Faculty Q&A: Joe Campbell says HSU provides many pathways in the counseling field
Dr. Joe Campbell
What is your favorite aspect of teaching?
My favorite aspect of teaching is when students are interacting and learning from each other. I love it when a student finds his or her voice and starts to trust in their own statements as it concerns the field. It is those "lightbulb" moments that bring me joy.
What career paths do students from the graduate courses you teach typically pursue?
With our school counseling and clinical mental health degrees, our students find multiple career pathways, including — but not limited to — school counselor, school-based clinical mental health counselor, agency counselor, private practice owner, and counselor. Students can also choose to go even further and get a doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision.
Why should a student choose Henderson State to pursue a graduate degree?
Henderson offers a unique combination of what is needed in the field. We provide experiences from people who have worked in the field, actively advocate for clients in the field, and hold positions in multiple leadership roles to help guide the field. All these things combined create a unique experience to grow and become empowered to be agents of change for our field.
What are the ways a graduate degree can enhance a person’s career?
Our degree programs help students not only reach their goals, but also discover aspects of themselves. Many times, I tell students that once they enter a program like ours, they should not leave the same way they came in. They should grow and develop into a different version of themselves ready to help better the world one person at a time.
What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about being a professor?
The most challenging thing part about being a professor is wanting more for my students than they want for themselves. When I get the chance to sit down and meet with them, I envision all the things that they can do in the future. The hardest part is when they limit themselves. This leads into the most rewarding part, when they find the courage to dream and think big. When students find their purpose and their drive, I am the happiest I can be as a professor.
What advice would you give to students aspiring to seek a graduate degree?
Grades are important, but they are not the most important thing you need. You need the knowledge that you gain from the courses. If you focus on the knowledge, the grade will follow. Especially in the counseling field. There will never be a client who will ask you, "What grade did you get on your Counseling Theories paper?".
How can students make the most of their college experience while studying for their graduate degree at Henderson?
The best way to get the most out of your graduate school experience is to be flexible and malleable. Many things during this time will have ebbs and flows, and you must be able to adapt to them.
Dr. Joe Campbell is an assistant professor and chair of Counselor Education at Henderson State University. The program offers two degree tracks: School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Both tracks lead toward professional licensure.