Counseling and Human Development Services

People & Programs in the News

Sigrid Kennebrew, Doctorate Student Counseling Psychology

Winter/Spring 2002
Diversity at UGA

Kennebrow aims for 3rd UGA degree

If all goes according to plan, Sigrid Kennebrew will collect her third degree from UGA-A doctorate in counseling psychology-later this year. Currently in Columbus doing an internship with a hospital, the 27-yearold entered UGA as a freshman in 1992 after graduating from Sprayberry High School in Marietta. She plans to pursue a career in higher education as a professor, researcher and staff psychologist in a university counseling center or community mental health agency. But she also has a broader goal - helping to increase diversity in higher education. "I want to work to enhance the retention and experiences of African-American graduate students," she says. "I want to serve as a role model."

Kennebrew knows a lot about diversity in higher education. She has spent most of her graduate study researching the experiences-good and bad-of African-American graduate students at traditionally white institutions (TWIs).

One of only seven students in the nation to receive the prestigious Patricia Cross Future Leaders fellowship from the American Association of Higher Education last spring, Kennebrew says she is fortunate to be studying in a department that is sensitive to issues of diversity, has faculty of color and in which research on multicultural and diversity issues is being conducted.

"UGA has provided a strong foundation for me to succeed academically, professionally and personally," she says.

Kennebrew particularly credits Rosemary Phelps, her major professor and mentor. Phelps, an associate professor in counseling and human development, is involved with two other UGA colleagues, Kecia Thomas and Tarek Grantham, in a national program -"Preparing Future Faculty that aims to draw students into careers in higher education. The program is funded by a two-year external grant matched by UGA. Kennebrew says her own experience in the program helped her to better understand the teaching, research and service roles that will be part of her work as an academic and future leader in education.

Kennebrew Selected AAHE Future Leader

http://www.coe.uga.edu/coenews/2001/Kennebrew.htm

http://www.apa.org/monitor/jun01/people.html