Valerie McWhorter has been named East Central University's academic adviser for McAlester and the surrounding areas.
"I am excited to serve the many students of the area with the opportunities that ECU can provide through the McAlester campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College," she said. "Students are taking advantage of many of those opportunities."
ECU at McAlester supports bachelor's degrees in human services counseling, social work, nursing (RN to BSN program) and general studies, she said. ECU also offers master of education and master of science in human resources degrees.
The master of education degree offers options in special education, school principal, elementary/secondary education, school counselor, library/media, educational technology and sports administration.
Master of science degrees in human resources include options in human resources counseling, human resources administration and criminal justice.
In addition, ECU offers certification as a school psychometrist, psychologist and superintendent.
Before coming to ECU, McWhorter worked in residence life for four years at Texas A&M University - Commerce. She was a residence hall director with the Department of Residential Living and Learning. Her responsibilities included managing a staff of 10 students, organizing events, advising the Residence Hall Association, making presentations and responding to crisis situations.
Last fall she was awarded the President's Meritorious Service Award for her work with a hurricane shelter that was housed in the residence hall she supervised. She was also named Hall Director of the Year at TAMU-Commerce in 2006-07 and was nationally recognized as Resident Assistant of the Year by Paper Clip Communications in 2000.
McWhorter earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and counseling from TAMU-Commerce in 2001. After a year and a half completing practicum and internship semesters with the Commerce Independent School District's Alternative School students, counseling students with gang, violence, depression and behavior issues, she completed a master of science degree in counseling with a specialization in community counseling.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to speak with McWhorter, contact her at 918-302-3614 or vmcwhort@ecok.edu.
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