I am a licensed professional counselor, and was the Director of the UAB Counseling & Wellness Center for over 15 years. My professional specialties involve program development and administration, design and implementation of life-enhancing programs, and working in many different roles with college populations. I've been qualified and certified in individual and group assessment and training in personality type (developing self-esteem, self-awareness, cultivating a sense of diversity, and getting along better with significant others). I grew up in Southern California but I have lived in Alabama since 1990. Four years later I began working at UAB.
At UAB I had a variety of responsibilities. I administrated business, provided personal counseling for students, supervised the professional counseling staff and provided training for Masters-level interns. In addition to designing and implementing a variety of health-related programs and workshops for students and staff throughout the year. For four years I taught a fall freshman success course - helping new students understand what it takes to excel in their campus experience. I was the UAB liaison to the Campus Ministry Association, a member of many professional associations, and was the treasurer for the Association for Psychological Type International - Alabama (APTi-AL).
My life has consisted of a series of ordinary adventures. At 18 years old I left home to work with an international training and relief organization. During my two-and-a-half years abroad I lived in Canada, Switzerland, Cyprus, Israel, and trekked through ten other countries during an amazing three-month period. Altogether I have lived in four states, attended seven universities, earned three degrees, studied five languages, and climbed eight 14,000 ft peaks. As a trained Disaster Relief Mental Health Volunteer, I was able to assist with the Birmingham Red Cross with interventions to help local evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. My latest adventures have included jumping from a moving airboat at night into the Louisiana bayou to capture a live alligator. I also kayak for exercise and to continue exploring the natural world. July 2012 I went to Fiji with a team of dedicated and compassionate women. Our mission was to teach sewing and baking classes to the residents of Homes of Hope.
My personal mission statement is to 'enhance the quality of life wherever I am' and to live life to the fullest!