1.) Describe your career path, how you started and how you got to your current position. I began as a math major at Penn State, but found it rather dry. I had always been interested in psychology (at least back to 10 years of age, when I had an IQ test administered to me for school placement purposes). As a freshman, I took a few psychology classes and enjoyed them. So, as a sophomore, I switched to Psychology, with the intention of getting a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. I went on to Bowling Green State University for my masters and Ph.D. As the final year of that degree process, I completed a full-year, full-time internship (required for both the degree and for licensure in most states) at the Tampa (James A. Haley) VA Hospital. During that year, a Staff Psychologist position became available at the USF Counseling Center and I was hired. I have been here ever since. After about 5 years, I became Assistant Director, then about five years later Associate Director. From 1994 - 2003, I served as Acting Director as the Center's Director served as Acting Asst. Vice president of Student Affairs. He returned as Director in 2004 and continued until 2008. When he retired, I became the Director. Since the first day, I also served as Director of Training, charged with developing and maintaining a psychology internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association. Accredited in 1983, we were the 14th counseling center in the country to gain this accreditation. I gave up this position when I became director in 2008.
2.) Explain the particular challenges of your work. What are the special rewards? A major challenge is the never-ending (and continually growing) stream of students (and faculty, staff and administrators) who require services, while the Counseling Center remains understaffed by any measure utilized. We typically use the recommendation/guideline of the International Association of Counseling Services, by whom we are accredited. They suggest 1 staff member for every 1500 students. While we have improved significantly from about 1:4000 a few years ago, we still are only down to about 1:3000. Additionally, the number of severely disturbed students on campus has increased significantly over the past 15 years (this is a national phenomenon) and, since April, 2007 (Va. Tech.), the demand for counselors to play an important role in "protecting" the campus from dangerous or disturbed students has produced a variety of new challenges.
The rewards involve working with and helping students. Another is that the job is never boring; there are always new and different things to do every day. Also, the Counseling Center does much more than just see students for counseling and psychotherapy; we do a great deal of outreach workshop programming, work with Wellness USF, provide consultation for faculty, staff and administrators, work on committees and task forces, etc. So there is always much to do (this is a reward as well as a challenge). As an administrator, seeing the unit grow in its abilty to provide more and different services to students and to serve more students is rewarding. Also, serving as Director of Training and working with new interns every year has been a very rewarding experience, one which I recently have missed.
3.) Are there any problems you've faced that you would now handle differently? Can you describe one of them?
Can't think of any.
4.) What advice would you give to a student preparing for student affairs work? There are very many aspects of student affairs work. It is helpful to have a strong sense of what motivates you the most and what is of most interest, so that you can gain specialized training in addition to general knowledge of the field.
1.) Describe your career path, how you started and how you got to your current position.
I obtained PhD in educational leadership and policy studies and taught in educational leadership programs. I had specialization in diversity and multicultural education. I felt like making change and accepted administrative position as the Director of Multicultural Affairs.
2.) Explain the particular challenges of your work. What are the special rewards?
Diversity and multiculturalism is a contested field, there is a limited support for this field and some cases opposition. It is satisfying to see that cultural competency contributes to students success.
3.) Are there any problems you've faced that you would now handle differently? Can you describe one of them?
I have face particular challenges for supporting LGBTQ issues, I don’t think I will change my strategies but will be more patients.
4.) What advice would you give to a student preparing for student affairs work?
Student Affairs often treated as step child and we deal with many difficult issues, so put lot of efforts to educate and publicize what you do.
Dr. Hicks response to question 1
ReplyDelete1.) Describe your career path, how you started and how you got to your current position.
I began as a math major at Penn State, but found it rather dry. I had always been interested in psychology (at least back to 10 years of age, when I had an IQ test administered to me for school placement purposes). As a freshman, I took a few psychology classes and enjoyed them. So, as a sophomore, I switched to Psychology, with the intention of getting a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. I went on to Bowling Green State University for my masters and Ph.D. As the final year of that degree process, I completed a full-year, full-time internship (required for both the degree and for licensure in most states) at the Tampa (James A. Haley) VA Hospital. During that year, a Staff Psychologist position became available at the USF Counseling Center and I was hired. I have been here ever since. After about 5 years, I became Assistant Director, then about five years later Associate Director. From 1994 - 2003, I served as Acting Director as the Center's Director served as Acting Asst. Vice president of Student Affairs. He returned as Director in 2004 and continued until 2008. When he retired, I became the Director. Since the first day, I also served as Director of Training, charged with developing and maintaining a psychology internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association. Accredited in 1983, we were the 14th counseling center in the country to gain this accreditation. I gave up this position when I became director in 2008.
Dr. Hicks response to questions 2-4
ReplyDelete2.) Explain the particular challenges of your work. What are the special rewards?
A major challenge is the never-ending (and continually growing) stream of students (and faculty, staff and administrators) who require services, while the Counseling Center remains understaffed by any measure utilized. We typically use the recommendation/guideline of the International Association of Counseling Services, by whom we are accredited. They suggest 1 staff member for every 1500 students. While we have improved significantly from about 1:4000 a few years ago, we still are only down to about 1:3000. Additionally, the number of severely disturbed students on campus has increased significantly over the past 15 years (this is a national phenomenon) and, since April, 2007 (Va. Tech.), the demand for counselors to play an important role in "protecting" the campus from dangerous or disturbed students has produced a variety of new challenges.
The rewards involve working with and helping students. Another is that the job is never boring; there are always new and different things to do every day. Also, the Counseling Center does much more than just see students for counseling and psychotherapy; we do a great deal of outreach workshop programming, work with Wellness USF, provide consultation for faculty, staff and administrators, work on committees and task forces, etc. So there is always much to do (this is a reward as well as a challenge). As an administrator, seeing the unit grow in its abilty to provide more and different services to students and to serve more students is rewarding.
Also, serving as Director of Training and working with new interns every year has been a very rewarding experience, one which I recently have missed.
3.) Are there any problems you've faced that you would now handle differently? Can you describe one of them?
Can't think of any.
4.) What advice would you give to a student preparing for student affairs work? There are very many aspects of student affairs work. It is helpful to have a strong sense of what motivates you the most and what is of most interest, so that you can gain specialized training in addition to general knowledge of the field.
Dr. Talbani's responses:
ReplyDelete1.) Describe your career path, how you started and how you got to your current position.
I obtained PhD in educational leadership and policy studies and taught in educational leadership programs. I had specialization in diversity and multicultural education. I felt like making change and accepted administrative position as the Director of Multicultural Affairs.
2.) Explain the particular challenges of your work. What are the special rewards?
Diversity and multiculturalism is a contested field, there is a limited support for this field and some cases opposition. It is satisfying to see that cultural competency contributes to students success.
3.) Are there any problems you've faced that you would now handle differently? Can you describe one of them?
I have face particular challenges for supporting LGBTQ issues, I don’t think I will change my strategies but will be more patients.
4.) What advice would you give to a student preparing for student affairs work?
Student Affairs often treated as step child and we deal with many difficult issues, so put lot of efforts to educate and publicize what you do.