BVU’s Professional School Counseling Graduate Program to Present at Iowa School Counselor Association Annual Conference

Faculty members, students, and alumni from Buena Vista University's Master of Science in Education in Professional School Counseling graduate program, including Dr. Renee Fensom, Dr. Kris Meyer, Ashley Green '25, Crystal Neiland, M.S.Ed. '22, Meagan Bond '25, and Jodi Randolph, M.S.Ed. '22, will present at the 2024 Iowa School Counselor Association Conference Nov. 3-5 in Des Moines.

October 28, 2024

Faculty members, students, and alumni from Buena Vista University's Master of Science in Education in Professional School Counseling graduate program will present at the upcoming 2024 Iowa School Counselor Association Conference. The conference, themed "Rooted in Resilience," will take place from November 3 to 5 in Des Moines.

Dr. Renee Fensom, the Program Director of Buena Vista University's Professional School Counseling Program, will co-present a session titled "Cultivating Futures Together: Enhancing Post-Secondary College and Career Planning" alongside current students Meagan Bond '25 and Ashley Green '25, and alumnus and Storm Lake High School Counselor, Crystal Neiland, M.S.Ed. '22. Additionally, fellow BVU alumnus and Storm Lake Early Elementary School Counselor, Jodi Randolph, M.S.Ed. '22, will present "How AI Takes the Stress Out of Planning." This session will focus on artificial intelligence tools and how school counselors can leverage these technologies to their advantage.

Reflecting on the partnership, Dr. Fensom expressed gratitude toward Storm Lake High School Principal Matt Doebel and Storm Lake Community School District (SLCSD) Superintendent, Dr. Stacy Cole for their support in this collaborative endeavor. "Together, BVU and SLCSD have built a one-of-a-kind college and career mentoring program that empowers students in rural communities. Working with forward-thinking professionals, alumni, and graduate students is truly rewarding, and this partnership embodies BVU's vision that 'every student will reach their greatest potential to create better lives and stronger communities.'"

Another presentation, "If Harold Hill Can Teach Music, You Can Teach Resiliency!," will be delivered by Dr. Kris Meyer, an Instructor of Professional School Counseling at BVU. Dr. Meyer's presentation will explore strategies used by Hill, the main character in the musical The Music Man, and how these can be applied by counselors to cultivate resilient school cultures.

The Iowa School Counseling Association supports and advocates for school counselors across the state, ensuring that they can implement counseling programs aligned with the American School Counseling Association National Model.

For more information about BVU's Master of Science in Education in Professional School Counseling, please visit the BVU website at bvu.edu/admissions/graduate-students or contact Graduate Programs at [email protected].