This summer 13 CED students, led by Dr. Keith Mobley, ventured to Costa Rica for a new course called Global Perspectives in Counseling. For three weeks, they lived with Costa Rican families, conducted service learning projects, and engaged in cultural awareness and intercultural communication skills. Their itinerary included Spanish classes, process groups and seminars about Costa Rican culture, a visit with an indigenous healer, and a night walk in the rainforest. You can experience their adventures and reflections by visiting the CED 689 blog.
On September 27, students and faculty from the Costa Rica trip will offer a presentation at the new School of Education building (1300 Spring Garden Street) from 3 to 6 pm. Come for any portion of the program, which includes posters, indigenous handcrafted items for sale, a slide show, refreshments, and a student panel discussion. Contact Dr. Mobley with questions.
Where in the World?
The CED Costa Rican group at steaming-hot Volcan Poas
Dr. Mobley, Lisa Muhs, and Lucy Lewis with new friend Luz
Paulina Flasch bonds with schoolchildren
by Cheryl Fulton
CSI Chapter Reaches Out to Greensboro Refugees
In early April, eleven students from the Upsilon Nu Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) presented a mental health workshop to refugees in the Greensboro area. The students' effort was the result of collaboration with the ecumenical organization Church World Service (CWS). The Greensboro office of CWS fosters refugee resettlement for nearly 250 people per year, most victims of torture who fled their country seeking a better life.
The workshop attracted 42 attendees, including refugees from Bhutan, Burma, and Vietnam. Using small-group discussion, visual aids, and interpreters, CSI volunteers explored participants’ needs and concerns, shared mental health resources available in the community, and encouraged community connection.
Kimberly Perry with Dr. Gerald Corey at the July AMHCA conference
Drs. Cashwell and Young demonstrate transparency with their Fellows Awards
Summer 2011
CED 689 participants: Paulina Flasch, Laura Jones, Christine Kasten, Adam Kim, Lucy Lewis, Elizabeth Likis-Werle, Jenna McGown, Sejal Mehta, Lisa Muhs, Laura Shannonhouse, Susan Sutton, Melissa Wheeler, Carly Youngman
Comments, news, and suggestions always appreciated.
by Elizabeth Likis-Werle
Caked-on muddy boots, sawdust in your eyes. Hanging on the edge of the roof with one hand while meticulously painting trim with the other. Sound like a typical Saturday for a grad student? It was for a handful of CED students who decided to put social justice into action by working with the local Habitat agency, which builds houses for families in need.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro was established in 1987; this year it celebrated the completion of its 400th home. Homeownership is one of the major steps to economic self-sufficiency, and Habitat requires families to put in 300 “sweat equity” hours before they can be approved for an interest-free loan and move into a Habitat home.
Ten CED students gave up one Saturday in March and April to install wood flooring, paint, and plant more than a dozen trees and bushes for a neighborhood in the Arbor Court town home community. In return, they got the chance to know one another outside the walls of Ferguson and Curry and feel the joy of community partnership. CED students hope to continue this tradition in the 2011-2012 academic year. Click here for more information about Habitat in Greensboro.
Does It Take to Dig a Hole?
EDITOR: Mary Seymour, mdseymo2@uncg.edu
Back issues of The CED Connection are available online
The UNCG counseling program ranked fourth among similar programs in U.S. News & World Report 2012 Edition Best Graduate Schools. The U.S. News guide—a bible of sorts among education seekers—has consistently rated the CED as one of the top five counseling programs in the country, including a third-place ranking in 2002 and second place in 2006.
Does the CED’s continued high rating breed complacency? “Never,” said Department Chairman Dr. J. Scott Young. “It’s like any time you’re on top—the only place to go is down. There’s always some anxiety: Are we evolving as we should? Are we doing things to keep ourselves ahead?”
Not that he or anyone else in the Department is complaining. High rankings bring a strong reputation and topnotch faculty, which in turn attract high-caliber students. Since U.S. News rankings are based on positive word-of-mouth from education school deans around the country, the system is neatly synergistic.
Another Top Grade from U.S. News & World Report
How Many Counseling Students
Earning top honors against a lineup of major research universities makes the CED a David among Goliaths. Whereas other high-ranked counseling programs are located on flagship campuses, the CED’s home is small and regional by comparison. In the 2012 guide, the CED beat peer programs at powerhouse schools such as Ohio State, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Indiana University at Bloomington.
Dr. Young credits faculty as the program’s greatest strength. “Our faculty intrinsically have high standards,” he said. “They are outstanding in their research, their leadership in the field, and the scope and quality of their publications.”
As to how to become number one in the U.S. News guide, Young has no surefire answer. “The ranking process is a little bit mysterious. You might go from a four to a five, and then it’s, ‘Oh, no!’ Or you go from fourth to second without knowing why. Overall, we’re always working to create quality research, increase grant funding, and attract high-quality students.”
Whatever the magic formula, it’s clearly working. The CED is the most highly ranked program at UNCG, which gives the Department a leading edge. “People know us by name and reputation, which allows us to argue for resources for the program,” Young explained.
In other words, excellence reaps excellent rewards.
Feature Stories
Volunteer Stephanie Goetz said, “In just a few hours, I learned a great deal about the unique challenges and experiences of this population. I strongly believe that this hands-on service experience has made me a more culturally aware counselor.”
The workshop will continue to be offered each semester as new refugees arrive in the Greensboro area. Contact Cheryl Fulton or Lucy Lewis for more information.
CSI students: Cheryl Fulton, Jennifer Brown, Tracy Carpenter, Kyra Osinski, Stephanie Goetz, Myra Martin-Adkins, Lori Notestine, Sejal Mehta, Lucy Lewis, Ed Wahesh. CWS staff: DB Khatri, David Pau, Susanna Brunner, Badal Gurung
Susan Taylor-Johnson, Sarah Buchanan, and Carrie McLain clean up their act
Lori Notestine, Christine Kasten, a fellow UNCG student, and Ed Wahesh dig in
Honors & Awards
Dr. Linda Makinson ’01—Distinguished Practitioner Award
Dr. Makinson is a shining example of a counselor who has truly dedicated her life to the betterment of others. A practitioner at Spring Garden Counseling in Greensboro, she is a member of the CED Department’s advisory board. Dr. Makinson also serves as treasurer of the
Licensed Professional Counselors Association of North Carolina (LPCANC). She gives of herself though her involvement in Boy Scouts of America and mission trips to Bolivia. Dr. Makinson has served for a decade as education and clinical supervision chair of the Stephen Minister Leadership Team at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro.
Stephen Kennedy ’08—Distinguished Practitioner Award
Although a relative youngster in the counseling field, Kennedy is quickly making his mark. He works as a school counselor at Northeast Guilford High School; in addition he is a college information specialist for the College Foundation of North Carolina and web resources consultant for CSI International. Kennedy is committed to advocacy for professional counselors in all settings and currently serves as government relations co-chair for the North Carolina School Counselor Association (NCSCA). As Upsilon Nu Chi’s alumni committee co-chair, he manages the organization’s Facebook site; he also chairs the CSI professional members committee.
2011 CED Awards Ceremony
Check out the new Counseling Research-Practice Blog on the CED home page. The blog describes recent counseling research conducted by CED faculty and students. You’ll find descriptions of research projects such as “Promoting Self-Esteem in Adolescents: The Influence of Wellness Factors” and “Power and Gender in the Supervisory Relationship.” Be sure to bookmark the blog so you can keep up with the latest research.
All the News That’s Fit to Blog
The CED annual awards ceremony took place on April 14 under sunny skies outside Ferguson 251. The event recognized standout students as well as three extraordinary alumni, profiled below.
Dr. Joseph Jordan ’06—Outstanding Practitioner Award
Dr. Jordan earned double honors in 2011: he received the Outstanding Practitioner Award from both the Upsilon Nu Chi Chapter and CSI International. As clinical director of the North Carolina Physician’s Health Program, he works with impaired and potentially impaired physicians, focusing largely on substance abuse and recovery. Dr. Jordan is the first non-MD—and thus the first LPC—to hold this position.
A counselor who understands the profession at both the micro- and macro level, Dr. Jordan serves on the editorial board for The Professional Counselor: Research and Practice as well as the Ad-hoc Committee for Addiction Professionals in North Carolina, the Impaired Professionals Action Committee, and the North Carolina Practice Improvement Collaborative for Substance Abuse Services. CED professor Dr. Keith Mobley said of Dr. Jordan, “It is evident that he not only excels in a clinical capacity, but exemplifies the often overlooked roles associated with clinical work, such as scientist, leader, and advocate.”
Dr. Joseph Jordan
Dr. Linda Makinson
Elizabeth Doom—Outstanding Entry-Level Student
Philip Clarke—Outstanding Doctoral Student
Stefanie Goetz—Outstanding Service to Chapter
Laura Shannonhouse—CSI International Fellow and Intern
Susan Sutton—Master’s Cohort Award, 1st year
Susan Taylor-Johnson—Master’s Cohort Award, 2nd year
Lucy Lewis—Doctoral Cohort Award, 1st year
Student CED Award Recipients
Stephen Kennedy
Evette Horton—Doctoral Cohort Award, 2nd year
Steve Boul—Doctoral Cohort Award, 3rd year
Laura Andrews—Outstanding Entry-Level Student
Laura Jones—Outstanding Doctoral-Level Student
Traci Collins—Master’s-Level Marian Pope Franklin Award
Ryan Reese—Doctoral-Level Marian Pope Franklin Award
At the 2011 American Counseling Association (ACA) conference, Dr. Craig Cashwell and Dr. J. Scott Young were named ACA Fellows. They earned this honor for their extensive contributions to the counseling profession through research, scholarship, and numerous leadership positions in the ACA and its divisions. With their new titles, Cashwell and Young join the ranks of CED professors Drs. James Benshoff, DiAnne Borders, and Jane Myers, all of whom have been named ACA Fellows.
The ACA also recognized Dr. Sejal Mehta ’11 with the Sandhu Multicultural Counseling/Diversity Student Research Award. Laura Shannonhouse received the Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship Award.
ACA Kudos
Conferences
Meet Me in San Francisco
Numerous CED folks were among the 4,000 attendees at the American Counseling Association (ACA) conference in New Orleans in March. Five faculty members, eight doctoral students, and 22 alumni were involved in 34 presentations and programs. Click here to see a slideshow of CED students, faculty, and alumni at the conference, including the CSI event and CED reception. Download the program guide.
CED Goes to the ACA
ACA Conference Presenters
Dr. Casey Barrio Minton ’06—CSI Chapters as Co-curricular Partners in Leadership Development
Dr. Caroline Booth ’05—Using Web 2.0 Technologies in Counseling: Possibilities and Pratfalls
Dr. Pamelia Brott ’96—21st-Century Career Counseling: It’s More Than Just Finding a Job
Dr. Craig Cashwell and Philip Clarke—The Straight Path to Addiction Recovery: Helping 12-Step Clients in Spiritual Bypass
Drs. Craig Cashwell and J. Scott Young—Integrating Spirituality and Religion Into Counseling: A Guide to Competent Practice
Dr. Catherina Chang ’98—Counselors: Making A Difference Wherever You Are Through Community Engagement
Dr. Jack Culbreth ’96—Analysis of Professional and Addiction Counseling Licensure Requirements, Scope of Practice, and Training National Findings
Dr. Suzanne Degges-White ’03—Yoga as a Metaphor for Life: Helping Clients Integrate Mind, Body and Spirit
Dr. Melinda Gibbons ’05—Preparing Students With Disabilities for Their Future Careers
Dr. Sylvia Nassar-McMillan ’94—Counselors’ Program Evaluation Toolbox: Effective Evaluation Principles and Strategies
Drs. Melinda Gibbons ’05, Matthew Shurts ’04, and Derrick Williams ’07—Career Counseling With Couples: Strategies for Navigating Issues Throughout the Relationship
Dr. Carman Gill ’05—Got Spirit? Our Clients Do
Drs. Carman Gill ’05, Melanie Harper ’05, and Holly Hartwig Moorhead ’03—Exploring the Spiritual Domain: Tools for Integrating Spirituality and/or Religion Into Counselor Education
Julie Hammontree—Award-Winning Words: Winners of the ACA Foundation Graduate Essay Contest Share Their Thoughts and Strategies for Writing
Dr. Nathaniel Ivers ’09—Alcohol Screening and Brief Interventions for English- and Spanish-Speaking Medical Center Trauma Unit Patients
Dr. Michele Kielty-Briggs ’01—Overcoming Personal and Institutional Obstacles to Incorporating Spirituality into Counselor Education Curricula
Dr. Bellah Kiteki ’11—Pre-, Peri- and Post-migration Experiences and Adjustment of Adolescent Refugees in the U.S.: Implications for Counselors
Dr. Simone Lambert ’01—Balancing Disaster Mental Health: Resilient Individuals, Resilient Communities, Resilient Counselors; Conducting Addictions Outcome Research in an Ethical and Legal Manner
Dr. Sejal Mehta ’11—International Immersion: Critical Factors to Create Short- and Long-Term Transformational Effects for Counselor Trainees
Dr. Jane Myers—ACA Past Presidents’ Forum: Counseling and the Challenge of Social Transformations
Dr. Jane Myers and Laura Shannonhouse—Counseling Here, There and Everywhere: Global Links and Gaps in Counselor Preparation Programs
Dr. Sylvia Nassar-McMillan ’94—When Role Models Are Scarce: Using Multimedia and Online Resources to Encourage STEM Careers in Underrepresented Populations
Drs. Christopher Pisarik ’06 and Clay Rowell ’05—Daydream Believer: A Glimpse into the Secret Career and Lifestyle Aspirations of College Students
Dr. Andrea Rayle ’02—Leadership and Professional Advocacy: CACREP’s Look to the Future Is Now!
Drs. Andrea Rayle ’02 and Joshua Watson ’03—The Search for Mattering: Validating the Construct of Mattering for Use in Counseling
Dr. Mark Scholl ’98—The Constructive Resume: Promoting the Career Adaptability of Graduate Students in Counseling Programs
Dr. Allison Smith ’08—The Development and Validation of the Perceptions of Mental Illness
Dr. Sondra Smith ’97 and Catherine Tucker ’94—Relational-Cultural Therapy with Young Adolescents: How and Why
Drs. Jose Villalba, Kelly Wester, and J. Scott Young—Funded or Perish: Addressing the Need for Sponsored Research in Counselor Education
Dr. Joshua Watson ’03—Publishing in ACA Refereed Journals: Suggestions From the Council of Editors; Finding Your Place in AACE; Initial Development of the Counseling Assessment Self-Efficacy Scale
Christopher Ward—Scholar Practitioners in Action: Navigating the Intersections of Group Work Scholarship and Practice
Dr. Kelly Wester, Steve Boul, and Evette Horton—Research in the Counseling Profession: What Is Needed Now
The North Carolina Counseling Association’s annual conference took place in Concord in February. CED students, faculty, and alumni participated fully in the four-day program—with alumna Dr. Robin Guill Liles ’01, 2010-11 president of NCCA, in the spotlight as chief organizer.
2011 NCCA Conference
NCCA Executive Council
Dr. Robin Guill Liles ’01
Dr. Miriam Wagner ’89
Chris Greene ’68
Dr. Caroline Booth ’05
Janee’ Avent ’10—Cultural Considerations for Alcohol Screening and Brief Counseling Interventions
Dr. Keith Davis ’99—Transgender Development Over the Lifespan
Dr. J. Scott Glass ’99—Culturally Inclusive Family-School-Community Partnerships: Collaborating to Help Culturally Diverse Families; School-Based Family Counseling and Adventure-Based Counseling: Incorporating Experiential Education into the Schools
Evette Horton—Infant Mental Health: What Is It and Why Counselors Should Care?
Dr. Sylvia Nassar-McMillan ’94—The Age of Accountability: Effective Evaluation Principles and Strategies; Using Technology to Address STEM Career Underrepresentation During Tough Economic Times
Dr. Christine Murray, Gulsah Kemer, and Amber Pope ’10—The Couple’s Resource Map and Scales: Tools to Assess Client Resources in Couple Counseling
Dr. Christine Murray, Steve Boul, Evette Horton, Laura Jones, Catherine Johnson, and Lori Notestine—Counseling Domestic Violence Survivors: Current Research and Theory-Based Approaches
Dr. Debbie Newsome ’99—Metaphors, Mindsets, and the Counseling Process
Dr. Patricia Whitfield ’86—Helping African-American Families at Risk: Five Factors We Need to Know
Division President
Dr. Patricia Whitfield ’86
NCCA Conference Presenters
CSI Update
Our own Upsilon Nu Chi Chapter of CSI International was awarded the 2010-2011 recipient of the Chi Sigma Iota Outstanding Chapter Award at the CSI Awards Ceremony at the ACA convention in New Orleans. Congratulations to all chapter members!
Upsilon Nu Chi continues to expand its presence on the web. In addition to its Facebook group, Upsilon Nu Chi has just established a member site on LinkedIn. All members—current students, alumni, and faculty—are encouraged to join to keep informed of future events, workshops, and other announcements sponsored by the chapter. Joining is also a great way for you to stay in contact or reconnect with classmates and colleagues in the field. Contact Ed Wahesh, Upsilon Nu Chi Chapter President, with questions or comments.
CSI on the Web
A new crop of CED students was initiated into the Upsilon Nu Chi chapter of CSI in February. To qualify for the counseling honor society, students must have completed at least one full academic term and maintained a scholastic average of 3.5 or better. The program, held in the Virginia Dare Room of the Alumni House, featured Dr. Casey Barrio Minton ’06 as guest speaker and included a touching tribute to Dr. Jane Myers, longtime advisor to CSI, who is phasing out her involvement in the society during 2011-12.
The new kids on the CSI block
Upsilon Nu Chi 2011 Initiates
CSI initiates: Laura Andrews, Jenifer Aronson, Chase Arredondo, Dominiquie Boyce, Sarah Buchanan, Andrew Cline, Kristen Davidson, Paulina Flasch, Daniel Goldberg, Alia Henderson, Lauren Higgins, Bridget Holcombe, Rachel Iverson, Christine Kasten, Adam Kim, Jessica Long, Sejal Mehta ’11, Elizabeth McGinnis, Jenna McGown, Carrie McLain, Yoonjung Na, Kimberly Perry, Jenna Picard, Christina Ragone, Mary Seymour, Kate Sutton, Susan Sutton, Alexandra Thompson, James Wolfe, Carly Youngman
Membership transfers: Myra Martin-Adkins, Laura Jones, Ryan Reese, Edward Wahesh, Melissa Wheeler
Drs. L. DiAnne Borders, Laura Gonzalez, Erik Hines, and Jose Villalba received funding from College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) to create a curriculum to teach parents how to help their children with college planning. The $44,000 grant was part of CFNC’s federally funded College Access grant.
Dr. Laura Gonzalez received $5,000 in summer funding from the UNCG Child and Family Research Network for her grant proposal “Community Education Advisors or Promotores: Helping Latino Parents Promote Post-Secondary Access and Success for their Children.”
Dr. Erik Hines won a UNCG New Faculty Grant of $5,000 for his study “The Impact of Ecological Factors on African American Males’ Decision to Attend College.”
Dr. Jane Myers published “Wellness, Professional Quality of Life, and Career-Sustaining Behaviors: What Keeps Us Well?” in the Journal of Counseling & Development, 89, 163-171 (2011).
Dr. Kelly Wester authored “Publishing Ethical Research: A Step-by-Step Overview” in the Journal of Counseling & Development, 89, 301-307 (2011)
Faculty & Class Notes
Faculty News
Geoff Bailey ’96 (UNCG Student Success Center) participated in a panel presentation titled “Voices of Certification” at the National Association for Development Education (NADE) Annual Conference in February.
Dr. Keith Davis ’99 of Appalachian State University was elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the National Board of Certified Counselors.
Dr. Suzanne Degges-White ’03 has joined the faculty at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Dr. Tom Dodson ’01 received the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Merit Award for 2011.
Lisa Flint-Morris ’05 and her husband Ryan welcomed their second daughter, Carly Lyn Morris, on August 2, 2011.
Dr. Michael Garrett ’96 is professor and chair in the Department of Collaborative Support and Intervention at the University of West Georgia. He also coauthored “Crying for a Vision: The Native American Sweat Lodge Ceremony as Therapeutic Intervention” in the Journal of Counseling & Development, 89, 318-325 (2011).
Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy ’96 is now Vice Dean of Academic Affairs in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. She authored “School Counselors as Social Capital: The Effects of High School College Counseling on College Application Rates in the Journal of Counseling & Development, 89 (2), 190-199 (2011).
Catherine Higgins Johnson ’09 and her husband, Brooks, welcomed daughter Clara Elizabeth on May 27, 2011.
Dr. Lindsey Katherine (Pugh) ’05 completed her Ph.D. in higher education at Florida State University in April and is now visiting assistant professor of higher education at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Drs. Sejal Mehta ’11, Carrie Wachter Morris ’06, Casey Barrio Minton ’06, and Jane Myers all wrote articles for the summer 2011 edition of CSI’s newsletter, Exemplar.
Dr. Casey Barrio Minton ’06 coauthored “Interactive Training Model: Enhancing Beginning Counseling Student Development” in Counselor Education and Supervision, 50, 189-206 (2011).
Julie Olson ’92 is taking a three-year opportunity to lead the elementary division of Lincoln Community School in Accra, Ghana.
Dr. Dwaine Phifer ’93, Eugene Naughton ’11, Dr. Linda Makinson ’01, Dr. Daniel Paredes ’07, and Lili Sznaidman ’96 contributed articles to the June 2011 newsletter of the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of North Carolina (LPCANC), making its authorship almost entirely UNCG alumni.
Jessica Ross ’11 accepted a position at Culbreth Middle School in Chapel Hill, NC.
Dr. Wendi Schweiger ’08 wrote the NBCC Perspective column published in the June 2011 issue of Counseling Today, "Developing International Assessment Standards.”
Dr. Adria Shipp ’10 wrote a Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) grant request for Sylvan Elementary School in Snow Camp, NC, and received $137,990 for equipment and renovations for her school. These programs will improve access to basic primary health care for school-age children.
Emily Teague ’10 accepted a position as adolescent therapist at Old Vineyard Behavioral Health; she also joined Triad Psychiatric and Counseling Center as a part-time therapist.
Leslie Veach ’99 and husband Lee Templeton welcomed baby boy William Henry Templeton on April 4, 2011.
Dr. Carrie Wachter Morris ’06 and her husband, Brandon, welcomed son Brennan Otho Morris on August 22, 2011.
Ross Wade ’08, assistant director of career services for the Elon University School of Communication, and a team of staff and graduate students won an Innovative Excellence Award from the National Association of Colleges and Employers for their “Eye on iMedia” blog.
Alumni News
Dominiquie Boyce’s letter to the editor was published in the January 2011 issue of Counseling Today. Dominiquie wrote about advocacy efforts of the ACA, especially its work with the Department of Veterans Affairs for recognizing mental health counselors.
R. L. Bozard published “Helping Christian Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients Recover Religion as a Source of Strength: Developing a Model for Assessment and Integration of Religious Identity in Counseling” in the Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 5 (1), 47-74 (2011).
Phil Clarke, Bella Kiteki, Cristina Lima, and Ali Wolf were selected for master training by NBCC-I. They are now registered as mental health facilitator master trainers as part of NBCC-I’s efforts to meet the mental health needs of underserved citizens around the world.
Gulsah Kemer has been selected as a 2011-12 Association for Assessment in Counseling and Education (AACE) Emerging Scholar.
James Wolfe received the 2011-12 Jack Bardon Fellowship Award through the Vacc Counseling and Consulting Clinic.
Student News
Alli Forti—Mindfulness and Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors: The Mediating Role of Self-Kindness and Alexithymia
Bella Kiteki—Acculturation and Psychosocial Adjustment of African Adolescent Refugees in the United States: The Role of Social Support
Sejal Mehta—International Immersion: An Exploratory Study of Critical Factors, Sustained Impact, and Counselor Development
Ali Kyle Wolf—The Knowledge, Skills, Practices, and Attributes That Are Necessary for Leadership Roles in Counseling
Laura Wyatt—The Role of Mindfulness in Clinical Supervision
Spring 2011 Dissertation Defenses
