The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 23, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Page: 3 of 6
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The Rambler www.therambler.org
Campus
November 11, 2009
Ex-pilot lands in right place
Renee Greer
crgreer@mail. txwes. edu
Finding his purpose in life
kept Dr. Michael Ellisons
heart searching for the career
he always wanted. A desire to
fulfill his purpose and a word
of advice from his coworkers
forced him to get his head out
of the clouds and to make the
landing of his life.
Forty years ago, Ellison,
psychology professor and di-
rector of the counseling de-
partment, graduated from
Oklahoma State University
and started to work as a juve-
nile felony rehab counselor.
Soon, he experienced a burn-
out period.
"I was 21-years-old, and I
realized I was too young to
work with that group of peo-
ple," he said.
Ellison started to experi-
ence stress because he didn't
believe he could effectively
help them. As a stress reliever,
he began sky diving. Ellison
found himself at the mouth
of a whole new world that he
had grown to love. In fact, he
loved it so much that he even-
tually began flying charter
planes.
"I eventually became an air-
line pilot, and the whole while
I was thinking of counseling,"
Ellison said. "I just couldn't
get away from wanting to
counsel and help others."
Ellison kept his ears ready
and available for the oppor-
tunity to offer help to anyone
that needed it.
"My copilots would tell me
about their problems, and the
counselor in me immediately
kicked in," he said. "They fi-
nally told me to shut up and
go be a psychologist."
After 10 years of flying
planes, Ellison took their ad-
vice.
"Boring holes in the sky
were no longer interest-
ing to me, and being away
from home 20 nights out of
a month was breaking more
than my spirit to fly," he said.
With a renewed hunger,
Ellison decided to go back to
school. He eventually gradu-
ated with a PhD in psychol-
ogy and began working in the
field.
After gaining years of expe-
rience with companies such
as MHMR, he was recruited
to Texas Wesleyan as an ad-
junct professor. After being
offered a permanent position,
he saw the huge demand for a
counseling training program
in Fort Worth.
In fall 2004, the graduate
program opened its doors for
the first time. According to
Ellison, Texas Wesleyan had
the first counseling master's
program in Fort Worth,
Boring holes in the sky were no longer
interesting to me, and being away from
home 20 nights out of a month was
breaking more than my spirit to fly."
Michael E lison
Director of Graduate Counseling Programs
"I know we are successful
because I continue to see the
number of students increase
each year," he said.
The graduate program has
almost reached the maximum
number of students allowed
this year. Its mission is to "cre-
ate a learning environment
where each student is provid-
ed an opportunity to pursue
individual excellence, to think
clearly and creatively, to com-
municate effectively and to
develop professionally."
For at least some students,
that's exactly what's happen-
ing.
"The counseling program
has helped me see the world
through new professional
eyes and I'm very grateful for
that," said counseling gradu-
ate student Selena Alexander.
"I have re-discovered myself
in the counseling program."
While Ellison is pleased
with the success of the pro-
V
Photos by Renee Greer Rambler Staff
Back in business
t
The academic success
center officially reopend
ts doors Nov. 5. "he
center operates under
the guidance of Coor-
dinator of New Student
Programs Blair Ensign,
shown above helping a
student, and Assistant
Director of the ASC
Michael Greer Hal!
(left). The center offers
ree tutoring n writing,
math, biology and his-
tory. The ASC is open
daily Monday through
Saturday. For hours and
details visit www.txwes.
edu/arc.
gram, he continues to look for
ways to improve the quality of
the education offered to stu-
dents.
"I'm looking forward to of-
fering a PhD degree in mar-
riage and family therapy some
day," Ellison said.
He credits his faculty with
the success of the program as
it is today.
"Our professors are highly
qualified, and they are all ac-
tive counselors," he said. "Our
professors welcome students
through the front door of the
program, and they congratu-
late colleagues on the way
out."
According to Ellison, 100
percent of professional coun-
seling students pass the Na-
tional Counseling Exam on
the first try. Wesleyan's pro-
gram currently ranks among
the top schools for its coun-
seling program, according
to university search engines
Renee Greer I Rambler Staff
Dr. Michael Ellison returned to counseling after a stint as an
airline pilot.
such as EducationPortal.com.
"Before I decided on Texas
Wesleyan, I looked at several
schools, and I couldn't find
any schools that came close to
what I'm getting right here at
Texas Wesleyan," said William
Polk, a graduate student in the
counseling program.
Now that he's back where he
always wanted, Ellison is de-
SECURITY continued from page 7
lighting is even a deterrent for
enrolling in night classes.
Morgan Yinger, junior edu-
cation major, is a commuter
student who has a night class
in McFadden that ends at 9:30
p.m. She said she parks in the
faculty parking because it feels
safer.
"I haven't noticed anyone,
no," she said, in reference to
campus security at that hour.
After-hours personnel is
another issue at the forefront
of security at the moment,
said Dr. Harold Jeffcoat, uni-
versity president. The uni-
versity is increasing the after-
BUSINESS
continued from page 1
dents excited as well. Senior
Lauren Bell said she thinks it
is a great opportunity to take
advantage of the accreditation.
"As a soon-to-be graduate, I
am very pleased with the edu-
cation that I have received," she
said. "I believe that Wesleyan
is one of the finest institutions,
and getting accreditation will
not be the basis of the high
standards of business educa-
tion for Wesleyan. "Instead, it
will show the high educational
standards that Wesleyan has
always held for their students
prior to this accreditation pro-
cess."
hours personnel and focusing
on the training of newly hired
security.
In the spring, Stanley Se-
curity Solutions offered Wes-
leyan a proposal with four dif-
ferent payment plans of about
$16,000 over a five year period
with a free upgrade at the end.
Wesleyan did not follow
through on the deal.
Jeffcoat said the university
budgeted conservatively at the
beginning of the fiscal year
because of uncertainty on
how the economy would af-
fect enrollment and funds.
"The first place that we gen-
termined to allow students in
the program to do the same.
"It's a certain component
that develops during a coun-
seling session that I want my
students to experience," he
said. "It's not religion, but it's
that intangible stuff that con-
nects the counselor with the
clients, and I like to call it
spirit."
erally look to if we have extra
resources is keeping the fac-
ulty," he said. "Hie priority for
the institution has been things
like personnel."
Bleibdrey said there is a
four-phase campus security
initiative that includes light-
ing, fencing and controlled
access, a camera system and
personnel additions that will
reach completion within three
to four years.
Kesha Carter, freshman so-
ciology major, lives in Stella
and believes campus security
in general is inadequate.
"I think they're being cheap
about campus security," she
said.
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The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 23, Ed. 1 Wednesday, November 11, 2009, newspaper, November 11, 2009; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201291/m1/3/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.