Symposium Celebrates the Contributions, Achievements of Counseling Students

The Warner School of Education held its annual counseling symposium in May to celebrate the academic and professional accomplishments of master’s students and to showcase the array of research conducted during the 2016-17 academic year.
 
Master’s Thesis Awards were also presented to five counseling students from the class of 2017 for their outstanding academic efforts and achievements. The following counseling students and their master’s theses were recognized: 

• Abigail Cantello – Empowering Girls in a School Based Small Group Setting
• Michael Harris – School Counseling Best Practices for the Effective Assessment and Support of Trauma Exposed Students
• Meghan Kraeger – Root to Rise: Building a Strong Foundation for Student Social-Emotional Health
• Alia Souissi – Culturally-Informed Assessment Processes for Counselors Assisting Arab Immigrant Women Facing Domestic Violence
• Kate Umbarger – In Our Nature: Integrating Nature-Based Interventions in Schools

“The research presented at this year’s symposium reflects the enthusiastic and scholarly efforts of our students to attain high ideals related to fully connecting counseling theory and counseling practice,” says Karen Mackie, assistant professor in counseling and human development.
 
The counseling department also paid tribute to the immense contributions of colleagues in the many professional practice settings where Warner students continue to receive their clinical or research training. Site supervisors were recognized as Supervision Fellows and Dedicated Fellows for their continuous dedication to the training of new counselors and commitment to excellence in the provision of clinical supervision.
 
Professor Bonnie Rubenstein presented a special award to Warner alumnus Thomas Dyer ‘84 (BA) ‘85W (MS), a school counselor at East High School, in recognition of his 32 years of service, 30 of which have been with the Rochester City School District.  Dyer has been a stellar site supervisor for Warner practicum and internship students for over two decades, and he is retiring in June. Warner alumnae Annie Schleining ‘16W (MS), co-president of the Counseling Honor Society, and Kate Umbarger ‘17W (MS), a substitute counselor at East, also contributed remarks on Dyer’s valuable mentorship.
 
The Warner School’s programs in counseling are based on a deep interdisciplinary understanding of human development and human potential. Warner faculty and students are united by a commitment to promoting healthy human development and a passion for helping individuals in need. Learn more about Warner’s graduate programs in school counseling and mental health counseling.