Higher Education Advisor for Student Success and Retention
Resume:
Althea Jo-Ann Smith
***************@*****.***
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Passionate and results-driven Higher Education professional with several years of progressive experience and expertise as a Counselor, Psychologist, Therapist, and Facilitator. A collaborator who fosters cohesiveness and influences long-term engagement with students, community partners, and clients. Successfully manage resources cross-functionally to plan and direct programs, educational opportunities, and other initiatives that encourage the completion of educational pursuits. Highly ethical and culturally aware while designing and implementing customized organizational learning and development interventions and strategies for assigned audiences.
KEY STRENGTHS
Excellent communicator, facilitator, and presenter dedicated to planning and hosting events, public speaking engagements, and serving as the face and voice of organizations
Meticulous attention to detail with strong analytical, research, and investigative skills
Visionary who makes space for hurting individuals to build trust that encourages them to seek and accept the help that transforms their lives and gain inner peace
Highly skilled in Organizational Development, Organizational Leadership, Training and Development, Change Management, Strategic Planning, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategies
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Servant Leadership:
Proactive and a thought leader with a reputation for achieving outstanding results
Build a high-performance learning culture by mentoring, coaching, and developing future leaders
Manage and guide participants in understanding, ownership, and compliance with guidelines
Motivate, challenge, and encourage participants' personal growth and development
Promote and leverage individual participant strengths and address opportunities
Set clear expectations, measure results, and communicate results consistently
Successfully utilize people, processes, and technology to improve the client experience
Facilitator/Instructor:
Compelling and spirited presenter who excels in classroom settings
Successfully translate complex ideas into actionable information to ensure success and retention
Collaborate with subject matter experts, faculty, staff, and management to assess needs, make improvements, and develop materials to improve learning outcomes
Design and implement instructor-delivered and online training curricula to achieve learning goals
Demonstrated ability to use eLearning, Microsoft Applications, and other virtual software platforms
Experienced Counselor:
Diagnose individuals and counsel individuals, families, or groups regarding psychological and/or emotional problems, including cognitive, affective, behavioral, and family situations
Conduct risk assessments, develop and implement treatment plan in a medical setting
Monitor results of treatment and client’s adjustments to determine effectiveness of treatment
Follow emergency procedures (1013 protocols, directives, transportation, contact, required personnel)
Apply psychotherapeutic theories, techniques, and methodologies in the delivery of services to individuals, families, and/or groups to treat such diagnosed mental disorders
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Bestowed an honorary Ph.D. in Divinity
Spiritual Healing coach who works specifically with women with deep-seated trauma
Christian Counselor and Sunday School Teacher
Owner and operator of a counseling company (start-up)
Successful Telehealth therapist, currently contracted
Doctoral student began working on the dissertation Chapter Two: Topic: Vision and Courage of 21st-century Spiritual Leaders: A Narrative Study
Presenter at Women's Retreats and courses and content creator of programs and courses
Creator of guidance counseling guidance manual and workbook successfully piloted.
Award Recipient, Unsung Hero Award, Dekalb Medical Hospital – 2018
Community Service Organizer - Fed 250 people in 2022 and 2023
HEART/Trust/NTA Training Institute, Career Education Officer - Achieved a 95 percentile increase of new students. Planned and presented comprehensive employability programs within the institution
Publication: Piloted -- The Intelligent Motivation and Empowerment Manual [TIME] for Guidance Counselors and Workbook for students grades 7-9
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Develop PowerPoint presentations and lecture notes for the professor of Research Methods and Program Evaluation courses at the graduate and undergraduate level.
Grad School: Motivates Academic Learning, Single Working Students Who are Mothers: Mixed method
COLLEGIATE-LEVEL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Northern Caribbean University, taught the following courses:
Social Work Practice I, II, III
Social Work and the Law
Social Work Theory and Practice
Introduction to Counseling
Childcare Management
Drug abuse and Treatment
Human Behavior I
Violence Intervention
Marriage and Family Dynamics,
Social Work Generalist Approach
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Psychological Association in Jamaica Student membership.
Dekalb Medical Foundation, Kiwanis International-Jamaican Charlton Chapter
EDUCATION
Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Grand Canyon University, Enrolled
Thesis and Dissertation: Dissertation Prospectus Topic
Vision and Courage of Spiritual Leaders in 21st Century, A Certified Educational Trainer: Center for Teachers Effectiveness CTE, 2022
Northern Caribbean University
Master of Science, Counselling Psychology, Emphasis: Marriage and Family Dynamics
Bachelor of Science, Social Work, General Approach with Community Development Interest
EDUCATION
Supervised Mental and Behavioral Health Therapist, Apex Family Healthcare Services 2023 – Present
Conducted counseling to include ADL assessments, crisis intervention, and individual sessions
Provided intensive mental health case management services for individuals
Conduct assessment utilizing the DSM-V/CSSRS to formulate diagnostic impressions
Documented progress through individual therapeutic goals and objectives
Create individualized treatment plans with goals, objectives, and interventions
Develop documentation for insurance coverage for service authorizations.
Founder, Spiritual and Transitional Coaching, Savoring Oil Ministry 2022 – Present
Assist professional women in developing inner peace by overcoming soul wounds as a result from emotional trauma from childhood, broken relationships, or divorce
Promote equity in a healed soul where women flourish emotionally, spiritually, and in the present
Manage services that include a boutique of coaching programs for enrollees
Facilitator, Wider Circle, Humana Members 2021 - 2022
Consulted with internal business partners to provide health education to members
Provided loneliness and isolation assessments to mitigate suicidal ideations
Connected senior citizens to the appropriate community resources
Created the company creed that is nationally adopted
Supervised Mental and Behavioral Health Therapist, Paradise for Living Service Inc. 2019 – 2019
Conducted counseling to include ADL assessments, crisis intervention, and individual/group sessions
Partnered with a multidisciplinary treatment team working with the client and their social networks to assist in recovery from mental health and substance abuse
Provided intensive mental health case management services for individuals in transitional homes
Documented progress through individual therapeutic goals and objectives
Served as the representative to the Trinity non-profit organization and received an award in 2019
Assisted in administrative duties, governance and policies, and state documentation
Social Care Worker, Rainbow Senior Service Inc. 2017 - 2017
Provided continuity of care for inpatients
Facilitated end-of-life therapeutic care for individuals and their families
Worked with patients' families and social networks to assess and meet the needs of the patient
Specialist Counselor/Guidance Counselor, Ministry of Education, Jamaica 2011 - 2016
Coordinated parent and teacher workshops and hosted guidance sessions
Provided oversight and assisted with the onboarding and orientation of new Counselors
Performed assessments of student’s basic psychosocial and behavioral needs
Networked with social service agencies to provide living accommodations and foster care
Conducted direct behavior therapy to students exhibiting behavioral problems
Offered consultations on social and environmental issues affecting students and their families
Instructor/MSC Psychotherapist Internship/Grad Assistant, Northern Caribbean University 2006 - 2016
Adjunct Professor in the Behavioral Science Department for 2006-2016
Assisted in revising the social work internship manual
Developed coursework and outlines for social work-related courses
Taught several social work and counseling courses and evaluated final-year students' projects
Participated in the accreditation interview process
Provided psychological analysis for inmates under the direction of the Psychiatrist
Developed and implemented class lectures and presentations
Participated in extensive research, grant writing, and project evaluation
Facilitated orientations for new graduate students
Provided oversight to the Dean’s office and supervised other graduate assistants and student workers
Assisted in grant writing workshops and community enhancement projects
Participated in governance, policy, and judicial training and development
Area Coordinator Population Census, Statistical Institute of Jamaica 2011 - 2011
Supervised the collection of field data that drove policy and demographics for national decision-making
Met all required timelines and benchmarks established nationally
Excellent documentation and analytical reporting
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