Kaleigh Pelko, campus visit coordinator, is in the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) program. The accredited program prepares adult students to address complicated issues of social justice and healthy functioning with an approach that combines theory, technique and hands-on practical experiences.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
A lot of colleges and universities offer clinical counseling. Why did you think Alvernia was the best fit for you?
The MACC program really honors life. So, whether you're a full-time employee somewhere else, you're juggling two jobs like myself, you're raising kids or maybe taking care of family members, the MACC program really understands that and offers flexibility in the number of courses you take and the times that you can take those courses. And that flexibility was a big comfort for me to know that with everything I was juggling, I could get my education in.
How confident do you feel about being prepared for your career?
A lot of the professors have made local connections with different businesses and organizations. That offered me experiential learning, so I feel very prepared for the responsibilities of my career in the future.
And one of your jobs is at Caron Treatment Centers, which is an Alvernia partner. How has what you're learning in your classes helped you in that real-world environment?
There can be some intense situations when working with substance abuse disorder. And as a newer professional, it can be a little daunting at times. The skills that I've learned at Alvernia have helped me to feel more confident and be able to fulfill the needs that my clients have in the moment or to know where my limitations are and to reach out to superiors and get them the resources that they need.
If someone is considering a graduate program but they're not sure if they have the time, what advice would you give them about how Alvernia can help make it happen?
I found the application process really comforting. Once I was accepted, getting the curriculum, understanding the different options between part-time students and full-time students, understanding how things like practicum and internship can work along with your current job or be something totally new, that comforted me. Regardless of what I had going on in my life, my education could fit into those empty time slots I had available.
How much are you enjoying working with faculty?
I really love all the faculty. They're very personable. They really care about us as individuals. You'll walk into class and they'll say: 鈥淗ey, you told me about something last week. How'd that go?鈥 That's really comforting. But you also get years of experience from them. They're seasoned professionals. They just have so much knowledge to offer us as new professionals.
