Neumann University April,2016
PCC Newsletter In Living Color .
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Author, Teacher Brings Wisdom of Diversity to Campus The Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Y. Lartey, the L. Bevel Jones III Professor of Pastoral Theology at Emory University, will be the speaker for the annual PCMHC department’s Homecoming lecture on October 15, 2016. Dr. Lartey currently teaches at both Candler School of Theology and in the Person, Community, and Religious Life program in Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion. He holds a BA from the University of Ghana in psychology with statistics (1978) and a Ph.D. in pastoral theology from The University of Birmingham, England (1984). An internationally acclaimed scholar, Dr. Lartey is recognized as a pioneer in the development of an intercultural approach to pastoral theology and counseling, which argues for and models respectful engagement across racial, gender, class, cultural and religious boundaries. His scholarly work has been focused on pastoral theology and counseling in different cultural contexts, particularly on pastoral care in a diversity of cultures. Dr. Lartey is the author of several publications including the internationally used pastoral care text book, In Living Color (2003). He has also written Pastoral Theology in an Intercultural World (2006), and his most recent book, Postcolonializing God: An African Practical Theology (2013). In addition to a scholarly mind, a deep pastoral heart underlies all Dr. Lartey’s work and ministry. An ordained United Methodist elder, Rev. Lartey has served as a parish minister in several churches, both in Accra, Ghana and in Atlanta, GA. In addition to the parish, Rev. Lartey also served as a high school chaplain in Ghana, and university chaplain in the University of Birmingham . Dr. Sophia Park once a student of his, notes that “as a seminary professor, Dr. Lartey is much respected both by the students and his colleagues alike. His pastoral heart is palpable in his role as a professor, both in the classroom as well as in directing doctoral dissertations. In other words, he embodies his scholarly theories of intercultural relationality in all his relationships as evidenced in his prioritization of his actions. In this, he distinguishes his “work” according to what is ‘important’ and what ‘needs to be done.’ For him, what needs to be done includes the usual work expected of a scholar and a professor: writing, teaching, committee work, sending out reference letters. However, what gets pulled up to his immediate attention and actions are what is ‘important:,’ the care and well-being of his students. Despite the busy schedule of an acclaimed scholar, Dr. Lartey regularly accepts invitations to eat with students. In addition, when he sees a student in distress, he suspends his work of what ‘needs to be done’ and will spend time in listening and caring for the person. These ‘things of importance’ take the precedence of his time in his work.” What is of evident in Dr. Lartey is his love for his family. In addition to being a scholar and a pastor, Dr. Lartey is a devoted husband to wife, Griselda, and together, they have raised four sons.
Inside this issue: S. Madonna Service Winner
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St. Francis of Assisi Award
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Perks Keep Coming for Alumni
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AONu’s Busy Spring Unfolds
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Dissertations Begin for Ph.D.
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SF+D Announce Initiatives
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Clinical Partnerships Begin
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Graduates Recognized
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S Madonna Marie Award for Service
Departmental Recognition Goes University-wide In 20098 the PCC program initiated an award in recognition of the life of pastoral service and scholarship of S. Madonna Marie Cunningham, osf. Along with presiding as congregational minister of the Sisters of St. Francis and president of Neumann College, she worked to help establish the Pastoral Counseling Master’s program. This year, for the first time, the award has been incorporated into the University’s evening of recognition and will be presented at the Awards Assembly. In S. Madonna’s memory, the student chosen is one who best represents Sister’s qualities of care, compassion and academic excellence. On April 22 Margalita Charles Poletunow will receive the medal. She shares on the background that has brought her to this point.
Born and raised in Haiti in a Catholic family of five, I recognized from the beginning that my parents were deeply religious and our faith formed the central part of our daily lives. Due to the then political unrest in Haiti, my parents sent my siblings and me from the Caribbean island as teenagers to live with relatives in Chicago. I was happy to move to the States, especially because I had dreamed of living abroad since I had been very little. Growing up, my love of books carried me away to many foreign lands and instilled in me a sense of adventure. While feeling much trepidation at the prospect of learning a new language and leaving all that was familiar behind, I was also eager to discover a new culture. Learning about the American way of life was challenging. My faith was instrumental at the time assisting me to discover that I was first and foremost the Beloved of God. As I rested in that identity, my father and older brother died tragically within a year of each other. Knowing who I was and being secure in God’s plan for my life, I was able to land on solid ground after wading through the trouble waters of grief and sorrow. I am sure that all of this has been instrumental in
my choosing the path of social services as a way to assist those who are in need and neglected. After graduating from Loyola University with a major in Psychology and Theology, I volunteered a year of service at the Little Brothers of Chicago, Friends of the Elderly, a non-profit organization focused on visiting isolated and lonely seniors in the area. After moving to south Florida, I continued to help my community, working at Nova Southeastern University Mental Health in Fort Lauderdale as a hospital liaison for the severely mentally ill, and at ChildNet in Broward County as a child advocate for abused and abandoned children. After getting married and moving to Delaware, I began to work at the Devereux Foundation in Downingtown teaching children with autism. Through these varied experiences, I encountered many frustrations; however, I received great rewards in working with and advocating for the most vulnerable among us. This desire to help others motivated me to pursue a Master’s degree in Pastoral Mental Health Clinical Counseling at Neumann University while continuing to volunteer with Delaware Hospice, with Stephen Ministries at my parish as well as visiting sick children at the Missionary Sisters of Charity Orphanage in Haiti. I learned that each opportunity interacting with these diverse groups and people was filled with grace and mercy. However, where I most experienced God’s unconditional love was when I married my husband six years ago and every day since. I am continuously amazed by how God has molded and transformed two people from different backgrounds for the better while facing many challenges, especially miscarriage and infertility. Recently, we have been blessed by the adoption of two beautiful twin baby girls, and life has changed forever. My husband and I are deeply humbled by God’s generous outpouring of love and mercy by entrusting these two precious children to us. I am extremely honored and grateful to be receiving such an important recognition as the Sr. Madonna Marie Cunningham, OSF, Award. I share this honor with my husband without whose support, I would have not been able to achieve this goal of being a pastoral counselor.
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St. Francis of Assisi Award for Excellence
Joining Clinical Experience with Academic Distinction
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ach year the PCC program presents a long-established award as part of University’s evening recognizing the students who excel in certain areas. The St. Francis of Assisi Award goes to a student who, in the words of the presentation, The Pastoral “excels both in clinical practice as well as academic Clinical Mental achievement.” This year, Health Program unanimously, the student named is Lynn Jones. teaches you how My time at Neumann University has been an aweically, who you some experience of selfare created to be discovery, self-acceptance, and rebirth. It’s one thing to and it teaches examine yourself and you to assist othchoose to agree or disagree ers to do the with your findings. However, it is remarkably another same— Lynn to examine yourself by contemplatively sitting with the thoughts and feelings of a painful experience while simultaneously dissecting it for context, faith tradition, and spirituality. Through the pastoral presence of my Neumann professors, I was able to dive head first into this challenging, yet transformational, process of self-discovery. to be, unapologet-
Self-acceptance is a key component in achieving personal growth. When I entered Neumann, I felt very comfortable with who I was and even after self-discovery, I accepted the revelation of how I came to be who I am. I had no idea that just weeks before the close of my second semester, I would experience acceptance in a way that changed my life forever and brought a greater level of personal growth. During this time I was diagnosed with breast cancer and was faced with acceptance of my situation, of myself and of the response of others.
However, there are two sides of the coin: on the one was the diagnosis of cancer; on the other was Neumann University—a wonderful diversion that encapsulated my thoughts and emotions and propelled me to my third semester. Today I am a survivor with an understanding of acceptance of self and others. The Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Program teaches you how to be, unapologetically, who you are created to be and it teaches you to assist others to do the same. On the path to realized authenticity, I am grateful for how the program stretched me mentally, spiritually, physically. I came into the program like a child bursting with energy to learn and discover all that was set before me; then I ventured into a time of death; a moving from past beliefs and misconceptions to a new and improved self. My mind, body, and spirit have been elevated with a new understanding of my assignment from God: I have been rebirthed. In my 29 years of working in human services, I have never had the opportunity to incorporate my faith in the process of helping others without the threat of repercussion. In my displeasure with some of society’s unwillingness to accept that we are physical, emotional, and spiritual beings, I decided to change my career path to a spiritually intended direction. I was blessed to have the opportunity to start this path with Neumann University and end it with an internship site that understands the value of integrated clinical mental health counseling. I am extremely honored to receive the 2016 St. Francis of Assisi Award for academic and clinical excellence. I look forward to utilizing all that I have learned to serve others with excellence and integrity. Our God is an awesome God!
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On the Alumni Webpage of Neumann’s website, nine pretty outstanding “benefits” are listed as advantages of being a part of the Alumni Association. Along with these, the graduates of PCC can count a few others delivered by the department. A recent survey, exploring the status of recent grads in regard to taking the National Counselor Exam, moving forward to licensure and securing a “job in the profession,” has revealed that some are not aware of either the university or program’s resources to which they have access. With a whole new group of alums about to head out into the “real world,” sharing both could prove helpful. The list of those noted by the Alumni Office is posted below with even more advertised in the “Benefits Flyer” on the website. Some new and other not so new perks coming directly from the PCC program are described below. In the post-graduate survey conducted in the Fall semester, one of the notable categories of responses was that of several alumni from several years back who admitted they were still intending to take, but had not yet taken the National Counselor Exam (NCE). An exploration of some of those who submitted names indicated that, with time having gone by since their last class, a number did not “feel ready to handle a standardized test.” Some stated that “since I never did well with the multiple choice type, I kept putting off applying for it.” Among those with these kind of responses, a few acknowledged they were unaware that 1) since PCC is CACREP-approved it is an actual testing site for the NCE and 2) that they could have completed it even in their last semester of classes. As a support for those with test intimidation and/or hesitancy due to time elapsed, a new NCE Prep course has been initiated in this past Spring semester taught by Barbara Price-Martin, who has worked with students at both Wilmington University and now Neumann with great success. Sharon Downs, soon-to-be-test taker in her most recent course, offered her comments: “I have to say Barbara totally made studying exciting and informative all at the same time. Her material was detailed and presented in a way that could help build your self-confidence that you can handle taking the exam and pass. Truly, this is a course I believe can be beneficial to any student planning on taking the exam. I would like to thank you for offering this us and hopefully Barb will be able to continue to share her knowledge pertaining to the NCE.” Barbara will, so look for upcoming offerings. Another new perk concerns the job market that awaits new graduates. While a number of alums find placements through their internships, it is true that the Philadelphia area is a tough one with so many institutions producing license-eligible graduates. Addressing this is a workshop compiled by Dr. Sophia Park and Mary McCaffrey, director of the office of career and personal development, to be presented on Monday evenUNIVERSITY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ALUMNI ing, April 18 beginning at 5:00, directed just to - Access to the Career & Personal Development Office members of the pastoral counseling classes. - Free Career Management Series Workshops The final perk, while not new, is a benefit that keeps on giving. Two Mondays a month from 4:00 until 6:00, S Suzanne conducts group supervision/consultation for NU graduates. Since most states allow at least half of post-grad supervised hours to come from group oversight, this allows those collecting hours toward licensure an experience of peer feedback under the direction of a person licensed as a counselor in both Delaware and Pennsylvania.
- Audit undergraduate classes (not for credit)* - Access to the University Library* - Discount of 10% off clothing & gifts at the Campus Bookstore - 20% off facility rentals* - Access to the Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality & Character Development* - ACCENT Magazine - Exclusive Access to the Alumni Online Community (after 90 credits) including an alumni directory, photos, news, events, job postings, and class notes
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The pace was set even before the first crocuses poked their heads above the snow. The early weeks of March saw the Executive Committee of Alpha Omega Nu organizing the Spring service and outreach that would be undertaken by the members of the graduate honor society. The recipients were designated as two area homeless shelters, both partners with Neumann University. In the past semester interested students heard about the many needs of persons who live most of their lives on the street from a representative from Sunday Breakfast Mission and Anna’s Place. The goal of the officers of AONu then became to reach out with items to fill those needs as well as to offer hands-on assistance. What a success the collection was! Stephanie Fortunato, president-elect of AONu, drove off on Wednesday, March 23, the closing day with a car full of supplies. The various grooming and hygiene products went to the Mission to fill the Hope Tote bags that would be given out on Easter Sunday. In response to AONu’s generous contribution Stephanie wrote: “Hope Totes were dropped off at Sunday Breakfast Mission today. We had two large boxes and six grocery bags full of toiletries, so the drive was super successful. Thanks to all.”
DOCTORAL INDUCTEES
MASTER’S INDUCTEES
Lorrette Ayers Jodi Cunniffe L. Rebecca Foraker Jenine Johnson Jill Sieverts Stephanie Wharton
Katrina Bleeker Kathleen Brown Clare Chakey Michelle Engle Lori Heeney William Luke Daniel Moran Sarah Wilkins
Previous Graduate Inductee: Dana Dariano
The next area of achievement for the local chapter of Chi Sigma Iota’s honor society was the induction of new members. Over the course of the weeks of the Spring semester, the officers and faculty advisors have been reaching out to both doctoral and master’s students who meet the criteria for admission into the society. For the first time, new members from the Ph.D. program will be invested with the ribbon and pin of Chi sigma Iota. On April 13, as part of the community gathering and learning experience, six current doctoral and eight master’s students and one graduate will be welcome into the local chapter. Family and friends invited as dguests as well as all in the PCC program heard the inductees commit to a three pronged promise: to declare publically their commitment to striving for high standards of scholarship and clinical practice; to continue encouraging excellence in the professional settings in which you work; and finally, to support and encourage the members and activities of this chapter and Society through personal involvement in their professional programs (from Initiation Pledge, website). With new members inducted and former members getting acquainted with them, the next item on the Alpha Omega Nu agenda will be the election of new officers. As president-elect, Stephanie will move into the position of president, and Susan Kogon, the current president, will take the position, an active one in CSI, as past president. That will leave the positions of president elect and secretary-treasurer to be filled. Elizabeth Barr, who holds the dual role at this time, promises that names for the offices will be generated in the next few weeks and the usual process of voting on Survey Monkey will take place before the end of the semester.
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First Ph.D. Cohort Moves into Dissertation
Some “Early Birds” Share Their Topics, Plans, Designs The first cohort of students enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Pastoral Counseling has reached a critical point in their academic schedule as they move into the dissertation phase of studies. Working under the direction of the two research methodologists, Dr. Subir Dass and Dr. Aideen Murphy, they have begun to develop their topics. Several of the “early birds” have already decided upon areas of investigation. Melissa (Missy) Kleinz, who moved from the Master’s to the Ph.D., shares: “My dissertation research will focus on the relationship between social media, body image, and the development of Orthorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by a fixation on food quality and purity. The client’s quest for purity extends to mind, body, and spirit and often leads to restrictive, unhealthy behaviors. Previous research has shown that social media influences body image disturbance and disordered eating, so my focus on orthorexia will hopefully lead to a greater awareness of the disorder, the development of proper treatment plans, and a unique diagnosis in the DSM.” Lenee Barefield, also a graduate of PCC, focuses on her environment as a teacher of teachers, noting: “Educators can experience a vicarious form of trauma when they interact with emotionally/behaviorally disabled students. This can trigger or retrigger the educator’s own personal trauma history. This dissertation will focus on symptom identification (arousal/avoidance), managing symptoms, methods of prevention, professional development, and the utilization of district resources to educate teachers on the nature of this trauma that many quietly experience. “ Story continued on next page
New Initiatives in SFD program The Spiritual Formation and Direction program is offering its first summer course in Summer 2, 2016: Dr. John Kruze, fulltime theology professor, will teach The History of Christian Spirituality: Prayer and Social Engagement during the sixweek May-June session. Neumann University is also currently promoting the 24credit graduate Certificate in Spiritual Formation and Direction through new ads in local diocesan papers, on WHYY and through targeted mailings. Check out the text of our new postcard mailing below. For more information or to request copies of the new mailer to share, contact Sr. Diane.
Develop your gifts as a spiritual leader, companion and mentor with Neumann University’s Certificate in Spiritual Formation and Direction. Whether you seek to integrate spirituality more deeply into your current pastoral or counseling ministry, or to develop new skills to minister with fellow parishioners, direct retreats, and provide one-on-one or group spiritual direction, our experienced faculty and vibrant learning community will help you: Learn to mentor others; minister to ministers Explore Christian spirituality and faith development Learn about personal growth, formation and practice in a variety of ministries Expand your spiritual foundation and faith formation Engage ecumenical and interfaith perspectives
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Clinical Partnerships being formed
New Model of Counseling Sites Provides Social Justice Experiences A fairly recent model of clinical programming has appeared on the practicum landscape to provide both services to individuals needing mental health counseling and genuine on-site clinical engagement for students at various stages of their education. Termed “community partnerships,” it allows a collaboration to form between a designated graduate program with identified places where those needing support, help and intervention can be provided with this under the direction of a site supervisor. Neumann’s PCC program adds another level of learning in that each student also is part of an on-campus seminar class directed by one of the PCC faculty. Along with close overview of the work at the partnership site, the seminar also allows each student to reflect on and engage in the pastoral integration piece of the counseling. In the last several years Dr. Beth Toler, Clinical Program Coordinator, has worked to establish several sites at which such partnerships can occur. She explains her intentions for these: “In an effort to create new clinical internship sites where students can obtain quality clinical experience, and in an intentional move to explicitly integrate social justice with the clinical practicum and internship courses, we continue to reach out and form local community partnerships. New partnerships include; Bethesda Project in Philadelphia, Belmont Psychiatric Hospital in Philadelphia, Riddle Hospital in Media, and Ministry of Caring in Wilmington. One student who has seized the opportunity to work at two of the partnership sites, Blair Souder, shares on his experiences at both The Bethesda Project and Ministry of Caring. “These sites have not only provided me with invaluable real life clinical experience, but even more importantly, opened both my mind and my heart to the lives and experiences of those who find themselves, for whatever reason, without a home. The time I have spent both in the shelters and working with individuals and groups has forever shifted my perspective of the "homeless,” replacing my previous assumptions and beliefs with real names, faces and individuals who all too often have a history of trauma, abuse, and a sense of worthlessness. I can think of no greater honor and purpose than to serve these individuals in a way that, at a minimum, helps them to see themselves with the inherent worth and dignity every person deserves.”
Story continued from previous page — Ph.D. Dissertation — A graduate of Wilmington University, Christopher McIntosh explains his research: “Religious faith and spirituality, for multiple reasons, have historically been juxtaposed with psychology. This has resulted in each discipline often finding fault with the other, often to the detriment of patients/parishioners. While both address human suffering and acknowledge the great power of incorporeal forces, little collaboration between the ostensibly incompatible disciplines has been studied, documented, and/or quantified. Much of the extant research has focused on the disparities in these schools of thought. Using the Franciscan tradition, I intend to study whether counseling in collaboration with the client’s clergy shows better therapeutic outcomes than treatment as usual. “ As the director of pastoral services at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, DE, Linda Branco has chosen to focus on researching the lived experience of moral distress in critical care nurses. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses notes that moral distress occurs when the person knows the ethically appropriate action to take, but is unable to act upon it or acts in a manner contrary to personal and professional values. Linda notes, “My emphasis will be on coping mechanisms and successful interventions to alleviate moral distress in the workplace.”
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We are proud to announce The graduates of the pastoral clinical mental health counseling program Important Dates: April 22 — Academic Awards Assembly May 9 — PCC Celebration May 14 — Baccalaureate Commencement
December, 2015 Joseph German Danielle McLaughlin Sophie Vila
May, 2016 Rose Adamo Rev. Stephen Gitonga Lynn Jones Barbara Paul Completion of Certificate Margalita Poletunow Elizabeth Butler-Rogers [CAS] Waverley Ray Maureen Duffy, SHCJ, [CPCS] Joel Smith Nancy King [CAS]
The Pastoral Care and Counseling Newsletter is a department publication issued several times during the academic year. Written by and for the members of the Pastoral Care and Counseling Department, it contains articles, reviews, interviews and forms of reflective material of interest to these members submitted in advance to the editor of the publication. Editor: Suzanne Mayer, ihm, Ph.D. assisted by the PCC faculty
Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling One Neumann Drive Aston, PA
19014