Name: Marcie Wiseman
Hometown: Ocala, Florida
Education: Saint Leo University, B.S. in psychology; University of Florida, M.S. and Ph.D. in counseling psychology 2009. GO GATORS!
Job title: Director of the Counseling Center
How long have you worked at the College? 10 months
What are your job responsibilities? Clinical direction of the Counseling Center services and staff, including providing individual and group therapy, crisis intervention for students experiencing a mental health emergency and supervision of clinical trainees. Another growing part of my job are the responsibilities related to being a member of the Studentโs of Concern Committee, which works in part to ensure students get the support and resources needed when they are experiencing difficulties.
What do you like most about your job? My love for college counseling is partly because it allows for such a varied work life. Helping students achieve meaningful change, training future therapists and working as part of the broader Division of Student Affairs team means each day brings something new. I also love the administrative side; leading a team of incredibly talented and dedicated clinicians makes the difficult days worth it.
What question do you get asked most in your job and whatโs your typical answer? When people find out what I do, they have a lot of questions! In the past few years, those questions have been mostly about trying to understand why there is such a rise in mental health concerns among college students. My typical answer involves helping people understand that there is no simple answer. If youโre curious about the complicated answer, stop by my office sometime for a chat.
Whatโs your favorite location on campus and why? Iโm not sure I have favorite spot; itโs such a beautiful campus! Would it be strange to say my own office? Itโs a great, relaxing space. Come by for a visit and see for yourself! We can have that chat about college students and mental health.
What are your hobbies? I love to paint and have taken up oil painting after years of using acrylics. I also love to be outdoors for any reason, whether it is hiking, gardening, a day at the beach, lounging by the pool or just sitting on the porch.
What personal and/or professional accomplishment are you most proud of? I am a first-generation college student, and the first in my extended family to pursue a graduate degree. Three of my younger sisters have now also earned advanced degrees.
Name a creative work (book, movie, performance, etc.) you enjoyed recently and why? I donโt watch much TV or many movies, but you will always find me reading! My favorite books are ones that expand my understanding of humanity through exploring other cultures or points of time in history. One recent book I read that comes to mind is Braiding Sweetgrass. It was beautifully written and thought provoking.
What was your favorite TV show growing up? The Cosby Show. Sadly, itโs now forever tainted for me, and I imagine for many others.
Whatโs next on your bucket list? After two years of pandemic life โ travel! We just went to Mexico for our first vacation since before the pandemic, and we are thinking about Ireland for next year.
What is something your campus colleagues would be surprised to know about you? Iโm slightly obsessed with my Jeep Wrangler, named Rubi. OK, maybe more than slightlyโฆ . Itโs a Jeep thing!
What was your first job? My first job was as a cashier at Publix. After six months there, I began training as a floral specialist and worked as a full-service florist there for nearly 10 years.
Whatโs your favorite Lowcountry restaurant? We love exploring all the local places, but havenโt been here long enough to pick a favorite, so Iโm open to suggestions for continued exploration.
Describe your perfect day: Getting up early, lingering over a cup of coffee on the porch, spending most of the day outdoors โ maybe a few hours at the beach or a mountain hike โ then a late afternoon cocktail or glass of wine before dinner, preferably dining outside with a sweeping view of the landscape.
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