Nineteen Texans Receive Mississippi College Doctorates in Professional Counseling

MC Psychology Department Chairman Dr. Stephen Southern joins South Texas residents moments after they received doctorates in professional counseling. Dr. Southern developed the program in South Texas about two years ago. The MC doctorate enrolls about 120 graduate students.

Many poor Mexican immigrants settling in South Texas cities badly need mental health counseling services.

With its innovative doctoral program in professional counseling, Mississippi College is training people serving impoverished families in schools and agencies around the Rio Grande Valley.

Nineteen Texas professionals from cities like Laredo and McAllen near the Mexican border received their doctorates at the university’s commencement on August. 1.

Vilma Judith Gonzalez is among the new graduates with a heart for helping underserved and uninsured Hispanic women in her hometown of Laredo.

Moments after the summer ceremonies, she lauded the Christian university’s doctorate in professional counseling.

“It was a great experience and a great program,” Dr. Gonzalez said. “It prepared me to give back to the community – to serve and do things that matter.”

Commencement on Saturday morning marked her first visit to the Clinton campus. And the native of Mexico hopes it won’t be her last. Vilma believes many mental health professionals from her region will continue to pursue doctorates at the Baptist-affiliated university for years to come.

Gonzalez was among several mental health colleagues making the 13-hour drive to MC as President Lee Royce, guest speaker Rev. Stan Buckley and other leaders joined the ceremonies. It was a proud moment for the Texans as they joined Psychology Department Chairman Stephen Southern for a series of photos to celebrate their achievements.

It was an equally exciting time for Dr. Southern. For the past couple of years he joined other professors from the 5,000-student university who regularly traveled to South Texas to offer their academic expertise.

Healthcare and counseling needs of residents in cities near the Mexican border are enormous. Reports show that one-third of the people in McAllen, population 131,000, live below the poverty line. Over half of the students in the Laredo Independent School District, live in poverty, making it the 4^th poorest in the state. Laredo is home to 250,000 residents.

”South Texas has the highest poverty and fewest mental health care providers in the United States,” says Dr. Southern, who developed the region’s program. “There are many immigrants and poor citizens who desperately need mental health care.”

While there are a few master’s degree institutions in South Texas, there are no doctoral programs available in the area.

MC professors worked closely with Dr. Serio Rodrigez, director of pastoral care and chaplain of the Laredo Medical Program. He served as the local leader of the Mississippi College initiative. Nineteen of the original 27 South Texas graduate students completed their degrees Saturday.

The MC program emphasized on-line classes in addition to face-to-face workshops. Funding assistance came from the Hogg Foundation to train the licensed professional counselors.

Earning her doctorate at Mississippi College was a dream come true for Naila P. Jasso of Mission, Texas.

“Mississippi College offered an exceptional program. It was a great learning experience,” said Dr. Jasso, a professional counselor with the La Joya Independent School District. “It is something I deeply cherish. The professors were amazing, and I gained a wealth of information.”

Launched about two years ago, MC’s doctorate in professional counseling enrolls about 120 graduate students.

New graduates from the Lone Star State included Roberto Jose Lozano, a 65-year-old Laredo resident. He’s worked in the business world, as a consultant and taught school over the years. Born in Brownsville, Texas, he’s lived in Mexico and the USA. Retirement isn’t in his vocabulary.

The doctorate in professional counseling, he said, proved to be “very inspiring” academically rigorous and research-driven. Lozano focused on a mental health counseling project at a South Texas Adult Correctional Facility as part of his studies.

“You never are too old to get an education,” the Texan said as new graduates, family members and friends emptied out of the MC Choctaws basketball arena on a warm summer day. “I will die working.”