LOCK HAVEN – Claudia Hutchinson, Ph.D., has joined the Lock Haven University College of Education and Human Services as an assistant professor in the Department of Academic Development and Counseling, serving as counselor for the Campus Violence Prevention Program (CVPP). She is also serving as coordinator for the Student Learning Resource Center (SLRC) at the Clearfield Campus.
Dr. Dan Tess, chair of the Department of Academic Development and Counseling, said, “We feel strongly that the addition of Dr. Hutchinson to the counseling service will assure the highest quality support for campus violence prevention.”
Prior to coming to Lock Haven, Hutchinson worked for two years at the Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) in Dominica, West Indies, as a faculty member and the director of RUSM Counseling. While at Ross University, she taught and counseled students from 36 different countries. She also served on the Admissions, Exam and Student Health Service Committees.
She received her doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from Penn State University in 2007. Hutchinson is a certified Education Specialist I, Elementary and, Secondary School Counselor, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She is a member of the American Counseling Association, the National Certified Counselor Association, the American Mental Health Counselor Association and the American School Counseling Association.
Hutchinson is a long-time resident of Centre County and was actively involved in the local community. Prior to her work at Ross University School of Medicine, Hutchinson spent eight years counseling students as a school counselor and as an outpatient consultant to a local community mental health agency.
In her role as counselor for the mental health agency, she worked with students from the local school districts and Penn State students, primarily with alcohol and drug related issues. She also served as a counselor to women in the local jail.
In addition to her work as a counselor, she was active as a community mobilizer working with various stakeholders in the area to address children and youth issues in the school, community, and family domains.
In her role as counselor for CVPP at Lock Haven, Hutchinson is responsible for providing counseling and advocacy to students who are victims of sexual assault, domestic/dating violence and stalking (physical, mental or emotional distress).
Her work will involve promoting an atmosphere where students feel safe and empowered to move forward with their lives. She will work with students to develop and utilize safety plans, and set goals. According to Dr. Hutchinson these are keys in the process of helping our students to heal and develop a sense of self-efficacy.