Current Student Information

Each student is responsible for knowing Mason’s rules, regulations, requirements, administrative policies and academic policies. The University Catalog, your program advisors, and the staff in the Student and Academic Affairs Office are key resources to assist you as you work toward completion of your degree requirements. It is highly recommended that you meet with your advisor at least once per semester to review degree progress and plan for future semesters.

You Have the Keys to Success:

Be an Informed Student
It is your responsibility to know where you are in completing your requirements. Your advisor is a resource to assist you. If you choose not to meet with your advisor you may miss key information and opportunities to make your experience at Mason a more valuable one.
Read your Mason E-mail
Students are responsible for the content of university communication sent to their Mason e-mail account (@masonlive.gmu.edu) and are required to activate that account and check it regularly. If you wish to forward your @masonlive.gmu.edu e-mails to a personal account please do so as soon as possible once admitted to avoid missing key communications from various university offices.
Know and Use your Resources
Friends and other CEHD students are great but they are not reliable sources of information for your individual degree requirements/progress. A reliable resource is a paid Mason employee and the subject matter expert on the question at hand (i.e. Licensure, Endorsements, Advising, Career Services, Admissions, Registrar, ITU Support, etc.). When in doubt, ask your advisor!

Where to look for Advising

Contact the Counseling and Development program at counsel@gmu.edu. Faculty and staff will answer any questions that you may have about your program or degree.

EDCD Courses

Professional Dispositions

Faculty

Talleyrand, Regine Academic Program Coordinator Email
Phone: (703) 993-4419
Fax: (703) 993-5577
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Bemak, Frederic Email
Phone: (703) 993-3941
Fax: (703) 993-5577
Profile
Carney, Jennifer Email
Phone: (703) 993-4404
Fax: (703) 993-5577
Profile
Chung, Rita Chi-Ying Email
Phone: (703) 993-3899
Fax: (703) 993-5577
Profile
Dailey, Stephanie Email
Phone: 703-993-3784
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Ginsberg, Mark Email
Phone: (703) 993-2004
Fax: (703) 993-2001
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Goodman, Rachael Email
Phone: (703) 993-5242
Fax: (703) 993-5577
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Melchior, Shekila Email
Phone: 7039932042
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Steen, Sam Email
Phone: 703-867-1960
Profile
Stone, Victoria Email
Phone: (703) 993-5342
Fax: (703) 993-5577
Profile

Staff

Paraggio, Lynne Email
Phone: (703) 993-3844
Fax: (703) 993-4370
Profile
West, Dorothy Office Manager Email
Phone: (703) 993-2087
Fax: (703) 993-5577
Profile

Professional Performance Criteria

The American Counseling Association code of ethics requires counselors and counselor trainees to maintain standards of professional competence and possess good moral character. Therefore, the Counseling and Development Program requires these Professional Dispositions.

APA Guidelines

All students taking Counseling & Development courses are expected to use APA style described in detail in the Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association, (6th Ed., 2010) for all written work. Students are expected to purchase this book.

Attendance Policy

Two or more unexcused absences may result in no credit for the courses that are 3 credits or more. For 2 credit courses, one or more unexcused absences may result in no credit for the course. For 1 credit courses, no unexcused absences are permitted.

Readmission Policy

Admitted students who do not attend classes for two consecutive semesters (excluding the summer term) are automatically dropped from degree-seeking status. These students must apply for readmission to the program in order to return to degree-seeking status. To apply for readmission, students must:

Submit a statement describing (a) reasons for seeking readmission, and (b) current professional goals and activities.
Submit a minimum of three letters from professional references who can address your readmission to the Counseling and Development program.
Submit a current transcript
Complete a Graduate Re-enrollment Form.
Observe the regular GSE admission deadlines.

Students requesting readmission may then be invited to an admission interview. Readmission is granted only upon Counseling and Development full-time faculty's evaluation of the applicant's qualifications, interview, and past program participation.

Non-Degree

The non-degree extended study option is available for individuals who have missed the deadline for submitting a complete graduate application and desire to begin taking courses, or are interested in learning more about the field of counseling. Courses that may be taken as a non-degree student are EDCD 602: Foundations of Counseling and EDCD 525: Advanced Human Growth and Development. After admission into the program, both courses may be transferred into the master's program.

Program and Multiple Faculty Recognitions

Two DVDs were produced by Alexander Street Press in 2012 on the C&D program’s unique training (Training Social Justice Counselors: Walking the Talk) and the C&D faculty’s innovative outreach program, Counselors Without Borders (Counselors Without Borders: Making Change for a Better World).
Drs. Rita Chi-Ying Chung and Fred Bemak were included as 2 of 5 people in the American Counseling Association Introductory Film, entitled Giving Back to the Community, for the American Counseling Association’s Annual Conference in 2011.
Chi Sigma Iota Outstanding Chapter Award for Exemplary Chapter Webpage, 2006

Dr. Fred Bemak

President-Elect, 2013-2014, American Counseling Association Counselors for Social Justice Division
Kitty Cole Human Rights Award, 2013, American Counseling Association National Award
Fulbright Senior Scholar, 2012, Department of Educational Sciences, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Professional Advancement, 2012, Association for Specialists in Group Work Award
Taiwanese Research Visiting Scholar, 2011, Awarded position to study school counseling in Taiwan through the Taiwan Ministry of Education
Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person, 2011, American Counseling Association National Award
Courtland Lee Social Justice Award, 2011, Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
American Psychological Association Fellow, 2009
Association for Specialists in Group Work (A Division of the American Counseling Association) Fellow, 2006
O'Hana Award for Social Justice Work 2004, Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), a Division of the American Counseling Association.
Fulbright Scholar, 1994-1995
Kellogg Foundation Fellowship in International Development and Leadership, 1988-1990

Dr. Rita Chi-Ying Chung

President of Counselors for Social Justice (Division of the American Counseling Association) 2015-2016
2015 American Counseling Association (ACA) Fellow.
2014 American Psychological Association (APA) Fellow, Division 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race).
2014 Social Psychology Network Action Teaching Award, Honorable Mention.
2013 American Psychological Association (APA) Fellow, Division 52 (International Psychology).
Commonwealth of Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, 2013, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Commendation Award for work on Human Rights and Social Justice, 2013, Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly
Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person, 2013, American Counseling Association National Award
Kitty Cole Human Rights Award, 2012, American Counseling Association National Award
Professional Advancement Award, 2012, Association for Specialists in Group Work
Courtland Lee Social Justice Award, 2011, Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
Kitty Cole Human Rights Award, 2011, Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
Invited to speak about Child Trafficking at United Nations, 2008, United Nations, New York
Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Fellow 2008, ASGW a Division of the American Counseling Association
O'hana Honors Award for Social Justice Work 2004, Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), a Division of the American Counseling Association.

Dr. Stephanie F. Dailey

Chair-elect & Trustee, American Counseling Association Foundation, 2017-2021
ACA Liaison, American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Partners, 2009-current
Chair, 2018-2019 Crisis, Disaster, & Trauma Counseling ACA Presidential Task Force
Chair, 2017-2018 Crisis Preparedness & Trauma Counseling ACA Presidential Task Force
Co-chair, 2016-2017 Increasing Diversity within ACA Leadership ACA Presidential Task Force
President, Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling, 2015-2016
President, Maryland Counseling Association, 2014-2015
Co-chair, ACA Ethics Committee, 2014-2016
ASERVIC Executive Board Member, 2011 – 2014
Commissioner, Arlington County Emergency Preparedness Advisory Commission, 2010-2013
2017 Excellence in Teaching Award (Argosy University)
2016 Maryland Counseling Association President’s Award for Advocacy & Equality

Dr. Rachael D. Goodman

Coordinator, Counselors Without Borders, 2013, outreach to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Editorial Board Member, 2011-2014, Journal of Mental Health Counseling (JMHC)
Pre-Conference Service Day Coordinator, 2013, Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ)
Emerging Leaders Fellow, 2010, Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES)
Outstanding Research Award, 2009, Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) International
Dr. Daya & Mrs. Usha K. Sandhu Multicultural Counseling/Diversity Student Research Award, 2009, Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD)
President, Florida Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, 2009-2010

Dr. Shekila Melchior

Virginia Alliance for School Counseling President Elect, 2020 - 2021
Emerging Leader for the Association of Counselor Education & Supervision, 2017
Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Adolescent and Family Health, 2017 – 2019
Social Justice Work Group: ACES School Counselor Interest Network, 2018 - current
Counselors for Social Justice, Advocacy Committee Chair 2018 – 2019
ACA School Counseling Taskforce, 2017 – 2018
ACA Immigration Taskforce, 2017 – 2018
Graduate Student Commencement Speaker at Virginia Tech, 2017
Outstanding Doctoral Graduate Student – College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Virginia Tech, 2017
Edward Bouchet Honor Society, 2017
National Board of Certified Counselors Doctoral Minority Fellow, 2015

Dr. Sam Steen

Tori Stone, PhD, LPC

Chairperson of the Northern Virginia School Counseling Leadership Team
Virginia School Counselor Association Board of Directors 2018-2019
Human Rights and Social Justice Committee Member, Virginia School Counselor Association 2010 – 2013.
Above and Beyond Award, Prince William County, VA, Student Services, 2012.
Coordinator, American School Counselor Association Recognized ASCA Model School Counseling Program (Re-RAMP) application, Bull Run Middle School, Prince William County, VA., 2011.
Coordinator, American School Counselor Association Recognized ASCA Model School Counseling Program (RAMP) application, Bull Run Middle School, Prince William County, VA., 2008.
Middle School Vice President, Virginia School Counselor Association, 2006 – 2007
Secretary, Virginia School Counselor Association, 2004 – 2005
Middle School Counselor of the Year, Virginia School Counselor Association, 2002.

Dr. Regine M. Talleyrand

Editorial Board Member, 2012-present, Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology

Counseling and Development Student Recognition:

The Counseling and Development faculty are proud to announce that Mirella Saldaña has been selected as Virginia School Counselor Association’s (VSCA) Graduate Student of Year!

Mirella demonstrates excellence in scholarship as well as a commitment to our program mission of social justice, advocacy, multiculturalism, and leadership. She works as a program coordinator in the Early Identification program, helping first generation college students to find academic success at Mason. Mirella is a passionate advocate for recent immigrant students and volunteers her time working with the Mason DREAMers program to promote a more inclusive educational climate for undocumented students. She also has facilitated focus groups with undocumented students in Fairfax County in an effort to identify their mental health needs. Mirella will be honored at the upcoming VSCA conference October 11-13 in Hampton, Virginia. Please join us in wishing her congratulations!