Riding a wave of success that started earlier this month with a top 10 ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools list, the University of Central Florida’s Counselor Education program has been honored by the world’s largest nonprofit organization for professional counselors.
A faculty member, student and alumna were awarded by the American Counseling Association Saturday during its annual conference in Cincinnati. The organization, founded in 1952, provides leadership training, continuing education and advocacy services for its more than 42,000 members.
Associate Professor Glenn Lambie, director for the school counseling program, received the David K. Brooks Jr. Distinguished Member Award, which is given to an individual who has served as a role model for students through professional excellence and mentorships. Lambie was nominated for the award by this year’s master’s and doctoral students.
“I mentor our students in making their transition from being graduate students into their professional roles as school counselors and counselor educators in higher education,” said Lambie. “I have an open-office policy where my student-mentees may come in to talk about their research projects or more personal issues, such as the stress often encountered by graduate counseling students transitioning into their professional roles as practicing school counselors.”
Counselor Education doctoral candidate Dodie Limberg was honored with the Glen E. Hubele National Graduate Student Award for outstanding scholarship.
Limberg’s research focuses on school counseling, counselor wellness, international counseling and the development of altruism. She recently defended her dissertation and serves as the graduate assistant to the Heintzelman Eminent Scholar Chair, engaging with a research team to investigate the development of altruism in diverse populations. Limberg also has presented papers at more than 40 national and international conferences and has published four manuscripts in refereed journals and two peer-reviewed book chapters.
“The opportunities that UCF has provided me are beyond my expectations,” said Limberg. “I am honored that my research efforts and experience are being recognized by the primary professional organization in the counseling field.”
Additional honors went to Jacqueline Swank, a UCF alumna and current assistant professor at the University of Florida, who won a Best Practices Award for research.
Bryce Hagedorn, an associate professor and coordinator of UCF’s Counselor Education program, also received the Alumni Excellence Award from his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, while at the conference.
UCF’s Counselor Education program is housed within the College of Education. The program is designed to prepare students interested in working as counselors and practitioners in schools, community mental health settings, institutions, hospitals, and private practice.
For more information on the program, visit http://education.ucf.edu/counselored/.