FLEXIBLE PROGRAMS HELP ADMINISTRATOR CHANGE CAREER FIELD

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Part of Pam Wegis’ job as associate director of admissions at Argosy University/Inland Empire campus is to help student map out their education paths. It’s something she is very familiar with as she is also a student at the university.

Wegis is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education Leadership with a concentration in higher education. She said Argosy University’s programs are perfectly suited for working adults.

“There are a large number of working adults in the Inland Empire who need to degrees to advance in their jobs or change career fields,” said Wendy Vasquez-Osborn, interim campus president. “Our programs allow professionals to maintain their jobs while they continue their education.”

“What makes Argosy University different from other schools is that our programs are designed for working professionals,” Wegis said. Argosy University’s flexible programs, which offer online, evening and weekend classes, are perfect for working professionals. “Our flexible programs enable professionals to finish their degree programs in a timely manner,” Wegis said.

Wegis said students can choose how they take their course programs and take up 75 percent of their coursework online in certain degree programs. She also stated that the wide variety of class schedules makes it ideal for professionals with busy lives. “It’s very important for me to have a life and the class schedule allows me to do that,” Wegis said.

Like many returning students, Wegis, a former educator, went through a career change. She worked for 12 years in the real estate field in Branson, Mo. When her husband moved back to California, Wegis decided to return to the education field and joined Argosy University.

After she graduates, Wegis plans to continue working and teaching at Argosy University.

Wegis said what she likes about Argosy University is that the staff are committed to student’s succeeding academically and professionally. “They want us to experience success,” Wegis said. “It’s not just about getting a degree. It’s about changing your life and the lives of those around you.”

Argosy University/Inland Empire is scheduled to host an open house for the members of the public starting at 6:30 p.m., June 19. For more information call (909) 915-3800 or go to http://www.argosyu.edu/inlandempire.


Argosy University/Inland Empire is one of 18 Argosy University (www.argosyu.edu) locations in 12 states. Argosy University offers doctoral and master's degree programs in psychology, business, counseling, and education. Argosy University also offers bachelor’s degree completion programs in psychology and business, and associate's degree programs in various health sciences fields. Argosy University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA) (30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, 1-800-621-7440), (www.ncahlc.org).

Argosy University Aims to Train More Diverse Mental Health Workers to Meet Growing Need

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – As a clinical psychologist and mental health worker with San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Dr. Benjamin Barnes saw first hand some of the psychological problems affecting African Americans and Latinos in the Inland Empire. Argosy University/Inland Empire is hoping to train more mental health workers from a diverse background to address the growing needs of the community.

While working as both a professor at Argosy University/Inland Empire and a county mental health provider, Dr. Barnes has noticed the lack of African American and Latino psychologists.

“There are very few African American therapists,” he said. “Even now only 10 to 15 percent of the therapists in San Bernardino County are African American. And we don’t have many bilingual therapists.”

An African-American, Dr. Barnes is one of the ethnically diverse faculty members at Argosy University/Inland Empire who are dedicated to increasing the number of local African-American and Latino mental health workers. Wendy Vasquez-Osborn, interim campus president, said that Argosy University’s blended programs, which offer online, evening and weekend courses, are attractive to students in the Inland Empire who are often working full-time jobs.

“Many students entered the workforce right after high school or had to raise families, and now they need a degree to move to the next level,” she said. “Our programs fit the needs of working adults.”

Dr. Barnes says that, “Many of Argosy University/Inland Empire’s faculty members have extensive backgrounds working with the Black and Latino communities and have spent many years working on the front lines of the mental health field.”

Dr. Barnes said the psychology profession is still predominately white and female, and this may cause problems for people of color who are looking for a mental health provider. “In some cases, it may put up a cultural barrier. Some minorities may believe that the therapists are not sensitive to their cultural needs,” he said.

He added that there is also a lack of awareness about mental health issues in the Black/Latino communities. Dr. Barnes said most African-American and Latino college students go into the computer and business fields and shy away from psychology, because of the fear they may not get a job after graduating.

“They stay away from psychology because there is still a stigma about it in the African-American/Latino community,” he said “That is the reason why African-American and Latino people often don’t use mental health services.” He also said that the African-American and Latino community may be unaware of the signs of mental health problems because they are accustomed to dealing with other stressful issues such as racism and unemployment. “Our definition of mental health stressors are different from the mainstream,” he said.

Dr. Barnes is currently in a master’s degree program in psychopharmacology at Alliant University, and he holds a master’s degree and doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University. He teaches courses in Clinical Psychology at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels at Argosy University. Dr. Barnes also teaches at San Bernardino Valley College.

He said he is pleased to see the ethnic diversity in his classes at Argosy. “Argosy University has many programs making it visible in local high schools and colleges,” Barnes said. “The solution to boosting the number of African-American and Latino psychologists is by reaching out to those communities through face-to-face marketing in non-traditional places such as community recreation centers, shopping malls, churches, sports clubs and public events.”

“Argosy University is going out and meeting people in their communities and neighborhoods,” Dr. Barnes said. He also stated that, “Argosy University is targeting potential psychologists earlier through associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, which are attractive to high school students, and by talking to individuals in the health, business and education professions who want to move to the next level of their career.”

Argosy University/Inland Empire is one of 18 Argosy University (www.argosyu.edu) locations in 12 states. Argosy University offers doctoral and master's degree programs in psychology, business, counseling, and education. Argosy University also offers bachelor’s degree completion programs in psychology and business, and associate's degree programs in various health sciences fields. Argosy University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA) (30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, 1-800-621-7440), (www.ncahlc.org).


Media Contacts:
Christian Flathman
Sr. Director of Communications
912.201.8114
cflathman@edmc.edu

Manny Otiko
Dameron Communications
(909) 888-0017
manny@dameroncommunications.com

ARGOSY GRAD USES PSCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES TO HELP SMOKERS KICK THE HABIT

One of the most surprising lessons the students learned was that smoking is not a stress reliever.

SANTA ANA, CALIF. – Although she is several hundred miles away from Southern California, Adielle Carrington is using the skills she learned as a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Argosy University/Orange County. Carrington is currently interning at Fresno City College where she is teaching a Smoking Cessation course offering students tips on how to quit lighting up.

She graduated from Argosy University on May 18. Carrington, a former Santa Monica resident, is a nurse who has worked at USC, UCLA and in Intensive Care Units in Southern California.

Dr. Jeb Egbert, Argosy University/Orange County campus president, said the university’s flexible programs, including online, evening and weekend courses, are perfect for working adults looking to change or advance their careers. “With her years of medical experience and her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University, I am sure Adielle will make a great psychologist,” he said.

“This is mainly a psycho-educational class designed to assist in developing knowledge and techniques in reducing or stopping smoking,” Carrington said. “The class also provides supportive learning and group therapy for individuals who want to alter their behavior. The techniques used in the course are based on cognitive behavioral principles and therapy.”

The class is part of a research project started in 2004. Carrington said the project is funded by a Fresno City College alumnus who died of emphysema and willed $400,000 to study the most effective method of quitting smoking. Participants in the research project are divided into four groups, one control group, who try to quit smoking with no assistance; a group that uses the nicotine patch; a group that use the patch and group therapy; and a group that uses therapy but no patch.

Carrington said the course addresses topics such as stages of changes, behavioral principles for self-directed change, alternative coping skills and the pros and cons of smoking behavior.

“Students learn how to use a smoking monitor to identify thoughts and feelings associated with smoking behavior,” she said. “They also learn how to better manage thoughts, feelings, behaviors and emotional states that lead to smoking.”

One of the most surprising lessons the students learned was that smoking is not a stress reliever. Carrington said the course showed them smoking actually increases stress levels because smokers face criticism from their peers, spend money on the costly habit and it also has a negative effect on their appearance.

The 18-week course attracted people from all walks of life, some who have been smoking for more than 30 years. “The age for students taking the course is 28-52,” Carrington said. The course has shown signs of success. “In the Spring class all six students quit, but two went back to smoking,” Carrington said. However the smokers who returned to the habit reduced their consumption from 10 cigarettes per day to two-three per week, she said.

Carrington said working with the Smoking Cessation class was both a learning experience for her and the students. “I realized this course is very needed,” she said. “It could be an amazing asset to the community.”

The students learned a lot about themselves and the complexities of smoking. Carrington said the course includes research from the medical, psychological and biological fields, to show how smoking is both a physical and psychological problem. “The students learned that it takes up to seven times to succeed when quitting smoking,” Carrington said.

After her internship is completed, Carrington plans to return to the Los Angeles/Orange County area and begin her post-doctorate training. “I plan to have my license in Clinical Psychology next year, and I will be looking to combine my medical background experience and psychology,” she said. “I believe that mental health should be part of our total health plan.”


For more information go to http://www.argosyu.edu/orangecounty/ or call (714) 338-6200.


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Argosy University/Orange County campus is one of 18 Argosy University (www.argosyu.edu) locations in 12 states. Argosy University offers doctoral and master's degree programs in clinical and counseling psychology, business and education. Argosy University also offers bachelor's degree completion programs in psychology and business, and associate's degree programs in various health sciences fields. Argosy University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA) (30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, (800) 621-7440,).

Media Contacts:
Christian Flathman
Sr. Director of Communications
912.201.8114
cflathman@edmc.edu

Manny Otiko
ARGOC-PR-135-SMOKING
Dameron Communications
(909) 888-0017
manny@dameroncommunications.com

Argosy University/Orange County Commencement Speaker Says University Degrees Open Doors

SANTA ANA, Calif. - Dr. Edward Hernandez Jr., keynote speaker at Argosy University/Orange County’s commencement ceremonies congratulated graduates for completing university programs that would enhance their professional lives. “Earning a college degree will open doors for you in the working world,” Hernandez said.

The commencement ceremony, held at the Hilton in Costa Mesa on Friday, May 18, attracted more than 700 people. More than 130 students from the Argosy University Orange County, Inland Empire and Santa Monica campuses participated in the ceremony. Students who participated earned or will earn an associate, bachelor, master’s or doctoral degree in business, education, or psychology.

Dr. Jeb Egbert, Argosy University/Orange County president, said that graduation is a time for both students and families to celebrate. “The graduation robes you are wearing today are significant, because they show you have earned your degrees,” he said.

Hernandez is chancellor of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, which serves more than 58,000 students at colleges throughout central Orange County.
In his speech, titled “Your Education – Your Future – Your Success,” Hernandez said college graduates face a bright and exciting future. “I envy the technological changes you will see,” Hernandez said, noting that when he received his doctoral degree, more than 30 years ago, he never took any courses involving computers.

Argosy University’s Orange County campus is one of 18 Argosy University (www.argosyu.edu) locations in 12 states. Argosy University offers doctoral and master's degree programs in clinical and counseling psychology, business and education. Argosy University also offers bachelor's degree completion programs in psychology and business, and associate's degree programs in various health sciences fields. Argosy University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA) (30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, (800) 621-7440, www.ncahlc.org).