Counseling students present Ph.D. work
The push to gain hands-on experience has always been clear through Waynesburg University’s graduate counseling program. They have shown this yet again through their recent conference presentations throughout the state.
“Having the opportunity to participate in state and national conferences is a fantastic scholarly experience for our students and one that will help put them on the path to changing the world as counselor educators,” said Dr. Devon Manderino, assistant professor of counseling.
In front of national conferences, Manderino, Thomas DeGeorge, Heatherlee Sittler, Michelle Steimer and Deborah Schratz, doctoral students in the Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program, presented thorough and “well received” conference presentations, said Manderino.
According to a press release, Manderino, Sittler and DeGeorge presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision 2015 national conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Oct. 10. Their presentation, ‘Using Popular Culture in the Classroom: Strategies to Enhance Counselor Education,’ addressed methods of selecting appropriate cultural references for topics within counselor training, stated Manderino.
This year’s conference theme, culturally relevant pedagogy, focused on connecting the students’ learning to their existing knowledge. These professionals and Ph.D. students impressed on their audience the necessity in presenting conferences such as these, said Manderino.
According to Manderino, the presentations and attendance at these conferences are vital for individuals within the field.
“Conference presentations such as these are crucial in putting Waynesburg University on the map in the counselor education field,” said Manderino.
In addition to this event, Steimer and Schratz went to State College, Pennsylvania for the annual Pennsylvania Counseling Association conference on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Both second-year Ph.D. students presented on understanding and building the level of confidence that counseling students possess regarding potential work with military personnel, said Manderino in regard to their presentation, “Warrior Pride: Is Counselor Confidence in Working with the Military Population Dependent Upon Understanding Military Culture?”
This topic was based on extensive literature review involving significant amounts of research. Having history within the military, Steimer and Schratz needed to know how to learn more than they already knew.
“The field is always changing,” said Steimer. “It’s amazing how much research can bring you up to date.”
This impactful topic based on military culture tugged on heartstrings for both Steimer and Schratz. Both women have been involved in military positions, and thus related easily with the topic.
“People don’t understand the military culture,” said Steimer. “You have to understand their culture to work with them.”
With a passion for the military and eagerness to present, Steimer took great pride in the effect of the presentation.
“The room was filled,” she said with excitement. “It was rewarding seeing how much the audience wanted to learn and how open they were. But it was challenging, leaving personal experiences and bias out of the picture.”
These individuals will not be the only ones presenting at conferences. however. Dr. Taunya Tinsley, associate professor in counseling and director of Graduate Programs in Counseling, will co-present with colleagues from the National Basketball Association and the National Football League in Montreal, QC, Canada. The presentations will be at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference in March 2016 and will involve the topic of “Counseling and Promoting Wellness with the Athlete Population.”