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“My background is in Sociology and this has helped me a great deal in advising. Sociology has helped me to see the different things students must deal with in their lives: family, friends, work, social expectations, and responsibilities, just to name a few. By being able to see these things, it has helped me to understand where students are coming from and what they deal with in their lives 'outside' of school.” – Sherry Barber, University of Maryland University College, Feb 02 “My undergraduate degree is in Sociology/Anthropology with a minor in Psych, and I spent close to eight years working as a caseworker for the Welfare Department before earning my Master's in Counseling and moving into higher ed. I have always thought that my Sociology background and my experience as a caseworker have given me greater insight into the issues and concerns of college students. Family dynamics, living environment, socioeconomic issues and cultural values are among the factors that influence students and play a part in their successes and failures. Being able to recognize these factors and at least acknowledge them helps to establish an open advising relationship. Beyond that, it facilitates the problem solving process as it relates to career and major decision-making. I also earned eighteen credits in Art and Art History as an undergraduate (sort of an unofficial minor) which has helped me to understand the creative mind. Artists are different, and understanding their values and motivations has helped me to work with this special population.” – Elsie M. Boucek, Penn State, McKeesport Campus, Feb 08 “I did an undergraduate degree in history, emphasizing social and intellectual history. Knowing something about the history of astronomy and utopian socialists and mediaeval church disputes and Greek polity and Freudian thought and the Salvation Army makes me feel as if I can reach across many disciplines to address a given issue. I like to encourage my students to integrate what they are learning from several different courses at once. They should see themselves as makers of history, or at least of their own "story." The sense they create out of their own education as individuals is like the sense that historians make out of the events we experience as cultures.” – Marion Schwartz, Penn State, Feb 12 “My undergrad degree is in Sociology, with minors in Philosophy & Theology. My grad degree is from the School of Education, Counseling & Personnel Services. All of these disciplines have made me a better advisor because they have made me a better person ... one who can listen, empathize, see breadth and depth to each personal situation. I have at least some basic understanding of various cultural, ethnic, religious, racial, economic groups or at the very least, enough curiosity to investigate further into the differences amongst people. I have come to know that the differences are basically superficial and the similarities are more profound. Basic human needs (similarities) are the same regardless of how they are met (differences).” – Eva Brickman, Purdue University Calumet, Feb 16 The Mentor is published by Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies Available online at www.psu.edu/dus/mentor/ Privacy and Legal Statements | Copyright | © The Pennsylvania State University | All rights reserved | |
