Professors Return to Campus with Enthusiasm

Westminster College Graduate Studies professors presented at the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) national conference and expo in Orlando, Fla.

Dr. Alison DuBois and Dr. Molly Mistretta shared a 60-minute session, entitled Back from the Brink: Strategies for Infusing Innovation into an Old Counselor Education Framework. They discussed current issues and trends relating to counselor education; progressive ways to recruit the 21st century learner; innovative, research-based strategies to deliver effective programming; and diverse instructional modalities using current technology. Administrative issues, such as supervising a large adjunct faculty and management of off-campus cohort sites was also addressed.

"Over the course of the last two years, our graduate school has experienced radical changes to meet the needs of today's graduate students,” shares Dr. DuBois, lead presenter. “While at ACA, we were able to engage and collaborate with leaders in the field of counselor education about current issues and trends. This experience validated for us that our new program structure is both competitive and rigorous, thus enabling Westminster College to continue to provide quality, innovative, educational programming."

Dr. DuBois, assistant professor of early childhood education, special education and counseling at Westminster College, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from John Carroll University, Master of Education degree in school counseling from Westminster College, and Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Dr. Mistretta, program coordinator for the counseling education program and adjunct faculty in graduate school and adult studies, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Westminster College, a Master of Education degree from Indiana University, and Ph.D. in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

For more information about the conference, contact Dr. DuBois at duboisal@westminster.edu or 724-946-6039. For information about graduate studies, contact Lori Scheidemantle at scheidla@westminster.edu or 724-946-7353. 

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