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Monthly archive: October 2014

Richmont Professor Travels to Moldova to Train Counselors

Posted by & filed under News, School of Counseling.

ATLANTA, GA – (October 28, 2014)

This October, Vanessa Snyder, Assistant Professor of Counseling at Richmont, traveled to Moldova to conduct research and provide training on a trauma treatment model for staff working with victims of sex trafficking. Partnering with Hope for Justice, Snyder has traveled and trained with the organization in the past. This trip, however, focused on teaching the organization’s residential workers in aftercare shelters best practices within the three phase “heart trauma model.” Ideally, aftercare therapists will be better equipped to offer a more holistic approach to their clients who have experienced immense adverse life experiences.

Moldova-1“There is such a strong focus on the rescue of children and women who are being trafficked. While this is a necessity, it can, at times eclipse an equally desperate need for quality aftercare services,” said Snyder. “Having evidence based treatment for survivors of such complex trauma and organizations that are trauma-informed is a passion of mine.”

A 2008 graduate of Richmont, Snyder will be completing her degree in December from Regent University with her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision. Her areas of research interests include: sexual abuse and trauma; trauma effects on the God perception; and complex trauma model protocol used for human trafficking. With her teaching experience and specialized research, her relationship with Hope for Justice has grown over the last three years. Later this month, Snyder plans to speak at the organization’s national conference in Nashville, Tennessee to present her research and trip experiences.

A licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist, Snyder’s work in Moldova is not only preparing aftercare workers to offer whole-person focused treatment, but the data she collects and studies from the shelters informs future service provision and therapeutic practice across the counseling field. Best practices in aftercare shelters is a passion of Snyder’s and her studies influence individual treatment models, self care for clinicians, and future organizational development.

Richmont Faculty to Present at the CAPACITY Conference in October

Posted by & filed under News.

ATLANTA, GA – (October 10, 2014)

This October, Dr. Keny Felix, Richmont’s Dean of the Schools of Counseling and Psychology and Dr. Leland Eliason, the Founding Dean of Richmont’s School of Ministry, will be speaking at the 2014 CAPACITY Pastors and Leaders Conference in Austell, Georgia.

The three-day conference is boutique style allowing the 500 attendees to select plenary sessions and workshops that span a wide range of leadership conversations. According to the conference web site, the weekend is specifically “designed to equip and empower pastors and leaders” while challenging “conference attendees to go to the next level of personal development, authenticity and ministerial and organizational growth.”

“Bishop Dale C. Bronner is delighted to have Richmont Graduate University as a Sponsor of this year’s CAPACITY Pastors and Leaders Conference,” said Richmont professor, Reverend Courtney Wright. “We have been working on this conference for almost two years and have planned every detail to make it impactful and intentional. We have designed the conference to benefit those who are in any form of leadership, whether it be pastoral, ministerial or vocational.  Our belief is that it will bless all who attend and take them to a higher level of personal, ministerial and professional excellence.”

This year, both Drs. Felix and Eliason will be presenting during the conference’s breakout sessions. Specifically, Dr. Felix will present, “The Importance of Restoration and Respite for those in Ministry and Leadership” and Dr. Eliason will present, “Authentic Leadership: Is There Any Other Kind?”

“I am very much looking forward to presenting on “Authentic Leadership” this year during the Saturday break-out session,” said Dr. Eliason. “Participants will be invited to visualize how the content applies to their ministry situations and to describe the steps they plan to take to ensure that wanted changes take place. The learning outcomes thus move from information gathering to leadership transformation. I have never been more excited about presenting at a conference for Christian leaders!”

“We know that effective ministry is not a sprint but a marathon,” said Dr. Felix. “To serve well and fulfill their call, ministers and leaders need respite as they navigate through the different seasons of ministry. Otherwise they become at risk of dysfunction, engaging in unhealthy behaviors, or moral failure in response to the pressures of life and ministry. I look forward to sharing on this critical topic, as well as addressing the restoration of ministers and leaders when they fail.”

Alumni Advisory Council Announces $10k Match for Richmont’s Building Campaign

Posted by & filed under News.

ATLANTA, GA – (October 6, 2014)

On September 15, Richmont’s Alumni Advisory Council announced a dollar for dollar matching gift up to $10,000 in support of the renovations on the new Atlanta campus location.

“This matching challenge is an extraordinarily generous gift to the university,” said Richmont’s president, Bob Rodgers. “Engaged alumni are critical to the health and well-being of Richmont. I am extremely grateful that we have a group of thankful givers who are encouraging others to join them in the process. The margin that they help us create allows us to tenaciously pursue Richmont’s mission.”

The goal of this fundraising effort is to secure funds for classrooms in Richmont’s new location. The hope is that, thanks to this $10,000 match, that a total of $20,000 will be raised to name one of the classrooms in honor of the university’s alumni.

“The 10k Alumni Match Campaign provides Richmont Alumni with a wonderful opportunity to participate in giving and to help celebrate the new campus,” said Lavinia Myers, Chair of the Alumni Council. “This campaign empowers current and future students to enhance their learning while advancing the Richmont community in a tangible way.”

Additionally, current Alumni Council Member, Lisa Byrd, said, “Many of us had life changing experiences during our time at Richmont, and we have an amazing opportunity to give that same experience to current and upcoming students by sponsoring a classroom. Please join us in creating an atmosphere of love, acceptance, and learning that far surpasses any other. There’s no better place to have the foundation for counseling laid!”

Please prayerfully consider how you might participate and support the future of Richmont’s legacy. Our goal is to finish the $10,000 match by December 31. Individuals interested in contributing may connect in the following ways:

  • Click here to give online via the Richmont web site. Simply direct your donation to the “alumni match” in the gift designation drop down window.
  • Phone: 404-835-6118
  • Email: Christianna Luy at cluy@richmont.edu
  • Mail: Richmont Graduate University, 2055 Mt. Paran Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30327
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