Dr. Rebecca Newgent Department Chair Dr. Newgent Contributed by Jessica Shoop Western Illinois University Quad Cities Spring 2013 Counseling Connections INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Faculty Spotlights 2 PACERS 4 WIU-QC Counseling Association 5 Chi Sigma Iota– Xi Chapter 6 ACA 2013 Conference & Calendar 7 Alumni Update Form & Alumni Spotlight 8 Another semester is coming to an end! Dr. Newgent has been busy implementing state requirement changes, fulfilling Departmental responsibilities, and engaging in professional development! Many changes have occurred in the Department of Counselor Education this semester. Dr. Newgent has worked hard to meet the demands of the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) Basic Skills requirements for school counseling students. She has diligently helped new students and current students meet this standard. Dr. Newgent also reports that we’ve seen dramatic growth in student enrollment! This is due to both the increase in new students admitted into the program and Dr. O’Ryan’s marketing and recruitment efforts. Additionally, Dr. Newgent has been busy with the summer/fall admission process. Many students applied for the summer/fall terms and we look forward to seeing them on campus! Along with the newly admitted students, the Department has interviewed applicants for the Graduate Assistant (GA) positions. Dr. Newgent is also happy to report an increase in the level of student involvement in conferences this semester, specifically the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) annual conference in Cincinnati, Ohio! Despite her busy schedule, Dr. Newgent also took the time to be involved in the conference. She presented Spirituality as a Protective Factor against Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, as well as engaged in multiple professional development opportunities. She has been named the Editor-Elect of Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation (CORE)! She will officially begin her three-year term on July 1st, 2013. Another exciting change in the Department has been Tiffany Stoner-Harris becoming Dr. Tiffany Stoner- Harris and the Department is so proud! Dr. Newgent would like to thank Haley Wikoff for her service to the Department, as she has done an outstanding job teaching our group counseling class! Dr. Newgent would also like to congratulate Diane Heisner and Dr. Holly Nikels for dedicating 10 years of service to the Department! In the coming semesters, Dr. Newgent reports that there will be an increase in online course offerings! She also reports that the Department will be adjusting curriculum to incorporate the new DSM-5 into classes; the DSM-5 is due out late spring. Dr. Newgent looks forward to welcoming back Dr. Nikels from her sabbatical. She was greatly missed! Lastly, keep an eye out for new faces in the Department, as well as in the GA office!
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Dr. Rebecca Newgent
Department Chair
Dr. Newgent Contributed by Jessica Shoop
Western Illinois University
Quad Cities
Spring 2013
Counseling Connections
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Faculty
Spotlights 2
PACERS
4
WIU-QC
Counseling
Association
5
Chi Sigma
Iota– Xi
Chapter
6
ACA 2013
Conference &
Calendar
7
Alumni
Update Form
& Alumni
Spotlight
8
Another semester is coming to
an end! Dr. Newgent has been
busy implementing state
requirement changes,
fulfilling Departmental
responsibilities, and engaging
in professional development!
Many changes have occurred
in the Department of
Counselor Education this
semester. Dr. Newgent has
worked hard to meet the
demands of the Illinois State
Board of Education’s
(ISBE) Basic Skills
requirements for school
counseling students. She has
diligently helped new students
and current students meet this
standard.
Dr. Newgent also reports that
we’ve seen dramatic growth
in student enrollment! This is
due to both the increase in
new students admitted into the
program and Dr. O’Ryan’s
marketing and recruitment
efforts. Additionally, Dr.
Newgent has been busy with
the summer/fall admission
process. Many students
applied for the summer/fall
terms and we look forward to
seeing them on campus!
Along with the newly
admitted students, the
Department has interviewed
applicants for the Graduate
Assistant (GA) positions.
Dr. Newgent is also happy to
report an increase in the level
of student involvement in
conferences this semester,
specifically the American
Counseling Association’s
(ACA) annual conference in
Cincinnati, Ohio! Despite her
busy schedule, Dr. Newgent
also took the time to be
involved in the conference.
She presented Spirituality as
a Protective Factor against
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, as
well as engaged in multiple
professional development
opportunities. She has been
named the Editor-Elect of
Counseling Outcome
Research and Evaluation
(CORE)! She will officially
begin her three-year term on
July 1st, 2013.
Another exciting change in
the Department has been
Tiffany Stoner-Harris
becoming Dr. Tiffany Stoner-
Harris and the Department is
so proud! Dr. Newgent would
like to thank Haley Wikoff for
her service to the Department,
as she has done an
outstanding job teaching our
group counseling class! Dr.
Newgent would also like to
congratulate Diane Heisner
and Dr. Holly Nikels for
dedicating 10 years of service
to the Department!
In the coming semesters, Dr.
Newgent reports that there
will be an increase in online
course offerings! She also
reports that the Department
will be adjusting curriculum
to incorporate the new DSM-5
into classes; the DSM-5 is due
out late spring.
Dr. Newgent looks forward to
welcoming back Dr. Nikels
from her sabbatical. She was
greatly missed! Lastly, keep
an eye out for new faces in the
Department, as well as in the
GA office!
Dr. Alexander-Albritton A. Griffith
Counseling Connections PAGE 2
Dr. Carrie
Alexander-Albritton
Dr. Leslie W.
O’Ryan
Dr. O’Ryan Contributed by Lauren Brandt
This spring, Dr. Alexander-
Albritton has been busy
teaching Internship,
Techniques of Counseling,
Psychopathology, and
assisting students in their
independent study
projects.
In March, Dr. Alexander-
Albritton traveled to
Cincinnati, Ohio for the
annual American
Counseling Association
Conference. While there she
attended various conference
events and sessions. She
also made it a point to be a
tremendous source of
support for a number of
Counselor Education
students that attended the
conference. In addition, she
co-presented a 60-minute
session with two counseling
students entitled, Puppy
Love: Using Dogs as a
Unique Approach to
Wellness across a Variety
of Counseling Spectrums.
Recently, Dr. Alexander-
Albritton has been going
above and beyond in
community engagement. In
April, she presented on
wellness at the local Illinois
Counselor Academy and
put on three different
adventure based counseling
presentations for the staff at
Washington Jr. High School
in Rock Island.
In addition to her
community involvement,
Dr. Alexander-Albritton is
the faculty advisor for the
WIU-QC Counseling
Association. She has been
helping them prepare their
post-graduation festivities,
as well as prepare for the
upcoming year’s events.
Dr. O’Ryan has been quite
busy this spring. Her
teaching this semester
included Counseling in a
Multicultural Society,
Standards of Care and
Management in Clinical
Mental Health
Counseling, and
Internship. As part of
Standards of Management
and Care, the students
conducted focus groups at
the Place2B, an
organization that serves as a
safe haven for displaced and
at-risk youth in both Rock
Island and Scott Counties.
She currently serves as the
faculty advisor for Western
Illinois University-Quad
Cities’ Xi Chapter of Chi
Sigma Iota. The
organization recently held a
ceremony to initiate new
members, recognize
graduating members, and
appoint officers for the
upcoming 2013-2014 school
year.
This semester, Dr. O’Ryan,
along with CNED alumni
Jake Glazier and Dr.
Lemberger-Truelove, has
had an article accepted for
publication. The article,
“Daseinsanalysis and
Humanism,” will be
published in The
International Journal of
Existential Psychology and
Psychotherapy. She was
also invited to be on the
editorial review board for
the Journal of Exceptional
Experiences and
Psychology. As President of
the Illinois Association of
Adult Development and
Aging (IAADA), a division
of the Illinois Counseling
Association (ICA), she has
been fulfilling presidential
responsibilities, as well as
developing and
implementing a leadership
mentoring program.
Dr. O’Ryan looks forward
to teaching
Psychopharmacology in
Counseling and
Counseling Across the
Lifespan this summer.
Dr. Nikels Contributed by Amanda Griffith
PAGE 3
Dr. Stoner-Harris Contributed by Lauren Brandt
Dr. Holly Nikels
Dr. Tiffany
Stoner-Harris
Recently, Professor Stoner-
Harris became Dr. Stoner-
Harris after successfully
defending her dissertation to
the Department of
Counselor Education &
Supervision at the
University of Iowa! Her
research, “Counseling
Graduate Students’
Multicultural
Preparation: A Response
to the Dual Diagnosis of
Childhood Sexual Abuse
and Substance Abuse
among African American
Women,” is being
submitted to Proquest,
making it available for other
researchers, students, and
professionals.
The purpose of her
qualitative research study
was to explore the
perceptions of advanced
masters’-level mental health
counseling students and
recent graduates regarding
multicultural awareness,
knowledge, and skills to
provide effective counseling
services and interventions to
African American women
who have co-occurring
histories of childhood
sexual abuse and substance
abuse.
This spring, she has been
teaching Assessment
Techniques in Counseling,
Techniques of Counseling,
and Counseling
Techniques for Children
and Adolescents. In
addition, Dr. Stoner-Harris
is currently in the process of
collaborating with
colleagues from the
University of Iowa to
submit a proposal focused
on the mental and emotional
complex trauma school
children in Haiti, with
suggestions of how school
and mental health
professionals can
collaborate to provide
interventions for those
needs.
Dr. Stoner-Harris is happily
anticipating her graduation
from the University of Iowa
this May. She will be
teaching, Professional,
Legal, and Ethical Issues
in Mental Health
Counseling for the 2013
summer term.
Congratulations
Dr. Stoner-Harris!
Dr. Nikels has been on
sabbatical for the Spring
2013 semester. During her
sabbatical, she has been
completing scholarly work
for the PACERS program.
The focus of her work has
been on interpreting the
data collected on the
PACERS program so that it
can be shared in journal
articles and professional
presentations. She is also
currently writing grants to
ensure the continuation and
expansion of the program.
In regards to expansion, Dr.
Nikels is hoping to take the
next steps toward
implementing the PACERS
program at the middle
school level.
Dr. Nikels will return this
summer to teach
Developmental
Counseling and Diagnosis
in the School Setting and
will be back in full swing
for the fall semester. This
fall, she will continue her
endeavors in the world of
online learning by teaching,
Counseling Theories,
Developing and Managing
Comprehensive School
Counseling Programs,
and Legal and Ethical
Issues in School
Counseling- all online!
Dr. Nikels’ presence has
been missed in the
Department and we cannot
wait to welcome her back
with open arms.
We’ve missed you
Dr. Nikels!
PACERS is
an AT&T
grant
funded
mentoring
program
through
Rock Island
High School
and the
Department
of
Counselor
Education.
PACERS
Counseling Connections PAGE 4
Positive Achievement and Creativity Equals Righteous Success
Contributed by Leslie Scheck
PACERS has had a great second
semester at Rock Island High School. This
semester we have been focusing on
Napoleon Hill’s Principles of Positive
Mental Attitude as well as doing Career
Exploration. Students are learning how to
be positive in order to reach their goals and
be successful in life. They also explored
how their skills, passions, and values relate
to their career choice.
PACERS was lucky enough to have
Xplicit Poet and other spoken word artists
come to the school for performances and a
workshop. Students were able to write their
own spoken word poems titled “Letter to
Self” and some volunteered to share with
the group. It was a great experience and a
lot of fun! Students also attended the Quad
City Youth Conference in January learning
about healthy relationships, drug use, body
image, and domestic violence.
PACERS has also been participating in
activities outside of school as well. The
PACERS group took part in college visits
to Black Hawk College and WIU-QC’s
Riverfront campus. Students took part in
college tours, career activities, as well as a
mock classroom lesson. PACERS
continues to give back to the community
while working hard in school. In December
students participated in the Martin Luther
King gift event, where they wrapped gifts
for children in need. Students also
volunteered at the Place2B in Rock Island,
sorting and organizing clothes.
It has been a great year for PACERS for
giving back to the community, working on
academics, and making great memories.
The end of the year celebration trip to Six
Flags is coming up soon and 12 PACERS
students will be graduating at the end of
May! Thanks to all those that make this
program possible and for everyone’s hard
work!
Check out our
website at:
www.wiu.edu/
coehs/qc/cned/
pacers/
MLK Wrapping Event
Students at the Quad Cities Youth
Conference
Counseling Connections
It has definitely been
another busy semester for
the Counseling
Association!
In February, many
members and officers
donated their time to
prepare a meal for the
participants at the Place2B
in downtown Rock Island.
Those in attendance had a
fun time cooking for the
kids, and getting to know
more about the
organization. In March,
our secretary, Rachel Grim,
reinstated the Counseling
Association’s affiliation
with the Illinois Counseling
Association, allowing
members to vote on
important, statewide issues
and participate in ICA
functions. Also in March,
the Counseling Association
voted in officers for the
2013-2014 school year.
In April, many members
and officers of CA
participated in the Family
Resources Clothesline
Project at Take Back the
Night, located in
Schweibert Park in Rock
Island. Participants handed
out glow sticks and
promoted the organization
to the community.
Manage Your Stress
Week continues to be a bi-
annual success, with the
CA promoting healthy
eating, exercise, wellness,
and self-care with healthy
snacks and information – in conjunction with
Student Government
(SGA). Thank you to SGA
for their help!
We are looking forward
to another great school
year!
PAGE 5
Did you know that by being
accepted into the
Department of Counselor
Education, you
automatically become a
member of the WIU-QC
Counseling Association?
Don’t forget to list this
valuable membership on
your resume and get
involved in the
organization!
Department of Counselor Education 3561 60th Street Moline, IL 61265-5881 USA
Matthew’s visible role as an LGBTQ ally has been fostered by 12 years of combined teaching and professional school counseling experience at elementary, middle, and high schools settings. Matthew holds professional certifications as a K-12 professional school counselor and teacher in Iowa and Illinois and is a Nationally Certified Counselor.
Presently, Matthew is in his 6th year as the professional school counselor at Erie Elementary School in Erie, Illinois. Here his passion and energy lies in creating developmental school counseling programs that lay the foundation of respect for all students, staff, community members, and families. In 2012-2013, Mr. Beck led Erie Elementary School in addressing biased language concerns,
discussing gender nonconformity, and reading family diversity books through the use of GLSEN’s applauded toolkit-Ready, Set, Respect! Despite opposition and the alarming ban of all LGBTQ resources and conversations in his school building, Matthew along with parent and colleague support, continued to persevere by creating a family reading night outside of school that offered children healthy and respectful conversations, age-appropriate family inclusive books, and curriculums that advocate for all differences. One way Matthew sustained a welcoming school climate amongst the push-back was by participating in No-Name Calling Week, which aims to break down stereotypes and foster inclusiveness. “Where Children Come First”, Erie’s district motto, has served as Matthew’s motivation and success in getting age-appropriate LGBTQ and family diversity resources and books back in his school counseling office.
Matthew continues to advocate that it is never too early to “plant the seeds” and teach our young children about celebrating differences.
Matthew’s respect-for-all philosophy has positioned him as a presenter in the educational community in helping schools address LGBTQ and multicultural issues. Since earning his M.S. Ed. in school counseling from Western Illinois University in 2008, Matthew has presented in several educational courses at Western Illinois University on helping to create safe and affirming school climates. Since 2010, Matthew has worked with graduate level students in group counseling settings and served as a substitute instructor for
professors in the Counselor Education Department at Western Illinois University.