Everything Nac

Christina Meyers, a Stephen F. Austin State University student pursuing a Master of Arts in professional counseling with a clinical rehabilitation counseling concentration, was named 2020 Master’s Student of the Year by the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association.

She will receive the award at the ARCA/American Counseling Association annual meeting in April in San Diego, California.

Meyers, who is originally from Bay City, said the award “means the world to me. It is life changing for me both personally and professionally.”

This is the first time an SFA student has received this honor, said Dr. Wendy Killam, professor and director of SFA’s professional counseling and rehabilitation program.

“We are so proud of Christina,” Killam said. “She exemplifies the high quality of students we have at SFA in our counseling program. This is a very prestigious and competitive award that helps bring national recognition to our program.”

The professional counseling and rehabilitation program is part of SFA’s Department of Human Services and Educational Leadership in the James I. Perkins College of Education.

Dr. Robbie J. Steward, professor and chair of the department, said Meyers “has the heart of a clinical practitioner, commitment to the field of rehabilitation counseling and knowledge base and zeal of a scholar, eager to add to the current literature.”

Meyers was encouraged to apply for the award by Dr. William Weber, professor of rehabilitation counseling at SFA, and former faculty member Dr. Yuleinys A. Castillo. Meyers’ grades, counseling skill competency and current activities were considered during the award deliberation.

“Her dedication to the rehabilitation field as a professional, a counselor in training and an advocate has shaped her motivation to help others and herself to achieve goals,” Castillo said.

Though she is thankful for the professional recognition, Meyers said, “In the field of counseling, validation comes from the growth of our customers in reaching the goals they set. My greatest success is having the privilege and honor of assisting my customers in the best and worst of times.”

Meyers was drawn to this field after 19 years of working in a hospital as a respiratory therapist.

“I became aware of the huge gap in the medical model for patient care after a life-changing event,” she said. “People need help adapting to their new normal after medical events that challenge their overall mental well-being.”

Meyers earned her Bachelor of Science in multidisciplinary studies from SFA in December 2015. She completed a concentration in allied health and an area of development in rehabilitation services as part of that degree.

She chose SFA’s professional counseling master’s program because of its seal of approval from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Meyers also saw the program’s No. 1 ranking by topcounselingschools.org in 2016 for having the top-value counseling master’s degree in Texas.

“And the professors are excellent,” Meyers said. “They’re the backbone of student success.”

Meyers is on track to earn her master’s degree in May 2021. While going to school, she works full time at Goodwill Central East Texas, a community-based rehabilitation provider. As vocational rehabilitation director and senior program specialist, Meyers develops and coordinates programs such as Work Adjustment Training, Personal Social Adjustment Training and Vocational Adjustment Training.

The Texas Workforce Commission’s vocational rehabilitation services program refers customers from Angelina and Nacogdoches counties to Meyers so she can help them seek, obtain and retain competitive, integrated employment.

Though it’s challenging to balance work and school, Meyers said, “When you’re doing what you love, the hard work is worth it.”

Earning the award would not have been possible without the help of several current and former SFA faculty members, Meyers said.

“Drs. Castillo and Weber are true mentors in the field of rehabilitation counseling, and Dr. Killam helped me understand the importance of research and ethical standards in this field.”

Meyers also wants to thank Dr. Le’Ann Solmonson, a recently retired professor in SFA’s counselor educator program, for “her expertise in counseling skills and for promoting involvement in professional associations.”

In addition, Meyers said Steward gave her deeper insight into the field with “her intuitive nature, objectivity and leadership.”

And Meyers wants to recognize the late Dr. Alan Larson, who was an associate professor of rehabilitation counseling before his death in August 2019, “for demonstrating the importance of advocacy.”

Meyers also is grateful to her family and friends who give her “unconditional love and support.”

But to her late mother and father, Gussie Mae and Cookie Baumgart, she extends the ultimate appreciation. “Those two people made me who I am. I would not be here, speaking with you, without them.”

Meyers never expected to attend college, much less earn a graduate degree, especially when her own kids were attending college. But her dad said, “It’s time for you to get that paper.”

Her parents funded her classes to become a certified respiratory therapist at Angelina College, her undergraduate degree from SFA and part of her master’s degree.

“I don’t know how a registered nurse and a Southwestern Bell repeaterman saved all that money, but they managed it,” Meyers said.

She hopes she’s given her children the same strong foundation that her parents gave her. “This whole experience — both winning this award and going back to school after starting a family and career — shows them that no matter how old you are, if you dream it, you can do it. I know it’s a cliché, but it’s true.”

Steward said she sees a rehabilitation counseling doctoral degree in Meyers’ future, as well. “This level of national recognition and affirmation is reserved for a very few and is an indicator of the degree of exceptionality among professional counseling majors.”

For more information on SFA’s professional counseling and rehabilitation program, email Killam at wkkillam@sfasu.edu.

By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

A wide range of topics concerning women in leadership, health and wellness, and other women’s issues will be discussed during the fourth annual Women’s Empowerment Summit, hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs March 20 in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Twilight Ballroom.

Veronica Beavers, OMA director, is excited to host an event that empowers women and educates the community on issues women face every day.

“During this summit, we want attendees to connect with others who are striving to make an impact, learn professional development skills, discuss the issues women are facing today, learn tips on improving personal wellness and much more,” Beavers said. “Regardless of gender, I believe everyone can benefit from the summit.”

Elena Freeman will kick off the summit as the opening speaker. A mentor, preacher/teacher and leader, Freeman can discuss myriad topics, such as practical life skills, student programming, public speaking, missions, conflict resolution, sex education, parenting and more. Freeman serves as an advocate for community youth programs, safe houses, shelters, prisons and organizations.

The luncheon speaker will be Valerie Henderson, area vice president at SHI, the largest female minority-owned business in the U.S. SHI is a technology consulting firm that employs more than 4,000.

Ebony Smith will close the summit. She is the founder of Yoga N Da Hood, a fast-growing nonprofit dedicated to making wellness accessible to everyone. Smith has taught yoga and mindfulness throughout the world and is an experienced speaker.

Event check in starts at 8:30 a.m. The opening keynote presentation will begin at 9 a.m. followed by a breakout session at 10 a.m. The lunch keynote will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and will be followed by two more breakout sessions. The closing speaker session will begin at 2:30 p.m. Breakout session presenters are a mix of faculty, staff and community members.

The event is free and open to the public. Lunch is provided to all who pre-register. Registration is available at sfasu.edu/oma. The deadline to register is March 13.

For more information, contact the OMA at (936) 468-1073 or oma@sfasu.edu.

By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The SFA Percussion Ensemble, directed by Dr. Brad Meyer, will welcome guest artist Dr. Andy Bliss in a performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Bliss, who is director of percussion studies at the University of Tennessee, will perform a snare drum solo on Bob Becker’s “Mudra,” a major work for percussion quintet and an example of how Becker fuses military drumming style within the context of Hindustani practices.

The Percussion Ensemble will open the concert with Brian Nozny’s “trick,” which the composer describes as “a bit devious, somewhat playful and rather mischievous in character.”

The ensemble will also perform “dreams” by Dave Molk, who explains that two non-pitched multi-setups anchor “dreams,” their complicated rhythms alternating dialogue and unison yet always supporting and propelling the piece forward to ever-greater highs. “A virtuosic vibraphone is placed front and center, weaving in and out of the electronics, creating pulsating melodies that flicker with colorful licks,” he writes in program notes.

Featured student performers are junior Briley Patterson of Palestine performing “Kim” by Askell Másson; freshman Nadya Pramono of Houston performing “Anthem” from “Song Book, Vol. 1” by Ivan Trevino; and sophomores Lauryn Dean of Dallas and Brenson Kent of Richmond performing “Carousel” by David Friedman and Dave Samuels.

The program also includes Trevino’s “Shared Space,” which the composer explains is scored for seven percussionists who share a setup of one marimba, one vibraphone, one glockenspiel, one cajón and two concert toms. At times, up to five players perform on the same keyboard instrument.

As a music educator, Bliss has presented recitals, lectures and masterclasses at the Northern Illinois University New Music Festival, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy, Association for Technology in Music Instruction’s National Conference and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Residing in Knoxville, Tennessee, his performances have been heard locally at the Tennessee Theatre and the Knoxville Museum of Art, and abroad in locations such as the Darmstadt Summer Course for New Music, Germany; the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada; and the Patagonia Percussion Festival, Argentina.

Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.