Page 28 - Laker Connection Fall 2012

faculty profile
DR. DONNA MCCARTY
TRANSFORMING LIVES, REALIZING DREAMS
After completing her master’s de- gree, Donna McCarty came to Clayton Junior College in 1977 to interview for a counselor position, what she says was a life changing decision. Now Professor of Psychology and Depart- ment Chair, Dr. McCarty has spent 35 years making dreams a reality for students at Clayton State.
“Actually, in a very real sense I know that Clayton State has made my dreams real. I fell in love with Clayton Junior College – its students, its faculty and staff, its beautiful campus, its tradition of excel- lence and willingness to change, and it has been a great privilege to be part of nurturing this institution into Clayton State College and on to Clayton College & State University and, finally, to Clayton State Uni- versity,” says McCarty.
During her two years as a counselor, McCarty had an opportunity to teach introduction to psychol- ogy and fell in love with teaching. She knew from that moment her reality and career goals had changed, and so she returned to graduate school to obtain her Ph.D.
“The best part of my job is that I get to work with and on behalf of students every single day to help make their dreams real. Whether it is in my problem-solving role as Department Chair or as a faculty member in the classroom or supervising in- ternship students, the best part of my day is always when I am helping students on their journeys to achieve their dreams,” explains McCarty.
She has been an integral part of implementing Clayton State’s successful bachelor of science pro- gram in Psychology & Human Services. She notes it has a unique blend of theory, research, and applica- tion. McCarty has played a key role bringing together an outstanding group of Psychology faculty as well as working as a team to develop and implement the new Master of Science program in Psychology.
“The MS program means additional opportu- nities to serve our community; we are able to provide innovative training programs to prepare new profes- sionals committed to working effectively with di- verse populations of adults (as clinicians) and youth (as applied developmental professionals). The grad- uate program also provides opportunities for faculty to use their consider-
able expertise in new
ways and to teach at a
new level,” she says.
A resident of Atlanta, she and her husband John will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in March 2013. They have one daughter who was married last
year. McCarty earned a B.A. in English as well as a M.Ed. in Counseling and Student Personnel Admin- istration from the University of Georgia. She ob- tained her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Georgia State University in 1990. In 2004, she was named Alumnus of the Year by the faculty of her ac- ademic department at Georgia State.
“Clayton State has given me so much and has afforded me with varied ways to give back, and so I have supported the Foundation as generously as I can every year. It is only fitting that I continue to support the University for the remainder of my career, my retirement, and beyond. Honestly, it is hard for me to think of a nonprofit organization that provides bet- ter service for a community than Clayton State Uni- versity,” expresses McCarty.
__ Erin Fender
The best part
of my job is that I get to work with and on behalf of students every single day to help make their dreams real... The best part of my day is always when I am helping students on their journeys to achieve their dreams.
26
THE LAKER CONNECTION