About Dr. Wilkerson

May 2021

Professional development continues to be a major factor in my work life. With physical visits to campuses curtailed during 2020 (most are re-opening for in-person visits), I spend about 7 -10 hours per week on virtual visits with college admission counselors. The IECA, one of my professional organizations, regularly conducts College Conversations, an hour-long presentation with time built in for Q & A. To date, members of IECA had sessions with the colleges on the chart. Additionally, I added to this list by facilitating sessions in my capacity as the college counselor for the Montessori School of Raleigh where, along with the students, we learned more about UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, the College of Wooster, Queens University of Charlotte, Muhlenberg, Elon, Western Carolina, North Carolina Central, the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Did you know UNC Wilmington has a major in Coastal Engineering or that Western Carolina (along with UNC Pembroke and Elizabeth City State) is a NC Promise institution? A NC Promise school’s in-state tuition is $500 while non-residents pay $2500 per semester. Our virtual world allows for hours upon hours of accessible college information sessions. I had to step back and limit myself to a reasonable number of hours of “college visits”. I challenge my students regularly to move beyond their comfort zone and during the height of the pandemic, I stretched myself way beyond my level of comfort. I am one of 14 co-authors of Becoming The Shero, an anthology depicting the journeys of entrepreneurs at different stages of their lives. My story is in the Embracing the Pivot section. Another way I stay current is through my new position at Providence College. As of August 2020, I am the College Supervisor for the School Counseling Program. What does the college supervisor do? I supervise the students in the program during their 2-semester internship at a school, where they are directly supervised by their Site Supervisor, a certified professional school counselor. It is the student teaching equivalent for school counseling. Reading is a daily pleasure for me. Here are nine books (not in chronological order) that helped me to educate myself about current events and issues of social justice:
  • Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents ~ Isabel Wilkerson
  • How to Be An Anti-Racist ~ Ibram X. Kendi
  • Stamped From The Beginning ~ Ibram X. Kendi
  • I’m Still Here ~ Austin Channing Brown
  • The Color Of Law ~ Richard Rothstein
  • We Want To Do More Than Survive ~ Bettina Love
  • Down Along With That Devil’s Bones ~ Connor Towne O’Neill
  • Interrupting Racism: Equity and Social Justice in School Counseling ~ Rebecca Atkins & Alicia Oglesby
  • Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race ~ Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.
To stay up-to-date on trends in college, career and paying for college, see my list of books under the “Parent Resources” tab. I challenge my students to be lifelong readers. I am practicing what I preach. What are you reading today?

Personal Philosophy

I believe that all students benefit when they plan early for their transition from secondary school. Strong, flexible plans based on appropriate information allow students to examine their interests, explore possibilities, and take action to turn dreams into reality. My personal philosophy is that career development and post secondary planning go hand in hand. I believe it’s no longer essential for students to make a career decision at 16 or 17 years old. I was fortunate; I knew from an early age that a career in education suited my personality and work values. More importantly, it’s important to help students reflect on what type of problems they want to solve. 

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, says, “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it”. I believe that I can help students take the steps to bring her sentiments to fruition.

I have more than 30 years experience in education ranging from a social studies teacher to a school counselor at the secondary level to the coordinator of the Rhode Island School Counseling Project (RISCP), a statewide school counseling program. One outcome of the RISCP was the development of the R.I. Framework for Comprehensive K-12 School Counseling Programs.  I believe my education and experience benefits students as they plan their post secondary transition.

Working with students is my life’s purpose. As a social studies teacher, I enjoyed helping students make the connections between historical events and current events; history doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Just as importantly, I looked forward to chaperoning proms and other school events because it allowed me to get to know my students outside the classroom. I became a school counselor to honor the school counselors who guided me through secondary school. Later in my career, having the opportunity to assist practicing school counselors develop their programs let me continue to do work that benefited even more students. Now, I have come full circle as an independent educational consultant, providing a direct service to students that assists them with attaining their educational and career aspirations. More than anything, I aspire to be a champion for students like Rita Pierson, in one of my all-time favorite TED Talks. 

In the Community

Membership in professional organizations such as the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) and the National Career Development Association (NCDA) keep me current with the trends in the field by attending professional conferences and workshops, participating in webinars, reading professional journals, networking with colleagues and visiting college campuses. 

Oftentimes, I speak with my students about the value of giving back to your community. I’ve learned during my 30+ years in education that students observe your actions closer than you think they do. For me, it’s important that young people embrace what Dr. Maya Angelou describes as being “a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” I hope to be an example to my students by showing up in our community in multiple ways such as:

My hope is that students will give back to their communities by engaging in activities that create rainbows for others.

Take a moment to view pictures of the campuses I had the pleasure of touring and other events that enrich my life. Stay tuned for the rest of 2020.

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May 2021 Update

Professional development continues to be a major factor in my work life. With physical visits to campuses curtailed during 2020 (most are re-opening for in-person visits), I spend about 7 -10 hours per week on virtual visits with college admission counselors. The IECA, one of my professional organizations, regularly conducts College Conversations, an hour-long presentation with time built in for Q & A. To date, members of IECA had sessions with the colleges on the chart. Additionally, I added to this list by facilitating sessions in my capacity as the college counselor for the Montessori School of Raleigh where, along with the students, we learned more about UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, the College of Wooster, Queens University of Charlotte, Muhlenberg, Elon, Western Carolina, North Carolina Central, the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Did you know UNC Wilmington has a major in Coastal Engineering or that Western Carolina (along with UNC Pembroke and Elizabeth City State) is a NC Promise institution? A NC Promise school’s in-state tuition is $500 while non-residents pay $2500 per semester.

Our virtual world allows for hours upon hours of accessible college information sessions. I had to step back and limit myself to a reasonable number of hours of “college visits”.

I challenge my students regularly to move beyond their comfort zone and during the height of the pandemic, I stretched myself way beyond my level of comfort. I am one of 14 co-authors of Becoming The Shero, an anthology depicting the journeys of entrepreneurs at different stages of their lives. My story is in the Embracing the Pivot section.

Another way I stay current is through my new position at Providence College. As of August 2020, I am the College Supervisor for the School Counseling Program. What does the college supervisor do? I supervise the students in the program during their 2-semester internship at a school, where they are directly supervised by their Site Supervisor, a certified professional school counselor. It is the student teaching equivalent for school counseling.

Reading is a daily pleasure for me. Here are nine books (not in chronological order) that helped me to educate myself about current events and issues of social justice:

  • Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents ~ Isabel Wilkerson
  • How to Be An Anti-Racist ~ Ibram X. Kendi
  • Stamped From The Beginning ~ Ibram X. Kendi
  • I’m Still Here ~ Austin Channing Brown
  • The Color Of Law ~ Richard Rothstein
  • We Want To Do More Than Survive ~ Bettina Love
  • Down Along With That Devil’s Bones ~ Connor Towne O’Neill
  • Interrupting Racism: Equity and Social Justice in School Counseling ~ Rebecca Atkins & Alicia Oglesby
  • Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race ~ Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.

To stay up-to-date on trends in college, career and paying for college, see my list of books under the “Parent Resources” tab.

I challenge my students to be lifelong readers. I am practicing what I preach. What are you reading today?

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