Taffey Cunnien, Director of Counseling and Student Support Services (CS3) and Karen Adkins, Counseling/Disability Specialist discovered their passion for counseling during college. Cunnien’s career, in what she refers to as “the helping profession,” really began at the University of New Hampshire. There, she was a resident assistant, peer educator and interned as an HIV/AIDS counselor at the health education office. She said it was these experiences that taught her that she liked working with students. “After I graduated, I became a Hall Director at the University of West Georgia. I found that I liked helping students one-on-one, helping them solve problems and being a soundboard for them. I decided to go into counseling,” said Cunnien.
Cunnien eventually completed her masters degree in expressive therapy and mental health counseling giving her the credentials needed to counsel students who study art, music, movement and writing. “At the state college counseling networking event I met counselors from SCAD Savannah. A year later, the director emailed me about an opening in the counseling department,” said Cunnien. Cunnien accepted the offer and wasn’t at SCAD Savannah long before there was an opening at SCAD Atlanta. She recalls, “I was energized by working with students and the staff was great. But, when the director position opened in Atlanta, I jumped at the chance.” This is Cunnien’s fifth year as CS3 director in Atlanta.
A similar path led Karen Adkins to the helping profession. At Mercer University, Adkins, a psychology student and sociology minor, also became a resident assistant and peer educator. “I got my masters in professional counseling at Georgia State. I got a graduate assistantship working as an Assistant Complex Director supervising a team of RA’s,” said Adkins. After also interning at a hospital and working part-time in community counseling throughout graduate school, she learned her passions truly lie with helping students. Adkin explains, “Working at the hospital and providing in-home counseling wasn’t as interactive as working on college campuses. It was very clinical.” She has been at SCAD for three years and serves as the adviser to Student Council of Peer Educators (SCOPE).
Both Cunnien and Adkins beam with enthusiasm about their roles in the CS3 department. The department strives to help students manage anxiety, stress, depression and anything that could negatively impact one’s studies. “Students are always trying to find a balance between all of their roles because they are not just students,” said Cunnien.
Peer support is a critical arm for CS3. “It’s so important for students to take care of themselves and each other,” said Cunnien. SCOPE and CS3 are hosted their annual Picnic on the Patio May 3 from 3-5 p.m. at the Digital Media Center. This shindig provided students with the opportunity to meet the members of SCOPE and learn all about the program. Adkins reflects on her experience as SCOPE adviser saying, “It’s rewarding to see you guys helping each other, building those relationships and sharing information about health and wellness.”