We are almost halfway through the semester already – can you believe it? I can’t see how we got there this quickly. I do find some solace in knowing I am not the only one who counts the weeks.
This year we have a faculty search to identify a successor for Dr. Mary Kite, who is retiring at the end of the academic year. We will be interviewing candidates later this semester if all works out well; watch for announcements so you can attend their research presentations. We need and welcome your attendance at the colloquia and student meetings with each candidate. Your thoughts are important to us; what you see as a student may really differ from what we see as faculty.

You may have noticed the messages about upcoming workshops offered by our department. Those of us who are licensed clinicians are required to complete a certain number of continuing education (CE) credits in a two-year period. The actual number is determined by one’s licensure board; in Indiana it is 40. As you might imagine, attending these workshops can get expensive. To benefit the greater community, including the adjunct faculty who teach for us, and the therapists who provide your clinical supervision for external practice and internships, we are pleased to offer several low – or no-cost training sessions. Earlier this semester Dr Debby Herbenick gave a well-received workshop on understanding “rough sex”, with students and licensed practitioners in attendance. Later this semester Dr. Cody Cramer, a graduate of our master’s program in counseling and holding a doctorate in behavioral health, is offering a presentation on the role of the social determinants of health on clinical treatment. We encourage you to take the opportunity to attend these events as they arise.

Last week we learned that our clinical mental health counseling and social psychology and CMH dual major programs are now accredited by MPCAC! We are so happy about this, and grateful to Dr Stef for all of her work to make this dream come true.
We have been busy working on outreach projects. The practicum clinic has projects going in Delaware County, but also in Randolph and Madison Counties. I am working on getting some students trained to do volunteer work with the American Red Cross, at least locally. The need is great, and it is never done. If you are thinking that our primary work happens in the counseling room, I assure you it doesn’t stop at the door. There are many ways for you to get involved and have influence. Seek them out.

When I wrote the spring newsletter article, I mentioned the loss of my predecessor as department chair, Dr. David Dixon. This time I need to acknowledge the loss of Dr. Lee Van Donselar, who most recently was co-owner of the Center for Psychological Development, a private practice in Muncie where several of our alums and students have worked. However, his relationship with CPSY is much older than that. Dr. Van Donselar earned a doctorate in educational psychology in Iowa, then later decided to respecialize in counseling psychology in our department. He eventually worked at the university counseling center in Lucina Hall and trained many of our graduate students or worked with them as peers after graduation. He was a genuinely kind, gentle and funny human, and is missed by those who knew him.

As I said in the spring, so much is happening in the world, creating angst for many of us both personally and professionally. It hasn’t gotten better; in fact, it probably is worse. We are in the middle of an important election cycle, between the Presidential and Gubernatorial run. Both will affect us professionally. A hurricane did significant damage along the eastern coastline, and we are still in hurricane season. Mass shootings, in schools and public places, are beginning to feel commonplace. Your skills, your knowledge of the nature of human behavior and of prejudice and discrimination, are absolutely needed. I can’t tell you enough how much I look forward to seeing what you are going to do next. I often joke about CPSY taking over the world, but really – I’m not joking. We are training you, the next generation in counselors, counseling psychologists, and social psychologists, to take over the world. Do us proud.