Embracing the Journey: Doctoral Hooding 2024
By Zion Banks, Agora Editor
Encouraging Governors State University’s (GovState) 2024 doctoral candidates to “embrace the journey and leave a legacy,” President Cheryl Green welcomed 50 new scholars from the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Education and Human Development into the exclusive community of academic excellence and scholarship during a recent hooding ceremony.
“We welcome tonight, the members of our GovState community who have made a commitment to learning and service by completing their doctoral educations,’’ said Provost Beverly Schneller who served as the night’s emcee on the stage of the Center for Performing Arts.
“For each degree candidate, this has meant establishing clear goals, making many sacrifices, and traversing a journey full of academic rigor that required long days, late nights, hours of study, saying no to family and friends, weeks of internships, and a full investment in the highest opportunities for success that their respective degree offer.”
She was joined by President Green, members of Cabinet, faculty, staff, and members of the Board of Trustees Angela Sebastian, Kevin Brookins, Jim Kvedaras, Stacy Crook and Karen Nunn.
Seated opposite University leadership future doctors of Nursing, Physical Therapy, Educational Leadership and Counseling and Supervision eagerly awaited their doctoral hoods.
Dr. Green, beaming with pride, encouraged candidates to embrace their unique journeys.
“You have faced obstacles and triumphs alike, always pushing forward with resilience and determination. Today, we celebrate not only the culmination of your journey but also the legacy you will leave in your respective fields.”
Green launched the ceremonial hooding of candidates, which dates back to medieval times. The hooding tradition celebrates academic achievement. Each degree is signified by a special color lining an elegant velvet scarf, which once held a function — to keep warm the shaven heads of monks.
“To our graduates in Psychology and Counseling, you have dedicated yourselves to understanding the complexities of the human mind and helping others navigate life's challenges. Your work will have a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals, families, and communities,” said Dr. Green.
Wearing a hood lined with royal blue, Jessica Jordan Love, who earned a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision degree with the dream to remove barriers to addiction and mental health treatment. An instructor at GovState, as well as a practicing clinician, Jessica’s dissertation —Clinicians’ Perceived Preparedness to Work with Clients Who have Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use or Other Addictive Disorders—examines how clinicians can improve care practices with an integrated approach to treatment screening.
“We know that upwards of 50 percent of clients who present with substance abuse disorder also struggle with another mental health disorder,’’ said Jessica. “These are barriers to treatment. The mental health system is used to treat depression, but there also is an underlying substance use issue to cope with the depression but there aren’t screens so it’s not being treated.”
A three-time GovState alum, Jessica said the training she’s received at the University has prepared her for a unique area of study. “I wouldn’t have the experience to do something like that if I hadn’t gone through the program at Governors State University,’’ she said.
Draped in a velvet hood with a teal lining, Adrian Navar was emotional as he received his Doctoral Physical Therapy degree. Before Adrian’s father died of ALS complications, Adrian said he gave him heart-felt advice. “Loosely translated, he told me, ‘every day is a second chance,’ and that’s what Physical Therapy provides for me —a second chance to help people be as fully functional as possible.“
With his degree, Adrian plans to specialize in orthopedics.
Candidates filed out of the ceremony guided by prophetic words spoken earlier in the ceremony by Chair Sebastian. “When I was thinking about tonight, only two words came to mind: world changers …. leaders like you change the world.”