Dr. Amy Orville

 

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Amy Orville Receives Outstanding Dissertation Award

Dr. Amy Orville, Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Educational Leadership at Slippery Rock University, has been awarded the Outstanding Dissertation Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE). This prestigious honor recognizes exceptional scholarship and research that make a significant contribution to the field of educator preparation and professional teaching practice.

Dr. Orville’s dissertation, titled “Recommendations for Improving Traditional Elementary Student Teaching Experiences Through Co-Teaching Models in Pennsylvania Schools,” embodies PAC-TE’s mission to advance quality educator preparation through research, collaboration, and advocacy. Her research, completed at Slippery Rock University, examined how co-teaching models can enhance student teaching experiences within Pennsylvania schools.

Focusing on improving the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs, Dr. Orville’s work highlights how co-teaching, pairing student teachers with experienced cooperating teachers, can provide increased instructional time, immediate opportunities for practice, and rich collaborative learning experiences. Her findings emphasize that, while implementing a non-traditional sixteen-week co-teaching model presents challenges, the benefits to both teacher candidates and K–12 learners are substantial.

Her research has also been published in PAC-TE’s peer-reviewed journal, the Pennsylvania Teacher Educator, further contributing to the growing body of scholarship supporting innovative approaches to teacher preparation. PAC-TE and SRU proudly recognize Dr. Orville’s dedication to advancing the field of educator preparation and celebrates this award as a reflection of her commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and professional practice.

Dr. Jesse Smith

 

 

  1. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously?

I earned a bachelor’s degree in political science (2003), a master’s degree in special education (2014), and a doctorate in special education (2017), all from the University of Pittsburgh.  Additionally, I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).  For the past 20+ years, I’ve worked with a variety of students and their families including those who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, emotional/behavioral disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other developmental disabilities.   For nine years, I held several different roles at The PLEA School, a center-based school in Wilkinsburg, PA.  While there I happily educated students with disabilities in both the classroom and their homes.  Following my time at the PLEA school, I spent 5 years working for the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education.  The PASA Project was a grant-funded program that designed, implemented, and scored an alternative assessment for students where the PSSA or Keystone Exam was not appropriate. For a few years I worked as a Positive Behavior Support Specialist for the North Allegheny School District. And, most recently, I served an administrative role as a behavior analyst for Pittsburgh Public Schools.  As part of this role, I helped to design and implement a training program for paraprofessionals and teachers who work with students with complex needs.

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the College of Education?

When I first started my doctoral program, I had not really considered a full-time career in academia.  Although I enjoyed teaching classes, conducting research, and being part of a university, my passion was still in K-12 schools.  As time went on, I grew more and more fond of academia.  That said, I did return to practice following graduation but kept my foot in the door by continuing to teach special education graduate courses at Pitt and California University of Pennsylvania. While I envisioned retiring from the K-12 public school system, I could not pass up the opportunity to apply for my current position here at Slippery Rock.  Slippery Rock’s reputation speaks for itself, and I have many friends and family members that graduated from here. I frequently witnessed their Rock Pride (most specifically, my brother-in-law; James Matsik, ‘04).  Additionally, I was born and raised in a small, rural town named Wilcox, which is in Elk County, PA. The town of Slippery Rock immediately reminded me of Wilcox.

3. What is your current role? What is your favorite course to teach?

I am currently an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the College of Education.  This semester I am teaching Early Intervention for Students with Disabilities, Introduction to Special Education Law, and Advanced Studies in Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Honestly, I enjoy teaching all my classes. 

4. What is your favorite aspect of working in your field?

Long story short, I love seeing children make important gains toward success and independence.  I am most interested in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and interventions related to ABA – specifically interventions that focus on remediating skill deficits often associated with severe cognitive and developmental disabilities.  This includes both the reduction of challenging behavior and the increasing of academic and functional skills.  Additionally, I am interested in researching and implementing effective ways to train others to engage in evidence-based practices, particularly paraprofessionals and teachers who work in inclusive settings.  

5. What were you like as a college student?

Shy, overwhelmed, and confused at first, but by the end of my undergraduate degree less so.  As I mentioned above, I grew up in a very rural part of the state – moving to the Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh was a drastic change for me.  I decided to attend Pitt because of its reputation as an outstanding academic institution.  By the time I got to graduate school, however, I was motivated and organized.  The city no longer phased me, and I was excited to learn whatever I could. 

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

College should be challenging – but not stressful.  I frequently say this to my students.  Professors are here to help you – and are eager to do so!

Dr. Jenna Copper

 

 1. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously?

I attended SRU for my undergrad and master's degrees from 2004-2009. I met my husband, Mike, in Dr. Yamamoto's grad class! I was hired at Slippery Rock High School right after graduation, and during my first year of teaching, I applied for doctoral programs. I started my coursework at Robert Morris University two weeks before we got married, and I defended my dissertation while I was six months pregnant with our first child. I taught at SRHS for 6 years before accepting a position at my home district (also where my husband is teacher), Wilmington Area School District. I was the English department chair, a k-12 technology coach, and the AP English teacher. During that time, I taught night and online classes at RMU in the English department.  In 2021, when I was on maternity leave with our third child, I accepted a full-time faculty position at Westminster College. I earned my pk-12 Reading Specialist certification while I was there for two years before coming back to the Rock.

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the College of Education?

My family has a lot of Rock pride! I went to SRU and had wonderful professors and a great education! My husband, Mike, earned his undergrad degree and master's degree in secondary social studies and teaches AP Gov and APUSH; my brother, Mikey, graduated from SRU with a special education degree and is now a director of special education; my sister-in-law, Brandi, graduated from SRU with a degree in special education and works as an education specialist for the MIU IV; and my brother, John, graduated from the safety management program and went on to earn his doctorate in physical therapy. My husband and youngest brother were stars on the football team. The Rock has done so much for our family, and the College of Education is unmatched in preparing future teachers! My goal was always to make my way back here!

3. What is your current role? What is your favorite course to teach?

I am an assistant professor in the CIEL department, and I co-advise Kappa Delta Pi. I really love them all so far, but my favorite courses are literacy and methods courses.

4. What is your favorite aspect of working in your field?

I love working with future teachers! They are so excited and passionate about our field, and it brings me so much joy to share their enthusiasm for a career I love! 

My undergraduate degree was in English Literature, and I love writing. I love that this field gives me the opportunity to write about topics I'm passionate about, and I enjoy collaborating on research projects with my wonderful colleagues and students.

5. What were you like as a college student?

You can ask Dr. Christmann, Dr. Yamamato, and Dr. Hicks! 😉 One of my professors in the math department called me Hermione (perhaps the big curly hair was part of that). I was a go-getter, but I struggled with overextending myself (something I had to learn to manage as a new teacher). I was a member of the Honors Program, a peer mentor, a reader for SLAB, and a competitive cheerleader for the Rock. I also had a job teaching gymnastics at a local gym and eventually became the GA for the Honors Program in grad school. 

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

My grandpa Conglose always used to say, "think and do." I needed that reminder to slow down and make deliberate choices. It was very easy for me to get caught up in the next thing and the next goal. I've gotten better at this over time, but it's been a good lesson to remind myself to enjoy the moment.

Dr. Katie Leckenby

1. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously?

I went to Slippery Rock for my Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate Degrees. I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Music Therapy with a minor in Special Education in 2006. From there I worked as a TSS for Watson Institute. I was awarded a graduate assistantship in grad admissions while I worked towards my Master’s in Special Ed with another Elementary Ed degree added on. I graduated in 2009, and the week after, I was teaching homebound for a boy with cerebral palsy. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with him academically, so I did music with him. I took my guitar and would put maracas in his hands, which led to me putting markers in his hands and he would draw and write, which was very cool to me. I taught him throughout the summer and then West Mifflin hired me to start a new Autistic Support classroom in the fall. From there, I moved to Neil Armstrong Middle School in Bethel Park and was there for 10 years as a 5-6 learning support teacher where I did a lot of co-teaching. Then one day I came home from work and had a postcard from Slippery Rock about their new doctoral program and knew that was my next step! When I began the Doctoral program in January, I got the syllabi, logged on to D2L (which I had never used before) and got very overwhelmed. I ended up deferring for a year to think about it, and at the time I had a lot of student teachers from Slippery Rock in my classroom. One of the supervisors told me how being a professor is one of the greatest jobs and encouraged me to pursue my doctorate.  When the next January rolled around, I started the doctoral program while I was still teaching full time.  I had some people who doubted me and why I was getting my doctorate. Dr. Lynch said to us during class, “Once you get this, nobody can ever take it away from you,” and that really stuck with me. While I was still getting my doctorate, I had a practicum student from Robert Morris University, and her supervisor, the head of the Education department, asked me if I was interested in teaching as they had a transition class that they needed someone to teach. I tried it out to see if I liked teaching at the college level, and I loved it! I went on to teach full time at St. Vincent College from 2019-2021. Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled when I got hired to come back to SRU and work alongside many of the professors that I had had!

 

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the College of Education?

From the moment I drove on the main street, I told my mom this was the school for me. Every person on the initial campus tour was so friendly and welcoming that it just felt like home! I went for my undergraduate degree in Music Therapy, and I had gotten into other schools that felt very competitive which is just not me. When I came back to SRU for the third time around for my Doctorate, I had someone tell me that I was going to have to leave Slippery Rock eventually. They couldn’t have been more wrong! I love how everyone here is so welcoming and so friendly.  Everyone wants to help each other and to encourage others’ success. It’s not a competitive environment - everybody shares resources and is so supportive! 

 

3. What is your favorite course to teach? 

Overview of Special Education (SPED 121) is my favorite because it’s one of the classes I taught at St. Vincent, so I’ve been teaching it the longest and feel comfortable making changes and being more creative with that class. Since it’s an overview, there’s so much that you get to pack into a semester! It’s also fun because it’s freshman or people new to special education, so you get to see what their preconceptions are and then show them what it will actually look like in the classroom. We also go over all of the different diagnoses and how you qualify for services, and I get to make it very hands-on and do lots of activities with the students. 

 

4. What is your favorite aspect of working in Special Education?

Seeing growth and finding student strengths! For example, I had a student with pretty severe ADHD. He was pretty disorganized and a lot of teachers got very frustrated with him, but he was one of my favorite students. Academics just weren’t his thing, and that’s okay! He had a very difficult time being organized, his papers would be all over, he’d have stuff across the hallway and never know where anything was. He loved recording videos though. So during the PSSAs, when there was a lot of down time, I had him make a video about the school for the fourth graders that would be coming to the school the next year. He organized an entire schedule for production for when he would film, and I had never seen him be so organized and independent.  I think finding what kids’ strengths are, like his love for filming, and seeing them be successful, no matter what success looks like for that student, is so rewarding. 

 

5. What were you like as a college student?

I was very organized and good at finding balance between having fun and getting my work done and getting good grades. I was very lucky that I worked in a computer lab in which I had a lot of downtime to get my school work done. So while I was very studious and organized, I was able to balance that with my free time. My junior and senior year, I really struggled personally with issues back home, and I had to go home a lot on the weekends for my family, but I had the most supportive people around me. All of my professors and my boss were all so understanding and so many of them encouraged me to keep going when it got difficult. So I’m thankful for the people I had around me supporting me when I was in college!

 

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

That it goes so fast! When I was a student, every semester felt like it would go on forever, but when it’s all done, you look back and feel like the time flew by. So make the most out of the time you have and try everything! Take advantage of all that campus has to offer, without stressing yourself out of course. There are so many things that you don't think about even as an adult, like having the ARC for free, and the beautiful Macoskey Center with so many cool programs that you can go to to destress or learn new things. I never did any of that, I think because I was scared and didn’t want to do anything outside of my circle of friends. Now I see that if I had tried new things, the worst that could have happened was I didn’t like it and wouldn’t have to return.  So my biggest piece of advice is to try everything you can and take advantage of everything.

Dr. Hannah Holl

1. Tell me about yourself. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously?

I started as an elementary physical education teacher in Lewisburg, PA as a long term sub. In that position, we integrated health into physical education, which is a lot of what I do here at SRU. I earned my teaching certificate at Lockhaven University and did some public school teaching, then went on to get my Masters and my Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at IUP. During my Doctorate, I worked with preschool children on creating healthier nutrition and physical activity habits, so my research and dissertation was on school based activities for preschool children. That’s what brought me to my career here where I prepare future teachers to make a difference with physical activity and healthy eating through schools.

 

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the College of Education?

I was a temporary faculty at IUP when I was looking for a tenure track position and there were a couple of openings at IUP and SRU. Through attending state and national conferences, I had seen other Slippery Rock professors presenting. One of the things that they did really well was get students involved with research and the presentations. I was interested in that way of teaching and learning where the student is a big part of their learning experience, which is now called project based learning. That’s really what attracted me to Slippery Rock, seeing what other SRU professors in the COE were doing out in the field. I kind of looked up to them and thought I really wanted to work there because they were active in research and presentations. 

 

In addition, the Slippery Rock students are just good! I can remember applying for jobs in K-12 schools and knowing that I’d be up for jobs against SRU graduates because I knew that their training was state of the art and rigorous. I never went here as a student but I always knew that it was a quality school for education.

 

3. What is your favorite course to teach? 

I absolutely love what I do and love every course that I teach, but lately a course that I have really been enjoying teaching is Social and Emotional Wellness. It’s a relatively new class and part of the School Wellness Education curriculum that we created about five years ago when we saw that there was a need in schools to really help students feel better socially, emotionally, and to develop coping strategies that can help them handle life’s stressors. The class is fun and relevant and in this program. A lot of the strategies taught are through activity, but there are also some classroom based strategies that help students connect with each other, help them self-reflect, and help them know that there are tools to empower themselves. Then when stressors do come up in their lives, they don’t have to feel defeated since they have some skills to be able to face their stressors and cope better. So while I really love all my classes, Social and Emotional Wellness is one that is so relevant and important. 

 

4. What is your favorite aspect of working in School Wellness Education?

My favorite aspect is that I am teaching real world stuff. If you look at the health and wellness of society today, a lot of adults use physical activity to cope with stress and as a way to manage their blood pressure. We as teachers in schools have the opportunity to use physical and health education as the vehicle to give people these skills to stay healthy and well.

At the end of the day, I feel like I am helping people live better. And honestly, our profession was not always that way. Physical and health education used to be more based on “can you do push ups or run a mile”, and that has shifted now to “how can you be a healthier better human and what skills can we work on to help you get there”.

I also love working with the students. They come in passionate and excited with all of these ideas. A lot of times, I learn from them when they get to do peer teaching or teaching in the field.

 

5. What were you like as a college student?

As a college student, I was always curious and wanting to learn more. I went to classes with an open mind and that's really what drove me to keep going to get a Master’s and Doctorate degree. I could see that in this field, there was so much more to learn. I think that’s common with any area in the field of health or education. As soon as you learn one thing, either that fact changes or there's a new strategy or idea that builds on it. I like the aspect that I can go to class and really get something out of it. I was a pretty average student though. I was not an overachieving student who earned awards in all areas. I was a good student, just not one of those students who everybody always remembers. I was a good example that all students can be successful!

 

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

I wish I would have known how valuable some of the opportunities were. I did go to classes curious and I took some opportunities to go to conferences and workshops, such as the state convention to see other speakers. However, I wish I would have known then that it's really an honor to be able to be a college student and to have the opportunity to seize every opportunity, not just some of them.

Dr. Laura Strong

1. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously?

I took a non-traditional route after high school by joining the

Army. I started out as an enlisted soldier--a veterinary

technician, and went to college part-time. I then got an

ROTC scholarship so I was let out of my enlisted obligation

early and received my Bachelor’s degree in Oklahoma at

Cameron University, in Secondary English. At that time, I

became a commissioned officer in the Medical Service Corps.

Eventually, I held many administrative and leadership

positions, including working in a dual role as a unit

administrator for the Army Reserves before resigning from

the Army after 12 years. In my heart, I still desired to teach.

At IUP, I went back to school to earn my Master’s in Teaching

English with certification. Later, I received a Doctorate in

Curriculum & Instruction. I taught in the Professional Studies

department at IUP from 2010-2020. This included courses in

Early Childhood, supervision of student teachers, masters in

education, masters in Literacy, some doctorate level

courses, and grant-funded opportunities with Fulbright

scholars. I loved working with International teachers from

around the globe! And now, this is the beginning of my third

year at the Rock! 

 

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University and the College of Education? 

I went through my doctoral program with Dr. Amodei, so

we’ve known each other since 2008. She mentioned to me

when there were some faculty needs in 2019 and it was just

the right moment in time for me to change directions.

Switching to SRU gave me something to look forward to, a

fresh start! Before then, I had several opportunities to come

up to SRU and serve on the panel for the Action Research

projects. It was always great to see the quality of teachers

emerging at the COE! 

 

3. What is your favorite course to teach? 

ELEC 285, Integrating Creative Expression Through the Arts.

My dissertation research focused on creativity in Higher Ed

and it’s been an interest for me all the way around, at every

grade level. 

 

4. What is your favorite aspect of working in Early Childhood Education? 

A second love of mine is student teaching supervision. I get

to go into early childhood classrooms and not only watch the

growth of my student teachers, but see the progress of all

those young learners. Especially in fall, when they’re starting

a brand new year, I particularly enjoy observing in

Kindergarten. They don’t have routines and rules that

they’re accustomed to yet, and then by the time I see my

student teacher at the end of a placement, all of those little

ones have come so far, too! 

Also, my background is in secondary English, and I am so

connected to language and language development. Early

childhood gives me insights into language early on as it is

really developing, and I’m able to observe progress and

collect data on where that is going to go in the future. 

 

5. What were you like as a college student? 

In one word: busy! I didn’t do college “traditionally”, and for

me it was about focusing on the mission, both in a military

way and in a driven, “get it done” kind of way. I did have fun

still, but I was very committed to the mission. One of the

reasons I joined the service was to earn money for college,

so I knew what I wanted and I was going for it! 

 

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student? 

One of the biggest things that I wish I had known was that we

all learn differently and at our own pace. Even though I was

driven, I feel like I was comparing myself to others, and

there’s no use in that. As a young person, you still care a

little too much about what other people think. I was always

trying to explain or justify myself to others. When I was

getting my Master’s and my certification, I was in my 30s and

I began to relax more and realize that it’s not a race. We’re

all in this together!

Dr. Michael Ignelzi

1. Tell me about yourself. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously?

I am a native Californian who grew up in Southern California.  I moved to the East Coast to attend graduate school settling in Pittsburgh after I accepted a faculty position at Slippery Rock University over 26 years ago.  An interesting, fun fact – my father grew up in Pittsburgh and moved out to California as a young man and two of my adult daughters now live in San Francisco.  So apparently, each successive generation in my family relocates from Pittsburgh to California or California to Pittsburgh.  I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of California, Riverside in Psychology, my M.A. in Student Affairs at Ohio State University, and my Ed.D. in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard University.  Before becoming a faculty member I worked as a Resident Director at the University of California; Davis, Director of Residence Life at Menlo College (Northern California); and Dean of Students at Wells College (upstate New York).  I have the distinction of being one of the few men to ever serve as Dean of Students at an all womens’ higher education institution.  When not teaching or doing research, I am an avid Major League Baseball fan (I follow the Pirates and the LA Angels), a music and film buff, and a doting grandfather.

 

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the College of Education?

When I finished my doctorate at Harvard, I knew I wanted to teach in a graduate program educating students to work as Student Affairs educators.  The College of Education at Slippery Rock had a growing Master’s program in Student Affairs, but no full-time faculty members.  I was intrigued with the opportunity to be the first tenure track faculty member in the program, and to be able to further build and grow a relatively young graduate program.  Over 26 years later, with the help of a number of good faculty colleagues, we have built a solid, respected Student Affairs M.A. program that places students in key leadership positions at colleges and universities across the country every year.

 

3. What is your favorite course to teach? Why?

I actually have three favorite courses that I developed and now regularly teach – Lifespan Development and two semesters of a course on College Student Learning and Development.  I had the wonderful opportunity to take courses from, do research with, and teach with a number of renowned developmental psychologists while at Harvard (Erik Erikson, Lawrence Kohlberg, Carol Gilligan, Robert Kegan), and I enjoy teaching students about the value and utility of applying developmental theory to the work of Student Affairs and Counseling.  Student learning and development should be the central mission of colleges and universities, so it is critical that higher education professionals and counselors know how to support students in that development.

 

4. What is your favorite aspect of working in Counseling and Development?

The favorite aspect of my job is working with talented, caring students who want to make positive contributions to the lives of others, and having some small part in giving those students the tools to meet their professional goals and aspirations in their chosen helping profession.  I also enjoy having the opportunity to engage in interesting research with my colleagues.  Dr. Don Strano and I are currently conducting cross-cultural research, interviewing higher education institution professionals in Western Europe exploring how they provide essential student affairs and counseling services to their students.

 

5. What were you like as a college student?

I loved my undergraduate college years!  I immersed myself in the college experience, particularly in the co-curriculum.  I worked at the campus radio station, I was a member of two rock bands, and I served on and was President of the Campus Programming Board.  I remember myself as fun, invested in my friends, and a somewhat better than average student.

 

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

I wish I would have better known that we grow most in life from taking reasonable risks even if the outcome is not what we had hoped for.  We learn most from our challenges (and often mistakes) in life, so we shouldn’t try as hard to avoid them.  When an interesting opportunity presents itself, even if it scares us, we should try and find a way to say yes.

Dr. Randall Nichols

1. Tell me about yourself. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously? 

I was born and raised in Titusville, Pennsylvania. I received my undergraduate degree and my Master's degree here at Slippery Rock, and I received my doctorate from West Virginia University. Prior to coming to SRU, I worked for Penn State University. I worked at the Beaver campus and their main campus back and forth for five years. This is now my 25th year here at SRU!

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the College of Education?

When I was hired, we were actually in the College of Health and Human Services. What attracted me to Slippery Rock was the opportunity at the time that exercise science and sports management were in our department. I had a wide range of experiences from Penn State University that fit in a number of different places here at Slippery Rock. Since then I completed my doctorate in pedagogy from West Virginia University, so that line aligned more with the College of Education. That kind of put me more in the health and physical education, school wellness education, and teacher prep program. Since then it became its own department, and sports management also became its own separate department. My education and background led me more towards the teacher prep program that we had here. Once those departments left our department, we were moved to the College of Education, which was a better fit.

3. What is your favorite course to teach? Why?

My favorite course to teach is probably the assessment and promotion class. The point of the class is how to assess learning both formatively and summatively, and then also how to promote learning. It's one of the most important courses because once a student learns how to assess learning, it empowers them in that they are actually teaching something that they can see. The time and effort they put into their lesson planning and the lesson delivery is actually having an impact and students are learning. That is the most enjoyable course for me. As for the promotion part of that, once you're confident that you are teaching something and students are learning, then you can promote what's happening in your courses. You can promote yourself as an effective teacher. There’s a lot of confidence that comes from being able to assess learning and to be able to prove that learning is actually happening.

4. What is your favorite aspect of working in Physical and Health Education?

My favorite aspect of working in physical and health education is the school wellness education program. We revised what most people think of as Health and PE teacher education to school wellness education, and I really enjoy being a part of that program! It gives a different vision of what a Health and PE teacher can and should be in a school. It's about health and wellness. It’s about empowering people to become healthy and well and less about games and sports.

5. What were you like as a college student?

I was on the baseball team here and I was a pretty serious student. I graduated with a pretty good GPA and just took most of my courses professionally and seriously. I can't say I was that as a high school student, I was a little bit different as a high school student than I was as a college student. But a light bulb went off for some reason, somewhere along the way, in terms of being a college student where I became much more serious about what I was learning, how I was learning and why I was learning.

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

I wish I would have known a lot more about what, how, and why I was learning. Most importantly, why. Now that I look back, I don't see the why of some things that were part of me being a college student. I wish I had paid a little bit more attention to what I was doing, how I was doing it, and why I was doing it, and spent more time on the things that were really important.

Dr. Amanda Young

 

1. Tell me about yourself. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously?

This is my second year at SRU, I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Adapted Physical Activity (APA) in the Physical and Health Education department. I am also the APA minor coordinator. My undergrad degree is in Kinesiology (physical education) from Texas Christian University and my Masters and PhD are in adapted physical education (APE) from Texas Woman’s University (TWU).  Before coming to SRU, I taught preschool and elementary APE in Texas for 9 years, and I taught in the graduate school at TWU after I graduated.

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the College of Education?

SRU has a long standing history of APA programming and degrees, and both of my APA faculty colleagues have degrees from TWU too. I also strongly support the school wellness education model that is taught to our undergraduate PETE students.

3. What is your favorite course to teach? Why?

How can I pick 1 favorite?! I love all of my courses. Currently, I am teaching a University Seminar and I love teaching my freshman about disability sports, and opening their eyes to sports and competitions for individuals with disabilities. I love working with our graduate students, they have such a thirst for knowledge! My intro to APA class is so fun because I get to teach about all kinds of disabilities, and I love my lifespan class because I usually get students for a second time and I get to teach about my favorite population of early childhood kiddos. Every class I teach spreads awareness and advocacy for physical activity for people with disabilities. The more students we have that understand that importance the better!

4. What is your favorite aspect of working in Physical and Health Education?

My colleagues are some of the best people I know. As a new faculty, I am still learning the ropes, but everyone has been so supportive. Also, the students are wonderful and will have a great impact on children and youth in their futures. I also love our movement based classes and the many practicum experiences we provide for our students.  

5. What were you like as a college student?

At TCU, I was a good student, an active intramural participant, I was in a sorority and I loved the college sport scene – Go Frogs! As a graduate student, I was teaching full time during the day and taking classes at night. I learned how to manage my time, and prioritize my life – I also developed a coffee habit!

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

The importance of scheduling! I rely on my calendar and schedule and I have to make a point to schedule in time for exercising, scholarship, and things I often forget about!

Dr. Ken Messina

 

1. Tell me about yourself. What is your educational background and where have you worked previously? 

I received my BA in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Waynesburg College and my MA in Community Counseling from the Counseling and Development department here at Slippery Rock. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate programs I worked in various different positions at Community Counseling Center in Mercer County. Following graduation from SRU, I continued to work at Community Counseling Center as a counselor in many different programs. I worked in mental health, addiction, and family and couples counseling at the outpatient and intensive outpatient levels while at CCC. I was also a supervisor and was a site supervisor for many Counseling and Development students throughout the years. I also did program evaluation, served in leadership roles, and provided training and onboarding for new counselors. I then attended Duquesne University where I received my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. During my PhD program, I continued to work full time and served as an adjunct in the Counseling and Development Department at SRU and in the Counseling program at Duquesne. After receiving my PhD, I taught in the Masters of Counseling Program at Minnesota State University Moorhead where I served as Clinic Coordinator, Clinical Mental Health program coordinator, Professional Counseling Certificate Coordinator, and chaired the graduate program prior to coming to SRU.

2. What attracted you to Slippery Rock University, and in particular, the College of Education?

My experience in the Counseling Development department as first a student and then an adjunct solidified for me that I wanted to be here. I always remained connected to the department and faculty throughout my professional career which made coming back to SRU a kind of homecoming for me.

3. What is your favorite course to teach? Why?

I love teaching the Family Counseling course. I have always had a love for systems theory and really enjoy helping students to shift their thinking to include the larger context of the person. This was also the first course I ever taught so it will always hold a special place for me. I also enjoy teaching the Practicum and Internship courses. I love having the opportunity to see students begin to apply all that they have learned throughout their programs of study and see the growth they make throughout their last year in the program.

4. What is the most rewarding experience working as the Student Counseling Center’s Clinical Director and Associate Professor?

Picking one is difficult as my position has so many different aspects to it. As Clinical Director, the most rewarding part is seeing the progress we have made with increasing the visibility of the Counseling Center and our counselors on campus while reducing barriers for students to receive services. As a counselor, it is seeing a student who came into counseling really struggling to cope with the various stressors life has thrown at them and see them leave counseling with a sense of confidence and ability to reach their full potential. From a teaching perspective, the most rewarding experience is seeing students grow, professionally and personally, throughout their time in our program. To see a student go from a being a new graduate student to a competent and confident professional at graduation and knowing I played some role in their development is the most rewarding aspect for me. 

5. What were you like as a college student?

As an undergraduate, I struggled my first two years in college. I was a first generation college student and struggled with trying to figure out all of the processes and intricacies of how to be a successful college student beyond the academics. Fortunately, there are many more supports and a much better orientation process now than we had when I first began college. However, I would say the one thing that was consistent throughout was that I was always wanting to learn more. That is something that has carried over through my graduate studies and into my professional life.

6. What do you know now that you wish you would have known as a college student?

There are so many things that I wish I knew then, particularly that eventually student loans become due. The other thing I would want to tell myself as a college student is that it is all worth it. That the studying and lack of sleep eventually pay off. Often it can be so hard to see it when you are in the middle of your college career, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.