Faculty Profile: LeeAnn M. Eschbach, Ph.D., LPC

1. How many years have you been employed with the University of Scranton? This is my 35th year at the University of Scranton (Prior to that I taught high school for 7 years and did counseling/research/teaching for 4 years at the university while I earned my doctorate.

2. What led to your decision in becoming a counselor educator?

Teaching high school in a campus setting. There was a big green space and even a creek with a small bridge between my building and the school counselors' building. Walking students were struggling across that creek and over to the counselors' office and having to let go and not follow-up .... motivated me to study counseling. During my doctorate I wanted to be a counseling in a university counseling center. Toshio Akamine was a short man who was my dissertation advisor and advisor. He told me in broken English I would be a great counselor educator and consider it.

3. Why did you choose to work at the University of Scranton?

Growing up, Gonzaga (a Jesuit university in my home state) was my dream college. Financially I could not attend there. Honestly, I was applying for jobs one night and I saw the ad for the University of Scranton and I had already written the required essay and had a cover letter addressing many of the elements of this position, so I figured it would be an easy apply. It was late at night and I thought I can do just one more application During my job search and interviews I knew intuitively this was the right fit, although I almost left twice.

4. What course was your favorite to teach?

I can't pinpoint a favorite course. Internship - I love encouraging peers to help each other curing case presentations plus I never know what topic is going to come up with a client for us to address. I am so grateful to see the professional and personal growth of interns as well as their growth in sharing quality feedback. Appraisal and Career are enjoyable as I navigate the curriculum and so often students are surprised as they find meaningful connections between the course material and their career goals and learn vocabulary of the field. Group is rewarding to foster personal connections and sharing among students. Program Planning II truly a capstone and I don't lecture - From my standpoint we have rewarding discussions each week.

5. What clubs/extracurricular activities were you an advisor for during your time here at Scranton?

I have coordinated, developed, and implemented several projects with students. We have done five Postsecondary Readiness and Future Readiness Night in different area high schools. We provided 2 different career programs at different schools, a leadership program at a middle school, I was a speaker at Take Back the Night and College events. I have led counseling groups at high schools. I have joined with students presenting at many, many conferences which is one of the more enjoyable parts of my job.

6. What advice would you give to new Counseling/Human Service Faculty members?

New faculty members - what you think your "expert" topic to teach may not be so. Be open to developing expertise in an new curriculum areas. Carve out a day for research. When you get to know students ,your job is sooooo much more enjoyable.

7. What do you look forward to most regarding your future plans?

I don't have specific plans. I am going to take a quilting class I volunteer at church, on a health care board, and want to volunteer at Nay Aug Park. I belong to a book club and I want to read the books before book club. I have a trip planned for the beginning of September next year - I'll send a post card to the department. To quote my daughter and son-in-law - not to worry, I'll figure it out.

8. What else would you like us to know about you?

Something else about me - most all know I am from the state of Washington. However, living in Scranton and working at the University this long, my heart and home are here. Lots of people ask if I'm moving back and moving somewhere else. I'm staying with my heart and home and hopefully there are unlimited ways to unfold new meanings.

When you think about your own life experiences and professional preparation, how did you learn to promote a connection between yourself and others, and how do you translate that as a counselor educator?

I focused a lot of attention and energy on LISTENING. Paying attention to others can often build connections.

Dr. Oliver J. Morgan, Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

I am naturally a competitive and intense person, but through playing sports and my first internship in human services, I learned to channel that energy into being a leader and teammate to make connections. I think this connects to being a counselor educator because I am passionate about advocating for the school counseling profession at large through my research and service and being an instructor and colleague who is focused on the success of our students and department.

Dr. Dana L. Brookover, Assistant Professor, School Counseling

I think like many people in our field I was a “natural helper” so really it was just getting into a MS program and learning how to refine those skills. I try to encourage students to believe in their natural abilities and to keep practicing so they too can become great counselors!

Dr. Sonja Lund, Assistant Professor, Counseling and Human Services Department

I learned to promote a connection between myself and others by realizing that we are all part of the same human race and share common obstacles and challenges in our everyday lives. We are here to lift each other up and support each other throughout our life journey. As a counselor educator, I translate that into my teaching of applied behavior analysis assessment techniques and intervention strategies that will promote socially valid responses and inclusive opportunities for those with whom we work, live, and play.

Dr. Vanessa Jensen, Associate Professor, ABA, VCS Director

Some of the biggest influences in learning the connection between myself and others are the service opportunities I’ve had throughout my life. Volunteering in a soup kitchen, mentoring young women as a Girl Scout leader, helping to build a house for a family in the Dominican Republic these experiences help solidify that we are all connected to others in our local community, our nation, and the world. As a counselor educator at a Jesuit university, I have the unique opportunity to help students understand what it means to be “men and women for others” and how to integrate this into not only their future professions, but in their personal lives as well.

Dr. Mary L. Troy, Assistant Professor,, Counseling and Human Services Department

Considering the recent challenges globally (i.e., COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, etc.), how are you as a CHS student planning to promote social engagement and connection as a future professional?

Parker Shannon Clinical Mental Health Counseling

As I consider this question, the first thing that comes to mind is “wow, I’m glad I started reading The Body Keeps the Score recently!” as Dr. Bessel van der Kolk summarizes my opinion on the matter better than I could. He writes, “our capacity to destroy one another is matched by our capacity to heal one another. Restoring relationships and community is central to restoring well-being,” (p. 38). Humans are, as I’ve come to understand us, incredibly social beings who are necessarily interdependent on one another. By evolutionary design, we are each other’s greatest co-regulators, sources of support, and sources of healing. The state of the world has undeniably impacted our ability to connect with each other. But since it seems that people are hardwired to connect and to help, if how we traditionally connect with others won’t work, we make and search for new ways to do so. As a professional field, counseling cannot be apolitical. The field needs to advocate for the human ability to connect. With respect to Zoom and other online platforms, that could mean advocating for universal access to the internet and ensuring that every person has that opportunity to connect with others. With the war in Ukraine, advocacy could look like endorsing peace protests, donating to reputable charities, providing information to the public about what they could do to help, and sending crisis counselors abroad to Ukraine’s neighboring countries to meet with Ukrainian refugees. As an individual professional, the main thing that comes to mind is to give clients an experience of secure attachment. I think it is important to provide clients with an experience of being seen, heard, understood, and felt in a nonjudgmental, unconditionally supportive context. This is, in my opinion, a prerequisite for client change, growth, and healing. Counselors, both as a field and individually, have an undeniably important role in promoting social engagement, connecting with others, and being part of a community.

We are living through a significant historical moment. Elections, racial movements, protests, the COVID-19 pandemic, the War in Ukraine, are only a few examples that show us how crucial social engagement is when it comes to responding to these global challenges. There is so much happening around us and consequently, so many people to be helped. It is key that, as a CHS student, I educate myself on these global challenges not only for my own personal development, but also to best support those around me and work on mission-driven initiatives to advocate for those students who need support or might be closely affected by these issues. As a future professional, it is key that I involve myself and learn about what is happening in the world and in different societies, as well as recognize how that might impact those around me. As an immigrant, I understand how difficult and inequitable life can sometimes be. We live in a society where it is difficult for individuals to truthfully hear and care for each other without judgment. As a future professional, I strive to be able to help individuals who are struggling due to different global challenges, whether that is a racial, health, or another matter, and to encourage individuals to truly care for others outside of their own communities. Human alliance plays a pivotal role in overcoming societal challenges; without us listening and caring for each other and aiming for peace, change is going to be an arduous journey.

Romina Gamarra Current Undergraduate Student

Considering the current climate of the world, promoting social engagement is more important now than ever. We must use our platforms to amplify our fellow man's voices, especially as current CHS students and future professionals. We can do so by following and sharing content from credible activists on social media platforms (i.e., Instagram). This causes a ripple effect that spreads among the masses and encourages others to do the same. It only takes one ripple to affect the entire pond. Similarly, it only takes one voice to raise the vibration of the entire planet. We always have our phones in our hands, so we might as well use them as a vehicle to spread awareness on issues that matter and foster a sense of unity.

Dominique Ravin, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

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