By Annie Riley
Staff Writer
Chi Sigma Iota, The International Honor Society for Professional Counseling, has inducted nine new members from St. Bonaventure.
Founded at Ohio University in 1985, Chi Sigma Iota has more than 83,000 members. The new members of the St. Bonaventure chapter include graduate students Alexandra Caldwell, Casey Carlson, Colleen Chahal, Christine S. Hanley, Shannon E. Liggett, Kristyn C. Million, Francisco Morales and Alecia Christine Tripi, according to a Nov. 7 university press release.
Mary O. Adekson, associate professor of counselor education, is the faculty adviser of the Phi Rho chapter at St. Bonaventure. She began Phi Rho, as a chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, at St. Bonaventure University in 1999.
“I oversee the activities of Phi Rho. This means overseeing the interviews and screening of students for the honor society,” said Adekson. “I also make sure students in the honor society maintain their professional stance throughout their course of study as Master’s level counseling students at St. Bonaventure.”
The students involved in Chi Sigma Iota have the chance to meet other students with the same goals that can help them to become successful school counselors.
“Originally I didn’t have any interest because of my busy schedule, but as time went on, cohorts were formed and a bond between most students began,” said Francisco Morales, a graduate student of school counseling.
Students have to send in a resume, letter of intent and be interviewed over the phone by Dr. Mary Adekson and Catie Green, according to graduate student of school counseling Casey Carlson, a new inductee to Chi Sigma Iota.
“When I was accepted into this graduate program, I knew I wanted to be active in the field. And through my classes and internship(s), it’s made me more interested in advocating for the profession because I’ve seen firsthand how important it is and what a difference it makes to today’s youth,” said Carlson. “I hope this will let me accomplish my dream to be a successful school counselor who strives to do better everyday.”
Chi Sigma Iota promotes strong professional identity through members (professional counselors, counselor educators and students) who contribute to the realization of a healthy society by fostering wellness and human dignity, according to their website.
Students must have at least a 3.5 grade point average to be eligible for this graduate-level counseling program.
