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All posts by Michael Purdy


Isabel C. Farrell, PhD student in Counselor Education, was selected by the NBCC Foundation, an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), for the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP). As an NBCC MFP Fellow, Farrell will receive funding and training to support her education and facilitate her service to underserved minority populations.

“I feel honored to have been selected to receive this award along with other outstanding scholars. This fellowship allows us to continue with our passion and determination to serve minority clients and bring education and awareness to our community. I am looking forward to the connections, trainings, and knowledge this award will provide me.”

Isabel C. Farrell


The NBCC MFP will distribute $20,000 to Farrell and the 22 other doctoral counseling students selected to receive the fellowship award. Farrell’s goal for the future is to be a counselor educator that provides appropriate multicultural training to her students. Farrell wishes to bring cultural awareness to each class by incorporating exposure to diverse populations and to continue serving the Hispanic community throughout her doctoral journey and beyond. Farrell plans to conduct research on the psychological effects of immigration in young Latino adults and develop a more effective method for connecting them to the community resources they need to be successful. She is also interested in bringing awareness about the effects of immigration and the struggles many immigrants face. Farrell wants to provide a better understanding of the grief and loss many immigrants experience while transitioning to a new culture. She wants to shine a light on the population’s struggles and pain, and help to combat the racism, discrimination and neglect Latino immigrants face. By receiving this fellowship, Farrell will be able to continue to focus all her energy on growing as a counselor educator and on becoming an advocate for all Hispanics.

Currently, Farrell is a graduate research assistant and has a special focus on grief and loss experiences. She is also a co-instructor of a course called Critical Issues in Counseling Lifespan Development that addresses themes and issues affecting clients’ development with relevance to counselor interventions, including family and personality development, crises and trauma, and addiction and addictive behaviors.

The NBCC MFP is made possible by a grant first awarded to NBCC by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in August 2012. The Foundation is contracted by NBCC to administer the NBCC MFP, as well as training and collaboration activities, such as webinars, that are open to all National Certified Counselors (NCCs). The goal of the program is to strengthen the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increases the number of professional counselors providing effective, culturally competent services to underserved populations.

The Foundation plans to open the next NBCC MFP application period in September 2016. To learn more about the NBCC MFP and its fellows, please visit NBCC Foundation’s Meet the Fellows page.


The NBCC Foundation is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), based in Greensboro, North Carolina. NBCC is the nation’s premier professional certification board devoted to credentialing counselors who meet standards for the general and specialty practices of professional counseling. Currently, there are more than 60,000 National Certified Counselors in the United States and more than 50 countries. The Foundation’s mission is to leverage the power of counseling by strategically focusing resources for positive change.


Alumni Spotlight: Beverly Anderson

School Counseling

Anderson earned an EdS with the School Counseling program in 2006. Originally from Knoxville, she still lives and works in the city. We asked her to reflect on past experiences with EPC and discuss where she’s at now. Read her responses below.

Current Occupation

Facilitator
Secondary School Counseling at Knox County Schools

As a facilitator, I am responsible for training, professional development, and program development for middle and high school counselors in the district.

Awards and Accomplishments Earned as a Student
  • Eugene and Mary Sue Akins Graduate Fellowship
  • For the most part, I was working full-time at UT Knoxville while getting my EdS. As Director of Undergraduate Academic Services, I was responsible for First Year Studies, National Student Exchange, Undergraduate Academic Appeals Committee, and the academic programming for the Volunteer Living-Learning Community.
  • At the end of my studies, I left my full-time job for a graduate assistantship in Career Services to finish my EdS.
  • During my internship, I was offered an interim position at Ball Camp Elementary school where I served as M.A.P.S. Counselor for three days a week.

RHBus

Accomplishments since Graduating

The most touching honor I received was receiving the W. R. Turner Award in 2011. This award was the top award given by students to faculty. When I was honored,  it was the first and only time a School Counselor was honored. The fact that it was given by students meant the world to me because, to quote a wise principal (John Bartlett), “It’s about the students.”

The next greatest honor was being in the top 16 semi-finalists and the first cohort of school counselors to be honored at the White House! The recognition that this award ceremony gave school counselors across the country was a pivotal moment for our profession. It was not about the personal honor; but rather about the importance of our work being recognized. I’ve seen conversations shift locally, statewide, regionally, and in the country about the importance of school counseling.

Personal Interests

Writing, walking, public speaking, humorous skits. As a mother, I have been an advocate at local, regional, and national fronts to enrich families whose lives have been graced with Down syndrome.

Blue_Room

What do you think was the most rewarding/challenging about this program?

Completing the program while working full-time and raising two children was personally rewarding. It was a challenge that seemed extremely difficult, but when sitting in the movie theater with my son during my first “summer” as a secondary educator and hearing Nathan say, “This is awesome!” I knew then that the challenge was worth it.

What was the most memorable experience during your time here?

Joel Diambra’s TMI moment during Group.

How did your experiences as a student help you in your professional/personal life after graduation?

I think the single most significant experience as a student that shaped my professional life after graduation was Jeanine Studer’s encouraging us to become involved in our state organizations. Myself and many of my classmates became and are still active in SMCA, TCA, and TSCA. The connections made across Tennessee have helped shaped me as a professional in ways I would not have grown otherwise.

“If you can keep the well-being of students at the center of your work, most everything else will fall into place.” – Beverly Dickerson Anderson


Nineteen members of EPC were commended at the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Faculty and Staff Recognition Ceremony on April 27, 2016.

To see photos from the event, please go to the “CEHHS Faculty & Staff Recognition Ceremony 4.27.16” album on our EPC Facebook page.

Awards

College Senate Departmental Staff Award
Recognizes a departmental-level non-exempt staff person who has provided exceptional contributions to his/her department (going above & beyond job expectations to accomodate students and faculty, contributing to a positive and supportive work culture and environment.

Synthia Clark

Synthia Clark
Administrative Specialist I

“I am so lucky to work in a department with such caring, supportive, and appreciative individuals!”

 


The Helen B. Watson Faculty/Student Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation
Awarded to a student and the faculty member who directed the outstanding doctoral dissertation within the departments of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; Educational Psychology and Counseling; Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies; or Theory and Practice in Teacher Education.

Elizabeth Hays

Elizabeth Hays
“It is such an honor to have my dissertation recognized by the college. I am so grateful for the support and expertise of my chair, Steve McCallum, and my other committee members who made this study a possibility.”

Steve McCallumR. Steve McCallum
“It was a pleasure to chair Elizabeth’s dissertation. Her work has been extremely strong throughout her time at UT, in the classroom, in applied settings, and as a researcher; her dissertation is just one more example of her ability to conceptualize, conduct, and disseminate research. I consider her among the strongest students whom I have worked with during my 30+ years in higher education, and I’m happy the college was able to recognize and reward her work!”



CEHHS Board of Advisors Faculty Support Award
Awarded to recognize current/past accomplishments or future projects of one outstanding faculty member for teaching/research/service efforts in any area within CEHHS.

Steve McCallumR. Steve McCallum
Professor in School Psychology

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the CEHHS Board of Advisors for their recognition and support of my work. Over the years I have worked closely with board members and know firsthand of their many contributions to the college!”

 

Recognition

 Casey A. Barrio Minton
Associate Professor in Counselor Education

– Recognized under Editors/Co-Editors of Peer Reviewed Publications for being Editor of Journal of Counselor Leadership & Advocacy
– Recognized under Authors/Editors of Books and Assessments for Evaluating Student Learning Outcomes in Counselor Education. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association
– Recognized under Recipients of National/International Professional Awards for Outstanding Research Award from Chi Sigma Iota International


Bonnie Bull
Administrative Support Assistant III

– Recognized under University of Tennessee Support Staff Service Awards for five years of service


Stephanie Cowherd
Associate Director of Corporate Connections for Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under Grants and Contracts Recipients for the Tennessee DHS/Division of Rehabilitation Services/UT CLEE from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, $788,443


Joel F. Diambra
Associate Department Head & Director of Graduate Studies

– Recognized under Recipients of National/International Professional Awards for Outstanding Counselor Educator of the Year from the Tennessee Association for Counselor Education and Supervision


Patrick L. Dunn
Program Co-Coordinator for Rehabilitation Counseling

– Recognized under Grants and Contracts Recipients for the Long-Term Training: Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf from the US Department of Education – Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services, $148,492


Sandra Fugate
Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under 2014-15 Faculty & Staff Retirements (2000-2015)


Melinda Gibbons
Program Coordinator for Counselor Education/School Counseling

– Recognized under Editors/Co-Editors of Peer Reviewed Publications for being Associate Editor of Professional School Counseling Journal
– Recognized under Grants and Contracts Recipients for the PIPES: Possibilities in Postsecondary Education and Science among Rural Appalachian Youth from the Office of Research Infrastructure Program, $209,136


Aaron Kohring
Director for Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under Grants and Contracts Recipients for the LINCS Regional Professional Development Centers Program from the US Department of Education, $284,750 and the Transition & Self Determination Support from the Tennessee Department of Education, $549,105


Robert Kronick
Professor for School Counseling & Cultural Studies of Educational Foundations

– Recognized under Chancellor’s Honors Awards for the Alumni Public Service Award
– Recognized under Grants and Contracts Recipients for the University-Assisted Community School from the Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, Inc., $100,000


R. Steve McCallum
Professor for School Psychology

– Recognized under Editors/Co-Editors of Peer Reviewed Publications for being Co-Founder & Consulting Editor of Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment
– Recognized under Authors/Editors of Books and Assessments for Handbook of Reading Assessment: A One-Stop Resource for Prospective and Practicing Educators. Routledge: Taylor and Francis
– Recognized under Authors/Editors of Books and Assessments for Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test 2. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed Publishing Company
– Recognized under Chancellor’s Honors Awards for the Research & Creative Achievement Award


Merilee McCurdy
Program Coordinator for School Psychology

– Recognized under Presidents of National/International Professional Organizations for being Chair of Council for Directors of School Psychology Programs


Jennifer Ann Morrow
Program Coordinator for Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

– Recognized under Chancellor’s Honors Awards for the Excellence in Teaching Award


Roma Powis
Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under 2014-15 Faculty & Staff Retirements (2004-2015)


Stephanie Robinson
Institute for Assessment & Evaluation

– Recognized under 2014-15 Faculty & Staff Retirements (1994-2015)


Connie Settle
Institute for Assessment & Evaluation

– Recognized under 2014-15 Faculty & Staff Retirements (1993-2015)


Barbara Thayer-Bacon
Program Coordinator for Learning Environments & Educational Studies/Cultural Studies of Educational Foundations

– Recognized under Editors/Co-Editors of Peer Reviewed Publications for being Editor-in-Chief of Studies in Philosophy and Education


Connie White
Associate Director of School & Family Programs for Center for Literacy, Education & Employment

– Recognized under Grants and Contracts Recipients for the Tennessee Teachers’ Professional Development Event Support from the Tennessee Department of Education, $2,214,746 and the Tennessee Teachers’ Professional Development Event Support from the Tennessee Department of Education, $877,092


Seven School Psychology PhD candidates – Brooke Browarnik, Trish Franklin, Leslie Hart, Katie Scott, Kelly Smyth, Kelly Thompson, and Samantha Turnbull – were matched with APA-accredited internships.

SP Interns Web_042616_SClark_37

To become a licensed psychologist, all school psychology doctoral students must have completed an internship. Internships accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) are highly sought out, yet a large number of applicants go unmatched. In 2016, almost thirty percent of applicants were not matched with an APA-accredited internship.

Read below to see where each of the seven will be interning and their experiences of the process.

Brooke BrowarnikBrook Browarnik
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Cypress, TX

 

 

What was the application process like?
Have you ever seen “The Shining”? It was a lot like that. But I had tons of support from my professors and cohort!

How do you feel about being matched?
Relieved — I’m so happy to have matched!

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I’ll be working in a school district.

Will you be at one specific site?
I’ll “float” between three to four schools.

How do you feel about moving to Texas?
Yee haw!


Trish Franklin

Trish Franklin
Nebraska Internship Consortium
Lincoln, NE

 

 

What was the application process like?
It was stressful for the most part. It was really fun to look at all the different programs and visit places for interviews, but there was a lot of waiting. We started working on application materials in August and interviews were in January

How do you feel about being matched?
Very, very happy. Having an accredited internship makes licensure a lot easier.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I’ll be working with kids who have pediatric feeding disorders. My program is in the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Munroe-Meyer Institute (which is part of the University of Nebraska Medical Center) so a lot of the kids we serve have autism, but we work with other kids that have issues with feeding due to developmental, behavioral, or medical concerns as well.

Will you be at one specific site?
Primarily yes, but my internship is part of a consortium, so I’ll have a chance to visit some of the other sites and programs as well.

How do you feel about moving to Nebraska?
Very excited! I love going to new places. I’ll have to get used to the cold though 🙂


Leslie Hart

Leslie Hart
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Cypress, TX

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was equal parts stressful and interesting. It’s really neat to be able to search a nationwide database to see how you can build on the foundational skills we’ve learned here at the University of Tennessee. ​That said- it’s also stressful to get interviews, not get interviews, and pay for everything in between.​

How do you feel about being matched?
Matching was an incredible relief. ​It feels like a step in the right direction.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I’ll be working ​as a Predoctoral Intern ​at the Cypress-Fairbanks ​I​ndependent School District with the ​Department of ​Psychological Services. I’ll be helping students across different settings and learn the ropes of being an effective school psychologist. ​I’m particularly excited for opportunities to build counseling skills both with students and with families. I walked away from the interview feeling like the staff at Cypress-Fairbanks emphasize the training of their interns across all the different areas of school psychology. I’m excited to join the next year’s cohort and join a training-focused internship program!

Will you be at one specific site?
No – I’ll be splitting time across different schools within the same district. ​

How do you feel about moving to Texas?
I’m incredibly excited to move to Texas and forget everything I ever knew about snow.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
As much as I’m excited for the next adventure, I’m incredibly grateful for all my amazing practica and supervision here in Knoxville.


Katie Scott

Katie Scott
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was overall very stressful. We had to be extremely organized and on top of things in order to meet all of the required deadlines. The finances involved with applying to multiple sites was also a major stressor!

How do you feel about being matched?
I was both thrilled and entirely relieved to be matched with an APA-accredited internship!

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
As the Cherokee intern, I will have the opportunity to work with several Head Start programs throughout East Tennessee as a behavioral consultant. I will also have opportunities working in the schools as a psychologist and in the KLASS Center as a clinician.

Will you be at one specific site?
No – I will be a part-time Cherokee Health Intern and a part-time KLASS Center Intern, so I will have a very diverse internship experience!

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?
I am excited to remain in Knoxville and finally call Rocky Top my “home sweet home!”


Kelly SmythKelly Smyth
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Cypress, TX

 

 

What was the application process like?
The process was long and stressful – with tons of waiting in between phases. But thankfully, the cohort worked together throughout the whole process and made it a bit more manageable.

How do you feel about being matched?
Very excited – this is the culmination of our graduate program and it feels really good to have all my hard work pay off with this internship.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
Traditional school psych duties, but also some specific work with the autism and ADHD populations. Additionally, we will get the chance to conduct some parent training activities that I am very excited about as well.

Will you be at one specific site?
No – I will be assigned to several different schools within the school district I will be working for.

How do you feel about moving to Texas?
Excited and nervous. The moving process is not my favorite and moving across the country is a little overwhelming. But my fiance is coming with me and we are very excited about our next adventure together.


Kelly ThompsonKelly Thompson
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was a little time consuming and nerve wracking. Counting all of my hours of experience took a lot of time, but thankfully our cohort helped each other when we had questions or were unsure of how to complete the application.

How do you feel about being matched?
I feel very thankful and excited to get started!

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I will be working as the school psychology intern for Sweetwater County Schools.

Will you be at one specific site?
Yes, I will be placed in Sweetwater County Schools.

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?
I am very excited about staying in Tennessee. My husband grew up in Knoxville and we have family in town as well. I have grown to love Knoxville and am very happy to stay in Tennessee.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I am excited to get more experience in the school setting!


Samantha TurnbullSamantha Turnbull
Tennessee Internship Consortium
Loudon, TN

 

 

What was the application process like?
The application process was complex and tedious.

How do you feel about being matched?
I am excited and relieved to have been matched with an APA-accredited internship.

What type of work will you be doing at your internship?
I will be working full-time at Lenoir City Schools doing activities that a typical school psychologist does in the schools.

Will you be at one specific site?
I will be at Lenoir City Schools four days a week and will receive supervision one day a week.

How do you feel about staying in Tennessee?
I am really excited to stay in Tennessee. After being here for four years, Tennessee has become my new home.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I am glad that I finally get to apply everything that I have learned during this program on internship next year.


Three faculty members and five doctoral students from the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling were recognized at the Chancellor’s Honors Banquet on April 19, 2016.

See below for a description of each individual’s award.

Extraordinary Community Service
For students and student organizations that exhibit the Volunteer spirit in the community.

Janine Al-AseerJanine Al-Aseer
PhD Student in Learning Environments & Educational Studies

“I am deeply honored to receive the award and credit the amazing team and cohort I have to work with. I thank John Peters for the nomination!”


UT Alumni Association Public Service
Honors a faculty or staff member whose work has made a significant impact on the Knoxville-area community.

Bob KronickRobert Kronick
Professor in School Counseling & Cultural Studies of Educational Foundations

“This award represents the work of a lot of people.”

 


Extraordinary Professional Promise
Honors awarded to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate professional promise in teaching, research or other contributions.

Wenshu Li

Wenshu Li
PhD Candidate in Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

 

 


Research and Creative Achievement
Given to senior faculty in recognition of excellence in research, scholarship, and creative achievement.

Steve McCallumR. Steve McCallum
Professor in School Psychology

“During my tenure at the University of Tennessee I have been blessed to work with many talented students and colleagues. The Research and Creative Achievement Award is a tribute to these collaborators; it is as much theirs as it is mine!!”


Excellence in Teaching
Bestowed by the Office of the Chancellor and the Teaching Council of the Faculty Senate to honor outstanding work in the classroom.

Jennifer Ann MorrowJennifer Ann Morrow
Associate Professor in Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

“I’m incredibly grateful to all of my awesome students who nominated me. Teaching is the best part of my job and I strive to get students as excited about statistics as much as I am.”


Extraordinary Professional Promise
Honors awarded to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate professional promise in teaching, research or other contributions.

Everett PainterEverett Painter
PhD Student in Counselor Education

“I have a great deal of respect for our program faculty. The fact they were comfortable in nominating me is gratifying and means a lot to me. This is a result of their investment and support as much as anything else.”


Extraordinary Professional Promise
Honors awarded to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate professional promise in teaching, research or other contributions.

Kala TaylorKala Taylor
PhD Student in School Psychology
“I am honored to receive this award.”

 

 


Extraordinary Professional Promise
Honors awarded to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate professional promise in teaching, research or other contributions.

Lakmal Walpitage, ESM graduateLakmal Walpitage
PhD Candidate in Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

 

 


To see photos of our recent award recipients, please go to the “EPC Award Winners” album on our EPC Facebook page.

*Award descriptions listed from Chancellor’s Honors Banquet program and website.