Graduate Program Direction

Program Foundations

I co-designed and launched the MS in Alcohol and Drug Recovery Counseling (ADC) in 2015. I designed and launched the MS in Co-occurring Disorders Recovery Counseling (CODC) in 2017. The MS CODC is the flagship program and it attracts applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. Throughout my time as director, I’ve emphasized these foundational areas of knowledge, skills and attitudes in our students’ education and training.

The Foundations of the MS Programs

Director Duties

As director and now co-director of the MS programs, I responsively and responsibly discharge a wide variety of duties and functions. These include immediate concerns, shorter-term growth and maintenance tasks and longer-term sustainability work. Colleagues within the department and across the university give me positive feedback on the ease of collaborating with me.

Key Duties of the Program Director
Then-student Rachel Hagen interviewed me and others, and attended one of my classes, for this Metropolitan article about the MS CODC. Link:
https://themetropolitan.metrostate.edu/2019/02/counseling-graduate-students-focus-on-dual-diagnosis-of-mental-illness-and-addiction/

Mentorship and Leadership Transition

As much as I love the graduate programs, and as much as I’ve enjoyed heading them up, I recognize that changes in leadership are necessary and healthy. During AY22, I have had the privilege of sharing the director role with Dr. Dharshini Goonetilleke and providing some mentoring as she prepares to become sole director in summer 2022. The two of us and our department are committed to a smooth transition for both Dr. Goonetilleke and our students.

Department Chair

 I appreciate my colleagues’ confidence in me such that they have voted me in as chair of the Human Services Department. I will assume those duties in summer 2022.