  She has worked at Canadore College for the past year teaching in the Social Sciences Department.

Outside of her work, Josée is a hockey Mom and enjoys spending time with family at home and at the cottage, gardening and homework.

Diane Sheldon

Diane enjoys family time with her husband and 2 children and loves walking and reading.

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