April Bell

Bachelor of Science, Psychology, 2009, Alabama State University

Master of Science, Clinical Psychology, 2010, Troy University

I graduated from ASU in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. My experience at ASU was extraordinary!  I learned many things about psychology and life in general. The faculty prepared me for things ahead. Since graduating, I have earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Auburn University. ASU helped me to have a smooth transition into the master’s program. I also completed an internship at the Center for Child and Adolescent Development where I used many techniques taught to me by the faculty at ASU.

Today, I have a five year old son and am happily engaged and busy planning the wedding of my dreams. I am working full-time for the State of Alabama and a full-time student working towards a new goal. I plan to earn a medical degree as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Troy University in a few years, and I owe it all to my dear ASU. ASU helped get me “psyched” about learning and wanting more out of life. If you have big dreams and are not sure where to start, begin with Alabama State University!  They will put you on the path to success and a great life!    

Jason Lee Gibson

Bachelor of Science, Psychology, 2004, Alabama State University

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling, May 2007, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

I earned my baccalaureate degree in psychology from Alabama State University in 2004. After graduating, I earned my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling in 2007 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The program prepared me to provide marriage and family therapy with a focus on spiritual issues. Since then, I have served as a therapist at SafetyNet Crossings in Montgomery, AL, and as Clinical Director at SafetyNet Academy in Minter, AL. In those positions, I worked with male and female adolescents, ages 10 to 21, in an intensive residential setting. I gained extensive experience regarding foster care issues, adoption dynamics, mood disorders, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral disorders (i.e. ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, etc…), psychotic disorders, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, and parent-child relational problems.

This year, I joined a private practice in Prattville, AL., Ellis Counseling, LLC. (See our website at http://www.elliscounseling.net/about.html) I am in the process of becoming certified as an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) clinician which is a specialized treatment most notably used in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I often reflect on my experience at ASU, and view it as an essential component to my development as a student, person, and now clinician. I would recommend the psychology program at ASU to anyone interested in pursuing a career in psychology.

Hermanski Jackson

Bachelor of Science, Psychology,  2010, Alabama State University 

Master of Science, Psychology, 2013, University of Baltimore

Starting from humble beginnings as a middle child in a family of eight (six children), I learned early-on many lessons about the peaks and valleys life can bring. Growing up in poverty stricken environments, moving from place to place, and the ever-present negative lifestyles surrounding me, I remained grounded in God, family, and the pursuit of success. My positive motivation, despite countless adverse conditions and circumstances, can be attributed to parents that pushed for academic excellence although their education plateaued at high school graduation.
Determined to defy family and societal odds in becoming a successful educated black man, I mapped out the course of my future early by maintaining superior marks in grade school and following the most immediate example of success, my brother Michael who is five years my senior. At the end of my eighth grade year, I watched my older brother take an unprecedented step by going off to Alabama for college. Also during that time, I witnessed nearly all of my childhood friends either dropping out of school or ending up in jail. I was headstrong on disallowing this to become my fate, therefore I focused the majority of my energy into Upward Bound (a program designed for helping underprivileged students aspiring to go to college) and my sanctuary, football.

Throughout high school, I excelled in academics and sports, posting a 3.2 GPA and receiving all-state honors on the gridiron. These achievements afforded me full tuition and board scholarship offers from several universities. Deciding which school to attend was difficult, because leaving my hometown, Dover, Delaware, meant leaving friends and family, while venturing out provided a new life in the unknown. Through much deliberation and some prodding by my older brother, I decided to take my talents nearly 1,000 miles away from home and reunite with my brother in the city of Montgomery, AL. My brother, Michael Jackson, started the ASU legacy in the Jackson family by becoming a first-generation college graduate. While at Alabama State University, Michael chartered the NABSW (National Association Black Social Worker) student chapter on campus. He currently holds a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama, works for the Division of Human Resources in Montgomery, and is a distinguished community leader in the Alabama River Region. My tenure at the University was one that also made an impact. For starters I was a member of the ASU football team, playing free safety for one season. After giving up on football, I found full time work and used my intellectual talents to serve as a research assistant under Dr. Tyson Platt, as President of the ASU psychology club, and as a mentor and tutor for fellow psychology students. My younger sister (Doroteya Jackson) is  currently at ASU carrying on the family legacy.

My time at ASU was filled with excitement, frustration, opportunity, disappointment, and inspiration. I credit ASU with providing me the tools to succeed not only in the educational realm, but in life as a whole. My professors taught me the knowledge, my experiences with teammates and peers helped build character, and my failures at ASU established perseverance and a never- give-up attitude. I would like to thank all the educators and coaches that pushed me to achieve more and strive for excellence. Lastly, I would like to offer a special thanks to Dr. Britton Miles who introduced me to the field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

I was a Psychology Major and Sociology Minor at ASU and graduated Cum Laude in December, 2010. I recently received a Master of Science degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Baltimore. I currently reside in King of Prussia, PA and work as a Training and Assessment Specialist for Educational Data Systems, Inc.

Chloe Pickett

Bachelor of Science, Psychology, 2011, Alabama State University

Master of Science, Clinical Psychology, Virginia State University

Attending Alabama State University was the best decisions I have made thus far! I thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate tenure at ASU. I will always be a Hornet at heart. I graduated from Moss Point High School (Mississippi) in 2007. I was awarded a Full Academic Scholarship to ASU upon graduation from high school. I attended ASU from 2007 to 2011. Initially, I planned to pursue a degree in nursing. During my first two years, I changed my major three times. However, during my junior year, I declared my major as psychology and minor as fine arts. I was involved in ASU Psychology Club, NAACP and Empowering Mentoring Group. I became a member of the ASU Beta Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. during the spring of my sophomore year. The relationships that I made at ASU have continued following graduation. The bond that I developed with the ASU Psychology staff and my fellow hornets will surely last a lifetime.

After graduating, Suma Cum Laude, from ASU in 2011, I attended Virginia State University from 2011-2013. I earned a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology at VSU. As a graduate student I worked as a graduate teaching assistant and research assistant. As the lead graduate research assistant, I was able to work in the D.C., Baltimore, and central Virginia areas – a different world compared to my small hometown of Moss Point, MS. The focus of my Master’s Thesis addressed the influences of parental involvement and child cognitive abilities on the use of relational aggression among elementary school children.
I have interned as a counselor in the VSU Counseling Center, where I provided individual therapy and case management services. I also interned at the Metropolitan Day School of Richmond, VA where I functioned as onsite crisis support as well as administrator of intelligence and personality testing (WAIS and MMPI).

I am currently classified as a Master’s Level Qualified Mental Health-Professional in Virginia. I am working as a Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselor within the public school setting. I service students between the ages of 5 and 13 who suffer from psychological and behavioral disorders.

I plan to pursue a Ph.D in either School or Clinical Psychology within the next two years. Alabama State University has provided me with the essential tools, supports, and relationships needed to achieve my personal and career goals.

Alecia B. Williams

Bachelor of Science, Psychology,  2005, Alabama State University

Master of Education, Collaborative Education K-6, 2008, Alabama State University

Educational Specialist Degree, Instructional Leadership, 2010, University of West Alabama

I enrolled in ASU in the Fall of 1999 as an undecided major. I explored Music Education, History and Science before becoming a Psychology Major. I was involved in various campus social and civic organizations including being a Charter member of Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity for Women; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Ladies of a Black and Gold; Psychology Club, and NAACP. While in college, I worked for the Department of Psychology through a federal funded grant that served Lowndes and Macon Counties as a facilitator for the Life Savers Program which promoted an abstinence curriculum in public schools.

I graduated in May 2005 with my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Music. I immediately enrolled in graduate school in the Alternative A in Education program at ASU and was employed that same year by Selma City Schools. In 2008, I received a M.Ed. in Collaborative Education K-6. Afterwards, I enrolled in the University of West Alabama and was a part of the University redesigned Instructional Leadership program first cohort model. In 2010, I received my Education Specialist degree. After teaching 6 years as an elementary special education teacher in Selma City Schools, I became the Administrator of Special Services with the Pickens County Board of Education in 2011. I am responsible for all Special Education programs, student health services, and early childhood education. I currently reside in Aliceville, AL which is located about 45 minutes west of Tuscaloosa near the Mississippi line. I spend my spare time volunteering with the Aliceville High School Marching Yellow Jacket band as the auxiliary coordinator.

My motto for living is "Promise to give faith a fighting chance, and when I get a choice to sit it out or dance...I pray to God that he gives me strength to DANCE!"

Erica Williams

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, 2003, Alabama State University

Master of Science, Counseling, 2005, Alabama State University

The Psychology Department at Alabama State University has prepared me well for my course in life. I began as a freshman at Alabama State University in 1998 (not long ago) in a summer enrichment/upward program. My major was Computer Information Systems (CIS), as I considered myself a computer whiz or geek, but after taking more courses in CIS in the fall of ’98, I realized that computers didn’t talk back to me and that lack of human interaction was not for me. My mother, also a graduate of Alabama State University, is a social worker. She has always discouraged me from being a social worker, so I changed my major to education with a concentration in political science. This was when I was first introduced to psychology; I took my first psychology course, Psychology of Learning, and immediately knew that psychology was where I wanted to be. I changed my major to psychology and have loved it ever since. I guess I was destined to be in the helping field after all.  

Currently, I reside in Montgomery, Alabama. I've lived here for over 15 years now. I've worked in the Social/Human Service and Mental Health field for over 12 years. I started working as an office manager/behavioral specialist while still in my undergraduate program; working with at risk youth in their homes with their families or in their school setting. After graduating with my BS in psychology (2003), I continued working there until I completed my MS degree in counseling from Alabama State University (2005). I then started counseling at-risk youth. Later, I began working as a case manager for adults with MR/DD and later became a Children’s Therapist (former title) for Montgomery Area Mental Health, where I worked in different group homes in Montgomery.  From Mental Health, I went on to Volunteers of America as a Coordinator of Residential Services/QMRP, where I worked with individuals with MR/DD overseeing nine residential homes in Montgomery. After 2 years of services with VOA, I began working for Auburn University; this is my current position. I am currently a therapist, or Mental Health Specialist II (formal title), for Auburn University. I work at the Department of Youth Services (DYS), a juvenile correctional facility in Mt. Meigs, Alabama. I work with male juveniles in an accountability based sex offender program (ABSOP). This program is a conjoined program between Auburn University and the Alabama Department of Youth Services treating male juveniles who have been adjudicated of a sexual offense in the State of Alabama.

I love working with individuals with Mental Retardation & Mental Illness diagnoses. Because of my background in the Mental Retardation/Mental Health (MR/MH) field, the majority of my clients at DYS have a dual diagnosis. It is both challenging and rewarding to adjust curriculums, standards, and criteria to meet their individual needs as well as to be an advocate in the correctional setting, especially with the judicial system, challenging and helping to change laws and standards to better serve individuals with disabilities. I am also an adjunct Instructor for Regis University, Everest University, University of Phoenix, and Ashford University, where I teach online courses in psychology, criminal justice, and social and human services. I really enjoy learning online as well as teaching online and contributing to the online learning community. In addition, I volunteer as the girls’ volleyball and basketball coach for Lighthouse Christian Academy, coaching girls from 5th to 8th grades.

In my spare time (if any), I enjoy my 7 year old son. So when I’m not running after or “away” from him, I enjoy reading, learning about the joys of raising boys, attending my son’s extracurricular activities (swimming, soccer, basketball, football and baseball), listening to music, playing my piano, shopping, traveling, and shopping.

I feel that Alabama State University’s psychology program has really prepared me for my career and life in general. I am grateful to have a strong foundation in psychology as it really prepped me in research, writing, theories, etc., making graduate school and my job both easier and much more enjoyable. I love my ASU!!!!!