Chief of Mental Health Management Services at the Illinois Dept of Corrections
About
What was your first step after undergraduate graduation & how did it impact your career path?
After graduating from the University of Michigan in the Spring of 2000, I immediately enrolled in the Clinical Psychology program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in downtown Chicago, Illinois. I had mentors at the University of Michigan who impressed upon me the importance of staying focused on my educational goals and completing them as soon as possible.
What are you doing today?
I am a licensed clinical psychologist, currently working as the Chief of Mental Health Management Services for the Illinois Department of Corrections and I am an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois.
How do you use your psychology undergraduate experience in your work?
Every aspect of my professor career is influenced by the journey I made at the University of Michigan. How I relate to my undergraduate students, how I empathize with those starting a journey, how I draw from my process has helped to shape the Psychologist that I am today.
What inspired you to enter that field/job/profession?
The field of psychology has always been my focus, it was the subject that I was excited about everyday. To be able to better understand the human mind, human behavior and human development I believe is a phenomenal gift.
What excites you most about the future of your profession?
The endless possibilities of how to use my educational knowledge to help others and to grow myself
What advice do you have for students getting a degree in the UM Psychology Department or considering your profession?
Exploration is the key! Explore as many areas in psychology as you can, so that you know which area or areas excite you the most and drive you towards excellence. The UM Psychology Department has lots of resources, alumni and partners that are all ready and willing to help any student who asks
What was your favorite experience while studying in the UM Psychology Department?
It is easy to talk about one of my favorite classes, Interpretation of Dreams, but my favorite experience is the lifelong friendships and relationships I made while there, including meeting my now wife, Dr. Holly Hinton, who is also a Clinical Psychologist.
