PHOTO: (left to right) front row, seated – Lisa Fountain, Lindsay Taylor, Terry Nelson, and Otis Washington; back row, standing – Dr. Joe Burke, Bryon Miller, and Rob Woodall. (NACC Contributed Photo)
By Staff Reports
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) recently hosted a panel of local professionals in social work and counseling career fields. This panel participated in a lunch and learn style event titled Careers in Counseling. Coordinated by Bryon Miller, Career and Transfer Advisor, and Rob Woodall, Director of the Division of Social Sciences, Speech, and Foreign Languages, the event was intended to provide students and community members with detailed information on careers in social work, counseling, and psychology.
“The Human Services career cluster is consistently one of the most common areas of interests for students that take our career assessments,” explained Miller. “We wanted to create an opportunity for students to obtain more information on these careers so that they can make an informed decision.”
Each panel member was asked to answer a few basic questions including things like ‘What is the most challenging part of your job?’, ‘What do you enjoy the most?’, and ‘What advice do you have for someone entering your line of work?’ Additionally, they were able to comment on other aspects of their career field. Attendees were also able to ask their own questions during a Q&A session. The panelists included Lisa Fountain, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently employed as Middle School Counselor for KDS DAR School; Terry Nelson, a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor at Dayspring Center for Christian Counseling; Lindsay Taylor, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Equine Therapist at H.O.P.E. Springs; and Otis Washington, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at DeKalb Youth Service Center.
Feedback from the students, community members, faculty, and panelists was very positive. The event was successful at connecting students with professionals and helping them make their career decisions. “One of our undecided students even declared social work as the major shortly after this event,” said Miller. Miller hopes to have similar events for other career fields during upcoming school year.
Miller added that NACC offers degrees and coursework for anyone interested in a career in counseling, psychology, or social work. “While most of these careers require a four-year or graduate degree, you can get the first two years done right here,” he explained. NACC’s affordable tuition rates and prime location make it an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to pursue these degrees.
For more information about this event, contact Miller at 256-638-4418 or 256-228-6001, ext. 2360, or by email at millerb@nacc.edu.
For more college information, go to www.nacc.edu or download our free App at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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