First and Foremost

By Susan Malovany

Freud published his first major work in 1900, marking the beginnings of psychoanalytic thought. Skinner introduced behavior analysis to the public in 1927. Pavlov conducted his famous salivating dog experiments in the 1890s, which led to his Nobel Prize.

Now here's another psychology first, at least for NLU. National-Louis University began offering classes in its first and only Ph.D. program—in community psychology—this past spring. Suzette Fromm Reed, assistant professor, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), can't hide her enthusiasm for this new program. "We have a diverse group of students that includes a female firefighter, and even NLU's very own VP of marketing and communications, Jeanne Hartig," Reed notes proudly. "And Debra Trude-Suter, director of training for the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, is also enrolled."

Reed is the program's co–director and teaches its first cohort group of classes. "This Ph.D. program examines an individual in the context of the community and society in which he lives," she explains.

The other CAS program co–director, Judah Viola, a new NLU assistant professor, also teaches this first cohort group. Viola explains that community psychologists work with community–based organizations such as schools or social service agencies. "They help develop, evaluate and improve their programming with various prevention or intervention techniques to deal with problems such as drugs or violence," he says. He adds, "Community psychologists focus on multiple levels of influence including the individual, the community, the family and society. They then decide which level is the most appropriate for intervention."

Students who enroll in this innovative graduate program will gain the interpersonal and collaborative research skills they need to address pressing social problems within community–based settings—and understand the role of individuals in community and organizational settings. "Individuals with a Ph.D. in Community Psychology from NLU can expect to find employment as researchers, teachers, policy analysts, program developers, evaluators and consultants," Reed notes. "They can expect to become employed with social service agencies, governmental agencies, non–profit organizations, research centers and academic institutions."

New Ph.D. program not training to be a therapist

What this program isn't however, Reed explains, is training to become a counselor or therapist. "Community psychologists do not counsel," she emphasizes. "If a student is interested in counseling individual clients, they are better matched to a clinical or counseling program."

Viola says that this Ph.D. program is the first and only of its kind in the U.S. that is geared toward adult learners. "It is also the first and only in the U.S. with night–time classes, so students don't have to quit their jobs to enroll in this program," he notes. "The cohort model it is offered in, two classes once a week during the evening for less than three years, offers the utmost in convenience and also helps build community and social support among classmates."

NLU faculty members have worked hard to retain the academic rigor of a traditional Ph.D. program within this non–traditional format. The program aims to increase access to the field of community psychology to working adults, but will maintain selective admissions criteria to ensure students who enroll are ready to complete doctoral–level research.

The students currently enrolled in the Ph.D. in Community Psychology program come from a variety of backgrounds and are employed in diverse careers. They have master's degrees in related disciplines, including psychology, business administration and the social sciences.

Making a mark in the community

Nancy Mulvihill, a student in the new Ph.D. program, works as a fire inspector for the Orland Fire Protection District in Orland Park, IL, and also as a firefighter/paramedic for the Richton Park Fire Department. During her career thus far, she has rescued someone from a fire, saved numerous lives from CPR and has assisted in delivering four babies. Mulvihill wants to give back to her community—she would like to do even more to help than she is already doing. "I think this degree will open a lot of new opportunities for me in the future," she says. "It is my goal to do something that will make a mark in my community, not sure what that is yet, but I know I will achieve something great."

Mulvihill says that the community psychology program is "going very well. I like the set–up of meeting only once a week. It makes getting a Ph.D. achievable for people who work or have a family. I wanted a program that would be flexible for a working adult yet go in the direction that I want to move in." She adds that NLU has a great reputation and offers one of the few community psych programs in the area.

Another student in the community psych program, Ciuinal Jones Lewis, is the project director for the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, IL, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Connect 2 Protect Project. Among Lewis' many responsibilities as a community–based researcher are to manage the collection of adolescent health and HIV needs/risk assessments. She is also responsible for creating thematic disease maps of Chicago and overlaying them with demographic data and available resources to determine the highest impacted areas.

Lewis says that NLU "has created a program for 'real adults'—a program that is challenging yet manageable for those of us who have careers, families and other responsibilities. The curriculum is comprehensive and diverse and the faculty members provide sound instruction and a compelling presentation of topics, concepts and methodology."

She adds that once she attains her Ph.D., she will continue her work as a community–based researcher, however, "I will be better–equipped to publish my work in professional journals in collaboration with community partners and the national organization from which my program is funded."

Just as NLU is taking pride in the introduction of its first Ph.D. program in Community Psychology, so are students Mulvihill and Lewis taking pride in the career paths they are now following after enrolling in the program.

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