Fall Newsletter

By JoLynn Carney, Faculty Advisor

 

As faculty advisor to Rho Alpha Mu, I have the distinct pleasure of welcoming new and returning students to Fall semester at Penn State University.  My role as chapter advisor for Chi Sigma Iota began in July, 2004 as I follow in the very capable footsteps of my colleague, Dr. Jerry Trusty, who has guided the chapter over the last few years.

Let me please take a moment to introduce myself to you.  My name is Dr. JoLynn Carney and I’m an associate professor of Counselor Education.  I am

beginning my second year on the faculty at PSU coming from eight years at Youngstown State University in Eastern Ohio.  I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who has worked in community mental health agencies and private practice.  Much of my research focuses on youth violence and I work closely with school systems endeavoring to create a safe environment in which students can develop into their full human potential.  Part of my recent work has focused on expanding educational, cultural, and personal opportunities for youth in urban schools while increasing better cultural understanding of teachers

and school counselors-in-training to work in urban environments.

I am pleased to be the new faculty advisor for Rho Alpha Mu chapter, look forward to working with the officers, chairpersons, and members and hope to see as many of you as possible taking part in chapter activities.  The upcoming year holds such great potential for each of us both personally and professionally.  It is my wish that CSI provides for us all a stimulating vehicle through which we can “be well, do good work, and stay in touch” (Garrison Keiler, 2004).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new academic year is here and there are so much to do for both students and faculty.   The numbers of things we ‘have to do’ and the things we’d ‘like to do’ can be overwhelming at this time of year, so it is fair to ask the question, “Why also get involved with Chi Sigma Iota and Rho Alpha Mu Chapter?”

Let me try to answer from my own perspective.  Chi Sigma Iota is the only honor society or fraternity I have ever joined and the reasons are very specific.  This organization has connected me to people and ideas I wouldn’t have come in contact with otherwise.  It has stirred my thinking and put me in touch with students, faculty, and other professional counselors who also want more professional growth than traditional roles encourage.  It has made my connections to students, faculty, and professionals in the field more personal as well as being professionally beneficial.  I am a better person and professional for being a member

of CSI.

CSI has been so positive for me that I accepted the position of Advisor to two local chapters before coming to Penn

State and more recently accepted a nomination, and was later elected as President-elect of CSI International. Now my task will be to maintain and expand the value of CSI International to many organizations including our Rho Alpha Mu Chapter.  What is can CSI offer me you might ask?  To begin with, there are Fellowships and Internships available through CSI whereby local members can become directly involved with leaders at the national level, even providing travel support to the American Counseling Association National Conference. There is a Student Insights column in the national newsletter where individuals or groups can contribute ideas and experiences in answer to questions offered and have their comments published. This could become too long of an article if I tried to list all the opportunities and advantages so I’ll stop for now and just say, come by and see me or check the CSI website at < http://www.csi-net.org> for more information.

The key benefit from most of us will be

our local connection and involvement. Our officers of Rho Alpha Mu have been working through the summer to create the opportunities for making personal connections and bringing people together in ways that catch your interests and attend to your needs for support and professional advancement. It is a big job and they need your support and involvement to achieve the best possible results, so don’t wait for them to contact you.  Let them know you want to be an active and supportive member and they’ll welcome you with open arms.

I’m excited about this CSI year both nationally and with our local chapter.  I look forward to meeting you at local gatherings, helping where I can, exploring ideas with you, and finding ways for us to collaborate for the benefit of us all.

CSI Means Connections

By Richard Hazler, CSI International President-elect and PSU CNED Faculty

Chi Sigma Iota is the international honor society for students, professional counselors and counselor educators established at Ohio University in 1985. Our mission is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the profession of counseling.

We’re on the web!

 

Chapter: http://www.clubs.psu.edu/csi

Main:  http://www.csi-net.org/

 

Email contacts:

 

JoLynn Carney, Faculty Advisor jvc15@psu.edu

 

Garbette M. Garraway, Chapter President gmg183@psu.edu

Chi Sigma Iota

Promoting Excellence

in the Profession of Counseling

Quote of Note: 

 

“The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn... and change.” 

Carl Rogers