Faculty Snapshots

COUNSELING

Both the demand and the need for counseling have never been greater. This can be seen in our own LeTourneau University Center for Counseling, and in the demand for our counseling programs. It’s not news that the fallout from the pandemic continues to weigh on the hearts and minds of students, professionals, and families. According to the American Psychological Association, the number of psychologists who reported receiving more referrals almost doubled from 2020 to 2021 (from 37 percent to 62 percent), and almost 7 in 10 psychologists (68 percent) with a waitlist reported that it had grown longer since the start of the pandemic.

LeTourneau University is helping to meet this need with its Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, one of its most sought-after degrees. The program prepares counseling professionals to engage with varied populations through the use of counseling skills, ethical practice, holistic attention, and a systemic orientation. Graduate students also learn to integrate counseling through the lens of a Christian worldview, personal awareness, and growth. The program graduates students who help hurting people, families, and communities by working alongside a diverse world to promote social involvement and positive change. Here, get to know the counseling faculty that help shape future ‘wounded healers.’

MALINDA FASOL, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COUNSELING; PROGRAM CHAIR, GRADUATE COUNSELING PROGRAMS; DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL TRAINING

“Knowing that I can openly pray with my students, knowing that I can call a colleague and they can pray for me, or vice versa, is such a highlight of LeTourneau University. It is a rare gem to find a university that can stand on biblical principles and encourage those biblical principles and at the same time not sacrifice the high standard of academics and professionalism." Before coming to LeTourneau, Dr. Malinda Fasol worked as a Project Manager and Regional Director at Remi Vista Youth & Family Services. She started her career at LeTourneau as an Adjunct Instructor in 2011. While working at LeTourneau, she was also a Licensed Therapist at Focus for Living. "Our faculty are not ones who graduated with a Ph.D. and went straight into teaching. They had decades worth of experience as counselors so they are able to bring realworld experience into the classroom and not just regurgitate a textbook. I think that’s very helpful and something that students can appreciate because we have a lot of application and not just textbook knowledge.”

Dr. Kristina Nelson worked at a state university for more than six years, but she realized she needed a change. This led her to LeTourneau University. “I have felt God pulling on me for some time, and this summer I decided to listen. I wanted to work for a faith-based institution where the integration of Christian faith is supported and encouraged. I believe that LeTourneau University is a place where I may contribute well and flourish personally and professionally.” Dr. Nelson is fulfilled when she works with her students and believes that has always been the best part of her job. Each year brings new sets of students and since Kristina enjoys meeting new people, she finds joy in getting to connect with her students. “I love meeting new people and learning from them as much as they learn from me. Additionally, I enjoy helping students through their faith journey while I grow in mine as well.” One of the things she loves about LeTourneau is their efforts to integrate faith in the curriculum. “The integration of Christian faith is the most special. I have been craving an opportunity to work for a faith-based institution throughout my career and am grateful to have found LeTourneau University.” “I believe that teaching is a calling, and I believe I have been called to teach psychology and counseling.” Being led to LeTourneau University through his spouse (Dr. Kimberly Quiett, Dean and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing), Dr. Jeffrey Quiett says, “I feel like God was leading us here, both my wife and myself to contribute to the LeTourneau campus but also to the greater work of God using counseling and nursing in His kingdom.” Dr. Quiett has been a professor at LeTourneau since 2013. He primarily works with graduate students in the online graduate counseling program. “Christian higher education is really important to me… I feel like the education that students do in Christian higher education prepares them well for the world… The world is out there ready for people to engage and just like Jesus said, we’re supposed to be salt and light. I think Christian higher education really helps prepare students and adults to be that salt and light in the world.”

KRISTINA NELSON, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COUNSELING

JEFFREY QUIETT, Ph.D.

PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING; DIRECTOR, COUNSELING CENTER

FACULTY SNAPSHOTS:

education

The challenge: Students of today are more digitally native than most of us can comprehend. The opportunity: When we’re thinking about how to prepare teachers in today’s 21st century classrooms, what kind of support can we give them that’s going to help them practice the behaviors they need to exhibit when working with students, parents, and administrators? A solution: A high-tech, low-risk digital opportunity to practice in a safe space. Students stand in front of a screen while the rest of their peers and instructors are watching as they engage with student avatars in real-time.

This is just one example of our School of Education faculty training graduates to approach classroom students as image-bearers of Christ, taking the love and the passion they have for their content area and the students they’re going to be teaching in their real occupations. They spark conversations about how to respond to challenging conversations with students and parents and meet them with dignity. Conversations about how to be light, to be love, to be Christ-like—while being deeply effective educators.

Eventually, students take both the simulation and traditional classroom experiences and apply them to real life problem-solving, coming down the hallway in their own educational workplace. Technology, as applied to soft skills. Innovative solutions, paired with engaged, caring faculty. As we know, that’s where it starts. Meet the Education team at The Christian Polytechnic University.

JULIE TEEL-BORDERS, Ph.D.

PROFESSOR OF TEACHER EDUCATION; COORDINATOR OF FIELD EXPERIENCES

“Our teacher education students have a wealth of talent and knowledge, which they willingly hone to become dynamic educators in early childhood through grade 12 classroom settings. My aim is to give our students the tools they need to move toward becoming compelling and well-crafted educators. I try to help them identify their roles and responsibilities as part of what they enact in the various educational settings in which they find themselves. One hands-on technique we implement is to engage our students in mixedreality simulations. These simulations provide students with real-time practice in a variety of professional exchanges and interpersonal skills: introducing content, practicing parentteacher conferences; establishing rapport and managing the classroom learning environment.”

Dr. Julie Teel-Borders has been teaching at LeTourneau University since 2005. The most special thing to her at LeTourneau is the students: “Jesus-loving educators are transformative. They model LeTourneau University’s biblical statement on diversity every single day that they engage in EC-12 classrooms across East Texas and beyond. As LETU students prepare to become teachers, they meet people in the EC-12 schools who are different than them. They become open to seeing God’s image in every person they encounter and are curious about their stories so they can seek to bridge divides.”

“We have a really unique teacher education department. We are very small, but mighty. We have many award winners in our program but more importantly, we are relational with our students… we’re constantly looking for ways to serve others because that’s what teachers do.”

Jodie Hilburn started her career at LeTourneau University in 2013 after working as a PPCD, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 3rd grade teacher around East Texas. She received two Bachelor of Science degrees: one in Family Life and Child Development and the other in Pure and Applied Sciences and earned her Master of Education at Northeast Louisiana University. Jodie Hilburn is very passionate about her career as well as her faith. “…we truly feel like we have a unique, quality, Christian teacher education program where we love one another, we love the community, and we love the students that we work with. I think this is important as you consider where to go to college because Christianity, for the most part, has been blocked out of public education and this gives you that experience to balance your Christian faith while at the same time knowing what you can and can’t do in a public school classroom and looking for ways to still be that light of Jesus even though you may not be actually praying in the classroom.”

JODIE HILBURN, M.Ed.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF TEACHER EDUCATION; CHAIR, RESIDENTIAL TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

KATHY STEPHENS, Ed.D.

PROFESSOR OF TEACHER EDUCATION

"I love this quote by Norman Vincent Peale, especially related to my work with LeTourneau students: 'Think enthusiastically about everything; but especially about your job. If you do, you'll put a touch of glory in your life. If you love your job with enthusiasm, you'll shake it to pieces. You'll love it into greatness, you'll upgrade it, you'll fill it with prestige and power'." Dr. Kathy Stephens began her teaching career at Christ Episcopal School in 1980. In 1984, she moved to Longview and taught elementary and middle school at Pine Tree for 11 years. Her last four years of classroom teaching were completed at Hallsville primary as a prekindergarten teacher. She served a brief stint with Region VII as a reading consultant before joining LeTourneau in 2001. "By far, the students have been the most meaningful part of my work here. Investing time into their lives, especially after class, means I get to know them better. By doing this, I have found it is easier to teach them and our students come to us already having led such interesting lives. As they interact with me and each other, my life is changed in so many ways. I prefer to be hands-on with my students. We create real projects they can use in their future classrooms. I also enjoy inviting students to my home to share a meal while studying together. Students share their hearts and plans during these times, and I am better able to listen, learn, give advice, and hopefully share God's love with them.” “What brought me to LeTourneau was God. Circumstances had shown me that retiring from working in public schools as teacher, principal, and central office administrator was the logical thing to do.” Dr. Darla Baggett, Director of Graduate Education Programs, received her undergrad from Baylor University and two other degrees from both Stephen F. Austin University and Texas Tech University. “Education had been my work life forever! Reading the Austin Statesman want-ads resulted in me noticing a position at a university I couldn’t even pronounce— LeTourneau. I applied and it was what I call a 'God slide'—nothing could prevent it all from happening. As I sat at my desk at the Austin site for LETU, I could feel God chuckling— maybe your first career was just to prepare you to teach people to do the jobs you had held! Educators hold the lives of human beings in their hands. It is such a responsibility that each should be called by God to take on the work. Teaching is the mother career—no one goes to their career except through the hands of teachers.” Dr. Baggett has been at LeTourneau since 2004. “The most special thing about LeTourneau University is the presence of God in our midst, from the teachers and staff to the students—God draws us here and then guides us forward.”

DARLA BAGGETT, Ed.D.

PROFESSOR OF TEACHER EDUCATION; CHAIR, NONTRADITIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Tradition. Heritage. Consistency. In a world that’s constantly changing, these things are dearer than ever, and this fall, we celebrated our annual Homecoming & Family Weekend. This time is full of unique campus traditions that celebrate our rich heritage and affirm our vibrant community as we look toward the future. From the cardboard boat race, to the studentled Acousticafe concert, to the pancake breakfast and flight line tour at the Abbott Aviation Center, to the recently resurrected go-kart races, our Christian Polytechnic traditions truly are one-of-a-kind. Catch future homecoming and alumni event updates at letu.edu/alumni!