USD Magazine Spring 2012

AROUND  THE PARK

Being immersed in a different culture helps USD students better understand the world around them.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST [ g l o b a l v i e w ] Coun s e l i ng me t hod s va r y w i l d l y be twe en Ve r ona and San D i ego

air Verona, an ancient town renowned as the fictional setting of tragic teenage by Diane Callahan ’07 (MA) F love, is approximately 6,141 miles from the University of San Diego. Though half a world apart, com- mon ground is blossoming: USD is helping to launch Italy’s first mas- ter’s level degree in school coun- seling. Last November, the University of Verona hosted an international conference titled, “School Counseling: Italian and American Experience in Com- parison.” There, School of Leadership and Education Scien- ces (SOLES) faculty joined with consultants and faculty from six

changed from the time of Romeo and Juliet, the city of 700,000 has all the issues of modern life: a weak economy, changing social roles, growth of immigrant popu- lations, increased need for social services and so on. Now, Italian education and psychology lead- ers are looking to the success of American school counseling pro- grams in order to help students and their families respond to these shifting stresses within the context of Italian society. Lonnie Rowell, Ian Martin, and Erica Nash represented USD at the conference, present- ing lectures on best practices

other American universities in pre- senting foundational work to help develop the new program. There’s great need for guidance, as Italy has no established school counseling programs. “I compare the process there to martial arts training here in the United States,” says SOLES Assistant Professor Ian Martin. “There’s often a ‘master’ or wise person who attracts appren- tices. They train, and then move on to their own practice. But things are starting to change, especially with this emerging program.” The first Italian students will begin their studies this fall. While Verona appears little

for elementary school counselors, professional development and action research. The event fea- tured 20 practitioners and pro- fessors and more than 150 participants. Nine second-year SOLES students also attended, gaining insight into internation- al counseling practices. “Nothing compares to being in a different culture,” said Meghan Keller, a student in the school counseling specialization program. “This is my fourth international trip with SOLES. Each time the lessons tie directly back to my coursework. Counselors work in multicultural schools. I help kids adjust to cul-

JOY BRUNETTI

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