by: Dr. George T. Williams, Coordinator
The Division of Counselor Education continues to be vibrant. In addition to participating in the preparation for the recent NCATE visit, several other activities have occurred since the spring 2007 School of Education (SOE) Newsletter. The updated Division of School Counseling Handbook (August 2007) is now available for anyone to access online. In addition to the handbook, there is a wealth of information including PowerPoint slide shows, video clips, photographs of internship students and special events, Town Hall meeting agendas, etc. on the Counselor Education website at: http://www.citadel.edu/education/academic_programs/counseling.html.
Former Counselor Education Assistant Professor Joseph D. Wehrman accepted a faculty position at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Dr. Wehrman's wife, Tammy, gave birth to their first child (daughter Hannah Ann) on October 31, 2007. Dr Wehrman is maintaining his Citadel ties and will be co-presenting with Dr. Williams at the national American Counseling Association Annual Conference in Hawaii, March 30, 2008.
Dr. Barbara Griffin, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Clemson University has joined us as a Visiting Professor of Counselor Education this year as Dr. Wehrman's replacement. A national search is underway for the position vacated by Dr. Wehrman. Dr. Aaron Oberman, an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education, has assumed the role of Coordinator of Counselor Education Field Experiences. Much time is invested by Dr. Oberman in placing our practicum and internship students at meaningful P-12 school sites.
The Alpha Tau Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International hosted an induction ceremony on Tuesday evening, October 9th in The Citadel Regimental Commander's Riverview Room. New chapter officers were installed including President Dinoca Ihrig, President-Elect Matt Smith, Secretary Amanda Mueller, and Treasurer Tracey Heath. Seventeen new student members were inducted into the Society that evening. Erica Ciucci, a Global Career Development Facilitator and a 2002 graduate of our program, delivered the keynote address on "A Commitment to Leadership and Professional Development."
The Annual South Carolina School Counselor Association (SCSCA) Fall 2007 Conference was held at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, SC, October 28-30, 2007. The Citadel hosted a dinner on Sunday evening for the SCSCA Executive Board. Dr. Aaron Oberman presented "Accountability Strategies for School Counselors" and Dr. George Williams co-presented with Counselor Education candidates Carol Brediger, Jessie Farley, and Shani Davis on the topic "Practicing Ethically and Legally in Group Work as Professional School Counselors." Drs. Oberman and Williams also served as panelists on the topic "Implementation of ADEPT in South Carolina CACREP Accredited School Counseling Programs."
The Counselor Education Community Advisory Board convened on Wednesday afternoon November 7th at Ft. Johnson Middle School. Discussion during this meeting focused on the feasibility of revamping and perhaps expanding our current CACREP accredited School Counseling programs to address concerns expressed by current students, program graduates, site supervisors, and faculty. The next Counselor Education Community Advisory Board is scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Ft. Johnson Middle School.
