Tracii Kunkel of Vestaburg was conferred the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from Northern Illinois University on Aug. 11, 2012. He is a graduate of Vestaburg High School, Indiana University, and Northern Illinois University. Tracii is the son of Linda and Rod Kunkel of Vestaburg.

Dr. Kunkel recently began his first position as a professional psychologist as the lead psychologist for the Daytona Beach VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center. The PRRC is a highly-specialized program treating the most seriously mentally ill veterans. Kunkel leads the first PRRC in the country, which was designed and built for this specific program.

Kunkel will be responsible for assisting with converting the previous mental health day program into a PRRC and expanding the program.