Alumni Voices

Marj Nafziger

“I have found my graduate school studies in counseling to be very transformative, full of both unexpected and purposeful learning. I am grateful for the professors and expanded training which allowed me to achieve training in school and professional counseling.”

- Eastern Mennonite High School
Harrisonburg, Va.

Jamie Johnson

“I enjoyed the smaller faculty-student ratio as compared to my undergraduate experience. The atmosphere was very supportive. I could talk with each and every professor and they all listened and responded in supportive ways. The learning was intensive and lessons from graduate school are ingrained and are part of me. The lessons were those of growth -- personal and professional -- and the education I received laid the foundation for the continual growth in life”.

- Individual Therapist
Winchester, Va.

Heidi Rist

“The extent to which faculty and staff go to help each student impressed me. They are more caring and respectful than other professors I have known. The emphasis on personal growth and awareness and respect for differences also impacted me. I am very thankful for the time I spent at EMU and feel it has been a period of growth in all areas of my life.”

- In-home Clinician
Bridgewater, Va.

Earl Allen

“The graduate counseling program at Eastern Mennonite University was the best academic and personal experiences I have had in all of my educational endeavors. After finishing my seminary degree at EMU I realized that I had been given one of the best hands on applications for Christian ministry one can acquirer. In looking for a psychological approach to helping people in a Christian context EMU appeared to be the right choice for me. I was not mistaken.. the counseling program was everything I thought it could be.. even more! The professors challenged me and stretched every fiber of my being! I will be using my degree's for inner city ministry in a clinical setting. Presently, I am using what I learned on myself in order to overcome and live with a rare disease. If a person wants hands on Academic and Internship psychological Training in a graduate counseling leading to Ministry or LPC licensing I would highly recommend Eastern Mennonite Universities program to them.”

- Richmond, Va.

Krista Gum

“The two years that I was in EMU's Graduate Counseling Program were two of the best years of my life. The program touched my heart and my life in such a special way. The faculty and students bonded in such a unique way, in a way that reflected true, caring relationships. It's like you learn what counseling is all about through the process of participating in the program! I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in counseling! I will never forget my experience at EMU's Master of Arts in Counseling program!”

- Millbrook High School

Angela Anderson Stroop, LCPC

"EMU Master of Arts in Counseling program is an outstanding program that influenced who I am today as a therapist. The staff made it even so much more enjoyable!"

- Mental Health Therapist

Adrienne Consylman, LPC

“I graduated in Dec. 2001. I am an LPC as of July 15, 2004. EMU accepted in to their program conditionally as my undergrad grades were somewhat pathetic. I had much experience in mental health field and had prior training at a Master's Level in Art Therapy. I got turned down by another college. So EMU gave me the opportunity to get an education based on real life abilities instead of just grades. I am thankful for that. The courses in risk assessment: suicide and homicide risk have been very useful to me in a practice where there are suicidal and homicidal people. EMU was a great place. Mennonites are such nice people. I often felt like I was in Brigadoon - just nice Christian people.”

Sandy (Fisher) Gharib, LPC

“Upon graduating, I think I was ahead of graduate students from other programs when I started to interview. EMU's program is solid and the fact it is 60 credit hours was appealing to prospective employers b/c I wouldn't need to go back to school. The time and attention that the faculty spent with me fostered my confidence in my skills and helped me feel prepared to start the LPC journey. I have worked with colleagues from other programs who are clueless about the LPC process and requirements. They feel lost. From a personal perspective, Harrisonburg felt like home in a lot of ways. I was scared to come to EMU having just graduated from a public, liberal college. I had preconceived notions of how the "Mennonites" would be and how they might try to change me in order to conform to 'their ways.' I couldn't have been more wrong! My time in the program was a growthful 2 years; I couldn't imagine having not been there. I developed close friendships with other women in the program that will last a lifetime. I know this is going on much too long but as I type this I'm flooded with wonderful memories of a safe and warm place that I had the privilege of experiencing for a couple years. It was some of the hardest work I had ever done but I had a lot of fun doing it! I am extremely grateful to the program and the faculty for their dedication and commitment to providing quality education for future counselors. I market the program every chance I get. It changed my life.”

- Clinician at Henrico Mental Health & Retardation Services
Richmond, Va.